WI BIO - Dane Co - LAPPLEY, John
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 191-192

John LAPPLEY, one of the leading farmers of Dane County, WI, was born in 
Germany in 1825, a son of Lawrence and Henrietta (SHRADE) LAPPLEY, also 
natives of Germany. Lawrence LAPPLEY followed the trade of shoemaker all his 
life in Germany, where he died at the age of eighty-eight years. Henrietta 
(SHRADE) LAPPLEY died in Germany in her seventy-fourth year. Lawrence and 
Henrietta (SHRADE) LAPPLEY were the parents of fourteen children, [p 192] 
four of whom grew to years of maturity, one son and three daughters. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, Melchior LAPPLEY, was also a native of 
Germany, a baker by trade, was thrice married, and the father of seven sons 
and five daughters. Melchior LAPPLEY lived to the age of eighty years, and 
at his death left a fine estate.

John LAPPLEY, the subject of this sketch, received a good education in 
Germany. From the age of twenty-one to twenty-seven he was in the employ of 
the German service, receiving three cents per day, and three cents for 
rations. During this six years he was three years at home, without pay, and 
this was compulsory by the German law. In the spring of 1852, at the age of 
twenty-seven years, he sailed from Havre, France, on the "St. George," 
landing in NY after a voyage of thirty-four days, and with eight French 
dollars. He soon afterward found employment at his trade, for $4 per month, 
but failed to receive his wages, and afterward began work at $9 per month. 
After spending one year in NY, John LAPPLEY worked in the lumber regions of 
Tioga County, PA, for three months; was employed in the pineries fourteen 
months, at $16 per month, and then worked at his trade in NY City for $12 per 
month. He was a fine workman, and could make one pair of boots a day, often 
working sixteen hours per day.

In Apr 1855 John LAPPLEY came to WI, where he was employed in the 
construction of a railroad in Madison [Dane County] for a short time, farmed 
on the Indian reservation in Roxbury Township [Dane County] ten years, 
erected a log home, which was destroyed by fire one month afterward, with all 
their household effects, and no insurance. He then erected another dwelling, 
and purchased 80 acres of land, of which 50 acres was cultivated. John 
LAPPLEY then had $200 in money and his stock, and out of this he was obliged 
to pay $100 court expenses, which was a robbing scheme. He next rented 60 
acres of land in Berry Township [Dane County] for one year, then purchased 
100 acres, for which he paid $1,500, a few years later added 20 acres more, 
paying $190 for the latter, and still later bought 40 acres more for $450, 
making him 160 acres of land. In 1881 he sold that place and purchased his 
present home of 340 acres, paying $3,500. In 1885 he erected his fine large 
barn, 40x62 feet, with 20 foot posts, and a basement of solid stone masonry, 
where he can stable 40 head of cattle and 14 horses. This building was 
erected at a cost of $1,200, and in which can be stored more than 150 tons of 
hay. John LAPPLEY is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He keeps 
from 20 to 40 head of horned cattle, about 12 horses, and a small flock of 
sheep, and raises about 40 hogs.

John LAPPLEY was married in NY City [New York County, NY], 15 Jun 1854, to 
Miss Anna M. S. SCHMIDT, who came from Germany, her native land, to America 
the same year. John and Anna M. S. (SCHMIDT) LAPPLEY have ten living 
children: (1) Louisa, wife of George W. HALL, a miner of CA; (2) John, a 
mechanic of Middleton [Dane County], WI; (3) Henry, a jeweler and watchmaker 
of Mazomanie [Dane County, WI]; (4) Mary, wife of James H. FROGGART, a 
farmer of this township, and they have one daughter [see also the Dane 
County, WI, biography of John FROGGART, father of James H.]; (5) William, at 
home; (6) Charles, a contractor and builder of South Milwaukee [Milwaukee 
County], WI; (7) Christian, aged 25 years, works on the home farm; (8) 
Caroline, at home; (9) Frederick, at home; and (10) Alice, who resides with 
her sister, Mrs. FROGGART. One daughter, Annie, died 26 May 1873, at the age 
of eight months. John LAPPLEY is a Republican in his political views, and 
religiously the family are members of the Lutheran Church.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly