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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES

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HISTORY OF

Walworth County

WISCONSIN

ALBERT CLAYTON BECKWITH

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME I

1912
B. F. BO WEN & COMPANY

INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA

PUBLIC LIBRAE \-

iyi&

DEDICATION.

This work i> respectfully dedicated ti>

THE PIONEERS,

since departed. May the memory of those who laid down their burdens
by the wayside ever be fragrant as the breath of summer
flowers, for their toils and sacrifices have made
Walworth Count) a garden of sun-
shine and delights.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

In preparing this work, which. is not so much a county history as a collec-
tion of notes to serve the coming historian, the following sources of informa-
tion have been used freely: The printed and manuscript collections of the
historical societies of the state and county ; the records of the adjutant-gen-
eral's office at Madison; the Legislative Manuals and other official publications
of the state; the Geological and Hydrographic Surveys of Wisconsin; the
county records at Elkhorn. including those at the office of the county jndge,
county clerk, clerk of the circuit court, treasurer, register of deeds, and superin-
tendent of schools; the books of the County Agricultural Society; "History of
Walworth County" (Chicago, 1882); Cravath's "Annals of Whitewater";
Simmons's "Annals of Lake Geneva" ; the files of Delavan, Elkhorn and White-
water newspapers; the personal recollections of the compiler and of many of
his known and unknown friends, within and without the county; the tomb-
stones of forty-five burial grounds; and unreckonable minor or incidental
papers, pamphlets, documents and letters.

A few words as to the plan and arrangement of this volume may not be
wholly useless. The theory of its construction is that a local history, its inter-
est, if any, confined to a narrow plat of ground, cannot have in it too much oi
the personal element. An arch-necromancer's uncanny skill could not avail to
restore anything like the semblance, even though but ghostly, of all those men
who once answered to the names found in the lists of land-patentees ot [838,
in the juror lists of [839, and in the town-officer lists of [843; but the patient
searcher of fading records may find a date, a wife's name, a hint oi heirs
wrangling over a will — something to show that these men have not all of them
become as forgotten kings ,,f pre-Mosaic dynasties.

The neighboring counties, in two States, were much like Walworth in
their origin and development ; and human nature was and is the same in all ol
them. Walworth included. But there were little lines in the lives of the earlier
men and women of Walworth that are yet of some human interest to their
descendant- and successors. To., little can be recovered of lives Ion- gone to
make each one's tale over-tedious. for mosl of them, little more than the
length of a tombstone inscription remains, but for us that little differentiates

AUTHOR S PREFACE.

Walworth from Rock and McHenry and all the other counties of the Union

and the Dominion.

[f this work were our county history's last word, far more could with
reason be required of it than is herein performed. A little, no doubt, worth
another workman's consideration, is added to the store of historic material.
It will be observed that in the lesser divisions of the volume the town- art-
taken in their alphabetical order for their readier finding. Citizen- of each
town of whom nearly nothing was learned but their names and a date or two
for each, are named with their towns. They of whom more detail was found
are placed in alphabetical order as a county list.

It would be pleasing to acknowledge explicitly all the favors shown by
old and new friends, official and unofficial: but the tally-list would be very long.
and omissions would seem coldly careless if not intentional. No person, how-
ever, can make even a barely passable local history without that kindly co-
operation nowhere to be found more intelligent and willing than in "glorious
old Walworth."

Albert C. Beckwith.
Elkhorn, July 15, 1912.

PUBLISHER'S PREFACE

All life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes from past
experience, ami present commercial prosperity has come only from past exer-
tion and suffering. The deeds and motives of the men that have gone before
have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and
states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privi-
lege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the pres-
ent conditions of the people of Walworth county. Wisconsin, with what they
were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and virgin land.
it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of
wealth, systems of railways, grand educational institutions, splendid indus-
tries and immense agricultural and mineral productions. Can any thinking
person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the
aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the founda-
tion upon which has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days5
To perpetuate the story of these people and to trace and record the social,
political and industrial progress of the community from its first inception
is the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts
and personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite
the present to the past, is the motive for the present publication. The work
has been in the hands of able writers, who have, after much patient study
and research, produced here the most complete biographical memoirs of
Walworth count). Wisconsin, ever offered to the public A specially valuable
and interesting department is that one devoted to the sketches of representative
citizens of this county whose records deserve preservation because of their
worth, effort and accomplishment. The publishers desire to extend their
thanks to the gentlemen who have so faithfully labored to this end. Thanks
are also due to the citizens of Walworth county for the uniform kindness with
which they have regarded this undertaking and for their many services ren-
dered in the gaining of necessary information.

In placing "Beckwith's History of Walworth County, Wisconsin," before
the citizens, the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out
the plan as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical sketch in the
work ha- been submitted to the part) interested, lor correction, and therefore
any error of fact, if there he any. is solel) due to the person lor whom the
sketch was prepared. Confident that our effort to please will fully meet the
approbation of the public, we are,

Respectfully.

THE PUBLISHERS.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I— PRE-GLACIAL EPOCH— GEOLOGY 25

Facts Derivable from Geological Surveys— Rock Measurements Underlying
Strata — Glaciers and their Traces.

CHAPTER [I— NATURAL FEATURES 29

Surface of the County — Heights Above Sen Level— Prairies, Openings and
Forests — Water Courses — Lakes ami Their Soundings Natural Products
Timber— Climate — A Memorable Season.

CHAPTER III— INDIANS— MOUNDS— GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 38

Indian Occupation — British Direcl Native Hostility -Black Hawk Chief Big
foot — Mounds and Relics — Geographical Names and Their Origin.

CHAPTER IV— SETTLEMENT OF THE OLD NORTHWEST 42

Conditions Surrounding First Settlers— Character of the Pioneers Birth-
places of Earliest Men of Walworth.

CHAPTER V— SURVEYS— GENEVA LAKE TROUBLE W

Contest at Lake Geneva — Christopher Payne Claim-marks Peace Restored
—Arrivals al Other Towns — The First Settler Contested claims Land Sales.

'CHAPTER VI— POLITICAL ORGANIZATION 53

Wisconsin Admitted to Statehood Location of Walworth County Organiza-
tion of Towns — Congressional and Legislative Districts Judicial Circuits.

CHAPTER VII— POLITICAL REPRESENTATION 58

First Representatives In the General Assembly- First County Officers First
Meeting of the Board of Commissioners- First Grand and iviit Jurors
Extracts from the Records.

CHAPTER VIII COUNTS BUILDINGS AND POOR FARM 64

Commissioners select Location for County Seat Firs! C a House Second

Court lions.- Second Jail and Register's Office Present Court House The
Present Jail -Fire Proof Vaults Care for the Poor.

CHAPTER IX- THE BENCH AND BAR 72

Hon. David Irvin— Journal of the First Day's Proceedings in Court Earlj
Jurors— Roll of Attorneys, 1839 18 Judges of the First Circuit Attorneys

from 1848 — Jury Commissioners.

CHAPTER X OFFICIAL ROSTER ">'■>

Eminent Men from Walworth Constitutional Conventions Probate Judges

— County Judges Court Commissioners State Senators Members of Assem
biy— Chairmen of Count] Board of Suiiervlsort Count] Clerks Count] Treas

CONTENTS.

urers — Sheriffs — Clerks of the Circuit Court — District Attorneys — Registers of
Deeds — County Surveyors — Superintendents of School — Superintendents of
Poor and Insane.

CHAPTER XI— DIVISIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES 97

Party Lines Clearly Drawn in Early Elections — Early Election Returns — Sub-
sequent Political Ratio — Progress of the Republican Party.

CHAPTER XII— MILITARY HISTORY OF WALWORTH 104

Territorial Militia — The Sixth Wisconsin Regiment — The Civil War — Response
to the President's Call for Soldiers — Wisconsin's Record — Aid Rendered by
Women and Non-Combatants — Grand Army of the Republic — Walworth
County Soldiers and Sailors' Association — Soldiers' Memorial Roll — Spanish-
American War — Enlisted Men from Walworth.

CHAPTER XIII— NOTEWORTHY INSTITUTIONS 158

Yerkes Observatory — State School for the Deaf — State Normal School — North-
western Military Academy.

CHAPTER XIV— WALWORTH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 170

Fair and Cattle Show, 1850 — Subsequent Fairs — Fair Grounds — Officers of the
Society.

CHAPTER XV— CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS 176

Early Religious Meetings — Organization of Churches — Baptist Statistics for
1909 — Other Denominations — Public Schools — Early Sentiment Strong for
Education — School Superintendence- — Present System.

CHAPTER XVI— ROADS AND RAILWAYS 183

Indian Trails — Highways Established by Legislature— Present System — Rail-
ways— Collapse of Some Early Railway Plans — Public Land Grants.

CHAPTER XVII— COUNTY HISTORICAL AND OLD SETTLERS SOCIETIES 193

Early Provisions for Preservation of Local History — Organization of Old Set-
tlers' Society — Officers of the Society— Incorporation of the Walworth County
Historical Society — Members.

CHAPTER XVIII LOCAL EDITORS AM' AUTHORS FINE ARTS 199

Writers of Earliest Countj History Occasional Writers — Newspaper Editors
Local Poets — Song Writers and Musical Composition — The Palette and
Brush — Oratory.

CHAPTER XIX MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OP INTEREST 209

Early Temperance Societies Saloon Licenses — Civic Societies — Freemasonry
Lodges, I'ast .nil] Present Other Societies -Turtle Creek Drainage l»istriet
Troj Drainage District Commissioner of Roads— Assessor of income Tax —

The Speculative spirit Melodrama in Court Early Educational Efforts

Early Teachers Noteworthy Events— Dairy interests Early Births Early

Marriages in Memoriam- Losses by Fire.

CHAPTER XX TOWN OF BL( ») >M l'l l-M.l > 226

Origin of Name Natural Features Agricultural Returns -Population — -First

Permanent Settlement Karly Families Civil-war Soldiers from Bloomfleld—

CONTENTS.

Town Officers — Genoa Junction — Religious Societies — Commercial Interests —
Village Organization.

CHAPTER XXI— TOWN AND VILLAGE OF DAKIEN 240

Area — Natural Features — Statistics — First Settlers in the Town — Early Growth
—Official Roster.

CHAPTER XXII— TOWN OF DELAVAN 248

One of the Original Civil Subdivisions — Natural Features- Land Area Pop-
ulation— Early Arrivals — Official Lists of Town and City.

CHAPTER XXIII— CITY OF DELAVAN 257

Colonel Phoenix, the Founder, and Other Early Business Men Hotels and
Taverns — Commercial Enterprises — Advent of Railroads — The Press — Religious
Societies — Educational Interests — Public Library — Water Works Fire Depart-
ment— Delavan Guards — Cities of the Dead — Official Roster Postoffice Historj
— Population.

CHAPTER XXIV— TOWN OF EAST TROY J72

Description — Natural Features — Land Area — First Settlers — Official Roster
Village of East Troy — Churches — Newspapers — Village Organization Posl
office — Public Houses — Business Items.

CHAPTER XXV— CITY OF ELKHORN 286

Speculative Enterprise — The Embryo City — Early Coiners— Additions to the
Village — Location and General Natural Features of the City Churches and
Schools — Business Interests — Banks and Bankers— Brick and Tile Making
Religious Societies — Newspapers — Public Utilities— Official Roster.

CHAPTER XXVI— TOWN OF GENEVA 316

Origin of Name— Description Natural Features Area Population Land
Office Patents — Early Settlers— Official Roster.

•CHAPTER XX \ II— CITY OF LAKE GENEVA 324

First Settlers at Geneva Lake— An Historic Contest and lis Outcome — Early
Owners of Land— Taverns and Hotels Other Early Comers Religious Socle
ties Early Business Men — Schools Newspapers ICoung Men's Christian Ass..
ciation — Public Libraries— Hanks Waterworks and Electric Lights Fishing
and Navigation— Cemeteries— The Lake Shore Village and City Charters
Official Rosters — Population and Valuation.

CHAPTER XXVIII TOWN OF LAFAYETTE 349

Description— Xat oral Features Agricultural Statistics and Valuation First
Immigrants— Land Entries— Well Known Names in IM'J Official Rostov,

CHAPTER XXIX- TOWN < >F LAGRANGE. :;:,T

Natural Features s..il First l.au.l Claim Other Immigrant Arrivals Land
Entries -Prominenl Pioneer Families Valuations und i roj Statistics Popu
lation -official Roster— Churches.

CHAPTER XXX TOWN OF LINN 366

Origin of Name Area Natural Features Crop Acreages first Settlers
Official Roster.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTEB XXXI -TOWN OF LYONS 372

Naming of the Town — Boundaries — Elevations — First Settlers — Immigrants
Of 1840 and Later Years — Village Of Lynns -Business : 1 1 m I Religious Interests
Village Platted— Village of Springfield: — Noteworthy Events — Statistics

Official Boster of the Town Bcliirioiis History— Postmasters.

CHAPTER XXXII— TOWN OF RICHMOND 384

Location— Natural Features— Education — The Pioneers and other Early Set-
tiers — The Nova Seotian Settlers— The Methodist Chinch— Farm Statistics

Population — Official Roster.

CHAPTEB XXXIII— TOWN OP SHARON 392

Location and Description — Crop Acreages — Population — The First Comers —
Laud Entries— Allen Grove— Noteworthy Events — Religious Societies— Official
Roster — Tillage of Sharon — Schools — Newspapers — Churches — Bank — Ceme-
tery— Towu Officers.

CHAPTER XXXIV— TOWN OF SPRING PRAIRIE K)5

Origin of Name — Primitive Condition of the Land— Streams — Land Area— Crop
Returns — Population— First Settlers* — Honey Creek— Vienna— Voree — Franklin

Early Village Business Interests —Religious Societies — Schools — Official

Roster.

CHAPTER XXXV— TOWN OF SUGAR CREEK U8

Name Derived from Local Industry— The First Settler— Other Pioneers— A
Well Known Early Tavern— Tibhets — Churches — Insurance— Land Area and
Crop Values — Population— Town Officers. Past and Present.

CHAPTER XXXVI— TOWN OF TROY I-'1

One of the Original Towns— Lakes and Water Courses— Land Area— Crop Re-
turns—Early Settlers— Village of Troy— Troy Center— Local Interests— May-
hew— Little Prairie — Adams— Official Roster.

CHAPTEB XNXYII TOWN OF WALWORTH *S7

Land Elevations— Streams— Geneva Lake— Land Area— Crop Statistics— Pop-
ulation—Early Settlers— Land Patents— Postoffices— Churches— Schools— Big
Foot Academy— Village of Walworth — Fontana — Williams Bay— Official

Roster.

CHAPTER XXXVIII TOWN OF WHITEWATER '•"'

Origin of Name Surface of the Land— Lakes and Streams— Land Area— Farm
Statistics The First Comets Land Sales — Live Stock Breeders — Official
Roster.

CHAPTEB XXXIX CITY OF WHITEWATER l,;"

Early Use of Water Power other Early Utilities— Town Organization Ad
vent of Railroads Business Enterprises Taverns and Hotels Banks and
Bankers Religious Societies Education Libraries Military History Public
Utilities Village Incorporation official Roster- Population.

CHAPTEB XL MAKEBS OF THE COUNT! ,s|

Biographical and Genealogical Notes of Early and Prominent citizens of Wal-
worth County.

BIOGRAPHICAL :,7:;

HISTORICAL INDEX

Adams 433

Agricultural Society 169

Allen's Grove 395

Art 207

Assemblymen 58, 84

Assessor of Income Tax 212

Attorneys. 1S.39 4S, 74

Attorneys from 1848 70

lt.i|it ist Societies 176

Bench and Bur 72

v,\n Foot Academy -442

Bigfoot, Chief 39

Biographical Sketches 481

Birthday of Walworth County 59

Birthplaces of Pioneers 44

Births, Early 217

Black Hawk 38

Bloomfield Center 231

Bloomfield, Town of 22»'.

Brick Clay 33

Care tor the Poor 71

Catholic Missionaries 177

Chairmen of Supervisors 87

Chicago & Northwestern it. K. iv~

Chicago, Mil. & St. P. K. It 191

chief Bigtool 30

Circull Court Clerks 92

Circuits, Judicial 56

city of Delavan 257

city of Blkhorn 286

city of Lake Genera 324

City Of Whitewater i60

Civic Societies 210

Chi j Products 33

Clerks. Couiltj 88

clerks of Cirenil Court 92

Climate 35

Colored Troops 155

Commissioner of UoadS 212

Commissioners' Journal 80

Commissioners' Records 61

Congregational Societies 177

Congressional Districts 54

Constitutional Conventions s"

Constitution, Votes on s"

Contest at Lake Geneva 16, 324

Coroners 91

county Agricultural Society 169

County Buildings 64

County Clerks vv

Connty Commissioners. First Meeting 59

County Historical Society 196

County House 71

County Judges s2

County Officers, First 59

c.Hinty Seal Located i;l

County Surveyors 98

County Treasurers sl'

Court Commissioners 82

Court, First Terra of 72

Court Bouse, Firsl 65

Court House. Present ,;s

Court Bouse, s ml 65

Creameries 217

Dairj Interests 217

I union. Town of 240

| 1,-af. Slate s. I I for _„___„ 160

Deaths, Early — 221

Delavan Churches 263

Delavan, City of 257

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Delavan Gu;irds 207

Delavan Newspapers 261

Delavan, Town of 24S

District Attorneys 92

Districts, Legislative 54

Di'ainage 31

Drainage Districts -11

Early Births 217

Early Deaths --1

Early Educational Efforts 214

Early Highways 184

Early Marriages 219

Early Teachers 214

Early Temperance Societies 209

Early Trails 1*4

East Troy, Town of - 272

East Troy Village 279

Editorship 195

Educational Convention Is"

Educational Efforts, Early 214

Eighteenth Infantry 134

Eighth Infantry 126

Electric Lines I'-'l

Eleventh Infantry 128

Elkhorn 286

Elkhorn Banks 296

Elkhorn Business Interests 295

Klkhorn Churches — 291

Elkhorn Located 64

Elkhorn Schools 293

Enlistments from Walworth 1L">

Episcopal I'. Irishes 177

Events of Note 215

Extracts from Commissioners' Iter
ords 61

Fair, the first - 169

Fifteenth Infantry 133

Fiftieth infantry 154

Fifth Battery -- ''-"-'

Fifth Infantry L25

Fifty-firs! Infanlr.x 154

Fifty-Second Infantry lot

Fire Losses 223

Fire proof Vaults 70

First and Third Batteries 122

First Assembly 58

First Cavalry 113

First Circuit, .Indies of 75

First County Officers 59

First Court House 65

First Fair 169

First Grand Jurors 73

First Heavy Artillery 120

First Infantry 124

First Petit Jurors ''■'■

First Settler 50

First Term of Court ~-

Fontana 445

Fortieth Infantry 146

Forty-eighth Infantry 152

Forty-fifth Infantry 150

Forty-fourth Infantry 150

Forty-ninth Infantry 152

Forty-second Infantry 1 (v

Forty-seventh Infantry 151

Forty-sixth Infantry 150

Forty-third Infantry 149

Fourteenth Infantry 133

Fourth Battery 122

Fourth Infantry-Cavalry 117

Franklin Postoffice H"-'

Free and Accepted Masons__ -I11

Genealogical Notes 481

Geneva Lake Contest 4(1. 324

Geneva, Town of :;"'

Genoa Junction 234

Geographical Names. 40

Glaciers 27

Grand Army of the Republic 210

Heights of Land 29

Honey Creek - •'"

Indian Names • '

Indian Occupation :;s

Indian Trails Is'

Irvin. David ''-'

HISTORICAL lNI'l V

Jail, Present U'J

Jail, Second 67

Judges S2

Judges of First Circuit 75

Judges of Probate 56, 82

Judicial Circuits 56

Jurors. First "::

Lafayette, Town of 349

Lagrange, Town of 357

Lake Geneva, City of o24

Lake Geneva Contest 46, 324

Lake Soundings 31

Lakes 31

Land, Heights of 2!»

Land Sales 51

Legislative Districts 54

Linn. Town of 366

Literature 2iM

Little Prairie 433

Location of County Seat 64

Location of Walworth County 53

Losses by Fire 223

Lutheran Churches 17s

Lyons, Town of 372

Lyons. Village of :!7.">

Makers of the County 481

Marriages, Early — 1'-»

Marshes 30

Masonry 210

Mayhew 432

Melodrama in Court 213

Members of Assembly 84

Memorable Season 36

Methodist Churches 178

Military Academy 168

Military History 1"!

Milwaukee & Mississippi R. R 1st;

Mounds 39

Natural Products :;:;

Nineteenth Infantry 134

Ninth Battery 122

Ninth Infantry 127

Normal School ii;i;

Noteworthy Events 215

Noteworthy Institutions 15S

Nova Scotinn Settlers 387

Officers, First County :.:i

Official Roster 7n

Old Settlers' Socletj .__ 193

Oratory 208

Original Towns 54

Peal 33

Pioneer Sketches 1M

Political Organization 53

Political Parties !>7

Political Representation 58

Poor Farm 71

Prairies 30

Pre-glacial Epoch L'o

Presbyterian Churches 177

Present Court House 68

Present Jail <>'.»

Presidents of Agricultural Society- 172

Probate Judges 56. 82

Public Schools IT'.i

Railways i 85

Ratio of Votes i"i

Records of Commissioners 61

Registers of Deeds 93

Relics 39

Religious organizations 17C

Representatives 58

Kb in I. Town of .'.si

Loads and Load -ma I; lng__« lsl

Rock Liver 80

Lock Strata 26

Sii I Commissioners, Work of 180

School for Deaf 160

HISTORICAL INDEX.

s.-i i Cavalry 114

Second Court House 05

Second Infantry 124

Second Jail. 67

Senators 83

Settlement of .Northwest 42

Settler, the First 50

Seventeenth Infantry 134

Seventh Battery 122

Seventh Infantry 125

Sharon, Town of . 302

Sharon, Village of 400

Sheriffs 90

Sixteenth Infantry 134

Sixth Battery 122

Sixtli Infantry 125

Sixth Wisconsin Infantry 104

snow Blockade 30

Soldiers' .Memorial Roll 112

Son- Writers 205

Spanish-American War 156

Speculative spirit 212

Spring Prairie, Town of 403

Springfield, Village of 377

State Normal School 166

Slate S.hoo! for I leaf 160

state Senators 83

Sugar Creek, Town of 4is

Superintendents of Poor and Insane... 95

Superintendents of Schools 94

Supervisors, Chairmen of s~

Surface of County 20

Surveyors 1 93

Swamp Lands 30

Teachers, Early 214

Tompci.inie Societies 209

Tentir Battery „_ 123

Tenth Infantry—: — 127

Third Cavalry 116

Third Infantry '. 125

Thirteenth Battery 123

Thirteenth Infantry 129

Thirtieth Infantry I 13

Thirty-eighth infantry 146

Tidily fifth Infantry 144

Tinny first Infantry 143

Thirty-fourth Infantry 144

Thirty-ninth Infantry ltd

Thirty-second Infantry 143

Thirty-seventh Infantry 145

Thirty-sixth Infantry 144

Thirty-third Infantry 144

Timber 34

Town of I'.loomtield 220

Town of Darieu 24l>

Town of Delavan 248

Town of Bast Troy 272

Town of Geneva 31G

Town of Lafayette -">4!>

Town of Lagrange 357

Town of Linn 366

Town of Lyons 372

Town of Richmond 3S4

Town of Sharon 392

Town of Spring Prairie 405

Town of Sugar Creek 41S

Town of Troy 126

Town of Walworth t.:7

Town of Whitewater I'd

Treasurers, County 89

Troy Center . 431

Troy Drainage Ditch 211

Troy. Town of 426

Troy Village '- 430

Turtle Creek Drainage District 211

Twelfth Infantry 129

Twentieth Infantry 135

Twenty-eighth Infantry 130

Twenty-fifth Infantry i L39

Twenty-fourth infantry 13!>

Twenty-ninth infantry 143

Twenty-second Infantry 135

Twenty-seventh infantry 139

Twenty-sixth infantry 139

Twenty-third Infantry L39

Vaults, County 70

Henna 110

Village of Eas( Troj 279

Village of Lyons 375

Village of Sharon h">

Village of Springfield -"'77

Village of Troy 430

HISTORICAL [NDEX.

Voree . 410

Votes on Constitution 80

Votes, Ratio of 10]

Walworth County, Location 53

Walworth County Agricultural So-
ciety 16!)

Walworth County Soldier and Sailors'

Association 111

Walworth. Town of 487

War Meetings 107

Water Courses 30

Whitewater, City of 160

Whitewater, Town of i~>i

Williams Bay 146

Wisconsin Centra) R. E 189

Wisconsin Troops 107

Writers of Local History !!)!»

YerUes Observatory 158

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

Abbott, Francis X 655

Abell, Stephen B S06

Ackley, Albert H 1136

Adkins, Henry DeL 59S

Adsit, Miley '■''■"''

Agern, John 750

i. Francis G 1119

Allen, George 914

Allen, George R vr'T

m, John S S53

. Walter 913

Allvn. Alexander IT 1046

Alr'ick, A. K 12T9

Utenburg, Charley E 1 I |s

Amborn, Anion H 954

Ames. Erastus H 1":;'

Andrus, Francis T 1005

Arnold, Cassius F '-'Is

Atkinson, Josephus 1 ' '-'

Ayer, Edward E 1 |v:>

Ayers, Henry W ,;|s

•k. James w.

er, Charles II

i: er, Harvey

B ker, Louis C '■'7:;

Baker, S'u n F 1406

Barfield, Josiah n ";

Barker, D. B. 1 IT'

B: Dwight B 924

Barnes, Henry D l,l":

Barrett,]

Bartholomew, Arthur H 1435

Baumann, B. J ''",

Baumbach, William, Jr l"sl

Beach, Benjamin H

I-., ch, William W 1382

Bciirdsley, Hern !,

Albert 1351

kwith, Albert i '. :'";;

■s, Willi. mi 1437

Hiram s. 1072

Bennett, Francis A. I 159

Beseeker, Charles <> L0

Best, William F ,;,;'

Bill, Benjamin .1 90S

Bilyea, Clarence E.. - v,;l

Bhn kman, Charles VI. ss"

Bloi dg I, Fred R. 1205

in, F. -I. '•"•'■':'

Bollinger, Daniel "-"

Bollinger, Jacob ss:'

788

i. John W.

Boyle, Henry ' 1:;:;

hazou, Charles S. '"',

Bradley, Henrj :,v:'

Bradley, William W

Brennan, John C. (;-'

Brett, James E

Briggs, Herman A ' ' '-'

Brigham, Emerson A. 1283

tol, C. R. 941

H r '-""

Brown, Albert '•'•''-'

,. Emerj J.

Brown, George W. '308

Brown, James, Jr. ' ,sl

Brown, Lewis G.

Brown, William C

Brown, William v:;'

Bin i i i r: nklin A. " '

II, Henry C '■'"'•

Bullock, Arthur G.

Bm o y\

Burdlck. Hugh A. " >■"■

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Burgit, James D 1450

Burns, Carlos H 1407

Burton, Charles R 1355

Burton, John E 100S

Busbman, John M79

Camp, James II 70L

Campbell, Lewis A 1075

Carey, Julian M 668

Ceylon Court 004

Chapin, John 652

Chatfield, Seneca B 997

i ihlld, James 142:;

( Ihristie, George 13:27

Church, Cyrus 933

Church, Leonard C 1136

Church, Ray C S95

Clancey, Lawrence 1452

Clark, Charles M 1192

Clark. John D 138S

( 'line, Leopold 1104

Clohisy, Arthur 730

Coates, Oscar 1' 1399

Cobb, Robert C 636

Coburn, Addison A 1 ^u 1

Cocroft, Harry E 688

Cocroft, Joseph E 698

Colbo, John 845

Colburn, Archibald 822

Conley, Stephen E 966

Conry, Bernard 958

Cook, l>. S. 127]

look. Franklin J 1471

Cock. Lewis L 1263

Cook. Seymour A (175

Cooley, Rufus 1256

Coon, Harlow \1. 1310

Cooper, Charles S 1321

Cowles, Elmer E 1070

Cowles, Fred D 1036

Cox, William J i__1282

Crandall, George B 875

Crane. E. .1. limo

Crites, J. L 1457

Crumb, George A 1274

Crumb, Russell E 896

Curran, .lames s < >s i

< lurtls, Levi is L363

Curl is, Walter 076

Cusark, Frank 681

Cusack, John 1481 >

Cusack, M. E . 134S

Dalrymple, Hilas H 950

Dalton, Henry J 1143

Davidson, Ebenezer iv.V2

Davis, .lames B 13(13

Davis, Ruthford D 1301

Dawley, William J 14n3

Delaney, .John W 1390

DeLong, William E 1482

Denison, Edmund D '■'.('•

Denison, John W 1228

Derthick, John II 1157

Desing, August F 734

Desing, John 749

Dewire, M. V 955

DeWitt, William H 1198

1 lickerman, Walter 1430

Dickinson, .Nathan 899

I lodge, Eugene 1170

Doolittle, .lames B 1028

Dopke, Charles II 1078

Douglass, Carlos L 1376

Douglass, Carlos S 1362

Douglass, Horace G 574

Drake, Brewster B 1029

Dunham, David T lis::

Dunham, George. 991

I Minn. Edward K 836

1 num. Patrick 1069

Dunphy, John 1122

Karnes, Francis II 587

Ebert, Ferdinanl 1428

IVkerson. Willis 1) 1339

Ells. C. W 1280

Ells. F. W 1280

Ells, George W 852

Ellsworth, Fred L 1379

Ellsworth, Stewart D 1383

I'.iigeliretsen. Edward lL'l'l

Erwin, William A 840

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Faiivhild, Daniel 710

Faircbild, David L 1163

Fairchild, Nelson 713

Featherstone, Marshall M F'.'-'t;

Febry, William 855

Fellows, Theodore A 715

Fellows, Timothy H L_ 703

Ferry, Chester A 1019

Fish, Charles R 11S1

'Fish. Howard E 1319

Fish, Jasper M 816

Fish. .Silas B 1090

Flack. John G 791

Fleming, Charles G 1148

Foote. Lucien A 68 1

Foster, Asa 1369

Fountaine, Charles 13S7

Francis, Henry :i|>

Francisco, Newton O IT-"1

Fraser, Alexander 1444

Fraser, James W 1447

Freeman. Arthur H 1022

French, Charles S 825

Frey, Jacob C 1113

Frieker, Alfred H ' 819

Fryer, John H 1218

Funic, John L 1440

Gage, Charles H si^

Garbutt, John 810

Gates, Charles M ^-,;

Gavin, James L 805

Gibbs, Charles B L232

Gifford, Ezra 642

Goelzer, John sss

Goff, Sidney C :''-':'

Gould, Jay B 1340

Graydon, John R ' 154

Greene, Charles P ' '"'•'

Greene, Porter . 1358

Grunewald, John ^:;:'

Hat's. Andrew \V.
Hall, John

|S.,

93S

Halverson Bros. Co 1240

Halverson, G 1240

Halverson, 11. L 1241

Halverson, M. G 1240

Halvorsen, II. T 668

Hamilton, Herbert O 1276

Hammersley, William II., Sr 848

Hanson, Albert M 1208

Harmon, William 1401

Harrington, George L 872

Harrington, Grant D 1062

Harris, John H 000

Hatch, Hobart M 687

Hatch, Seymour ft 708

Hawes, I.. Edmund 1216

Heagman, Albert S 1352

Helling, Carl 1394

Henderson, John F 1264

Henn, Frank L 905

Hennessey, James 992

Hibbard, Elijah T 865

Higbee, William S 963

Higgins, Francis M 789

High, Charles 706

Hitchcock, Amos H - 1243

Hodges, William 1 121

Hoffman, John II 640

Hoge, aii..-i 1 712

Holcomb, Willis P 1083

Hollister, G. Hart 1139

Hollister, J. J 1203

lb, IN. way. W. V; B 659

Holmes, Russell ''-'■'•

Honian, Bartholomew 643

Hooper, Edmund J r,s|

Host, Ernest J U45

Host, Walter R 680

Hubbard, Frank A 1127

Hurey, George W 1285

Ilnth II. nth 1472

Hutton, Co,, iirc 1366

[ngalls, Jerome l|,;,;

Infills, Join, I' U85

S,l, It"

[saac, Morris 1149

[ves, Clinton F. :'n|

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Jennings, John T 731

Johnson, David D 112S

Johnson, Edgar M 1088

Johnston, William H 844

Kachel, John C 1215

Kachel, T. A 1219

Kellogg, George O 727

Kendrick, Ansel H 1049

Kimball, Henry 686

Kimball, Lewis A 672

King, Oscar A 149]

Kinne, Edward 1261

Kinyon, William C 630

Kiser, F. Henry 1204

Ki slmer. George 1286

Kizer, Fernando C 1230

Kline. Philip 959

Kneiert, diaries 1002

Kniep, Peter 1477

Knutson, Knute G 1007

Kohn, John "::•_'

Kohn, Lawrence C Tin

Kohn, Phillip IT 747

Koeppen, William ini'

Krahn, August 1195

Krause, August 697

Kroenke, Carl F 1458

Krohn, Bernhard A 1026

Hull. Andrew 592

Knll. Charles J 798

Knl I. Grover 1116

Knll, .T.'lm M 1079

L
I i l:.ir, Daniel E L039

i ickey, Thomas 129S

Ladd, i>ren E 923

Lake, Elder Phipps W 936

I nl e ■ iem < i Sanitariums 1490

Lav I rles 7S4

Lawson, Frank E 813

Lawson, John 891

Lawton, Herbert X 1020

■ ' Roberl J 751

Lean. Thomas E 1209

Ledger, Walter E 092

Lindsay, H. E 1210

Lockwood, William H 832

Long, Hugh D 878

Loomer, Isaac S 1191

Loveland, Treasure K 1397

Lowell, Angevine D 980

Luedtke, August 620

Lyon, Jay F 576

McCabe, ciiarles 1316

m.i ai.e. Richard 131 S

McDougall, John S 800

McKenzie, Frank 1 163

McKinney, A. E 871

M. Milieu. Robert G 1269

Maas, Jacob 1096

Mack, diaries W 1391

Halany, Legrand F 1162

Mallory, Henry I 1123

Malsch, Fred—! s;:i

Malsch, Herman ~s7

Markel, William J 906

Mail in, .Miss Helen 612

Martin. James 'I" L0I

Massey. William E 682

Matheson, Alexander E 654

Matheson, Donald F 1373

Matheson, John 645

Watteson, Cyrua A 826

Mayer, John 1403

Mayhew, Milton M 842

Maxon, Austin C 1331

Maxon, .Jesse G 1335

Maxon, Nathan D 1040

Meadows, John G 1115

Means, James loo I

Meister, enslave 618

Melges, August- i

Mereness, Clarence v:'"

Mereness, llemau 799

Merwin, George II

Millar. Edward 920

Miller, Edward 701

BIOGR APHICAT. INDEX.

MiUer, Louis 1243

Miller. William 1 1131

.Mills. OTlin H 1455

Mitchell, Benjamin F 846

Mitchell, John 143S

Mohr. Henry 918

Moore, Frank S 793

Moran, Martin 856

Morgan, John I 965

Morrison, Smith B 742

Morrissey, Maurice 1 165

Mott, Alfred SS6

Munson, Charles H S93

Nicholas, Father James 624

Nichols, Levi A 594

Nokes, Albert J 879

Norris, Harley C 1084

North, Charles H 638

Norton. William C 1060

Nott, Charles H 1266

O'Brien, Harold X 1257

O'Dell, l.armer G 1130

O'Leary, Arthur 1446

ule 1393

■ .ti.l. Joseph II 951

e, Edward 1> L260

Page, Jay W H71

Palmer, Alexander s 910

Palmer, Byron S. 628

Palmer, Edwin E 650

Palmer, William E tin

Papenfus, Emil S64

Parker, B. Ii 1207

Passage, William T 1043

ce, George D 677

Peck, Charles i. 614

I'- k, George P 1396

Pendergast, John W 1167

rs, Edward A 1247

Peterson, Albert E. 662

Peterson, Alraon L 690

Peterson, Miss Anna Pi's

Peterson, Elmer A 1238

Peterson, Michael X L307

Peterson, Peter ptl:

Peterson, Peter <; s-i

Pelrie. Klry C- 7-1

Phelps. Sherman P .1465

Phillips, 11. 1' 917

Phillips. Lewis 1' 1024

Phillips, Volney D 1024

Pierce. II PeloS 1

Pohl, John L389

Porter, Doric C 1325

Porter, Lester C 1323

Potter, Charles E 1213

P.. Her, Charles H 862

Poller, Joseph 1 162

Powers, Richard 602

Pramer, fc'remom P 981

Price, Edwin G 691

PrudameS, Charles a 957

Puller, George E L419

Pugh, Thomas II 976

Plirdy, Perry 1.. 1269

Randall, George E 1475

Randall, William P l"77

Rauney, Perry C 987

Reader, I ■•■ i John 1342

Reader, John P. 1035

Render, J. -I 882

Redenius, -l. IP 828

Reek, -i: - S. 7ni

Reinert, Edward C 795

Reiuert, Malcb & Baumbacb L270

Rentier, John

Rej aolds, Benoni i »..

Reynolds, Ji < i;,;'

Reyuolds, Merriotl B,

i ,is. Horace S ,;l"

piiini , ■ i

Rivers, Jo '

Robers, Henrj v.

Robinson, Alh - 1 -

Rockwell, Henry- 1242

Rockwell, LeGrand, Jr - 1159

Rockwell I I Sr, U60

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Rodawalt, Stephen 1253

Rodman, Andrew J 047

Rodman, WillanI 902

Rogers, Harold, H 1184

Romare, Oscar E 1293

Ross, Bion C SOS

Ruehlman, Christian F. W 1245

Russell, John 1054

Russell. Thomas 1054

Sage, Chancy L 1045

Salisbury, Albert 779

Schmidter, Nathaniel 1441

Schulz, Julius F. W 960

Schulz, William 1111

Schutt, Herman los7

Schwartz, John A i:;44

Seaver, William r 1346

Seymour, John V 1187

Sharp, John 1030

Shaver, Henry J 1412

Sherman, Curtis II 663

Sherman, Ervin O 889

sikes. Charles A. 894

Skeels, John G 025

skiii. Benjamin F 1182

Smith, Allien E 1140

Smith, Alfred D L370

Smith, Alfred J 616

Smith, ( barles a 1420

Smith, Airs. Elizabeth if 887

Smith, Esefc I >. 1180

Smith, Fred J.__.. 982

Smith, George II 1432

Smith, Herman F 1164

Smith, Oliver I.. :i.",i

Smith, Richard S74

Smnk. Adam 829

Snyder, John II.. Jr 583

Southwick, Oliver. P. 12S7

Southwick, William II !>71

Spaight, John I ici

Spensley, Mrs. Eliza 1337

Spensley, Robert i;::'.s

Sporbeck, G 'ge W. 1277

Sprackllng, Charles v. n. 1226

Stafford, Samuel II. 796

Stam, Joseph L295

Stanford, DeWitt 1086

Starin, Frederick J 1212

Stoneall, Joseph 695

Stopple, Herman I 1171

Stopple, Isaac. Jr 1099

Stopple, Isaac, Sr 1112

Stork, Albert 1474

Stradinger, Oottlob J 1405

Stubbs, Charles H 1117

Stupfell, .1. P. 967

Snessmilch. Ernst L. von 1173

Sumner, Charles B 11T>1

Sutherland. Herbert E 1056

Swartz, Oliver P 1468

Tappen, George T 720

Taylor, Benton B 1385

Taylor, George G 1025

Taylor, Guy M 11GS

Taylor, John H 1095

Taylor. Ora P !>7l

Taylor, William T 978

Teetshorn, Fern S 851

Terrace, Otto Y S33

Thayer, Henry E iniil

Thiele, Henry F 1222

Thomas, R. II 940

Thorpe, .lames ,i X476

Tobin, John T 1171

Trail. Ralph 1235

Tubbs, Willis J 1092

Tuft, 1 'avid 12-"i2

Turner, Thomas W 1375

Tyrrell, William H ln;,i

Filer. Clarence F 1272

Filer. John W 129]

Van siy.-k. George W 802

Van Volzer. George M 1315

\ .mVelzor. Philander K 1100

Vnitz. Herman. 1068

V.'SS, .Inllll G 1400

Voss. John 1 1 1 in

BIOGRAPHICAL [NDEX.

