From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 738. City of La Crosse SIMON BORRESON, shoemaker; is a native of Norway; born in 1853; came to the United States in June, 1873, and has resided in La Crosse since that time; has been in business since 1874; learned his trade in Norway of his father Barre Olson (Suthersven), who came to the United States in 1876, and now lives in La Crosse. Mr. Borreson was married in 1874, to Miss Johanna Johnson, also a native of Norway, who came to La Crosse in 1874. Owns his shop on North Third street. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 738. City of La Crosse EMIL N. BORRESON, was born in Lillehammer, Norway, emigrating in 1868. After following mercantile pursuits for two years, he entered the Batavian Bank as book-keeper, which place he filled with great acceptance, both to the bank and to the public for nine years, until the establishment of the present business of Holley & Borreson. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 738. City of La Crosse P. A. BORRESEN, jeweler and watchmaker, No. 26 South Third street, has been in business in his present location since September, 1879. He was born in Norway in 1835, son of B. H. Borresen; learned his trade in the city of Christiania, and came to America in 1872, arriving in New York City on the 12th of July. He located at Red Wing, Minn., where he resided till he came to La Crosse in September, 1879. He was married in La Crosse in 1878, to Josephine Oslgaard, and has one son, Hans Borge Elias. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 738 & 741. City of La Crosse REV. EDWARD BORGEN, Assistant Pastor of the Norwegian Church of La Crosse, was born in 1852, in Spydeberg, Smaalenene, Norway, son of Erik Borgen, who died in Norway in 1875. Mr. Borgen received only a common-school education in Norway, and came to the United States in 1868. He lived one and a half years in Rock Co., Wis., and from there went to Decorah, Iowa; entered the Norwegian Lutheran College at that place in the fall of 1871, and graduated in 1876. He then entered Concordia Seminary, at St. Louis, Mo., and graduated from there in the spring of 1879. The same year he was ordained to the ministry and accepted a call from the Norwegian Lutheran Church of La Crosse, where he still continues. He was married, Sept. 8, 1880, in Decorah, Iowa, to Miss Ambjborg (Emma) Tobiason, daughter of Roland Tobiason, who came to the United States in 1850, and is still living near Decorah. He was from Slidre, Valders, Norway. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 738. City of La Crosse X. BOMA, grocer and general merchant; was born in Baden, Germany, in 1844; son of Christian Boma; came to America in 1868, and settled on a farm in the town of Shelby, La Crosse Co., where he resided seven years, since which time he has been in the city and in his present business. He was married in La Crosse, in 1875, to Miss M. Koller, daughter of Michael Koller, and has two children - Dora and Emil. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 738. City of La Crosse ROBERT BLASHEK, proprietor of the La Crosse Woolen Mills, on Eighth street, between Market and Winnebago; was born in Austria in April, 1853. His father, France Blashek, came to the United States in 1859, and settled in La Crosse April 25. He immediately commenced building the machinery for a woolen-mill, which he erected on the site of the present one, and where he carried on business till his death, June 19, 1875. Robert worked in the mill with his father from the time he was 8 years old, and has carried on the busines since his father's death. He is doing custom work, and also buying wool and manufacturing. He is unmarried, and lives with his mother, who owns an interest in the mill. His brother Ernest, who is living with them, is a composer and also a teacher of violin music. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 738. City of La Crosse L. D. BLANCHARD, engineer on Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; has worked on this road since 1856, except five months in 1859; has been running an engine since 1863; born in St. Johnsburg Center, Caledonia Co., Vt., in 1838; came to Wisconsin in 1855 with his father, Alfred R. Blanchard, who settled in Beaver Dam, where he still resides. In June, 1858, Mr. Blanchard married Miss Almira, daughter of William M. Johnson, a native of Columbia Co., Penn., who came to Wisconsin in March, 1856, and settled in Beaver Dam; now resides in La Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard have two children - Stella and Bell (twins), born in Beaver Dam, Wis., July 21, 1859. Both successful teachers in the public schools of La Crosse, and graduates of the La Crosse High School, Class of 1877, Prof. B. M. Reynolds, Principal. