Person Page - 195

     Laurence Hans Petersen obtained US Social Security Card at Wisconsin; last residence Reedsburg, Sauk, Wisconsin; last benefit Baraboo, Sauk, Wisconsin. On 11 September 1918 at Sauk, Wisconsin, WWI Draft Registration.

     Harlan James Peterson lived in 2006 at Madison, Dane, Wisconsin.

     Laura Emma Peterson lived in 1935 at Wisconsin Dells, Sauk, Wisconsin.

     Hon. Silas James SEYMOUR, deceased, whose death occurred at Reedsburg [Sauk County, WI], 25 Apr 1899, was one of the most conspicuous pioneers of Sauk County, WI. During his residence there of half a century, he had been identified with many events of the utmost interest and importance to its people and fully merited the confidence which was unanimously reposed in him. Mr. SEYMOUR was born at Pompey, Onondaga County, NY, 21 Feb 1824. He was a son of James and Susan (OSTRANDER) SEYMOUR, and sprang from a family which has always been distinguished for the patriotic spirit of its members and their devotion to principles of integrity and honor. His grandfather, Zadoc SEYMOUR, was born near Hartford [Hartford County], CT. While a boy Zadoc SEYMOUR was bound out to a farmer in the neighborhood. Before reaching his majority, however, his father cancelled his indentures, whereupon he enlisted in the Continental army, being one of the first to do so, and spent six or seven years in the service. He went through the terrible winter at Valley Forge and saw much other hard service under the immediate command of George Washington. About 1798 he settled at Pompey [Onondaga County], NY, where he died about 1844, at the age of 88 years. He was a conscientious member of the Presbyterian church. His wife, Naomi MUNGER, was born in VT and died some years earlier than her husband, attaining the age of 75 years. They reared a family of five sons and five daughters, in which James was the third son and sixth child. He was born in Chenango County, NY, and lived for some years in Genesee County. He died at Covington, Wyoming County, NY, reaching the age of nearly 60 years. He was a devout member of the Congregational church and a public-spirited citizen. In early life he was a Democrat but became an Abolitionist when that question began to be agitited. His wife, who was born at Pompey [Onondaga County, NY], died about three years before her husband. Her father, Peter OSTRANDER, who was of Dutch lineage, came from Essex County, NY, and was one of the founders of the town of Pompey. His wife, Clarissa, was a native of CT. It is related as a curious coincidence, that at the time of their marriage this lady could not speak a word of Dutch nor her husband a word of English. One of their sons, Rev. Jared F. OSTRANDER, a Congregational minister, was one of the pioneers of WI, settling at Aztalan, Jefferson County, in 1836. He never accepted any remuneration [p 235] for his professional services, thereby demonstrating his disinterested zeal in the cause of Christianity. Silas James SEYMOUR, whose name heads this article, left home at the age of 14 years and was employed about two years on the Wabash and Erie canal in western OH, but as he suffered much from fever and ague, he returned to NY. Up to this time he had attended school but six weeks, but he now determined to obtain a better education and spent the two winters at school at Covington and Pompey. He then began teaching and spent several winters in that way, attending school in summer. While teaching at Manlius [Onondaga County], NY, he began using the "word method," since adopted by the most progressive teachers generally. This is the first instance known of the use of that method of instruction. In 1849 he determined to seek a home in the wilds of WI, and came to Sauk County to locate a claim. Walking from Madison to Reedsburg, he selected a farm in the present town of Dellona and continued on foot as far as the U. S. land office at Mineral Point to enter the same. At that time there were but five dwellings in Reedsburg [Sauk County, WI]. These were built of logs and shingled with bark. There was one other house between that place and his farm. This farm he cultivated until 1892, when he became a resident of Reedsburg. He was a practical land surveyor and for 40 years did more or less work in that line. When the Milwaukee & LaCrosse railroad was projected in that