Wade, Henry II 1312

Wagner, John 1105

Walker, Oliver II 622

Walsh. Frank U ^,;

Walters, Eugene A 921

Walworth State Hank 820

Watrous, Edward B 1360

Weaver, Silas K 1328

Webb, Sylvester T 1179

Webster, Joseph P 1152

Weeks, -Mrs. Esther Ann 1268

AYeeks. Lewis S 1269

W.-eks. Martin W 1125

Weeks, Spencer 1107

Weeks, Wilbur G 1102

Welnhoff, Father John J 1104

Welch. John 860

Welch, Seymour II 1-:'L

Weld. John W 1248

Welsher, II. J 94:6

Wendt, Frederick 1 l-"'l

Wost. Ernest A 835

West, Frank l"-::

Wost. Mark H 1367

West, Walter A 724

Westphall, Charles D 1 1":;

Wheeler. Isaac I' 898

While. Edgar E 1296

White. Henry H 656

White, Jay II 1384

Whiting, William H 700

Wilcox. Thomas II 7::-~

Wilear, William H 1469

Ins, Albert 1' 812

Williams. Charles M 1201

Williams. Edward E 578

Williams. F. H 1233

Willi:. Mt-. Royal J L416

Williams, Thomas F !>l-

Williams. William 11. 1259

\\ iiiiamson. Andrew 1033

Wilmer, August 1 133

w ilmer, Bernard ' l-"'1

Wilmer, Charles B L427

Wilson. John G 1334

Winn, Henry 1278

Winn. John II 1003

Winter, Charles 949

Winter. Frederick C 1353

Wisconsin Butter & Cheese Co. — 590

Wiso. Jonas B s|v

Wiswell, Charles II 1233

\v ieoi c '

Wormood, Frederick E 746

Wright, Benjamin F 1313

Wright, Merrick 868

Wurth, Charles H 1"'-'l

Wyiio. George W 1426

Wylie, Herbert F 1424

Zaspel, oiio R._ ' W7

Zuiii. David E 1229

OUT-L_jrsJE; MAP OF"

WAILWSRTIK) ©©TOW, WIK

JEFFES5QIN COUNTY

state: of- illinoi:

HISTORICAL

CHAPTER I.

PRE-GLACIAL EPOCH — GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS.

A few of the more plainly told facts or statements derivable from the
state and federal geological surveys may at least provisionally account for
the present face of Walworth county. In a prc-glacial age (its beginning
and end not to be more nearly estimated in calendar years than arc Mar dis-
tances in statute miles) the rock floor of the southern tiers of Wisconsin
counties was of latest formation and uplifting from the dark waste of waters.
As to that backward-stretching segment of eternity, geology is at one with
Genesis: "The earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon
the face of the deep." At the beginning of the period called "eocene" —
morning of life — and by American writers also named Laurentian, an almost
solitary island of granite or crystalline rock's, in outline a mdely made V,
covered most of Labrador, a large part of Quebec and Ontario, and the more
northerly province of Kewatin. It had its lower point near the southern
shore of Lake Superior, and it enclosed between its arms a larger I tudson's
bay.

Apparently rent from uthern point was a much mallei md,

lying mostly within the present limits o consin, bul including pari

the upper Michigan peninsula. Thus early began the relation hip of thi
states, ending geographically and politically in [836. Besides th<

iller islands, and excepting the two relatively narrow 1 rked

the lines of the Appalachian and the Rock) Mountain systems, .-ill on tl
tinent. from Alaska to Panama. an unlighted, fishless, innavigabh

The rocky materials of the 1 Ided

and in other ways distorted by upheaval, and. perhaps, b; ub-

nce, rose to far greater heights than arc now I 1 be seen on earth. II
high they wen- is only inferred by widely varying
but uncertain depth and breadth the later sedimentary and cal

26 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

posits formed by nature's continent-making agencies, in great part, at least,
from the disintegrated and recomposed materials of those overtowering ranges
and peaks. The thickly-shrouding vapors which had long shut out the light
of sun and stars were condensed to water that gathered itself into destructive
torrents, and the acid-laden atmosphere waited like an obedient servant upon
the spirit of the flood. There were other helps doubtless, but their dim
and confused record is best translated or hypothetically explained by patiently-
observing and ingeniously-conjecturing geologists.

When the solid foundation was laid the surface of the county was left
far from even. At several points within the county borders the upper-
lying rock has been found, by measurement of deep wells, at heights above
sea level ranging say. between 480 and 870 feet — or from 100 feet below to
nearly 300 feet above the level of Lake Michigan. Great variation of
height has been found at points but a mile or less apart. The bottom of
the low-lying pre-glacial Troy valley was found at 480 to 500 feet; in East
Tro_\ and Spring Prairie at 530 to 820 feet; in Lyons and Bloomfield at 643
to 8 11 1 feel : in Troy and Lafayette at 480 to 840 feet: in Geneva and Linn at
700 to 870 feet : in LaGrange and Whitewater at (:>6^ to 850 feet; in Sugar
Creek and Richmond at 600 to 830 feet: in Darien and Sharon at 780 to
810 feel : in Delavan and Walworth at 500 to 800 feet; at Elkhorn 810 feet.
These measurements, though too few and perhaps too inexact for a sailing
chart, may show that the following glacial movements and meltings left the
surface of the county much better graded for its present uses. An ideal
column of under lying strata, as shown by the state's geologist is. in order
of til

1. Granite or crystalline rocks.

2. Huronian (iron-bearing) rocks.

3. Potsdam sandstone.

4. Lower magnesian limestone.

5. St. Peter's sandstone.

6. Trenton and < ralena limestone.

7. Cincinnati (Hudson River) shale.

8. Niagara limestone.
11. ( facial drift.

For more than one-half of the county the Niagara stratum is wanting,
and. as depicted on geological charts* a ribbon-like belt of Cincinnati shale
(dipping toward Lake Michigan 1 divides it from the Trenton and Galena
formation. The shale bell reaches from the Illinois line, by way of Linn

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 2J

and Walworth town-line, to the Troys, whence its course is toward the north
east corner of the eastern town.

It is not to be known how many ice sheets have successivel} covered
some part or all of the county's area, but the so-named Green Bay and Lake
Michigan glaciers brought the lower loop of the great Kettle moraine into
the northern part of Lagrange and Whitewater. An attendant or soon fol-
lowing offshoot of the latter-named glacier moved across Milwaukee. Wau-
kesha, Racine and Kenosha counties and the lake-shore counties of Illinois,
and formed the Valparaiso moraine, which reached from Waukesha county
to Porter county, Indiana, having Burlington in its line of invasion. A spur
or branch, now named the Delavan lobe of the Lake Michigan glacier, was
pushed across Walworth, covering most of its southern half and its north-
western quarter, and meeting the Milton and Johnstown moraines of Rock
county westward and the Marengo drift southward. Delavan lake and its
outlet divides this lobe, and hence the Darien and Klkhorn moraines. I
charts also show a conjectural Genoa moraine less plainly indicated, bul nol
improbable.

The latest and most likely greatest of these invading and overwhelming
ice sheets found here its southmost limit. The arrested mass, heavily
weighted with the abundant and various spoils of its northern conquests,
began the long period of its dissolution. As it slowly dropped its burden of
clay, sand, gravel, pebbles, and boulders its rising torrents found or forced
their outlets by the winding ways of the present creeks, the valleys of which
are now far wider than needful to carry gulfward the little floods of spring
and autumn. To the action of moving and melting glaciers is .ascribed the
sent contour of the county. It may be supposed that the irregular sur-
face of the latest rock deposits turned and in other ways affected the general
course of the glacier across the county, and that fragments of the e ocl
were borne along from the eastern side of the county to be dropped in
and counties lying some miles westward. It is even imaginable that the
tremendous force of the moving mass -tripped the western part of the
county of it- Niagara stratum, for such effeel el ewhen are attributed to
such cause. It is also possible that the Elkhorn moraine was formed later
than the parallel Darien moraine, as the melting mass presented the aspect of
a body retreating with its face to the front. x lorn

about a quarter of the county is covered with the earlier moraines, the i
terials far-brought from the north and mixed with a large portion of pebbles

and mud torn and ground from nearer-lying rocks. Something coi We

was added from the outwash of the last g I In drift deposit

28 WALWCRTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

has been found of greatly varying depth ; as at Elkhorn about 275 feet ; at
points of the Darien moraine from 400 to 600 feet; at Yerkes Observatory
(in Walworth) 405 feet; at adjacent points in southeastern Rock county
40 to 100 feet.

It can not be said with strong assurance that nature's tremendous form-
ative work is yet finished for this county. The earthquake vibration of
[908, so distinctly perceived at Chicago, Aurora, and other points not farther
away, were also felt for an instant here — barely felt, but unmistakably. It
is probable that no place between the poles, whatever its latitude, is wholly
and forever exempt from the action of cosmic or of subterranean forces,
though man very reasonably believes that this earth, if not made ex-
pressly for his home, has been made generally habitable for him. The dwel-
lers of Walworth do not as yet feel as insecure as if they had chosen their
homes at the foot of the Andes.

CHAPTER II.

SURFACE OF THE COUNTY AND OTHER NATURAL FEATURES.

At the appearance of human life the surface of the county must have
been well drained of its greater floods, its higher ridges settled and com-
pacted, and all that was not covered with water overspread with many forms
of vegetable growth — subsistence for many forms of lower animal life.
Walworth is but a small segment of the great area of the upper Mississippi
vallev and the region of the great lakes, and its superficial aspect is in most
respects that of the greatly favored belt of southern Wisconsin and northern
Illinois. There is nowhere within the county a height that, except in loose
local habit of speech, can be called a hill. Neither are there deep-lying, twi-
lighted gorges, or other features of nature in her more imposing or more
wanton character.

HEIGHTS ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

A few official barometrical measurements, in feet above sea level, may
give a fair notion of the upper and lower limits of unevenness. Railway sta-
tions, at which most of these observations were taken, are usually on lower
ground than their villages, and somewhat variable figures are shown in dif-
ferent tabulations. For instance, the height of Lake Michigan is set down
at 578 feet and also at 580 feet above sea level.

Allen Grove (old station) 871 Honev Creek (village) 816

Allen Grove (new station) .... 918 Lake Beulah I station) 825

Bardwell S07 Lake I ;ene\ a ( cit] 1 878

Darien 946 Lyons 1 station) 800

Delavan 807 Mayhew (station) 865

Duck Lake (or Lake Como) . . 848 Sharon 1028

East Troy 850 Springfield 848

Elkhorn (station) 996 Spring Prairie 920

Elkhorn (northwestern corner) [137 [>o '

Elkhorn (city) 1031 Wal >n) to

Fayettevile 864 Whitewater

leva 1 point on section 19) . . 1149 Yerkes Observatory o

Geneva Lake 852 Z ration) 9§7

30 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

PRAIRIES, OPENINGS AND FORESTS.

The prairies are nowhere boundless to the eye, and, but for small areas,
nowhere quite level or greatly rolling! The primitive forests, with tangled
undergrowth, reached no great distance backward from the margins of
lakes and banks of creeks. Timber-openings limited and were limited by
the prairies, and this both agreeably and usefully to pleasure-loving and
profit-seeking man. The barren gravel knolls are few and conveniently
distributed. The marshes were usually small, and several of these have
been drained. The largest was that part of Honey Creek valley locally
known as Troy marsh, in southern sections (square miles) of that town:
and Turtle Creek marsh, in the eastern sections of Richmond.
Both of these have contracted their area and both will soon be added
to the acreage of dairy land. Pursuant to an act of Congress.
September 28. 1850, relating to reclamation of swamp and overflowed lands
unfit for cultivation, a patent signed by President Pierce, December 13,
1856, granted to Wisconsin all such lands remaining unsold at passage of
that act. Proceeds of sales from these lands are invested for the benefit of
the State University. Tracts of this description selected in Walworth
count) were in the following named towns:

liloomfield, parts of sections S, 24 'i6o acres

East Troy, parts of sections 13, 14 80 acres

Lafayette, parts of sections 4, 8 281.28 acres

Lyons, part of section 29 40 acres

Richmond, parts of sections 22, 23, 24, 26 1200 acres

Sugar Creek, parts of sections 19, 20, 21 443-1 acres

Whitewater, part of sections 34, 35 80 acres

2284.38 acres

WATER COURSES.

Rock river, flowing southward through the county of the same name,
and thence to the Mississippi, and Fox river, flowing in like direction to the
same destination through the counties of Racine and Kenosha, receive all
the drainage of Walworth. The great divide, for the most part, lies nearly
diagonally southwest and northwest, along the great moraine. Honey
creek and Sugar creek run by nearly parallel courses — the former from La-

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. g]

grange across the Troys, thence southward to section 13, Spring Prairie,
where it joins the latter within a few rods of the county line, and meets the
Fox near Burlington. Sugar creek rises in a marsh near Richmond and
crosses the towns of Sugar Creek. Lafayette and Spring Prairie.

The outlet of Geneva lake is rather grandly named White river and is
joined in Lyons by the outlet of Duck lake, ending its crooked course at
the city of Burlington. Three streams, the west, northwest and northeasl
branches of the Nippersink, meet a little above Genoa Junction and reach the
Fox a few miles below Richmond, Illinois. The west branch conies out of
Linn, crossing and recrossing the state line. The other branches are whollj
in Bloomfield. The northeast branch is an outlet of Powers lake and its
little companion lakes, lying along the border of Kenosha county.

Most of the town of Whitewater is drained by the creek of that name.
which rises near the Richmond line, flows northward, becomes near the city
a pair of connected ponds, and, passing into Jefferson county, reaches the
Rock by way of Bark river. Turtle creek rises in Richmond, receives the
1 rharge from Delavan lake outlet, crosses Darien (leaving the count) near
Allen Grove), finds its way to the Rock near Beloit, having crossed the
towns of Bradford and Turtle. More than one half of the drainage of
Elkhorn reaches the Turtle by way of Delavan lake inlet and outlet. The
inlet has but a short course, in northern Geneva and Delavan, south of Elk-
horn, and among its names have been Wallings, Phillips, and Jackson's creek.
Straight southward through Sharon and near its eastern line runs the
Piskasaw, which crosses the state line, traverses McHenry and B01
counties to merge itself in the Rock in southeastern Winnebago. Thus by
;t- streamlets, once mighty glacial torrents, Walworth is joined to all the
oceans between pole and pole.

LAKES AND TI! EIB 01

The lake region of southeastern Wisconsin includes the counties of
Dane, Jefferson, Kenosha. Racine, Walworth and Waukesha. The larg
of the Walworth lakes are Geneva, Delavan, the Lauderdale group,
and P.eulah, all of which have been made known beyond the county
borders, by the tongues and pens of men, Mad Longfellow been provi-
dentially guided to one or all of fhese lake- he mighl have added plea antly,
if not greatly, to his "poems of places." He may have felt thai local pi
have rightly some precedence here, and these well bel od 'he lyric

muse have neither i : nor flagrantly abused their heaven-senl opp

32 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

tunities. The other lakes, in impartial order of alphabet, are: Army, Bass,
Booth, tun <''>ii]i>>. 1 1 olden' s, Lulu, Mud, Pell's, Pleasant, Potter's, Rus-
sell's (or Otter), Ryan's, and Silver. Of these, Pleasant is associated in
many minds with the Lauderdale chain, and Army, Booth and Mud with
Beulah. Power's lake, in Kenosha county, has one long shore, with enough
water to keep its pebbles clean, in Bloomheld. A smaller lake (Middle) has
an end in Bloomfield and a third (Lower) is wholly in that town, and these
two lead the waters of Powers to the Nippersink.

As far as is known to the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History
Survey, of all the inland lakes of the state, the deepest is Green lake, in the
county of that name, jjj feet. The next deepest is Geneva lake, and in the
clearness and coolness of its water it has no rival. Its surface is 860 feet
above sea level, ami 282 feet above Lake Michigan. Its length is about seven
and live-eighths miles and its area 8.6 square miles. Its very variable width is
shown by the table below, the results of nearly six hundred soundings taken
on nine lines measured across the ice from shore to shore. The length of
these lines and the deepest sounding along each are thus given, beginning near
the head 01" the lake :

Miles Feet Deep

Marengo Park to Fresh Air Association 1.3 102.7

Cook's Camp to Camp Collie 1.1 142.0

1 ok's Camp to Williams Bay Pier 2.0 '40.7

I 'ark to Cedar Point 1.1 123.3

Across mouth of Williams Bay 0.8

Black Poinl to Cisco Bay 1.1 ui.o

\t the Narrows 0.5 75.4

I'oii' , in. a little west of Button's Bay. .. . 1.4 71.5

Vlanning's Poinl to opposite shore 0.8

! lelavan lake is nearh three and three-fourths miles long and its average

widl iurths of a mile. Its ar.-a is j.7 square miles. It> great-

ei 1 known depth is 56 7 feet. For the greater part of its area it is more than

feel deep and little of it 1.'-- than ten to twenty feet.

The measurements and computations for Beulah ami its companion

are shown thus:

Booth Lake Greatest depth. 25.4 feet; area. 125 acres

Beulah Lake —

Upper Greatest depth, 67.0 feet; area. 260 ai

Hind Greatest depth, 40.0 feet: area. [GO acres

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 33

Lower ( Nearest depth, 54.2 feet ; area, 550 acres

Mill Greatest depth, 51.5 feel ; area. 6i ai

East Troy Lake (Army) Greatest depth, [6.8 feet; area, 8] acres

Similar tabulation for the Lauderdale chain shows:

Green Lake Greatest depth, 56.8 feel ; area, 282 acres

Middle Lake Greatest depth, 50.0 feet; area. 282 acres

Mill Lake Greatest depth, 50.0 feet : area. 304 ai

These officially surveyed lake-- have been of no inconsiderable economic
value to the county. Their attractions for summer visitors do not as yet
wither or grow stale, and their influence on the valuation of adjacent real
estate is evident.

NATURAL PRODUCTS.

Stone crops out occasionally along the hank- of creeks, but little quarry-
ing has been found profitable. Cobblestones and boulders were strewn, not
thickly, as in the rugged farther-east, but not difficult to gather, in the first
half century of white man's needs, for wells and foundation walls. The
lake shallows and creek bottoms supplied much of this homely but readily
available material. A large three-storied hotel was early built at East Troy
of little more than fist-sized pebbles, and seems time-defying; and a wayside
inn, now a sober and substantial dwelling, was built at Tibbets before rail-
ways came this way, of gravel and lime mortar.

Brick clay of variable quality has been found and used from an early
date, making a substantial, though often homely article for home builders.
The best is that at Whitewater, its bricks having the color and hardness of
the cream-colored product which once made Milwaukee famous. Generally,
the bricks from other kilns vary in color from grayish yellow to dull light
red. Drain tiles have been made for home trade for perhaps a quarter-
century.

Beds of peat have been worked in the valley of Whitewater creek, but
without great influence upon the fuel market. Deposits of
here and there have been worked experimentally, and for a time have raised
some hopes in the minds of owners. The one great, unfailing, earth-hidi
resource is spread over all the town-, at plowing depth belov ur-

face.

(3)

34 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN

TIMBER.

There was nothing peculiar to this county in its native trees, shrubs,
vines, medicinal herbs and weeds. Oaks of the black, burr, pin, red and
white varieties were by far the most numerous and widely spread, and hence
most valuable; and these gave their distinctive character to the timber open-
ings, so inviting to the early comers. Other trees and shrubs were black and
white ash. basswood, birch, black cherry, black walnut, butternut, red and
white cedar, crab apple, cranberry, hazel, hickory, ironwood. locust, curly
and sugar maple, plum, poplar, sumach, tamarack and willow. The oaks,
at fir>t piled for cabin walls and split for fencing and fuel, were but little
later hewn for long-lasting framework of houses, barns, mills, churches and
county buildings, and sawed into scantling, joists, inch boards, and half-inch
siding; and when railways brought in a full supply of pine lumber the older
trees became the general source of firewood. Some of these fallen lords of
the ancient forest may have been thrifty shoots as long ago as the voyages of
Columbus and Cartier, and many of them must have been acorn-bearers when
Nicolet came down Rock river valley from the further north, in 1634. A
few are vet living, seemingly as slow in their dying as in their growing.
White oak and hickory gave excellent materials to the local wagon makers.
The earlier joiners found in black walnut a fair supply of easily worked lum-
ber for inner finish of houses. Since it was taken as it ran through the mills —
unselected — its color was slightly improved by painting.

The settlers early became forest conservators, and there has been little
wanton or accidental destruction. The needs of pioneers and the later fuel
supply of farmers and villagers nearly exhausted the dead timber and the older
living trees within the first thirty years. For a few more years the oaks of
sec. md grow tli gave firewood at a steadily rising price. Thus, good wood,
often in over-full cords, was sold in [856 at $2.25 to $2.50; in 1866, in even
cords, at $4.50 to $5: in 1876, in scant cords, at $5.50 to $6; in 1896, in
loads of dead trunks and dynamite-split stumps, a scant supply at $6. Coal
began to come into general use after 1X70. and is now. with coke, kerosene.
and gasoline, for kitchen use. the only fuel available for such as do not own

a thriftily managed w 1 lot. There are yet many fair-looking and valuable

grows of trees from six to eight or more inches in diameter, but the fortu-
nate owner- are able to withold the axe for yet a generation to Come. For
that space of time, at least, the county will be far from treeless, as the yearly
growth seems to lie gaining on the few cutters.

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 35

CLIMATE.