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737 - 738. City of La Crosse R. R. BLACKMAN, proprietor of boarding-house on Windsor street, at the head of North Third street; is a native of Monroe Co., N. Y. His parents moved to Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., when he was 7 years of age. He came to Wisconsin in 1867, and was in La Crosse from August to December, then came again in the spring of 1868, and has resided here since, except five years, from 1870 to 1875, in Trempealeau Co. He was married in La Crosse, May 17, 1868, to Mrs. Jane Flynn, daughter of David Young, who removed from Pennsylvania to Iowa in 1840. She was born in Lawrence Co., Penn., in 1836. Her first husband, John Flynn, was a native of Vermont; son of Thomas Flynn, and came to La Crosse in 1857. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the 8th W. V. I. (Eagle Regiment), Co. I, re-enlisted in the Veteran Corps, and died Aug. 22, 1865, of chronic diarrhea, while home on furlough, at the age of 27. He left two children - William Edward, now living in La Crosse, and Cora E., now Mrs. Edward Montgomery, of La Crosse. Mr. Blackman has one child - Mary E., at home. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737. City of La Crosse JOHN P. BIRD, Principal of the Third District School of La Crosse; has been in his present position since 1876; for one year previous to that, he was Principal of the Fifth District School. He was born in Northampton, Mass., in 1845; his father, William Bird, removed to Martin Co., Minn., in 1865, and died there in 1879. Prof. Bird is a graduate of the Minnesota State Normal School at Mankato, Class of 1871, and has been teaching since that time. In 1880, he graduated from the National School of Elocution and Oratory at Philadelphia. He was married in December, 1879, to Helen R. Hanscom, of La Crosse. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737. City of La Crosse FRANK BERKENMEYER, saloon-keeper; is a native of Baden, Germany, born in 1834; came to the United States in 1857; lived one year in Cleveland, Ohio; then went to Long Island, N. Y., and came from there to La Crosse in 1859; he lived on a farm three and a half miles from town till 1868, and since that has resided in the city. Oct. 10, 1863, he married Mrs. Virginia Nagle, who came to La Crosse from France with her first husband, Louis Oliver, in June, 1847. Mr. Oliver died soon after, and she married Charles Nagle, who had been some time in La Crosse; he died in March, 1861, leaving three children. Mr. Berkenmeyer has two children - Frank and Virginia. He was Justice of the Peace in the town of Shelby in 1866-67. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737. City of La Crosse H. BERGSETH, cooper and stockholder in the La Crosse Co-operative Barrel Manufacturing Co.; was born in Norway in 1845, son of H. Bergseth, Sr.; came to the United States in 1873; settled in Lanesboro, Minn., and resided there till February, 1881; bought into this company in December, 1880. He was married in Norway to Paulina Peterson; has two children - Albert and Sigurd. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737. City of La Crosse JUDGE C. S. BENTON, was born July 12, 1810, in Fryeburg, Oxford Co., Maine. In 1824, was moved by his mother and brother to Herkimer Co., N. Y., and commenced to learn the tanner's trade. In 1830, he abandoned the business and commenced to study law, and, in 1835, was admitted to practice in the Court of Common Pleas, and, in 1836, was admitted to the Supreme Court. In 1837, was appointed Surrogate by Gov. Marcy. In 1842, was elected to the Twenty-eight Congress from the Seventeenth Congressional District; was re-elected in 1844 to the Twenty-ninth Congress. In 1847, was Clerk of the court of Appeals, which place he held two terms. in 1855, he came to Milwaukee and bought a one-third interest in the "News", and edited the paper one year. In 1856, was appointed Register of Land in La Crosse, by President Pierce, which office he held until Lincoln's administration. In 1865, he moved to Galesburg, Ill., where he remained four years, and then returned to La Crosse. In 1873, he was elected County Judge in La Crosse County, and was re-elected in 1874, but did not serve out his term on account of ill health, but resigned in February, 1880. Judge Benton commenced editorial work in 1832, in New York State, where he was editor of the Mohawk "Courier" and Little Falls "Gazette" for two years; was editor and correspondent for the "Courier" until he came West. Judge Benton was married in 1840 to Emeline Fuller, of Little Falls, by whom he had one son, who is now a member of the firm of Benton, Gove & Co., of Milwaukee. Judge Benton was married again in 1853, at Oswego, to Miss Elizabeth B. Reynolds, by whom he has had one son, who is a resident of La Crosse. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737. City of La Crosse NIELS ELIAS BENSSON, cooper and stockholder in the La Crosse Co-operative Barrel Manufacturing Co.; was born in Norway in 1844; son of Bendit Andreas Nelson, who is still living in Norway, Nortland Arnt; came to the United States in 1870; settled in Lansing, Iowa, and resided there till September, 1880, and came from there to La Crosse. He was married in 1870, in Norway, in his native town, to Eliane Olson, also a native of Norway. Learned his trade of his father, who was a carpenter and cooper. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737. City of La Crosse JOHN BENSON, contractor and stone-mason; was born in 1826 in Norway, where he learned his trade, and came to the United States in 1861, since which time he has resided in La Crosse. He was married in 1866, to Sarah Ann Iverson, daughter of Iver Iverson; she also was born in Norway, and came to the United States in 1860; they have two children - Ida Benson and Jacob Bernhart Benson. John's father, B. Benson, came to the United States in 1871, and now lives in Douglas Co., Minn. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737. City of La Crosse BENSON BROTHERS, merchants and proprietors of the Variety Store, No. 20 Main street, have been in business in La Crosse since May, 1880. The firm is composed of two brothers, Ivar and Bernt Benson, both born in Norway, sons of Bernt Benson, who died in Norway in 1860. They came to America in 1875, and have lived in Wisconsin ever since, and are both unmarried. They have one brother, B. M. Benson, in the mercantile business in Dorchester, Clark Co., Wis., and another, Emanuel Benson, engaged in farming near San Francisco, Cal. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 736. City of La Crosse E. M. BECKWITH, commission merchant and dealer in second-hand goods in Borna's Block, Third street, was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., in 1828; son of Miner York Beckwith, who moved to Michigan in 1836, and died there in 1855, at the age of 54. E. M. Beckwith learned the ship-carpenter's trade in Milwaukee, Wis., and worked at the business till 1873; was in business for himself in Racine, Wis., from 1850 to 1860, and in Grand Haven, Mich., from 1860 to 1872. In 1873, he was in Duluth, Minn., building dredges for the N. P. R. R. Co. He lived in different places in Minnesota till January, 1881, and since then has been in business in La Crosse. His first wife was Helen Bowman, of Racine, Wis.; she died in 1872, leaving eight children. His second wife was Julia E. Selby, of Blue Earth Co., Minn. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 736. City of La Crosse S. BECKER, grain and produce dealer, Front street, between Main and State, has been in the city of La Crosse since 1877; he is a native of Bavaria, born in 1834, and came to the United States in 1855. He lived in Tiffin, Ohio, one year; then went to Milwaukee and remained there till 1860; he came from there to La Crosse and stayed one year; then went to Trempealeau, Wis. Was married there in 1863, to Miss Emma Salomon, of St. Paul, and came from there back to La Crosse in 1877; has four children - Jacob, Albert, Cora and Ida. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 736. City of La Crosse SYLVANUS BEAN, millwright, has resided in La Crosse since February, 1861; he was first here in the fall of 1855, for a few weeks; then went to St. Anthony's Falls, Minn., and returned in 1861. He was born in Merrimack, N. H., in 1827, son of Redmond Bean. Learned his trade in New Hampshire and worked at it till he came to La Crosse; has two children - Nina Gertrude and Olive A. Mrs. Bean's maiden name was Susan L. Austin. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 736. City of La Crosse H. S. BEAN, foreman in the saw-mill of John Paul, has been in his present situation since 1876, and a resident of La Crosse since 1865; he was born in Franklin, Belknap Co., N. H., in 1845, son of Redmond Bean; came to Wisconsin in Janary, 1864. Was married, April 9, 1870, in Brownsville, Minn., to Miss Mary Ryan of that place, and has two children - Ai and Mary. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]

From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 736. City of La Crosse F. A. BATES, fireman; has been in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company since 1859. He was born Aug. 26, 1837, in Portland, Me., where his father, Nathaniel Bates, died in July, 1854, at the age of 45. Mrs. Bates, whose maiden name was Cynthia Barstow, is still living in La Crosse with her son, in the 84th year of her age. Mr. Bates came from Portland to Wisconsin in 1859; lived in Milwaukee one year, coming to La Crosse in 1860. He has worked in the roundhouse a portion of the time, but has been firing on the road the last seven years. He was married, June 29, 1871, in La Crosse, to Martha Ann Grover, daughter of William Grover, of La Crosse. She was born in London, Eng., in 1842, and came to the United [States] with her parents in 1849. Have no children. H. K. Bates, brother of F. A., is now master mechanic on the Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]