vicinity, like many of his neighbors, Mr. SEYMOUR mortgaged his farm to assist in promoting the enterprise. While the result of this action was not as disastrous to him as to many others, he took an active interest in trying to secure some relief for the sufferers and was appointed by Governor Smith one of the commissioners to dispose of certain lands, peviously in possession of the railroad company, for the benefit of mortgagers and labored diligently for several years to secure the best possible results from this fund. He was married 23 Sep 1851 to Mary Ann CONINE, daughter of Derrick and Abigail (BATES) CONINE. This lady, who still survives, was born in the town of Windom, Greene County, NY. Five children blessed their union, all of whom enjoyed exceptional educational advantages: (1) Ellen Augusta, who was engaged in teaching for several years, was born 19 Jul 1852, and died 25 Nov 1880; (2) Ida Jane, born 02 Mar 1855, died 27 Apr 1876; (3) Merton Eugene, a prominent farmer of the town of Dellona [Sauk County, WI]; (4) Walter Frederick, who is a graduate of WI University and of Chicago Medical College, is now a medical missionary in China; and (5) Arthur Romeyn, is an instructor of French at WI University, of which he is an alumnus. Mr SEYMOUR was a leading member of the Methodist church for a number of years. Before the organization of the Republican party he began to advocate its principles. He filled all the principal offices of the town of Dellona and served two terms in the WI assembly in 1876 and 1877. While a member of that body he introduced a bill providing for the establishment of the state board of health and labored diligently to secure its passage. The wisdom of this measure has since been repeatedly demonstrated. He was an active member of the Reedsburg Old Settlers' Association and his presence will be greatly missed at its annual gatherings. Possibly the first of eastern settlers to come to Dellona was Silas James SEYMOUR. He was a native of Pompeon, N.Y., his parents being James and Susan (OSTRANDER) SEYMOUR. In May 1849, leaving the civilization of the East behind, he came to Fort Atkinson where he had an uncle living. From there he set out for the Baraboo Valley and reached Portage, or as it was then known, Fort Winnebago. From there he was able to command a view far across the great reaches of eastern Sauk County, and selected a row of tall pines far in the distance, as his destination. (These were the pines which grew on the bluff known later as Pine Knob, northeast of the SEYMOUR farm.) Duly arriving in the vicinity he went to the house of Patrick MULLIGAN where he took his first meal in Sauk County. After searching several days in Winfield, on Babb's Prairie, and in Dellona for a desirable location, he selected land in Glen Valley, and departed for Mineral Point to enter same.
While enroute he was thrown in contact with a gentleman riding overland horseback to enter land for some speculators. Reaching their destination together, Mr. SEYMOUR went immediately to the land warden's office where he entered his claim, while his mounted companion went to a tavern to dispose of his horse. A few minutes later, the latter entered the office and stating the description of his desired locations, mentioned first the identical tract that the warden had just written a grant for in favor of Silas J. SEYMOUR. Which proves it better sometimes to be afoot than horseback!
Mr. SEYMOUR spent the winter of '49-50 in a log shack six by eight feet, east of the present boundary of the farm, but from an old letter, it is evident that he started to build upon the present homestead that same fall. In the spring of 1851 he went back to New York and married, returning to Dellona with his bride in August, of that year His wife's maiden name was Mary Ann CONINE, and she will be remembered as a woman of considerable learning.
Mr. and Mrs. SEYMOUR were the parents of five children: Ellen Augusta; Ida Jane; Merton Eugene, married Blanche JEFFRIS of Baraboo, and occupied the homestead, where he still resides; Walter F., who became a Presbyterian Medical Missionary and spent thirty-five years in China, where he was shot during the Revolution of 1928; Arthur, who is a noted scholar and at the present time at the head of the foreign language department of the Woman's State College, Tallahassee, Florida.