The climate of Wisconsin is probably modified by the presence of the
great lakes northward and eastward and by the absence of great wind breaks
east of the Rocky mountains. The prevailing winds of winter which give
that season its most familiar character, blow from the arc between southwest
and north, strongly and keenly. Winds from the lakes are much less frost-
laden. Snow and rain come from every point of the compass-card. Sudden
changes of weather often surprise wary observers and are more trying than
greatest heat or cold. The prevailing winds, which make winter so cruel,
compensate in the warmer seasons }>\ driving away such miasmas as arise
from the shrinking marshes. The fevers of the prairie-breaking period have
disappeared and have made way for the disorders of riotous or careless living.
Pulmonary and bronchial diseases are not so common as might be judg
likelv from the general weather conditions. The few epidemics are speedily
limited in severity and duration by the local physicians and boards ol health.
As long ago as 1857 a physician described the region in which he practiced
as "distressingly healthy." and this could have been said as truly of the resl
of the county.

The summers are variable as to length and temperature, but may be de-
scribed as short and hot. There is more complaint of drouth than oi ex-
cessive rain, both of which have been known to spoil the farmer's year; but
in general the crops grow to fullness and ripen well 111 spite of prophetic
fears. Untimely frosts, too, sometimes threaten or injure the sproul or the
unripe ear. The late Robert T. Seymour said, about [876, that he had been
twenty-three years in the county and had gathered twenty-one good crops
of corn.

In [859 and 1863 ii was noted that there was in each of these years at
least one frosty night in each month. A man who seemed nol overcredul
remarked that a friend had heard Solomon Juneau say that an aged Menomi-
nee had told him that such years had occurred quadrennially in southeastern
Wisconsin for a period reaching as far backward- as [743. Bui neither
1867 nor any subsequent year before leap year has confirmed this simple rule
of forecasting a season. The summer of [859, for all it- monthly frost, was
generally hot and dry. The summer of I'M 1. until near the end of August,
was warm and dry. and the firsl week of July was superheated in city and
country. In July and August pipe-layers found tl loist enough

to hold together in spadefuls at the depth of six feet. Then began, in time
to save the crops, short local shower-, increasing throughout September and

36 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

October in frequency and duration, and so restored the normal moisture that
the surface soil is likely to withstand, if need be, another series of dry sum-
mers.

Mr. Dwinnell noted that the winter of 1836-7, endured in new log huts
by himself and Isaiah Hamblin in Lafayette and by James Van Slyke. wife
and child at Fontana, was cruelly cold and hard to bear. Mr. Cravath told of
five feet of snow, January to April, 1843, anc' a narc' winter. Mr. Gale arid Mr.
Simmons also thus noticed this winter. That of 1856-7 was exceptionally cold
in Michigan and Wisconsin, and the next winter, though somewhat less so,was
made trying by heavy snow and wild drifts. Builders worked out of doors
in 1857-8 nearly all winter in shirt sleeves. A heavy fall of snow, each side
of New Year's, 18H4, was blown into almost impassable drifts, and with this
such degree of cold as to make the whole month of January for long mem-
orable ; and this was but slightly mitigated in February. Among later ex-
tremely cold winters were those of 1872-3. 1874-5. 1887-8, 1894-5. That of
1875-6 was mild, and the next, or next but one, was so muddy that it was diffi-
cult to haul half-loads of produce into town. In the first week of November,
1869, about eighteen inches of snow fell in two days, and lay nearly undis-
turbed by winds until March. For one full winter sleighing was good where
(lie Hacks were well beaten.

A MEMORABLE SEASON.

The snow blockade of February ami early March, 1881, was general
throughout most of the northern states. The weather of February 10th was
unusually mild. Before daylight of the nth began a heavy snowfall, driven
slantwise at a small angle with the plane of the horizon, from the north-north-
east, and tin's continued until roads for long spaces were full from fence to
fence ami deepest railway cuts filled to their tops. New levels thus reached,
the snow was driven onward to regions of warmer air. After the first heavj
fall the air was kept full of the liner particles raised and driven by the long
unresting gale, constantlj setting at naughl the work of snow plows and of
thousands of shovelers. The fields were swept nearly bare between drifts,
lint many farmers found long and hard work between house and barn. Vil-
lages became as pett) sovereignties with a policy of non-intercourse. Resides,
before the ways were again opened there was reasonable dread of a soon-
COHling want of flour and fuel. For nearly a month mails were stopped
Then, having been notified by telegraph that an accumulation of tie-sacks had
reached Eagle from Chicago, by wa\ of Milwaukee, the postmaster at Elk-

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. tf

horn, March 8th, swore in Daniel Lennon as special carrier and sent him out
by two-horse bob-sled to find his way and flounder through it as best he
might. He returned in twelve hours, himself and team greatly way-worn;
Mr. Bradley distributed mail all night, and men received their del.: eel

and their newspapers which had become back numbers. Railway travel was
practically suspended about three weeks.

The only employment for young men was as volunteer shovelers in the
nearer railway cuts. They soon discharged themselves with blistered faces
and necks, and eyes for some days blinded from the reflected heat and glare
of the sun in the snow pits. Older or less active men, finding home a cage,
wallowed through drifts and fought with the gale to reach hotel, saloon or
store and soon found the fireside gossip there stale and outworn tor want of
new material.

Nicholas Donoghue died about March ist and his body lay unburied for
a week or more. Isaac Burson died March 5th, at a hotel, and his body lay
more than fortv-eight hours before it could be taken to his relatives, two
and one-half miles away, toward Delavan. These few instances may show
the effectiveness of this historic blockade.

When the snow no longer filled the air and shovelers began t<> make
some way through the drifts, men hoped that as the slowly creeping month
neared the equinox the sun would prevail against the long winter. But, on
the 19th, the storm returned to Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. It seemed tin-
same snow, driven from the same quarter at the same angle by the same ill-
intending wind. It was mid-April before all the highways opened. Neat the
end of May the slowly-melting snow and lower ice lingered in such places as
the hollow next west of the church near Jacobsville.

CHAPTER III.

INDIAN OCCUPATION MOUNDS AND RELICS GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES.

At the coining of Jean Xicolet in 1634 to Green bay and thence by way
of Rock river to the Mississippi, Wisconsin was well occupied by Chippewas,
Maskoutens, Menominees (Folles Avoines, or wild rice eaters), Outagamis,
Pottawattomies, Sauks, Winnebagos, and remnants of other Indian tribes.
Whatever had been their previous inter-tribal relations, the presence and
influence of the soon-following French missionaries, traders, and garrisons
tended somewhat to make the wars of these tribes less frequent. As far as
this condition was brought about at all. it was done, in great part by arraying
the natives against the English as their common enemy. Charles Langlade
led his Indians and French half-breeds to their share in Braddock's defeat, and
in 1760 to the defense of Montreal.

A few years after Xew France was no more, British agents directed
native hostility against the American settlers in the old Northwest Territory as
the advance guards of the real and forever-encroaching wrongers of the Indian.
Though after the Revolution the titles of the tribes, from eastern Ohio to
farther Iowa and Missouri were slowly extinguished by wars and by treaties,
for yet a half-century after the peace of 1783 the settlers of Illinois and Wis-
consin were not secure from the terrors of Indian outbreak. The motley de-
scendants of Langlade, with their full-blooded Indian friends, fought against
Hai-mar. St. Clair and Wayne, in Ohio, and at Tippecanoe and in the war
oi 1812-15 they found work for their too willing hands. By a treaty at Fort
Harmar, July 9, 1789, General Harrison acting in behalf of the United States,
the chiefs of the Sauks and Pottawattomies ceded the district lying be-
tween the Fox and the Mississippi, which included about two tiers of Wis-
consin counties. Black Hawk, always hostile, denied the right of the chiefs
i" give or sell the lands of the tribes. I lis foolish undertaking, in [832, ended
in defeat and expulsion of himself and his always intractable tribe, and Indian
war was no longer possible on this side <>\ the Mississippi. He had received
some delusive encouragement from the Winnebagos of Rock River valley,
who may have hoped for him some partial or temporary success while they
dared not help him openly. It does not appear that the Pottawattomies lis-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 39

tened to his plans, nor that they greatly shared his blind hatred of white men.
Their own landlord rights had been signed away at Fort llarmar, and
the event of the war with England had left them no hope of recovery of their
ancient domain by trick or force. This county had been a part of their
patrimony from white man's earliest knowledge. They had at least three
villages, as late as the coming of the surveyors who staked the corners of
townships and sections, along the shores of Geneva lake. Bigfoot. one of
their chiefs, had his village near the site of Fontana, and there was one at
Williams Bay, and another at the foot of the lake. There had been a village
on each side of Delavan lake, one at Whitewater, ami part of the tribe hov-
ered on the eastern line of the county, near Burlington. Squaws had broken
ground and raised corn before white men came with plow and hoe and they
boiled maple sap in the valley of Sugar creek. They lingered until [837 l>e-
fore following the westering trail of most of their race. Bigfool had no eon
suming love for the evicting white men, and less for their ways of life, but
he was wise and prudent enough to comply with the terms of the treaty which
had, in effect, given his hunting grounds to the plow and his fishing places to
tourist-laden steamers. It is told of him that he asked of a friendly new-
comer that the graves of two of his wives and a son should be respected, and
that on that occasion he gave way to much like a Caucasian's emotion. The
earlier settlers at Geneva, Spring Prairie, and Whitewater saw the disappear-
ance of these several links between historic and pre-historic Wisconsin.

MOUNDS AND RELICS.

Among relics, left for a short time, of the older occupancy were a lew-
mounds of a period which has left no other sign — a period antedating oldesl
Algonquin tradition. One of these, lizard-shaped, with legs outspread, tail
turned northwardly, was at the flat-iron point of Main and Lake streets, Lake
Geneva. It was fifty to eighty feet long, ten to twelve feet wide, and two to
three feet high. A large oak stump at its top gave a partial hint of it- age.
Little more than a block westward was a larger mound, also lizard-shaped, with
longer tail. Both heads were near the water'- edge. About the head of the
lake were other mounds, in size and shape not easily determinable, and cov-
ered with woodland growth. On section 31, town of Geneva, between the
lakes of Geneva and Como, was a bow-and-arrow shaped earthwork. This
monument of a forgotten race was alreadj badly in need of the "restorer's
ingenious art. It was eighty to ninet) feel Ion- and it- form was thai ol a
bent bow with arrow ready tor flight toward the larger lake, as if unseen

4° WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

bowmen lay forever in wait for unwary or daring trespassers. A little west-
ward from the city of Whitewater, on the crest of a bluff, was an oblong
mound measuring sixty-five feet from north to south, twenty feet wide, and
at its middle about five feet high. Less than a half mile northeasterly were
three conical mounds, about twenty-five feet across and nearly seven feet
high. Besides these ancient works there were a few smaller burial mounds
about the count)-, not older than the French dominion. This was shown by
the contents, which included medals, buttons and trinkets of French make.—
all taken by irreverent white despoilers from these family vaults. Stone and
flint weapons and articles used in the lodges have been found and are yet
occasionally found on or but slightly below the surface, in field and wood-
land, everywhere about the county. Intelligent local collectors have especially
noticed the abundance of these relics on both sides of Delavan lake.

It was for long a reasonable conjecture that the several low mounds on
and about the Lake Lawn farm conceal evidences of pre-historic occupation
of the shores of Delavan lake. In March, 1911, Ernest F. and Chester W. Phil-
lips began to trench across mounds on the family property, and with much
labor and persistence verified, at one point, the general surmise. At seven
feet downward they reached an oblong pit, seven by nine feet, carried about
two feet farther down into a stratum of loose gravel. The pit was floored
with loose cobble-stones made even with sand, and its walls were also of loose
stones in the way of skillful well diggers. Two skeletons sat in opposite
corners, and twelve more were laid or piled between; but no relics of other
kind had been placed there, nothing to hint that they were killed in battle,
sacrificed to the gods of their enemies, drowned while the lake spirit was in
angriest mood, or swept away by swiftly marching pestilence. A local paper
remarked truly: "The finding of these bones affords rare play for the imag-
ination." The pit had been filled with loose earth, and a covering of clay
baked from the top to something like the hardness of brick. The mound.
rounded above all. is about forty feet across and four feet high. It is probable
that the State Archaeological Society will in its own time describe with exact-
ness and fullness, and will deduce with scientific care and conclusiveness.

GEOGR \ T ■ 1 1 Ic \I. NAMES.

One relic of the long Algonquin occupation is all but absent, that of
Indian names on the county maps. Only Nippersink and Piskasaw have been
so preserved, and these, without doubt, in such clipped and weakened forms
as no Algonquin purist, trying to restore or re-create the classic dialects and

WALWORTH COUNTY; WISCONSIN. 41

literature of his people, could accept as better than "pidgin" Indian. Seme >i'
the fathers of the county learned a few of the less difficult Pottawattomie
words for familiar objects, but did not permanently enrich the pioneer speech
with these graceful or vigorous terms. Bigfoot's English name was for a very
short time given to his lake; but better taste prevailed, and his only monu-
ment on the map is but a four-corners postoffice on the Illinois side of a state-
line road, south of Walworth, though the adjacent prairie in that town is still
so named locally.

The natives had named most of the lakes and creeks, and the present
names are translations or paraphrases of the Pottawattomie or other original
terms. But there were alternative forms of a few of these names, as if there
had been difference of dialect or other circumstance. A few of these uncouth
names have been preserved, though with some doubt as to accuracy of their
spelling :

Bigfoot — Mang-go-zid, Muh-mang-go-zid, Mu-sha-o-zet, Mauk-suek,
Mauk-soe, Pok-toh, Ke-che-sit.

Duck Creek — She-sheip-se-pee.

Duck Lake — She-sheip-bess.

Geneva Lake — Gee-zhich-qua-wauk, Kish-wau-ke-toe, Gee-zihig-wau-
gid-dug-gah, Kish-wau-keak.

Honey Creek — Mish-qua-woc, Ah-moo-sis-po-quet-se-pee.

Sugar Creek — Sis-po-quet-se-pee.

Swan Creek — Wau-ba-shaw-se-pee.

Swan Lake — Wau-ba-shaw-bess.

Whitewater — Wau-be-gan-naw-pe-kat, Wau-bish-ne-pa-wau.

The government's surveyors were instructed to preserve in their field
notes the native terms for lakes and streams: but such a list as the foregoing
would have been modified greatly or disregarded wholly in the usage of the
settlers, few of whom came from Maine ami none Mom Gulliver lands.

CHAPTER IV.

SETTLEMENT OF THE OLD NORTHWEST.

An early sequence of the peace of 1783 was the removal of the generally
hostile Iroquois tribes from old Tryon county and farther Xew York to
Canada, and the restriction of the remnant families and part tribes of friendly
Indians to small and but temporary reservations in Genesee Valley. The
great wilderness westward of the counties along the Hudson and- the lower
Mohawk were thus opened at once to peaceful settlement. Central, northern
and western Xew York, and the bordering tier of Pennsylvania counties, filled
rapidly with men of Xew England. Hunger for broader and more tillable
fields, and thirst for the "unearned increment" of farm values and selling
prices of village lots — better material conditions — were primary causes of this
swift, noiseless flight from Egypt. But the secondary cause lay closely behind.
These work-hardened men were organizers of towns, counties and states ; and
their influence upon political, industrial and commercial life was felt im-
mediately. As they followed the course of the sun, having all the west before
them and Providence their guide, they threw off much of the burden of older
colonial ideas, and wherever they halted, they founded a more liberal Xew
England, one of the nineteenth century then at hand rather than of the out-
worn century of the Pilgrims. The great advance guard of the invasion hav-
ing secured a first choice of farms and town sites, the later divisions of this
grand army, reinforced by a yet small European immigration, found the great
lakes an easy mad to the broad Northwest Territory. They carried with them
their household goods and much besides. Caesar and his fortunes were but
a light burden compared with theirs. If not all of these men were conscious
of the near-lying possibilities ami responsibilities before them, there were
among them men who hoped greatly for themselves, for their country and For
humanity.

hour states had grown from the joint cession of territory by Virginia,
Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the fullness of time had arrived for \Vis-
consin, which was then known as an Indian country, a fair field for trade in
furs and whisky, and as having in its southwestern corner a workable de-
posit of lead ores. 1 '['Ik- barbarous heraldry of the state seal quarters the

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 43

mattock with the anchor, plow, and sledge hammer, with a miner and a sailor
as supporters, almost the last device that could occur to men who knew the
state's real resources. But the motto. "Forward," is English and significant,
and nearly atones for the blazonry). The establishment of a land office at
Milwaukee and the contract-letting to surveyors for the work of finding and

staking the corners of townships and of their sectional subdivisions was - 1

followed by the long memorable business crisis and panic of J 837. Though
this was truly a national calamity, it had some determining influence on the
general character of the first great wave of immigration to southeastern
Wisconsin and northern Illinois — the latter then hardly less a wilderness than
the former — and in some way wrought not ill for our county. Settlements
and nearly atones for the blazonry.) The establishment of a land office at
tives, friends, and friends' relatives and friends — fleeing from commercial
and industrial disaster in the East — to this rather than to some other segment
of the western paradise. Many of these newer comers journeyed by the easy
way of the lakes to Milwaukee, Racine and Southport, and thence by Indian
trail or territorial road to their much desired journey's cud; for, fair and fer-
tile as were the fields passed over, there were friends and equally fair prospects
but a dav or two's travel forward. Xot a few- came overland from their old
homes in covered wagons — "prairie schooners."

The stout-hearted men of 1836 and 1S37 had budded better than they
knew, though they had not worked blindly nor without large purpose. They
had taken the first step which costs and also counts at so many of men's be-
ginnings, and which made the way of their followers a little easier than their
own had been. A colonial clergyman, preaching an "election sermon" to men
of .Massachusetts, in 1688, said that God had sifted a whole nation, that He
might send choice grain into the New England wilderness. It was no inferior
grain, sifted largely from the Eastern states with a not negligible quantity
From the British empire and from Germany, which sowed this county with
home-builders from whom was to proceed a generation of nation-defenders.

It is not now and here needful to exalt overduly the character and ability
of the founders nor to set them greatly above the fair average of American
citizens of their time, hew of them were saints, though a large pi
them were God-fearing and man-loving, and nearl) all were well bred in obi
ience to law and in respeel for social order: and all were in some wa\ useful,
each to others. Their new situation called into readj action the ancient virl
of hospitality to strangers at their cabin doors anil of neighborly helpfulness
and indulgence: though they differed sturdily, like men of many minds, y
interests, ami prejudices. Like comrades in arms, and like all who mec' like

44 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

dangers and difficulties, these men soon learned each other's general or special
value, and neither could nor would they suffer a foible or two to hide true
worth wholly out of sight; for, just then, men were more wanted than ideal
perfection in men's garments.

The pioneers had left orderly, well-governed communities, where
churches, schools, public records, newspapers, mails, roads and all such
agencies as bind men together in large and in small communities are human
nature's daily needs; and such were the needs of the men and women of Wal-
worth after their first provision for shelter, food and fuel. Another early need,
too, has been noted — that of "allotting a portion of the virgin soil as a ceme-
tery, and another portion as the site of a prison," and these needs were not
long neglected. The early settlers included men of such various callings that
most of the work required by their simpler life could be done among them
from passably well to skillfully. Besides the indispensable farmers, house-
builders, mill-wrights, sawyers, millers, blacksmiths, shoemakers, and tailors,
there came at once surveyors, physicians, preachers, teachers, lawyers, re-
tailers, inn-keepers, and moneylenders. A community so meeting and form-
ing on prairies and among venerable trees might be likened to houses framed,
marked and shipped to a colony across the sea, there to "rise like an exhala-
tion."

BIRTHPLACES OF EARLIEST MEN OF WALWORTH.

As to the old homes, it may be said more specifically and without great
inaccuracy that while every New England state, nearly every county of New
York, and many counties of the Western Reserve of Ohio sent within a dozen
years each its contribution, the greater number were from Vermont, western
Massachusetts and Connecticut, the counties of northern, central and western
New York, with those along both banks of the Hudson, the northern tier of
Pennsylvania, and northeastern Ohio. But there were also noticeably men of
New Jersey, the upper Delaware counties of Pennsylvania and of those along
her southern tier; besides men who had first sojourned in Michigan. Indiana
and Illinois. There were a few from "Kvangeline-land," descended from men
of Connecticut and eastern Long Island who went in 1760-61 to make Xova
Scotia of Acadie, and Cornwallis, Horton, and Aylesford from the parish of
Grand Pre, and also to set up for Rev. Thomas Handley a pulpit in place of
Father Kclicien's altar.

