WI BIO - Dane Co - ELVER, Charles
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 543-544

Charles ELVER, the successful proprietor of the Elver House, situated near 
the Northwestern depot, and formerly known as the East Madison House, 
purchased and took possession of this popular hotel on 01 Jan 1889. The 
house accommodates 35 guests, and all the appointments are of most modern 
design. Our subject has been identified with the interests of and been a 
resident of Dane County, WI, for many years. He was reared and educated in 
Dane County, and when 13 years of age began to learn the trade of a miller, 
serving an apprenticeship of four years, after which he came to Madison to 
run a mill for a company in this city, and a mill on lake Mendota owned by 
Manning & Merrill. After two years he went into the large water mill of 
Madison, known as Briggs, Robins & Thornton, fine stone dressers. He 
remained in their employ two years, then worked as a journeyman in Freeport, 
Stephenson County, IL, for one year. 

His father's ill health then required him to return home to Middleton 
Township, Dane County, WI. Charles ELVER was here married and ran his 
father's old farm for four years, in the meantime purchasing the land. In 
1874 he sold the home farm and bought the J. B. KEHL mill, in Vermont 
Township, Dane County, WI, taking possession 08 Jan 1874, and running it 
until 1879, when he rebuilt the mill and established the Elver post office, 
so known at the present time, and the mill also bears the name of Mr. ELVER. 
In Aug 1888 the mill was burned down, destroying the plant, and it was never 
rebuilt.

In 1880 Charles ELVER was elected to the Chairmanship of the Township Board, 
which position he retained for nine years. In 1884 he was elected a 
Commissioner of the county, and during his term of service the new courthouse 
was built. In 1887 he was elected Chairman of the County Board of 
Supervisors, and is the only chairman elected from German-American population 
of the county. The county commissioners appointed to build the courthouse 
constituted the building committee, and consisted of C. P. CHAPMAN, chairman; 
Francis RICHIA, and our subject. This fine new structure cost the county 
$175,000 and was accepted by the county in Jan 1887. The building was in 
process of construction for about three years from the time of the tearing 
down of the old courthouse.

Charles ELVER is one of the leading German-Americans of Dane County, WI, and 
has a host of friends. He is a prominent Democrat, and has represented his 
party in local and State conventions. He is one of those strong and forcible 
men who attract and interest. Since purchasing his hotel he has increased 
its capacity until it will now accommodate just double the original number of 
guests. It is heated throughout by steam, and on account of these 
improvements and the excellent service, it is very popular.

Charles ELVER was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, 14 Apr 1849, son of John 
ELVER, born in 1801, a native of the same province, of good German family. 
John ELVER married a lady of Mecklenburg, Miss Mary MEIBON, [p 544] and after 
the birth of all their children they came to America, being the only 
representatives of their family that came to this county. It was the last of 
Mar or the first of Apr when the ELVER family left Mecklenburg on a sailing 
vessel that landed them in NY City after a voyage of six weeks. From that 
city they proceeded to Milwaukee, WI, and thence to Madison, Dane County, 
with a team belonging to Mr. WEBERHUSEN, now deceased. They settled on 
section 20, Middleton Township, Dane County, WI, where the father took 
Government land, on which he and his wife lived until 1871, when they removed 
to Middleton Station, where John ELVER died, in 1887, aged 86 years. The 
mother, Mary (MEIBON) ELVER, died in 1883, aged 75 or 76 years. They were 
faithful members of the German Lutheran Church, and helped to organize and 
build the Middleton church of that denomination.

John and Mary (MEIBON) ELVER had four children, two sons and two daughters, 
of which our subject, Charles ELVER, is the youngest. The brother, Fritz, 
died in 1889, leaving a wife and a large family. The sister, Caroline, 
married John LOHN, Postmaster of the town of Elver, Vermont Township, Dane 
County, WI; and Dorothea, married James HARLOFF, a retired farmer of 
Middleton Station.

Charles ELVER was married in Dane County, WI, to Miss Minnie LOHFF, born in 
Mecklenburg, Germany, who came with her parents to America in 1852. They 
settled on a farm in Blooming Grove Township, Dane County, WI, where her 
parents resided until their deaths, the father, Henry LOHFF, departing this 
life in 1870, aged 60 years, and the mother in the summer of 1890, being then 
past 70. They were both consistent members of the Lutheran Church. Charles 
and Minnie (LOHFF) ELVER are the parents of four children, namely: 
Albertena, deceased when 22, a bright young lady; Othelia, Howard, and 
Elmore, all at home.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly