Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Buffalo & Pepin Counties, Wisconsin - Vol. 1 pub. H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, MN - 1919 [page 185-186] CHRISTIAN VAN WALD, a well to do resident of the city of Alma, Buffalo county, who has served as a member of the county board and in other important offices, was born in Sauk county, Wiscon- sin, Aug. 25, 1849. His birthplace was the farmhouse of his par- ents, CHRIST and MARY (THEONY) VON WALD (sic), natives of Switzer- land, who had come to this country in 1847, accompanied by four children, ZULA, LEONARD, AGNES and ANNA. Landing after a seven weeks voyage in a sailing vessel, they proceeded to Sauk county, Wis., which location they had in mind, and where they bought wild land and began the life of pioneer farmers, though the father's trade was that of a carpenter. His facility with the axe and the saw, however, enabled him quickly to put up the log cabin in which the subject of this sketch was born. An ox team was used on the farm, the oxen being also obliged to transport the family, or mem- bers of it, to Madison, which was the nearest or most convenient market. Sometimes, however, the distance was covered on foot. Indians were plentiful in the neighborhood, but were friendly. There CHRIST VAN WALD died at the comparatively early age of 49 years. His wife, surviving him, passed away at the age of sixty- eight. In addition to the children already mentioned, two others were born to them in Sauk county, CHARLES, and a brother who died in infancy. CHRISTIAN VAN WALD spent his boyhood years on the pioneer farm of his parents, when quite young playing with the Indian children, from whom he learned to speak their language, and later helping in the work of the farm. At the age of fifteen he left home and came to Buffalo county, locating in Modena township, where he found employment at farm work. In 1865, being then only sixteen years old, he bought a tract of 80 acres of wild land in Modena township, and began to clear it, still continuing, however, to work out for neighboring farmers at intervals in order to earn his expenses. His first dwelling on the farm was a log house that he built himself, and he used an ox team in breaking and plowing his land. When the blade of his large breaking plow got dull he used to carry it to town on his back to get it sharpened. In time he became the owner of 600 acres of land in Modena, which he later sold and then purchased 505 acres in Mill Creek town of Alma and erected a set of good buildings on his farm, which he cultivated profitably until his retirement in 1902, when he took up his resi- dence in Alma. In early days he was a great hunter, killing many deer, in which he made a record not excelled, if equaled, by any other hunter in the county. While living in Modena township he held the office of supervisor and chairman of the town board, serving 18 years in succession in Modena and city of Alma, and was appointed bridge commissioner three different times. He also served on the school board as clerk an director, holding one of- vice or the other from the time of its organization. During his first years' residence in Alma he was elected alderman and has held that position ever since. In National politics he is a Re- publican. MR. VAN WALD was married in Racine, Wis., to AMELIA C. BEINNERT, who was born at Lone Rock, in Richland county, Wis., March 24, 1856. Their wedding took place July 9, 1879, and after 37 years of happy married life MRS. VAN WALD died Oct. 22, 1916. She was a member of Eastern Star lodge No. 148 of Alma, and her memory is revered as that of a good wife and mother. Of the five children born to the subject of this sketch and his wife, one, FRANK, died in infancy. The others are: ALBERT C., a resident of Alma; ELMER H., a stock buyer, also residing here; and ORVILLE L. and RICHARD, who are living on the home farm, having purchased it in 1917. ===========================================================================