Men of foreign birth found their way here easily, though they were not
:it first very numerous. As transportation improved, their movement this way
was somewhat quickened, and more noticeably after the Irish famine of 1847

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 45

and the German revolution of [848-49. Irishmen diffused themselves through-
out the towns and villages and most of them are now hardly known but as
Americans. Germans lodged themselves at first in the towns along the ea >
era county line, but have set themselves no such permanent limit. Hardly one
of the thirty-two counties of Ireland is unrepresented here. Xeail
German state, large and small, has furnished the county with some share ol
its muscles and its mind, though the later arrivals appear to be chiefly fi
the northern parts of the empire. Norwegians came in time to bu) govern-
ment land, and their names are found mostly in town records of Lagrange,
Richmond, Sugar Creek and Whitewater. There has never been a noticeable
colored element of our population, owing, most likely, to the superior attrac-
tions of the greater cities along Lake Michigan and Rock river. How much
our foreign-born citizens are of us as well as with us may he inferred fairly
from some hundreds of names of soldiers of the Civil war. The number of for-
eign-born citizens now living here is but a small proportion of the whole popu-
lation.

CHAPTER V.

SURVEYS GENEVA LAKE TROUBLE ARRIVALS.

YYhencesoever they came, the men of 1836-61 were mostly of American
descent, and all of American ideas, beliefs, feelings, habits and purposes, as
they well proved in their later lives as well as in the current of all their lives.
It was quite natural for these men, when their most pressing home wants were
supplied by their activity and ingenuity, to call themselves together to or-
ganize for local self-government; and within six years a part of the lately un-
bounded wilderness had been set off by mathematically determined county
lines with sixteen township subdivisions, and as many new names added to
the national gazetteer. Thus geographical definiteness took the place of New
France and Northwest Territory, and town 3 north, range 18 east, became
Spring Prairie.

CONTEST AT LAKE GENEVA.

He who first stands upon soil hitherto untrodden by civilized men. him-
self for the hour the vanguard of westward-moving empire, instinctively looks
about him for water and timber. Mills must be built, and water power sites
are likeliest to be soon at a premium. Hence, at first sight the attractions at
the foot of Geneva Lake were irresistible. Similar, though not equal, oppor-
tunities at the lakes of Delavan and Whitewater and at the rapid places of
the several creeks could not for long be overlooked. The sub-contract for
establishing township lines from Beloit eastward to Pake Michigan had been
let in [835 to John Brink and John Hodgson, who, with Jesse Eggleston,
Reuben T. and William Ostrander as assistants, began work immediately.
Taking two tiers of towns at once they readied Geneva lake early in Septem-
ber. They meandered ( in surveyor's sense ) the circumference of the lake and
made the first official chart, showing its form and area. At the foot of the
lake Mr. Brink took note, on his own and Hodgson's account, of -olden possi-
bilities there, blazed and marked a few trees to indicate the priority of his
claim to the town site and water right, and passed eastward with his compass
and field notes. He was a native of < (ntario county. New York, his birthplace
near Geneva, which is at the foot of Seneca lake. He may have read of Pake

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Leman and the city of the Allobroges and of John Calvin. However this may
have been, he did not like the name of Bigfoot, by which Mrs. Kinzie, as early
as 1832. had mentioned the lake, nor any of its Pottawattomie equivalents or
alternatives — all barbarously uncouth and nearly irreducible to writing. Ik-
then and there named the lake for all coming time, and his good taste has
never been questioned; for even the land office did nol insist upon "Gei
zhich-qua-wauk." or "Kish-wau-ke-toe." The western end of this gifl of the
glaciers had been passed not infrequently by officers and soldiers on their
journeys between Chicago and Fort Winnebago ( Portage City). About [830
Lieut. Jefferson Davis had ridden by that route, and in his latest years re-
called his pleasing impressions of his view of the lake as he passed.

In 1832, as soon as Black Hawk and his tribe were defeated and driven
across the Mississippi, the bloody disturbances — killings, scalpings and burn-
ings— about Xaperville ended forever. It was thus safe for Christopher
Payne to leave the fort at Chicago and go in search of the mill site at the foot
of Geneva lake, a fair description of which had been given him by a half
breed trader. He reached the Xippersink valley, in Bloomfield. but for want
of food for a much longer journey forward he went back to Chicago. Had
he found the trail and followed it for another hour or two he would have
reached the object of his search about three years earlier than Mr. Brink's
arrival, and the annals of earliest Lake Geneva would have losl a long and
but moderately interesting chapter. Early in 183d he set forth again, this
time from Squaw Prairie, near Belvidere, and with him George \V. Trimble.
his son-in-law. and Daniel Mosher. At the end of two days he found tin-
mill site and the unplatted city, but did not find (or be disregarded if he
found) Mr. Brink's claim-marks. Having eaten their provisions, they went
back, but came again in March, built a log house and returned to Squaw
Prairie. Early in April they were a third time on the ground, and they began
to build a dam across the outlet.

John Hodgson, of the surveying party, whose work bad been to -take
section corners within Mr. Brink's township lines, ami William Ostrander had
been left to occupy and improve the claim a- made in 1S35, and to prevent
encroachment. They, too, had claims there. Mr. Payne came while they
were at Milwaukee whither they had gone for provisions. The winter at
Geneva was long and lonesome, and Milwaukee was more attractive, even in

its infancy, — else Payne's three comings, in tin 1 of two months, would

not have escaped their earlier notice. On their return they trii h n words

and turf-throwing would do and then sent to Milwaukee for reinforcements.
In the short meantime other men had become interested. Brink's men at

48 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Geneva had sold a quarter interest in his claim to Charles A. Noyes and
Orrin Coe: and Payne's sun. Uriah, after the first defeat, had given his one-
third share of his father's claim to Robert Wells Warren, for which the latter
agreed to help in recovering and holding the larger remnant. Air. Warren
was as bold and persistent as Payne, and much more resourceful and politic
than the old frontiersman. The needs of the situation soon compelled com-
promise, and Air. Hodgson, acting in Air. Brink's name, sold all rights in
dispute for two thousand dollars. Peace was restored, but anger and resent-
ment were not soon soothed into forget fulness. On the one hand. Payne com-
plained that he had been forced to "buy his own pocketbook" at an extortion-
ate price. On the other side. Brink and Reuben T. Ostrander denied Hodg-
son's authority to sell more than his own claim. Other men were coming to
the building of a new city, and their ears were soon tired of these complain-
ings.

ARRIVALS AT OTHER TOWNS IN 1836-7.

While this war was breaking out Palmer Gardner had settled quite peace-
fully on section 26 of Spring Prairie, and Gardner's Prairie was for long
afterward a convenient geographical term for that part of the township.
Though then unmarried, he built a cabin, broke ground, and raised a crop of
grain and potatoes. He was not without neighbors, even in 1836. Ten or
twelve families came that year, and a few single men besides.

In 1835 Major Jesse Meacham, a soldier of 1812-15, and Adolphus
Spoor set out from Washtenaw county, Michigan, to look before leaping into
a new Troy. They marked their claims, and the next year came with families
and goods to stay and pass thence into local history.

Asa Blood, later of Sugar Creek, and a young man named Roberts, of
whom later trace is not thus far found in records, built a cabin near the village
of East Troy, on the north side of Honey creek. Mr. Roberts appears to
have made and sold an earlier claim in Troy. This later act and sign of pos-
session was in tin- spring of 1836.

James Van Slyke had first halted, with his family, at the foot of the
lake; but in the fall of [836 he built bis house near Bigfoot's village in the
town of Walworth. \ child, named Geneva, had been born at the other end
of the lake, and Miss Van Slyke ami her parents passed the first winter of bel-
li fe in the new house at Fontana.

Harry Kimball came late in [836 and made his claim mi section 6, of
Bloomfield, within easy distance of tin.' settlement at Geneva, and went home
to Cooperstown. New York. The next spring he came with bis son, Oramel,
and built his house.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 49

Col. Samuel Faulkner Phoenix entered the county, at its Spring Prairie
gateway, early in July, 183d. After a few explorations of the country about
Duck, Geneva and Swan lakes and Sugar creek, keeping Spring Prairie as his
base of operations, he determined his settlement, early in August, by taking
his movables to the bank of Swan lake outlet, and with him went Allen Per-
kins. About two months later William Phoenix, the Colonel's cousin, reached
the new city with his family. Henry, the Colonel's brother, presently came
and the two became partners in business. Having founded his city and dedi-
cated it to perpetual temperance, the Colonel named it in honor of Edward C.
Delavan, of Albany. A few years later Swan lake was renamed Delavan. Mr.
Perkins soon returned to the eastern side of the county, leaving all the honors
and prospects at Delavan to the house of Phoenix.

Isaiah Hamblin came earliest to Lafayette, with his wife as evidence of
his intention to stay. This was in June, 1836. Rev. Solomon Ashle) Dwin-
nell, Elias Hicks, Alpheus Johnson, Sylvanus Langdon, Charles Chauncey
Perrin, and Isaac Vant came before the year's end — at least, to mark their
several claims. Mr. Dwinnell notes that the following winter was unus-
ually severe. Houses had been built, and some of these were occupied in
spite of the difficulties of place and season.

Major John Davis, though unmarried, built near Silver lake, in Sugar
Creek, and lived somehow through the winter of [836-37 under his own ridge-
pole. The next year brought him neighbors, but he moved onward, oul of
county annals.

Late in 1836 John Powers built his house in the town of I. inn. nol far
from Mr. Payne's at Geneva and .Mr. Kimball's in Bloomfield. Hi- family
came at next springtime, and thus perfected his citizenship of Linn.

The settlement at Elkhorn was planned in [836 by I. el '.rand Rockwell,
his brother, and their friend. Horace Coleman. Early in 1S37 Mr. Rock-
well and Mr. Coleman came to find the stake where the four central town-,
met. At Spring Prairie. Hollis Latham joined them. Within another fort-
night Mr. Rockwell, with Daniel 1-;. and Milo E. Bradley, hut without Mr.
Coleman, who thought not over well of the proposed site — perhaps becausi
lacked water power — were again at the pivotal stake. They built a cabin on
section 6 of Geneva. Mr. Latham made In- claim in the same section, and
Albert Ogden. who had come with them from Milwaukee, chose hi- I
section 1 of Delavan. The elder Bradley had come in the inten >1 of Lewis J.
Higbv. who afterward bought land in section 5 of Richmond.
' '(4)

50 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

THE FIRST SETTLER.

Whatever honor may be due to the memory of the first actual settler
within the county, that is the unquestionable right of Christopher Payne, a
man who — to compare the smaller with the greater — was much of the texture
and quality of the famous frontiersmen of the post-Revolutionary period, and
a not unworthy forerunner of the men of the pioneer years. His priority of
settlement, though it was by a few weeks only, is clear enough, and his easily
admitted claim to such distinction may be regarded as yet stronger from his
adventure in 1832. As to the great dispute. Judge Gale and Mr. Simmons,
both high-minded men and good lawyers, were of opinion that Mr. Brink
was wholly in the right. Had neither lie nor Mr. Payne ever crossed the
county line the first settlement would have been made early in 1836, and the
site of Lake Geneva would not long have been overlooked nor unoccupied.
Before the end of 1837 every town was more or less settled, though neither
the towns nor the county had been officially named. In earlier records, as at
the land-office, these minor divisions are described as towns 1, 2, 3, 4, north
of base line on the boundary of Illinois and Wisconsin, ranges 15, 16, 17, 18
east of meridian passing northward along the western line of Lafayette
county.

CONTESTED CLAIMS.

The first comers sometimes found worse to meet and overcome than the
sullenly retiring Indians, hard winters and all the hardships of breaking
ground for planting a new community. To mark a few trees, or even to build
a hut, did not in every instance secure the actual settler in possession of his
claim; though public opinion, as represented by his neighbors, was on the side
of equity — that is, was favorable to the man who came to stay as against
grasping speculators. Judge Gale wrote of these perniciously enterprising
gentry: "The alternating prairies, openings, and groves of heavy timber,
meandered with numerous creeks and small rivers having an abundance of
water power, early attracted attention of explorers; and while the surveyors
were at work in the spring ami summer nt'iN^o these adventurers were thread-
ing the valleys and selecting advantageous sites for imaginary villages and
cities. These baseless claims were sometimes insisted on as real, when neces-
sary to give priority over some 'intruding' actual settler who had made his
claim at the same place; and the slight differences of memory between con-
tending claimants were settled in favor of him who could rally to his aid the
most pugnacious followers."

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 51

Mr. Dwinnell wrote that in [837 the settlers organized associations for
mutual protection in holding three hundred and twenty acres each, — each un-
married woman one hundred and sixty acres. Fathers wen allowed one
hundred and sixty acres for each minor son. Committees were chosen to tr)
and to settle disputed titles. An instance of committee-justice is told. The
defendant in possession was found to have a clear right, but was obliged to
pay half of the costs of an unreasonahle neighbor's attempl to eject him. Few
settlers had money, but such as had valuable timber claims were helped by
the money lenders at the moderate rate of one hundred per cent, for three
years' use. Such easy terms were quite providential for men who had soon
exhausted such slender means as the cost of their westward movement had
left them. To these several aids to prosperous settlement was added the long-
famous currency of the period. Since wampum had just been demonetized,
this paper stuff, when brought to this side of the lake, was in effect legal
tender; but not so if the latest holder, who had had no choice but to accept it,
should try to move it in the direction of its source at Kalamazoo or Tecumseh

LAND SALES.

A land sale of one hundred townships in southeastern Wisconsin was
advertised by the land office at Milwaukee, to begin November i<>. 1838. The
settlers, mostly unprepared to pay. asked and gained a delay until February
18. 1839. Sales began with townships 1 to 10. ranges from lake shore west-
ward, and amounted to four or five townships daily. The lands of this count)
were sold between February 25th and March 5U1. and the settlers held their
own claims. Sales were made to highest bidder on each tract, starting at I
government's minimum price, one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Men
of Walworth would have shown themselves degenerate descendants of their
eastern ancestors had they not found some useful device by- which to prevent
competitive bidding. The several home associations were repre ented by
agents empowered to buy for their non-attending neighbors, and these agents
were numerous enough to constitute an effective physical force if. in their
judgment, fair play should need such help. If the minimum price was rai
an agent would follow until his bid became highest— as high, if necessary,
twenty dollars. If payment was not made that day the bidding w 1 md

the same land was started next day at the lowest rate, and was usually sold
at that price without further annoyance from pre', ion- competitor-. If, how-
ever, a speculator was disposed 1- renev hi- bidding, the affair became the
concern of all the agents. Such presumption wa >n beaten oul of the man

52 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

who dared to oppose superior numbers, or was washed away in the otherwise
undefiled water of Menominee river. Christopher Payne and Major Meacham
were not the only ready-witted, stout-willed, rude-handed men then in Wal-
worth.

CHAPTER VI.

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

Wisconsin, having passed from French to English and thence to Ameri-
can possession, was included in the old Northwest Territory until 1800. when
it became part of Indiana Territory. In [809 it was joined to Illinois Terri-
tory, and in 1818 to Michigan Territory, the latter organized in 1805 In
1836 the territory of Wisconsin (less the northern peninsula given to Michi-
gan to placate her for the loss of the Ohio strip) was organized, and in 1838
Iowa was detached from its imperial domain. On admission as the thirtieth
American state, in 1848. it suffered the loss of the region between St. Croix
river and the upper Mississippi.

With territorial government came need of new counties. Iowa. < raw-
ford and Milwaukee were at once set off from Brown (with Des Moines and
Dubuque across the river). In 1838 Milwaukee county, though much the
smallest of these, was most sub-divided, and one of the new counties was
named for the then chancellor of the state of New York, Reuben 1 [yde Wal-
worth, of Saratoga, the last of a short, illustrious line of judges (beginning
in 1777 and ending with 1847). But not as chancellor was he thus honored
in Wisconsin. He was also president of the New York Stale Temperance
Society, and his name, with that of Edward C. Delavan, of Albany, were
thought peculiarly fit for a new county and one of its towns, — since the town
was already founded on a moral idea, and pious men of Delavan, Spring
Prairie and Geneva were trying to build the county on the same foundation.
Judge Walworth was born in 1788 and died in 1807. In 1848 he was the
defeated Democratic candidate for governor, his name on the ("ass and
Butler ticket of the divided party. He lived to compile a valuable genealogy
of his mother's family, descendants of John Hyde, of Norwich, Connecticut.

Walworth county lies along the northern line of Illinois, it- eastern
about twenty-seven miles from the slightly irregular shore of ] ake Michigan.
It is twenty-four miles square, its center in latitude \2 41' north, and longi-
tude 88° 32' west. The bordering counties are Rock on the west, Jefferson
and Waukesha north. Racine and Kenosha east, Boone and McHenry south.
Its sixteen townships were in 1838 included in five towns, of wi ivan

54 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

was the southwestern quarter of the county, Elkhorn the northwestern quar-
ter, Geneva the southeastern quarter, while the northeastern quarter was just-
ly divided between Spring Prairie and Troy. In 1842 a census was taken for
reapportionment of legislative representation. Sheriff Mallory and Under
Sheriff Oatman performed this work, and Mr. Davis recorded their returns
in Vol. 1, pp. 422-446, of Mortgages. It is evident from the face of this
record that the returns were clerically well made. Mr. Davis was a shrewd
and competent business man, but his spelling and writing were rather old-
fashioned, even for seventy years ago. He followed his copy with faithful
intent, and the list of eight hundred and seventy-five names has as few errors
as most of such records. Only the heads of households are shown by name,
with number of males and females set against each name. It is plain that
many unmarried men thus missed entry by name; for several households
numbered from twelve to twenty-five. The sum of this enumeration, if the
register's crabbed figures are rightly read and added, was four thousand six
hundred and eighteen. The five towns had become nine, and a tenth was fore-
shown by returning two sheets for Troy. Richmond and Whitewater had
been taken from Elkhorn; Darien and Walworth (the latter including
Sharon) from Delavan; while Geneva and Spring Prairie were unchanged.
In a year or more afterward each land-office division had been named and
organized for home rule. The village of Elkhorn, laid out in 1837, spread
itself loosely into four sections, lying in as many towns. This was soon found
inconvenient for various county purposes, and in 1846 section 1 of Delavan,
section 6 of Geneva, section 31 of Lafayette, and section 36 of the town of
Elkhorn were set off as a new town and village of Elkhorn, and the larger
remnant of the old town was renamed Sugar Creek. Thus, the list of towns
became complete : Bloomfield, Darien, Delavan, East Troy, Elkhorn, Geneva,
Hudson, Lafayette, Lagrange, Linn, Richmond, Sharon, Spring Prairie,
Sugar Creek, Troy, Walworth, Whitewater. In 1865 Hudson was newly
named Lyons. (In the newer county of St. Croix the names of Hudson,
Richmond, Springfield and Troy are repeated.)

CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

At the four sessions of the second Territorial Assembly. 1838-40, one
member sat in the Council and two in the House of Representatives for the
joint district of Rock and Walworth counties. At both sessions of the third
Assembly (December, 1840, and December, 1841 i. four members appeared in
the lower House. At the fourth Assembly two councihnen sat for the dis-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

trict. At the fifth (.and last) Assembly, 1847-48, these counties were separ-
ately represented in both Houses.

When Wisconsin put on statehood, in 1848, the counties of Jefferson,
Green, Milwaukee, Racine (including Kenosha), Rock and Walworth con-
stituted the first of her two congressional districts. In 1852 lefferson. Green
and Rock were made part of a new district, the other counties remaining the
first of three districts. In 186 J the first district was left unchanged, though
the state had gained three members of Congress. In 1872 .Milwaukee was
dropped and Rock added. In 1882 Waukesha was exchanged for Jefferson.
From 1892 to 1912 the counties of the first district have been ( rreen, Kenosha,
Racine, Rock and Walworth.

For the state Senate thirty-three members were chosen biennially- [or
odd-numbered districts in even-numbered years, for even-numbered districts
in odd-numbered years — until 1882, when the sessions becacic biennial and
the terms quadrennial. Walworth was a senate district from 1848 to 1870, —
at first numbered fourteenth. In 1853 it was numbered twelfth. In 1872 it
was joined to Kenosha and numbered eighth. In 1892 it was joined with
several towns of Rock to make the twenty- fourth. This apportionment was
found unconstitutional, because not composed of entire assembly districts, and
in 1896 the two assembly districts of Walworth, with one of Jefferson, made
up the twenty-third senate district. Since 1902 the whole of these two coun-
ties compose the twenty-third.

From 1848 to 185 1 the county chose five assemblymen. The towns of
the first district were East Troy, Spring Prairie, Troy. Those of the second
district were Lagrange, Richmond, Whitewater; third district, Darien, Linn,
Sharon, Walworth; fourth district, Bloomfield, Geneva, Hudson; fifth district,
Delavan, Elkhorn, Lafayette, Sugar Creek. m

From 1852 to 1855 there were six districts: First, Elkhorn, Geneva,
Hudson; second, Lafayette, Sugar Creek, Troy; third, East Troy, Spring
Prairie; fourth, Lagrange, Richmond, Whitewater; fifth, Darien, Delavan,
Sharon; sixth, Bloomfield, Linn, Walworth.