     Walter F., who became a Presbyterian Medical Missionary and spent thirty-five years in China, where he was shot during the Revolution of 1928.

     Arthur, who is a noted scholar and at the present time at the head of the foreign language department of the Woman's State College, Tallahassee, Florida.

     John Lewis Shinoe and Ollie Mae Rister lived in 1901 at Bottineau, North Dakota. John Lewis Shinoe purchased land on 1 December 1904 at Township 160N Range 77W, Bottineau, North Dakota, section 29.

     At Sioux, Nebraska, biography of Raymond and Alice (Hamaker) Larson.⁵

     Lee J. Orr and Bertha R. Larsen lived in 1944 at 4815 Nevada, Fresno, Fresno, California. Lee J. Orr was a cigars in 1949. He and Bertha R. Larsen lived in 1949 at 4815 Nevada ave, Fresno, California. Lee J. Orr and Bertha R. Larsen lived in 1955 at 4609 E Nevada ave, Fresno, California. Lee J. Orr and Bertha R. Larsen lived in May 1970 at Oakland, California.

     Henry P. Mader witnessed the migration in 1873 at Yankton, South Dakota. Magdalena Mader had 5 with 4 living in 1900 children. She had 5 with 3 living in 1910 children. She lived in 1915 at Yankton, South Dakota.

     Bernhardt Sikmann immigrated in 1870 to Iowa. He migrated in 1878 at South Dakota. In 1904 BERNART SIKMANN, a well-known resident of Yankton county, was born in Munster, Germany, on the 2d of February, 1843, his parents being lifelong residents of that country. At the age of twenty-seven years, in 1870, he left his native land and came to the United States, first locating in Dubuque, Iowa, where he spent a year and a half. He next went to Arkansas, where he remained nine months, and then returned to Iowa, making his home there until 1878, when he came to South Dakota, Yankton county being his destination. After working for others for nine months he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land eight miles north of the city of Yankton, but did not immediately turn his attention to agricultural pursuits. For two years he was employed in a brickyard and in 1875 embarked in the same line of business on his own account, operating that yard for eight years. He met with success in that undertaking and erected for himself a fine brick residence and two barns. During the flood of 1881 he lost a kiln of brick and his house was damaged to some extent, his loss amounting to about one thousand dollars. In 1882 Mr. Sikmann bought one hundred and eighty acres of wild land in Yankton county and engaged in its operation in connection with the manufacture of brick in Yankton. He built a good residence and barns upon his place in 1892 and in July of that year took up his residence there, it being still his home, though he continues to own property in the city to the amount of about eight acres. His farm now comprises two hundred and eight acres, which with the assistance of his sons he has placed under a high state of cultivation.      On the 3d of June, 1880, Mr. Sikmann was united in marriage to Miss Lena Mader, a daughter of Henry and Christina Mader, who were both natives of Germany, but were living in New York at the time of Mrs. Sikmann's birth. In 1873 her father brought his family to South Dakota and entered a tract of wild land in Yankton county, soon becoming a well-known and successful farmer of this locality. He died April 1894, having survived his wife for several years, she having passed away on the 15th of May, 1877. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sikmann have been born five children: Fred, now twenty-one years of age; Joseph, Frank, Rosa and Lillie (died July 21, 1891). All are at home and have been given good common-school educations, the daughter being still a student in the
local schools. Socially the family is one of prominence in the community where they reside, and the wife and mother is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Sikmann is a Democrat in politics and does all in his power to insure the success of his party.⁵ He lived in 1910 at Township 93N Range 55W, Yankton, South Dakota, 21 94N 54W 29
10 93N 55W 23
11 93N 55W 23
14 93N 55W 23
15 93N 55W 23
2 93N 55W 23
11 93N 55W 23
17 93N 55W 14 East Part of Yankton.⁶

     Henry P. Mader witnessed the migration in 1873 at Yankton, South Dakota. Mary Anna Mader had zero biological children, and adopted two children children. Circa 1915 Henry and Maria Anna Mader Reimer family - top row son William Reimer (likely), daughter Laura Reimer (likely), and granddaughter Rosina Reimer. She and Henry Reimer lived in 1915 at Oklahoma.

     Henry Reimer immigrated in 1876. Circa 1915 Henry and Maria Anna Mader Reimer family - top row son William Reimer (likely), daughter Laura Reimer (likely), and granddaughter Rosina Reimer. He and Mary Anna Mader lived in 1915 at Oklahoma.

     William Christian Reimer obtained US Social Security Card at Oklahoma; last residence Lebanon, Laclede, Missouri. Circa 1915 Henry and Maria Anna Mader Reimer family - top row son William Reimer (likely), daughter Laura Reimer (likely), and granddaughter Rosina Reimer. On 5 June 1917 at World War I Draft Registration, Garfield, Oklahoma.

     Christina Misel immigrated with Jacob Meissel on 15 March 1852; Place of Origin:     Germany
Port of Departure:     London, England
Destination:     United States of America
Port of Arrival:     New York, New York
Ship Name:     Sir Robert Peel. Christina Misel migrated in 1873 at Yankton, South Dakota.

     Joseph Herbert Sickman obtained US Social Security Card at South Dakota; last residence Yankton, Yankton, South Dakota.