From 1856 to 18(15 the county was divided quarterly: the Geneva dis-
trict numbered one, the Delavan district two, the Whitewater districl tli
the East Troy district (with Elkhorn) four.

From 1866 to 1883. three districts: Fir i. Darien, Delavan, Richmond,
Sharon, Walworth; second. Bloomfield, Elkhorn, Geneva, Lafayette, Linn,
Lyons, Spring Prairie: third, East Troy, Lagrange, Sugar ' reek, Tro
Whitewater.

56 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

From 1884 to 1890 ( with biennial terms) the western half of the county,
less the town of Walworth, was the first district. The rest of the county,
including Elkhorn, was the second district.

From 1892 to 1900 the northern half, with Elkhorn, became the first
district, the eight southern towns the second district. One more reduction, in
1902, has made the whole county one assembly district.

This steady loss of representation is due to the small increase of popu-
lation here since the monetary panic of 1857, while Milwaukee and the north-
ern counties have multiplied mightily. The several Federal enumerations
have shown but one decrease — between 18^0 and 1870:

1840 2,61 1 1880 26,249

1850 17.832 1890 27,860

i860 26,496 1900 29.259

1870 25,972 [910 29,614

The legislative membership is constitutionally fixed at thirty-three sena-
tors and one hundred assemblymen, and thus Walworth's loss is gain else-
where in the state. But the county has yet some noticeable influence in legis-
lation, and she is yet of some appreciable political value.

JUDICIAL CIRCUITS.

In 1837 citizens of the present county of Walworth went to Milwaukee
as plaintiffs or defendants in cases at law. In 1838 the county was attached
temporarily, for judicial purposes, to the new county of Racine. In April,
1839, a federal judge held a term of court at Elkhorn. The federal judicial
district of eastern Wisconsin includes Walworth. One citizen of this county,
the late George Nelson Wiswell, was President Harrison's federal marshal
for this district.

From the beginning of state government this county has been of the
first judicial circuit, — until 1869, with Green, Kenosha. Racine and Rock:
since that year, with Kenosha and Racine only. Circuit judges are chosen
at April elections, their term of six years beginning in the following Janu-
ary. The current term of office began on the first Monday of January. 1908.

fudges of probate were chosen in the period between [840 and 1849.
A line of county judges began in January, 1850. Their functions were sub-
stantially those of the probate judges, with slight additions to their jurisdic-
tion in later years, until 1907. "An act to confer civil ami criminal jurisdic-
tion on the countv court of Walworth county" was published June 20th of

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 57

that year. By this act the county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the
circuit court in all actions of law and equity in which the sum at issue does
not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars; in actions of foreclosure of mort-
gages and mechanic's liens; in actions for divorces and annulment of mar-
riage contract; of title to real estate; of partition of real estate; and in all
criminal cases except murder, manslaughter and homicide. Issues of fad
may be tried with or without jury. Since iqoi special terms of county court
may be held at Whitewater. Of course, all the county judges have been
lawyers of good personal and professional repute; though, in 1885, a some-
what vigorous effort was made to open the way to the county bench for men
not bred to the "insipid clamor of the bar." The act of 1907 seems not likely
to encourage another such movement.

CHAPTER VII.

POLITICAL REPRESENTATION.

At the first session of the second Territorial Assembly (which was the
first session held at Madison), beginning November 26, 1838, Col. James
Maxwell, of the town of Walworth, appeared in Council for the counties
of Rock and Walworth, and held his seat through that and the next As-
sembly, which latter body adjourned February 19, 1842. To the fourth
Assembly came Charles Minton Baker, of Geneva, serving from December
5, 1842, to February 3, 1846. His colleague for the joint district, which
now had two members, was Edward Vernon Whiton, afterward the first
chief justice of the Wisconsin supreme court. A high estimate has been
placed upon the personal character and judicial fitness of Judge Whiton.
They who best knew Judge Baker rated his ability little if any lower and
his character quite as highly. At the fifth (and last) Territorial Assembly,
Dr. Henry Clark, of Walworth, served in Council from January 4, 1847, to
.March 13. 1848.

Othni Beardsley, of Troy, sat in the second Assembly as representative
of this part of the joint district. At the next Assembly the district represen-
tation was doubled, and Dr. Jesse Carr Mills, of Spring Prairie, with Hugh
Long, of Darien, were chosen; but Mr. Long resigned after one session
and Dr. James Tripp, of Whitewater, served for the second session. Dr.
Tripp, with John M. Capron, of Geneva, were chosen to the fourth As-
sembly, serving at the first session. At the second session William Ayres
Bartlett, of Delavan, took Dr. Tripp's seat. At the third session Salmon
Thomas, of Darien, and Dr. Mills replaced Messrs. Bartlett and Capron.
At the fourth session this unstable membership was composed, for Wal-
worth, now detached from Rock, of Warner Earl, of Whitewater, and
Gaylord Graves, of East Troy. The last Assembly held two regular sessions,
with a special session between. At the first of these appeared in Council, Dr.
Henry (lark, and as representatives Palmer Gardner, of Spring Prairie, and
Charles A. Bronson, of Lagrange. To the other sessions went Eleazar
Wakeley, of Whitewater, and George Walworth, of Spring Prairie, as rep-
resentatives.

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Assemble Districts at Six AppoRTionr-iENTs

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 59

Among the earliest attentions at the capital to the affairs of this county,
and previous to 1838, was the appointment of justices of the peace by Gov-
ernor Dodge and the consenting Council. There were William Cell for
Walworth, William Bowman for Sugar Creek. Gaylord Graves for I .. 1
Troy, Truman Hibbard for Troy, Thomas McKaig for Geneva, Col. Perez
Merrick for Lafayette, Benjamin Carpenter Pearce for Spring Prairie. Jedu-
thun Spooner for Sugar Creek, Salmon Thomas for Darien and Delavan,
and Israel Williams, Jr., for Linn.

The county having been set off by legislative act early in 183N, there
was yet time within the same year to nominate and elect county officers. The
chosen were for sheriff, Sheldon Walling, of Geneva 1 near Elkhorn) ; for
register of deeds, LeGrand Rockwell, of Elkhorn village; for treasurer, Will-
iam Hollinshead, of Delavan; for surveyor, Edward Norris, of Delavan; for
coroner, Hollis Latham, of Elkhorn; for county commissioners: For one
year, Benjamin Ball, of Linn; for two years, William Bowman, of Sugar
Creek; for three years, Nathaniel Bell, of Lafayette. In that year the vote
of the county, confirmed by the Legislature, made Elkhorn village the county
seat. The other competitor villages were Delavan. Geneva and Spring
Prairie.

The county commissioners met and organized, and the county officers
began their terms of office and their duties January 7, 1839, and that day
may be regarded as one of the birthdays of Walworth county. The records
remain to show how the commissioners and the register of deeds discharged
their respective functions. The treasurer and coroner lived to be called old
men. and yet died before they had become no longer useful to their fellow
citizens, whom they had served in many ways. Their ability was equal to
the needs of any service their modesty would permit them to undertake,
their official integrity unquestioned, and their lives blameless. Neither of
them was ever known to evade a plain duty or to perform it carelessly or in
other ways badly. Less is now known of the surveyor, and nothing to his
personal or official discredit. The sheriff had been, as he led his neighbors to
think, suppose, or concede, a brigadier-general of New York militia; though,
at his death in 1875, his widow could not find his commission among hi -
half-dozen best-kept papers, nor remember which Governor had signed it.
The adjutant-general"s office at Albany may contain thi cords of such an
appointment. He was competent to instruct in the rudiments, at lea t, ol
Scott's drill of the company, and he had some skill with drum-sticks. I Ms
duties as sheriff seem to have been performed fairly, and in the condition
of the county roads for at least half of the year such duty as that of mini-

60 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

moning jurors must have tried the resoluteness of even a brigadier-general.

He was an unconvertible Democrat, and hence was seldom afterward called

into public service.

The following is a transcript from the journal of the first meeting of

the county commissioners :

"At a meeting of the com. of Walworth County held at the house of

Daniel E. Bradley on Monday the 7 day of Jany 1839 Present Benjamin

Ball Nathaniel Bell and William Bowman and proceeded to appoint V A

McCraken Clerk of the board of Com. License was granted to R. W.

Warren to keep a Tavern in the village of Geneva untill the first day of

January 1840. for the sum of five dollars

"The meeting adjourned to meet again on the 18th day of March,

1839 at the house of Daniel E. Bradley

"Attest V. A. McCraken

"Clerk-
Thus the record runs, word, letter and point. At the third session.

April 1st, store licenses were given to Andrew Ferguson, at Geneva, and to

Henrv & Samuel F. Phoenix, at Delavan; and the fee imposed with each

license was ten dollars. To Othni Beardsley, at Troy, Ansel A. Hemenway.

at Spring Prairie, Greenleaf Stevens Warren, at Geneva, and Israel Williams,

at Walworth, tavern licenses were granted at five dollars each. The fiscal

statement made at the end of 1839 is thus shown:

Received $1,874.64

Paid out 1,786.69

Balance in treasury $ 87.95

The chairmanship of this first board of commissioners was given to
Major Bell, though Mr. McCraken did not record this interesting fact
until a later date. In 1840 Christopher Douglass, of Walworth, appeared in
place of Mr. Ball, whose term had expired, and served two years of his
term as chairman, Major Bell having resigned that post. In 184T Gaylord
Graves, of East Troy, followed Mr. Bowman, and was chairman in 1842.
George W. Arms, of Spring Prairie, succeeded Major Bell as member for
[842, :in(l Robert llollcy, of Hudson, followed Mr. Douglass, who had re-
signed in that year. The clerks of the board were Volncy Anderson Mc-
Craken, of Lagrange, for one year; Hollis Latham for two years; and Milo
Kelsey, of Delavan (if not then of Darien), for part of 1842.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 6l

The greater part of the boarcTs business was to license taverns and
stores, to lay out roads and road districts, to establish school districts and
appoint inspectors, to make juror lists, and to name election judges and
designate polling places. At the session of March 18, 1839, jurors were
selected for ser\-ice at the April term of court: Grand jurors, Asa I'.lood,
John Bruce, George Clark, Nicholas S. Comstock, Christopher Douglass,
Solomon A. Dwinnell, diaries Dyer, Palmer Gardner, Josepli Griffin, Morris
F. Hawes, Elias Jennings, Zerah Mead. Roderick .Merrick. Marshall New-
ell, Henry Phoenix, Jeduthun Spooner, Adolphus Spoor, Salmon Thomas,
James Tripp, Robert \Y. Warren, William Weed, Daniel Whitmore, Israel
Williams. Petit jurors, Charles M. Baker. Joseph Barker, William A. Bart-
lett, Othni Beardsley, Milo E. Bradley, Gorham Bunker, Jared B. Cornish,
Gaylord Graves, Solomon Harvey, William Hibbard. Elias Hicks, William
Hollinshead, Willard B. Johnson, George W. Kendall, John Lippitt, Allen
McBride, James Maxwell, William K. May, Austin L. Merrick, Benjamin
C. Pearce, Allen Perkins, Edwin Perry, William Stork, Elijah Worthington.
The board was petitioned to lay out a road from Elkhorn village to Mr.
Barker's (in Sugar Creek) and thence to the north line of the county.

At the session of April 1st a special election, for choice of township
officers, was ordered, to take place Thursday, May 9th. Polling places were
designated and election judges appointed: For Delavan, at Milo Kelsey's,
with Henry Phoenix, William Hollinshead and John Bruce as judges; for
Elkhorn, at Elijah Worthington's (in Lagrange), with George W. Kendall,
Tared B. Cornish and Zerah Mead as judges; for Geneva, at Roberl W.
Warren's, with Charles M. Goodsell. William K. May and Thomas McKaig
as judges: for Spring Prairie, at Ansel A. Hemenway's, with Thomas
Miller, Roderick Merrick and Solomon A. Dwinnell as judges; for Wal-
worth, at James A. Maxwell's, with Christopher Douglass, William Bell and
Amos Bailey as judges.

A few extracts from records may show some of the more importanl
work of the board between 1839 and 1842:

May 6, 1839 — William Stork, Morris Ross and Thomas McKaig ap-
pointed road viewers and directed to lav out a road from Geneva village by
nearest and best route to Lamphear's house (in Bloomfield) and thence to
state line near E. W. Brigham's. * Palmer Gardner, Richard

Chenery and Daniel Salisbury directed to view mad from northeast comer
of section 2^, (Spring Prairie), vvesl our and a half miles, thence south one
mile. * * * James Harkness, Sylvester < .. Smith and David S. Elting
to lav a road from a point on east line of section 23 1 Lafayette), westward

62 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

on or as near half section line as the ground will permit, to section 26, thence
to a road to Sugar Creek Prairie or to a road from Elkhorn (village) to
said Prairie. * * * Salmon Thomas, William Hollinshead and Sam-
uel F. Phoenix to la)- road from Geneva and Beloit territorial road at suit-
able place on northwest quarter of section 5 (Linn) to run northwest to
Charles S. Bailey's house (town of Delavan), thence to southwest corner
of Mr. Phoenix's field, by the grist mill, to Racine and Janesville road on
Rock Prairie (in Darien). * * * Jacob G. Sanders, John Boorman
and William Bell to lay out road from quarter section stake, east line of
section 17 (Walworth), west through middle of section to west side of
Bigfoot Prairie, thence by nearest and best road to intersect Beloit and
Southport road at or near west line of section 11 (Sharon) or to west line of
county. * * * Elijah Worthington, George Esterly and Edward Nor-
ris to view road from point where the road to Orendorf's ferry through
Eagle Prairie (Waukesha county) meets north line of county, thence south-
westerly to or near quarter stake on north line of section 28 (Lagrange).
Also, to view road beginning at or near the point where the Milwaukee and
Janesville territorial road crosses north line of section 27, following section
line west as far as land will admit good road, thence southwest to meet
line of county, in the direction of Janesville. * * * At this session
fourteen bills against the county were allowed. No. 1 was that of Andrew
Ferguson, two dollars and seventy cents. The sum of this first batch of
county orders Avas one hundred and twelve dollars and twenty cents, but no
items of these bills are recorded.

July 1, 1839 — Board ordered a highway tax of five mills on all real and
personal property. * * Edwin Brainard was allowed twenty-seven

dollar> fur committing a prisoner to the jail at Milwaukee. * * * Ten
county orders allowed, amounting to sixty-two dollars. * * Col.

Perez Merrick mentioned as county assessor.

September 9-12, 1839 — County divided into three assessment districts:
District 1, the southern tier of towns with Darien and the west half of
Delavan; district 2, Hudson, Geneva, east half of Delavan. Elkhorn, Sugar
Creek, Lafayette, and Spring Prairie; district 3, the northern tier, with
Richmond. * * * Plat and minutes of village of Elkhorn received and
recorded. * * * LeGrand Rockwell appointed to sell lots in that vil-
lage. (This refers to the county's quarter of section 36, town 3 north, range
if) east, in which are the county buildings. ) * * Wolf bounty fixed

at one dollar and fifty cents per scalp.

February 5, [840 — Twenty-eight dollars and fifty cents paid as boun-
ties for nineteen wolf scalps.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 63

January 5, 1841— Wolf bounty raised to three dollars, until July 1st.

March 5, 1841 — Resolved, that it is expedient and in accordance with
the wishes of a majority of the people of the count) to proceed to conclude
the contract for building a court house in this county.

April 4. 1842 — The board of county commissioners adjourned without a

day.

\\ ith the coming of a larger order of county administration these now
ex-commissioners were not mustered out of public employment. Their short
service had tried and proved their quality and had trained them fairly for
further public usefulness, as the several county and town records well show.
The county board of supervisors, with nine members (Major Meacham, of
Troy, absent), met September 6, 1842. and chose as its chairman John M.
Capron, of Geneva, a man of legislative experience, and as clerk, John Fish.
In 1846 a member was added for the new town of Elkhorn, and the old
town received the name Sugar Creek. In 1862, compliant with a statute of
the previous year, the board was reduced to five members, one for each
assembly district and a member for the county at large. This measure of
policy or of economy — hardly a war measure — was in operation eight years.
Members were elected biennially for a two-year term. In 1870 the old
order returned, and the board met with twenty members, an addition of one
member for each of the villages of Delavan, Geneva and Whitewater. In
1883 Whitewater, and in 1886 Lake Geneva became cities with ward rep
resentation. each having three wards. Thus, four members were added. In
1894 Delavan and Elkhorn became statutory cities of the fourth class, each
with three wards. Sharon village was incorporated in [893 and the villag
of East Troy, Geneva Junction and Walworth in 1901, each having its mem-
ber of the county board. Thus, since 1842 the membership <>f this f>
has been doubled in number. Among the functions of the board is thai of
appointing three superintendents of the county poorhouse and insane asylum;
since 1887 a soldier's relief committee of three members: and since [90] a
supervisor of assessments. The superintendents of the poor and insane
choose a resident superintendent of the farm, buildings and inmates
times one of the directing body. .Many members of tin's | ,f thirty-two

farmers and business men. representing the intelligence and publ t of

the towns, villages and cities, are so often re-elected for their term oi
year each that it never meets as a body wholly without experience in county
affairs. As would naturally be thought, the names ,,f several of these mem-
bers appear in the lists of assemblymen and sta f >ne member
passed by rapidly succeeding steps, by way of the Assembly, I it of tin-
mighty at Washington.

CHAPTER VIII.

COUNTY BUILDINGS AND POOR FARM.

An act of Congress, approved May 26, 1824, gave to counties in states
and territories where public lands were situated a right of pre-emption to
one quarter section of land for seats of justice. The county commissioners
pre-empted, by permission of Mr. Rockwell's company, the southeast quarter
of section 36, township 3 north, of range 16 east, in the Milwaukee land
district, being the Sugar Creek corner of the town and city of Elkhorn. The
certificate of this pre-emption was numbered 1144. The minimum lawful
price, two hundred dollars, was paid February 5, 1839, by the commissioners
acting for the county. President Tyler signed the patent March 3, 1843,
and this instrument was recorded April 2, 1852, by Register Long at page
217, Vol. XIV of Deeds. A park was reserved as a court house site, and
the rest of the land was laid out in lots and platted by the county surveyor,
Mr. Norris, and Mr. Rockwell was empowered to sell lots in behalf of the
commissioners. Some thoughtful persons secured lots facing the west and
north sides of the park for a school house and a church. A few lots besides
were sold, and, except a lot for the jail and a hotel, the rest of the county's
quarter section became part of the court house contractor's payment.

The commissioners acted never more wisely and well than in setting off
the park. It was part of a grove of nature's planting — mostly oaks of the
black and burr varieties — so old that the earlier discoverers of the North
American coast might have seen them as saplings had they but come this
way to find mill sites and county centers. More than fifty years ago decay,
lightning and high winds began to overthrow the aged and infirm among
them, not swiftly, but too surely. So many n\ them yet live as to preserve
the general appearance so long admired. Other trees, not oaks, have tilled
the vacant places, and the park, undisfigured by officious "landscape archi-
tects," and little marred by the county buildings, which are partly hidden
except at shortest distance, is a summer comfort and a thing of unadorned
beauty to citizens and appreciative visitors. While this park is the property
of the county and wholly within the county's control and the city mows its
grass and rakes away its dead leaves and twigs, and provides lawn seats and

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 65

electric lights, neither city nor county has ye1 become so super-civilized as to
improve its natural charms by posting notices to tired feet to "keep off the

grass." The dimensions are about six hundred and thirty-nine feet long from
east to west and five hundred and ten feet wide between north and south. Its
area is nearly seven and one-half acres. The court house stands near the
park center; that is, a few feet east and north of that point. It is about
sixty-two rods northwestward from the stake which determined the settle-
ment at Elkhorn.

THE FIRST COURT HOUSE.

Before April, 1839, Mr. Rockwell had built for the county a small office
on the north side of the park, at or near the northeast corner of Court and
Broad streets. It was about eighteen by twenty-two feet on the ground, a
low story in height, with columned porch in front, plain in its neatness, and
was decently painted. It was occupied as a court room, a meeting place for
the county commissioners, and an office for the registry of deeds and mort-
gages. In 1840 Willard B. Johnson, of Whitewater, built a log jail on the
county's land, a little north of the primitive court house. Its dimensions
were fourteen by twenty feet, and it was fully seven feet between joints. This
ffowning bastile, with its full equipment of bars, bolts, locks and solitary
cell, stood there twelve years; for it never had at one time enough inmates
to lift up one side, upset the entire structure, and effect a general jail delivery.

SECOND COURT HOUSE.

At its session of March 5, 1841, as has been shown, the board of com-
missioners had resolved to complete a contract for building a court house, but
the scanty record does not show the steps which had led to such decisive ac-
tion; nor, beyond two services added to the contract, and some advance pay-
ments to contractor ordered, does the record tell of later steps taken.
Doubtless, papers now not to be found were tiled. As nearly as now under-
stood, it was planned to build a public house at the hotel corner of Wisconsin
and Walworth streets and to derive some revenue for the county from its rent
al to worthy and well qualified landlords. No citizen of the count) had mi
and skill needful for performing such work as was required by the plans and
specifications, or, if he had. none such cared so to invest bis -kill and mean
Col. Edward Eklerkin knew one James Farnsworth, Jr., at or near Fond du
Lac. who was called hither and who came with Richard Hogcbooin and Hen

(5)

66 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

jamin Arnold. To these men the contract was let, considerable timber and
other materials were brought and some payments made. The contractors
found themselves unable to take the next steps, and they assigned their con-
tract to Levi Lee, a then somewhat roving contractor, who came here from
the lower Rock River valley. He fulfilled his contract, made seats for the
court room, and was directed to buy a "ten-plate" stove with twenty-four
feet of Russia-iron seven-inch pipe at cost of not more than thirty dollars.
As part payment he received the unreserved- and unsold parts of the county's
quarter section of land. He became a citizen of Elkhorn, served the village
and his own interests in various ways, and died on Christmas day, 1875.

The court house was thirty-six feet wide by fifty-two feet long, two
stories high, gable-roofed with four fluted and voluted hollow columns sup-
porting the front gable, which projected as a porch, and with a belfry. It
was painted white, and had green blinds. Its upper floor was the court room,
with stairway at the rear, and the bench and bar, which were well built of
walnut, in front. The pine seats and the floor were painted. Its lower floor
gave a little more than elbow room to part of the county officers and two rooms
for jury's use. It was for some years one of the best court houses in the state.
It was dedicated in due form May 10,. 1843, by lawyers and citizens. Exper-
ience Estabrook serving the occasion as chairman and George Gale as secre-
tary. On the following Fourth of July it was dedicated again "to the blind
goddess of justice," in a speech by Charles M. Baker, which Judge Gale
described as an excellent oration. Before i860 the court room was so re-
arranged as to seat the judge and counsel at the back end, the inside stair-
way having been pulled away. A false floor disfigured the classic colonnade;
but the outside stairways, mounting each way from the lower entrance, were
as useful as homely and gave a few more square feet to the court room.
In 1874 this court house was moved southward to give way to another temple
to the blind goddess, and the next year, thirty-two years after its dedication,
il was sold at auction to Colonel Elderkin for little more than the price of two
sparrows, fie moved it to the Walworth and Broad street comer and planned
in various vain ways to make it rentable. A little later its front wall was
pushed forward, displacing its Ionic columns, its outside was bedaubed with
the muddiest of colors and its inside filled with barb wire, horse rakes and corn
planters. Its last owner was Edward TT. Sprague, who in iqoo set it out into
the street to make way for a new building, and the next year the old house was
pulled down and reduced to second-hand lumber and kindling wood because
nobody knew of better use for it.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 67

SECOND JAIL, AND REGISTER'S OFFICE.

The board of supervisors met in special session April 21, 1851, with all
members present except David Williams of Geneva, for whom appeared
Richard B. Flack, of the town board. This body, as a committee of the
whole, having inspected the jail. Mr. Harrington moved to condemn it. The
motion prevailed by a vote of thirteen ayes to three noes. Mr. Barlow moved
to build forthwith and Messrs. Barlow, Bell, Coon, Fish and Harrington, as
a committee on ways and means, were directed to consider and to report by
the next day. Mr. Cotton moved to choose (or accept) a site at Delavan.
Voting by roll call, the ayes were seven: Messrs. Barlow, Bell. Birge, Coon,
Cotton, Gillet. Snell (representing respectively the towns of Delavan, Lafay-
ette, Whitewater, Walworth, Darien, Hudson and Linn). The noes were
nine: Messrs Clark, Dickson, Fish. Rack, C,age, Harrington, Lauderdale,
Powers, Stewart (respectively of East Troy. Sharon, Richmond, Geneva,
Spring Prairie, Sugar Creek, Lagrange, Troy, Bloomfield). The next day a
motion to repair the jail and to build a house for the sheriff was tabled. The
committee of five reported that a jail might be built, partly by tax and for the
rest "on the pledged faith of the county," and this was the sense of the board,
and was quite practical common sense. Mr. Cotton moved to appropriate
four thousand dollars and to build the jail on the site of the old one according
to a plan and specifications (prepared by Lemuel Bailey) then on file. Tin's
motion was carried, and February 1, 1852, fixed for completion of the work.
Messrs. Cotton, Harrington and Flack were named as building committee.
The contract was let to Levi Lee and Richard B. Flack, and Chairman Wins' n ,
of Elkhorn, took the latter's place on the building committee.

The old site, though now dry ground, was then found boggy and un-
suitable and the jail was built at Court and Church streets, facing southwardly.
It was of stone and home-made brick, nearly square and of two stories height.
The sheriff's house in front and jail in rear were brought under one roof, for
some time very leaky, but afterwards tinned and made water tight. A cor-
ridor on all sides of the jail room parted cells from outer walls, and it was
thought that oaken plank with a few bits of boiler plate would make all secure
from within. But escapes became so frequent as to annoy the sheriffs, and
a few years later the cells were rebuilt of oak joists so liberally spiked cheek
to cheek as to defy pockel saws and badly tempered (.able knives. \hout the
same time, say 1858, a wood-built wing, for household uses, was added east-
wardly. This building, too. was in its turn condemned, though in plan and

68 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

construction it was as good for its purposes, most likely, as any built that year
in Wisconsin. It was sold, with its now valuable lot, to Miss Amanda Bulkley,
who pulled away the wing, tore out the cells, and made the original build-
ing a dwelling. In no long time Hugh Dobbin, a dealer in old houses and
stores at Clinton, Delavan, and perhaps elsewhere, bought and occupied the
property. By one more sale its ownership passed to Mr. Flack, one of its
builders, who died under its roof in 1887. In October, 1845, tne board con-
sidered the need of a fire-proof office for the use of the sheriff. Sheriff Bell
was directed to let a contract for such a building, its cost not to be more than
twenty-five dollars in excess of four hundred and twenty-five dollars, and the
work to be finished in 1846. The contract was awarded to Gen. Sheldon
Walling. Just how this office was made fire proof is not now known. Its
outside was of wood, but may have been brick-laid between its studding, and
its floor may have been of bricks. It was one story high, dark, inconvenient,
and in time judged unsafe. It was occupied by the register of deeds and the
county treasurer and may have had a corner for the sheriff. At the board's
session of November 18, 1865, the need of a better building was declared and
January 18, 1866, Messrs. Crumb, Ray and Allen were instructed to procure
plans and bids. At a special session February 5th, one bid was received and
accepted, that of George Dewing, bricklayer, Alexander Stevens, plas-
terer, and Squire Stanford, carpenter, joining their proposals in one
bidding at four thousand two hundred and sixty-five dollars. The new office
was of hard yellow brick with tin roof, and floored with a lower grade of
brick. Except for the small entry way and stairway each floor was a double
room, parted by high, wide double doors of softest pine, with casings of the
same nearly incombustible material. The stairs and hand rail were of harder
wood. Pine was also the material of the filing cases and shelving. These
offices were well lighted and were usually overheated by coal stoves. The
upper floor was assigned to the county judge and the lower one to the reg-
ister of deeds. In 1890 both offices were tile floored and partly equipped with
steel furniture.

PRESENT COURT HOUSE.

In 1873 the board of supervisors calculated plausibly that a panic period,
by reason of lower prices of materials and a scarcity of employment for me-
chanics and laborers, was a favorable time at which to build a new court
house. Limiting the cost to twenty-five thousand dollars, the building com-
mittee, Newton M. Littlejohn, James Aram, Charles Dunlap. Alexander
Fraser and Ely B. Dewing, were to move in the matter at once. The con-

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 69

tract was made with Squire Stanford, who joined George Dewing's bid on
the masonry with his own for nineteen thousand two hundred and forty-nine
dollars. The men broke ground early in 1874. Monday evening, September
20, 1875. the lawyers and an audience of citizens met in the new court room
to dedicate it with many words from Judges Spooner and Wentworth, Fred-
erick W. Cotzhauseu, of Milwaukee, and Messrs. James D. Merrill, of East
Troy, Thompson D. Weeks, of Whitewater, and Colonel Elderkin. James
Simmons, of Lake Geneva, read twenty-nine and one-half inches (in non-
pareil or six-point type) of ten-syllable verse. Whatever Mr. Simmons did.
in his calling or out of it, was well done and in the manner of a liberally-
educated and kindly- feeling gentleman.

Though neither architecturally beautiful nor structurally perfect, the
courthouse is a fairly good building for its purposes. Court room, library
room and jury rooms fill its upper floor. Below are two safety vaulted
offices, the one for the clerk of the court, the other for the county clerk and
the treasurer, a sheriff's office, poor-superintendent's office and a super-
visor's room. Alterations and improvements have been made, and the whole
house is now steam heated and electric lighted. Much of the office furniture
is of steel. Water is conveniently supplied by the city's works. It may even
now be nearly or quite forgotten fso false and Heeling is human memor) 1
that the tower and dome once held aloft a colossal figure of Justice carved
of wood by an artist of Milwaukee — who may have loved his work too well
for his domestic peace — its stature nine feet or more, decently clad and law-
fully equipped (with sword and scales), as to feature- as awfully beautiful as
a Lithuanian Medusa, her petrifying gaze turned sternly toward the state line
— as if frowning upon a rival beauty similarly perched at Woodstock. Her
scale pans were soon blown away, hut she kept her right hand on her sword
until 1884 when an irreverent thunderbolt reduced her to chips and splintei

THE PRESENT JAIL.

It was evident to the board of 1877 that a better jail and sheriff's house
were indispensable, and it appropriated ten thousand dollars and ordered a
change of site. Newton M. Littlejohn, Henrj < .. Hollister, Samuel II.
Stafford, John Matheson, and Lucius Allen served as building committee. The
site chosen is opposite the southwestern park corner, facing eastwardly. The
plan was of Milwaukeean design and the work of Jam >nti " tors. The

outer work is of quarry stone and good brick. The is of 1

high stories, set upon a basement ston of cul stori ive a noble front 1

70 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

vation and to make life a burden to the sheriff's family). As a whole, it is
neither unsightly without nor very inconvenient within. The jail, adjoining
rearwardly, has two tiers of cells and corridors, all of soft and hard steel
bars riveted together cagewise. Jail makers of St. Louis supplied the metal
work. City water, steam heat, electric light and a new barn have since added
sensibly to its cost and value. The state board of control, which is constantly
receiving, absorbing and reflecting new light on state and county building
equipment, already urges rebuilding in a manner more fully compliant with
scientific sanitation's last revelation. A few years after this jail was finished
the board authorized an experiment with tramps and petty delinquents. A
shed was built, stone-hammers were bought, a few hundred loads of cobble
stones were delivered at the jail yard, Samuel Mitchell, of Elkhorn, was ap-
pointed overseer, and these prisoners were set at work to make road material.
Some sale was found for their product, but at no great distance from Elkhorn,
and the plan was soon dropped. From legislation and other causes, far fewer
tramps are committed than in the years between 1870 and 1890.

The state board of control having condemned the jail as "out of date
and no longer a credit to the county," a committee of the county board was
instructed at the session of December, 1910, to examine and consider the
matter. At the session of November, 191 1, the committee recommended the
sale of the jail property and the building of a new jail and sheriff's house on
the park, westward or northward of the other building, with a central heating
system for all of them. Messrs. Stewart and Thayer, of this committee, with
the county clerk, were instructed to call for bids for the present building and
lots and to procure estimates of the cost of a new building and equipment.

FIRE PROOF VAULTS.

For the security of the bulky and priceless county records, and because
of duties added by recent statutes to those of the county judge, a better
building was necessary. In 1905 the county board provided for really
fire-proof offices for the county court and the registry of deeds. The total
cost was about thirty-five thousand dollars. Upon a basement wall of dressed
limestone, forty-four by eight}' feet, a structure of cement, with steel-
rod reinforcement and a facing of pressed bricks was raised, and roofed
with terra cotta tiles. The floors are of small hexagon tiles. Each story
has a large fire-proof record room, and desks, tables, roller shelving and file
cases .'ire of steel. The county judge has the lower floor and. excepl three
small jury rooms, the register of deeds has the upper story. In 1908 one of

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 7 I

these small rooms was placed at the service of the Grand Army posts of the
county for deposit of such records and relics as they may choose to leave
there. In 1909 another of these rooms was set apart for the use of the super-
intendent of schools. The basement, beneath the lower record room, at
present stores the collection of the County Historical Society, as permitted by
statute.

CARE FOR THE POOR.

The helpless poor were, in the earlier years, left to the immediate care
of their several towns. This led to laying bills of cost before each county
board for its audit and allowance. In 1852 the time was ripe for a more
efficient county system and the board of that year chose three superintendents
as a governing commission for the county house and its farm. Authority
was given to buy not more than one hundred and sixty acres in section 4
of the town of Geneva, within three miles of the court house. An improved
farm of eighty acres, with buildings, was chosen and at once applied (in 1853)
to its present use. By successive extensions this farm now contains four
hundred and eight acres. The house, too, was extended, but later needs
soon outstripped this temporary provision. Late in 1872 a fire cleared the
ground for something greatly better. The new house was built at a cost of
ten thousand dollars, and it was then regarded, taken with its management,
as one of the best of its kind in Wisconsin. The contractors were John Trum-
bull, carpenter, and Charles Bonnet, mason, both of Whitewater. In 1883
and 1887 other buildings for the care of the incurably insane — a house
each sex — were built, each at like cost. In 1900 a new house, beside that of
1873. was built and the latter became a general dining hall for the institution
With barns and other buildings, and with recent improvements (including
steam heating and electric lighting) together with the value of the land at
one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre, it is now estimated thai 1
county property is worth two hundred thousand dollars. The yearl) ap
propriation for the care of the poor and insane lias become sixteen thousand
dollars, including one thousand dollar- for permanent impn The

county board visits the farm in a bod) each year, and it- superintendent and
the resident manager are men whom the humane citi nty can

trust. In the earlier half of the pasl forty yens the managen ticipated

and even bettered the suggestions of the stal and in the

reports of that body the example of Walworth was lai the citizens and

hoards of other counties of Wisconsin. Dr. William II. Ilurllnit was ap
pointed count) physician in [882 and he served until 1911, when he resigned
and Dr. Edward Kinne was appointed. Before r882 Dr. Charles S. Bur-
bank had sen ed f< >r a year 1 >r tv 1 >.

CHAPTER IX.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

It may never be known how President Jackson and the consenting Senate
induced Hon. David Irvin to leave forever behind him the elegancies of a
Virginia gentleman's home and drop to the semi-barbarous fare and informal
manners of primitive western hotels ; to exchange his brilliant prospects of
professional or political promotion for the dull routine of frontier courts.
It is only certain that he accepted the territorial judgeship for Wisconsin,
and that late in April, 1839. he dismounted his horse (not improbably at
Hollis Latham's hospitable mansion), placed his gun in temporary safety, and
soon afterwards, with his dog, found his way to the county building, north
of the park and at or near the northeast corner of Court and Broad streets.
Here, with Sheriff Walling's help, he opened in due legal form the first court
term for Walworth count}-. The clerk's journal tells the day's story best :

"At a term of the District-Court of Walworth County, begun and held
at Elkhorn on Monday the twenty-second day of April, 1839; present the
Honorable David Irvin. Judge of said Court:

"Ordered, that LeGrand Rockwell be appointed clerk of the District
Court for the County of Walworth. Whereupon the said Rockwell entered
into Bonds in the penal sum of two thousand dollars, conditioned as the Law-
directs, with Othni Beardsley and William Bowman, his securities, and took
the Oath of Office as prescribed by law.

"Ordered that Charles M. Baker be admitted as an Attorney and Counsel-
lor at Law to appear and practice in this and other Courts of Record within
this' Territory, it appearing to the Court thai he i> entitled so to do. Where-
upon said Baker took the oath of office.''

" \hm'1 A. I Eemenway
vs

I li;mncc\ I \ eS.

Appeal from Justice.

"And now comes the plaintiff by Horatio X. Wells, [of Milwaukee]
his attorney and moves the Court here for leave to tile a declaration in said
Cause. Whereupon it is ordered that said leave be given and that said dec-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. J^

laration be filed within thirty days hereafter and all other pleadings there-
after within twenty days successively until issue and the cause be continued
generally."

'"Thomas McKaig, Appellant.

Israel Williams, Appellee.

Appeal from Justice.

"On motion of Moses M. Strong [of Mineral Point], attorney for the
Appellant, ordered that a rule be entered that Benjamin Ball Esq., Justice of
the Peace before whom the above entitled cause was tried, make due return
of the proceedings in the said cause and that an attachment be granted to
ci niipel the same.

"Ordered that this Court be adjourned until the next term thereof, [Oct.

"] ) win Irvix. Judge."

At the October term a jury was called in the case of McKaig vs. Will-
iams, and the trial resulted in a verdict for the defendant. The jurors were
John S. Boyd, John Byrd, William Carter, Thomas Gates, Alonzo Crow.
Cyrus Horton, George W. Kendall (foreman). Abel Neff. Soldatl I'owcrs.
David Pratt. Morris Ross, and William Stork. The other jurors drawn for
the term were William Bohall, Isaac Burs. .11, Perkins S. Child, David S. |
ing. Thomas Fellows, Solomon Finch. Daniel G. Foster. Daniel llartwell.
Loren K. Jones. Thomas W. Miller, Austin .McCracken. Marcus Mouta g
Benjamin C. Pearce, Horace Smith. Nelson Spoor, Ebenezer Tupper, Elijah
\\'< 'rthington.

The grand jurors at this term were Joseph Marker. Asa Blood, Deodal
Brewster, Alexander H. Bunnell. Jacob Burgit, Richard Chenery, George
Clark. Christopher Douglass. Norman C. Dyer, Charles M. Goodsell, Morris
F. Hawes, Mason Dicks. Willard I'.. Johnson, John Lippit, James Maxwell
(foreman), Urban D. Meacham. Amos Older, Samuel F. Phoenix, Samuel
Prince. John Reader. Jacob ' i. Sanders. ||, Smith Young, Robert Young.
William P.. Lewis was indicted for larceny am i Reub trandei ;

jury. The case against Lewis was dismissed \ nolle prosequi was entered
in the case against Ostrander, it having been shown that Squire McKaig, who
had committed him for trial, was a but half-naturalized citizen. The lot
term of the territorial court opened May 22, [848, and adjourned without .-,
day June 3d. Beyond the short roll of attorneys adn 1 Wisconsin

practice there is little of historic interest in the clerk's journal of the court's
proceedings.

74 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ROLL OF ATTORNEYS, 1 839- 1 848.

Delavan — William C. Allen. Stephen S. Barlow, Milo Kelsey, 1842;
William H. Pettit.

East Troy — Alender O. Babcock.

Elkhorn — Lyman Cowdery, 1848; Edward Elderkin, 1839; George Gale,
1841 ; Wyman Spooner, 1S42; Horatio S. Winsor, 1841.

Geneva — Charles M. Baker, 1839; Experience Estabrook, 1840; James
Simmons, 1843.

Spring Prairie — Charles D. Pulver, 1842.

Troy — Urban D. Meacham.

Whitewater— Prosper Cravath, 1845; Warner Earle, Frederick C. Pat-
terson, 1844; Eleazar Wakeley.

Residence unknown — Charles Aiken, 1845; Thomas D. Grant.

One case in this court was made widely famous, for the period of a
half generation of men, from the humorous account of it given by Andrew
E. Elmore, long known as the Sage of Mukwonago, in a speech (as member
of Assembly) at the legislative session of 1859 or i860, in support of a bill for
abolishing all laws for collection of debts. From the sale of a yoke of oxen,
somewhere in Jefferson county, grew a suit which, by new trials, changes of
venue, and other useful devices, was prolonged until the costs amounted to
more than the price of many yoked or unyoked oxen. Mr. Elmore was of
the counsel in this cause when one of its changes of venue brought it to
Elkhorn. He explained to his fellow legislators that he had learned from ob-
servation or information that if one would win his cause in Judge Irvin's
court he must go hunting with His Honor, praise '"York," His Honor's
horse, regardless of truth or likelihood, or feed and fondle "Pedro," His Hon-
or's dog. Mr. Elmore made "Pedro" think him a true friend, and so far
prospered in court as to obtain a favorable ruling on his motion for a new
trial of the cattle case. As the Judge gave his instruction to the clerk, "Pe-
dro" made awkwardly fn-c with his new friend, who, a little annoyed, gave
the brute a kick. The Judge saw the action and heard the yelp for redress.
Before the clerk had begun to enter the ruling just made the Judge reversed
it. "Mr. Speaker, that kick cost me live hundred dollars!" This speech was
published in most of the newspapers of America and of Great Britain and her
colonies, and was included in various selections for the use of young elo-
cutionists. The fame thus accruing to Mr. Elmore was not boughl much
too dearly at its cost to him.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 75

"At a term of the Circuit Court in and for the County of Walworth
begun and held at the Court House in Elkhorn on the first Monday, the sec-
ond day of October, A. D. 1848. Present the Hon. Edward V. Whiton, judge
of said Court." So begins Air. Clerk's journal. The first cause called for
trial was that of Edwin Hodges vs. Henry Bradley et al. ; George Gale for
the defense. The case was continued at defendant's cost. The grand jurors
were Oramel Armstrong, Robert Augier, John A. Baird, Leander Birge, Deo-
dat Brewster, George Dann, Jared Fox. Lewis B. Goodsell, llcnn II. Hart-
son, Elias Hibbard (foreman), Linus Merrill, Zenas Ogden, Isaac Raymond,
Moses Seymour, Sewall Smith. Henry J. Starin, Jeremiah Wilcox. The
names of men who attended court and drew pay and mileage as petit jurors
were: Calvin M. Ashley, John W. Boyd, Jesse Brown, Alonzo A. Bryant,
William Burgit, Joseph N. Cahoon, Cyrus Church, John DeGarmo, William
DeWolf, George W. Dorrance. Charles Garfield, Samuel Gregory, Jacob R.
Kling, Ansel Knowles, John Mereness, Silas Patten, Robert K. Potter, Martin
O. Pulver, John Raleigh, Sherman M. Rockwood, Isaac Searl, George Sewell,
George W. Sturges, Augustus Taintor, Isaac White, Anderson Whiting,
Robert J. Wood.

The several judges of the first circuit were as follows:

Edward Vernon Whiton, Janesville 1849

Wvman Spooner, Elkhorn, appointed 1853

James Rood Doolittle, Racine 1854

Charles Minton Baker, Geneva, appointed March 1856

John Martin Keep, Beloit, elected April 1856

David Xoggle 1858

William Penn Lyon, Racine [866

Robert Harkness, Elkhorn 1 87 1

' Ira T. Paine, Racine, appointed March 1S75

John Theodore Wentworth, Lake < ieneva, June 1875

John Bradley Winslow, Racine 1884

Frank M. Fish, Racine 1891

Ellsworth Burnett Belden, Racine

Judge Whiton became chief justice of the Wisconsin 51 court in

June, 1853. Mr. Spooner was appointed by Governor Farwell and held one
term of court in this county. At the November election of thai year to till
the vacancy for the remainder of the term of office, Mr. Spooner was
feated by Mr. Doolittle, whose service began in the following January, In

j6 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

1856. after holding the January term of court. Judge Doolittle resigned and
earlv in March Governor Barstow appointed Mr. Baker, who held the April
court term for Racine county. March 25th a Republican convention for the
circuit, at Delavan, on its ninth ballot, named John M. Keep, of Beloit, who
was elected in April and presided at the May term of court. He resigned
in May, 1858, and David Noggle was first appointed and then elected. Judge
Lyon was transferred to the supreme bench, January, 1871. Mr. Harkness
resigned in March, 1875, and went for his health to Salt Lake City. Judge
Paine never presided at Elkhorn, but held spring terms at Kenosha and Ra-
cine. Mr. Wentworth passed up from the circuit clerk's desk to the bench,
and soon after his election became a citizen of Racine. After 1884 he be-
came police judge at that city and died February 7, 1893. Judge Fish re-
signed, went to Texas, returned and died in a sanitarium at Stevens Point.
Tanuarv 10, 1908. Judge Lyon, now nearly blind, but otherwise in fair
health, lives near San Francisco. Judge Harkness is living, and Judge Wins-
low is on duty as chief justice of the Wisconsin supreme court.

ROLL OF ATTORNEYS FROM 1848.

Darien — Joseph F. Lyon. 1871 ; Calvin Serl, Archibald Woodard.

Delavan — Alanson H. Barnes, 1854; D. Bennett Barnes, 1885; J. V.
Bradway, 1857; Henry W. Clark, Edward E. Clippinger, 1884; Augustus J.
Fiedler, 1878; Frederick B. Goodrich, 1888; Charles S. Griffin, 1862; Nicholas
M. Harrington. 1862; Alphonso G. Kellam, 1859; Frederick E. Latimer,
1878; Thomas M. McHugh, 1849: Newton McGraw, Daniel B. Maxson,
1861; Robert R. Menzie. 1849; silas W. Menzie, 1866; William C. Norton,
1856: H. D. Patchen, [858; Arthur L. Shader, 1873; Hiram T. Sharp. 1864;
Charles B. Sumner, 1886; Charles J. Sumner, Alfred D. Thomas, [863;
Ernest L. Von Suessmilch, 1890.

East Troy — Henry Cousins, 1852; John Fraser, [859; James D. Mer-
rill, 1868; John F. Potter, 1852.

Elkhorn — Seth L. Carpenter, 1857; James Densmore, 1855; H. Seymour
Dunlap, 1881; Henry M. Eastman, 1849; George M. Ferris, 1907; John L.
Forrest, 1855; Peter Golder, [850; Anthony Caspar Graff, [888; Charles
Daniel Handy, [858; Robert Harkness. 1S5S; Del. C. lfunfoou, 1890; Levi
W. Lee, [86i ; Jay F. Lyon, [888; W. Clarence Norton, T900; Jay W. Page.
[899; James Redneld, [859; Arthur L. Sanborn, 187S; Harley F. Smith,
1850; Edward II. Sprague, [878; Elnathan S. Weeden, [872; Jaynes B.
Wheeler, 187(1: Curtis H. Winsor, [868; Fernando Winsor, Frank 11. Win-
sor, [888.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. "]-J

Lake Geneva — L. L. Baxter, 1854; Dr. Hilton \Y. Boyce, 1857; Lewis G.
Brown, 1897; Hugh A. Burdick, 1889; Asa W. Farr, [853; Charles S. French,
1879; Daniel E. Sherman, 1870; John Bell Simmons, 1873 ; John A. Smith,
1865; Stephen Bemis Van Buskirk, 1858; John T. Wentworth, Albert T.
Wheeler.

Linn — John P. Ingalls, Wallace Ingalls.

Lyons — Elbert Osborn Hand, 1851): Robert Holley.

Richmond — A. B. Webber.

Sharon — Fayette P. Arnold. 1859; (hark- II. Bronson, 1872; John T.
Fish, 1859; Wilson L. Shunk, 1884.

Whitewater — Samuel Bishop, 1865; Jedidiali Brown, Robert C. Bulkley,
1906; Edwin Thomas Cass, 1878; Elliott D. Converse, 1864; E. Wood
Comes, 1857; Pitt N. Cravath, 1865; Henry J. Curtice. 1X55; Frank X.
Fryer. Hubert O. Hamilton, X. Augustus Hamilton, 1859; Henn Heady,
1873; Edson Kellogg, James G. Kestol, 1883: X. Alphonso Millard, I lenry
Oreb Montague, 1859; X'ewton S. Murphey, 1856; Joseph II. Page, r866;
James D. Robinson, 1864; Hariy O. Seymour, George W. Steele, 1869; Paul
II. Tratt, 1902; Thompson D. Weeks, 1859.

Philip V. Coon. 1868, William E. Sheffield, 1862, and Stephen S.
Sibley, 1856, are not now assignable to any town. There are about fifty
names recorded of men who are not known to have lived in the county, or,
such as did live here went elsewhere to find practice. None of these arc
now of the Walworth bar. nor are there many here named who yel abide with
us. Most of the dates wanting are likeliest to be recorded in other counties,
of this or other states. It may be that none but a non-resident lawyer could
grade justly these learne«l gentlemen, or place them in order of their profes-
sional worth: but it may be permissible to name some of those who have died
or are now far away, to whom contemporary judgment accorded sonic qual-
ities of leadership at the bar of the circuit. Among these, then, were Messrs.
Babcock, Baker, Barlow. A. H. Barnes, Estabrook, Fish, Gale, Harkm
Kellam, McHugh, Meacham, Menzie, Murphey. Sanborn, James Simmons,
H. F. Smith. Wvman Spooner, C. B. Sumner, Thomas, Wakeley, Week-. II
S. Winsor.

The last grand juror li-t was made b) the county board in [872 for the
following vear's service, but the judge may make ami tile an order for sum-
moning a grand jury under statutory provisions. In [897 it became a judicial
function to appoint a commission of three members for the duty of selecting
and reporting a list of citizens for service as petit juroi 5. I me member is

y8 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

pointed each year and serves three years. Thus far five men have performed
this service: Mortimer T. Park, of Elkhorn, 1897-9; John E. Menzie, La-
grange, 1897-1911 ; John W. Brownson, Sharon, 1897-1912; George R. Allen,
Bloomfield. 1899-1901 ; John G. Meadows, Lyons, 1901-13.

CHAPTER X.

OFFICIAL K<» | | k.

Since the admission of Wisconsin to statehood citizens of this county
have shared but moderately in the honors of high place in federal or in slate
government. John Fox Potter, of East Troy, was a member of the national
House of Representatives from 1857 to 1863, six years of a memorably ex-
citing period of American politics. He stood manfully, in his first and sec-
ond term, for freedom of debate, and in his third term was of that group of
western members who enjoyed the close personal as well as political friend-
ship and confidence of President Lincoln. Defeated in 1862 by unfriendly in-
fluences in Milwaukee and Waukesha, as he thought, he was offered and he
refused the Danish mission. But he accepted the consul-generalship at Mon-
treal, after the death of Joshua R. Giddings at that post, and resigned it he-
fore the end of the Johnson administration. His latest successor in Con-
gress. Henry Allen Cooper, of Racine, was born at Spring Prairie (a son of
Dr. Joel H. Cooper), and has served continuously from 1893. Experience
Estabrook, of Geneva, went to Nebraska, and in 1859- claimed a seat in Con-
gress as territorial delegate, but was not seated.

Eleazar Wakeley, of Whitewater, went to Omaha, and became a Federal
judge. Alanson H. Barnes, of Delavan, by General Grant's appointment, was
for four years a judge of the territorial court of Dakota. Alfred D. Thomas,
his son-in-law, was appointed in 1890 as judge of the federal district court
of North Dakota. Arthur Loomis Sanborn, now federal judge for the
western district of Wisconsin, was appointed in [905. I lis boyhood and youth
were passed at Lake Geneva, lie came in 1869 to Elkhorn as assistant to
Register Noyes, whom he succeeded in office. Having in his leisure hours
grounded himself thoroughly in the principles of ancient and modem law, he
was admitted to practice nearly at the close of his four years as a county
officer. At the end of his term he went to Madison, where he formed mosl
advantageous professional connection- and passed readily into the higher
practice of his profession.

George Gale was a pioneer lawyer at Elkhorn, and about [855 again a
pioneer of Trempealeau county, where he founded the villagi ol Galesville.

80 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

His new home was in the sixth judicial circuit and he soon became its judge.
Both at Elkhorn and at Galesville he was a pioneer editor and publisher.
Like Chancellor Walworth, he compiled a genealogy of his family. William
Penn Lyon came in his boyhood to Hudson, served his town as justice of
the peace, removed to Racine, became successively district attorney, judge
for the circuit, associate justice, and chief justice of the supreme court. Al-
phonso G. Kellam studied law at Elkhorn, practiced at Delavan, served in
the Civil war as captain and as major, went to South Dakota, and became the
first chief justice of the supreme court of that state.

George Wilbur Peck, governor of Wisconsin, 1891-95, was for some
years a printer at Delavan and at Whitewater. Butler G. Noble, of White-
water, was elected lieutenant-governor over Dr. Alexander S. Palmer, of
Geneva, in 1859. Wyman Spooner was twice speaker of the Assembly, hav-
ing been sent in 1862 to the state Senate, he became its president, and the
death of Governor Harvey made him acting lieutenant-governor, to which
post he was twice elected by the people. The first man who served Wis-
consin as its secretary of state was Thomas M. McHugh, of Delavan. son of
Rev. Stephen McHugh of the Episcopal clergy, who was also a resident of the
county. Secretary McHugh had served the last territorial Assembly as chief
clerk of the Council. He was educated and able, but neither at the bar nor
elsewhere ever quite fulfilled the hope of his friends. Samuel D. Hastings had
moved from Geneva to Trempealeau county a short time before his election as
state treasurer in 1857, which place he held for four terms. He afterward
served the Prohibitionist party as one of its candidates for some high place,
for him not in that wav attainable. Experience Estabrook, while yet of Gene-
va, served from 1852 to 1854 as attorney-general. Stephen S. Barlow, of
Delavan, went to Sauk county and thence to the same office, 1870-1874. Capt.
Almerin Gillette, of Hudson, and of the Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry, went
to Kansas, where he became railway commissioner. Orville T. Bright, as
boy and young man, lived in that part of the town of Geneva which lies near-
est Elkhorn. After a term as county superintendent of schools he went to
Chicago where he was for many years city superintendent. Since 1903
Charles P. Carv has been in continuous service as state superintendent of
public instruction, lie was elected from Delavan, where he was then chief
officer nf the state's school i"v the deaf.

The first constitutional convention of Wisconsin met October 5. 1846.
and adjourned December io. 1846. Its work was rejected at the election held

April 5, T847, by °^000 majority. The vote of this county was: For, 984;

against, 2,027. The second convention met December 15. 1847. and ad-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 8 1.

journed February i, [848. At the election, March 13, [848, its work was
adopted by 10.000 majority. The county's vmr was: For, [,323; against,
574. Walworth's representatives in these conventions were as follows:

FIRST CONVENTION.

Charles Minton Maker. Geneva: William Bell, Walworth: William Berry,
Spring Prairie; Joseph Bowker. Delavan; John William Boyd, I. inn; Lyman
Hunt Seaver, Darien; Josiah Topping, Sharon; Solmous Wakeley, White-
water.

SECOND CONVENTION.

Experience Estabrook. Geneva; George Gale. Elkhorn; James Harring-
ton, Spring Prairie; Augustus Caesar Kinne, Sugar Creek; Mollis Latham,
Elkhorn; Dr. Ezra Ames Mulford, Walworth.

It has been told that the first constitution was rejected for causes too
complex for easily explaining. This may be true, but there was and is a gen-
eral impression that the principal cause lay in article X, section 1, the whole
text of which was: "There shall be no bank of issue within this state." The
six other sections were more specific in terms, but were of like import. Article
XI, sections 4 and 5, of the constitution adopted, in effect, referred the qu
tion of bank to popular vote. In November, 1N51. this county voted with
the rest of the state to permit banks of issue by 2,054 yeas to 229 na) -

Walworth count\ has been represented bv her own citizens on the bench
of the first judicial circuit, first by Wyman Spooner of Elkhorn, whom I \o
ernor Farwell appointed in [853, Judge Whiton having become chief just
of the supreme court, and he held the fall term of court in each count)' of
the circuit. At the November election James R. Doolittle, of Racine, defi at d
Judge Spooner as a candidate for the rest of the unexpired term. On fudge
Lyon's transference from the circuit bench to that of the higher court, Robert
Harkness, of Elkhorn, succeeded, and his own resignation, in March. 1875,
opened the way to John Theodore Wentworth, of Geneva, who was elected
in April and held the June term of court for thai year. I le removed to Racine
and was rechosen in [877 and served until January, [884, having been de-
feated by John Bradley Winslow, now chief justice of the supreme court

In the territorial period judges of prol "• were appointed. Under state
government county judges are chosen at Vpril el for terms of four

years, beginning first Monday of January following. The dati n in tin-

several official list- arc term beginnings.

(6)

82 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

PROBATE JUDGES.

Joseph Griffin Geneva June 4, 1840

John Fox Potter East Troy March 26, 1842

William Cheney Allen Delavan June 24, 1843

Wyman Spooner Elkhom January 26, 1847

COUNTY JUDGES.

William Cheney Allen Delavan January 7. 1850

Lyman Cowdery Elkhom January 14, 1856

John Fox Potter East Troy June 2, 1856

Peter Colder Elkhorn April 30, 1857

Jaynes Bailey Wheeler Elkhorn January 4, 1886

Jay Forrest Lyon Elkhorn January 21,, 1899

Judge Allen having resigned, Governor Barstow appointed Mr. Cow-
dery. Mr. Potter was elected in April for the rest of Allen's term; hut his
own election in November to Congress made another soon-following change.
Judge Colder had served nearly twenty-nine years, when his loss of hearing
compelled his retirement. Judge Wheeler resigned and went to his old home
at or near Rutland, Vermont, and Governor Schofield's appointment, with
three elections for full terms, have prolonged Judge Lyon's tenure of this
now more than ever before important office to January, 1914.

COURT COMMISSIONERS.

Court commissioners have been appointed by the several circuit judges,
but the record of these officers is not found for the period previous to [867.
A few names are mentioned incidentally in other records, and these are in-
cluded without exact date of the terms: William C. Allen, i8(k;; Charles
M. Baker, Alanson 11. Barnes, [861; Dwight Bennett Barnes, [893; Pitt
Noble Cravath, [891; Prosper Cravath, between [862 and [875; Christo-
pher Douglass, 1842; George Gale, 1S42; Peter Golder, [856; Charles E.
Griffin, [866; Henrj Heady, between 1N75 and [892; Robert Holley, [841;
loseph F. Lyon, between [884 and [893; Silas W. Menzie, between [870 and
[885; Henrj O. Montague, 1 86 1 ; James Simmons, between 1N71 and [893;

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 83

Alfred S. Spooner, between 1872 and [893; Ernesl L. von Suessmilch, [895;
Charles B. Sumner. [891; Solmous Wakeley, [861; form T. Wentworth,
1863: Albert T. Wheeler. 1861.

State and county officers are elected in November for a term beeinnin?
the first Monday of January following.

STATE SENATORS.

John William Boyd Linn 1848-9, [858 9

( leorge Gale Elkhorn [850 1

Eleazar Wakeley Whitewater 1 852-5

Dr. Jesse Carr Mills Elkhorn [856-7

*Dr. Oscar F. Bartlett East Tn >y [860-]

Wyman Spooner Elkhorn 1862-3

Newton M. Littlejohn Whitewater [86

Samuel Pratt Spring I 'rairie 1870-3

Thompson Dimock Weeks Whitewater [874-5, [893 6

Asahel Farr Kenosha [876-7

*Dr. Benoni Orrin Reynolds Lake ( ieneva 1 878 1 1

Joseph Very Quarles Kenosha [880- ]

*Charles Palmetier Lake Geneva 1882-4

Walter S. Maxwell Kenosha [885-8

Dr. James Constant Reynolds Lake Geneva [889-92

Albert Solliday Watertown 1807-8

John Harrison Harris Elkhorn [899-1902

Zadock Pratt Beach Whitewater [903-6

John A. Hazelwood Jefferson [907 to

Charles A. Snover Jefferson mi 1 1 1

The constitutional amendment of [882, making legislative sessions bi-
ennial and elections for state and comity offices fall in even-numbered years.
added a year to terms of all such officers as were chosen in the previous yg
There was no legislative session for [884. Two apportionments between
1890 and [900 changed the number of this senate district from even to odd
and thus Mr. Solliday sat in but one session for the joint district. Drs. I'.. ' »
and J. C. Reynolds are respectively father and son. Names marked' * are
of soldiers of the Civil war. who are s, , denoted in all the following official
lists.

84 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.

Abell, Alfred H Geneva 1877

Aldrich, Alma Montgomery Spring Prairie 1878

* Allen, Dwight Sidney Linn 1889

Allen, George Linn 1855

Allen, George Rue Bloomfield 1880

Allen, Lucius Spring Prairie 1864

Allen, William Cheney Delavan 1866-7

Allen, William P Sharon 1854

Arnold, Fayette P Sharon 1862

Babcock, Alender O East Troy 1850

Baker, James East Troy 1858

Barlow, Stephen Steele Delavan 1852

Barnes, Dwight Bennett Delavan 1880- 1

*Bartlett, Dr. Oscar F East Troy 1853-4

Bell, John Lafayette 1853

Benson, Schuyler Ward Bloomfield 1861

*Blanchard, Dr. Caleb Sly East Troy 1880

*Boyce, Dr. Hilton W Geneva 1862

*Brownson, John W Sharon 1882

Buckbee, Francis A Geneva 1867-1874

Bunker, Nathaniel Mead Troy 1875

Burgit, William East Troy 1870-1874

Chapin, William Densmore Bloomfield 1856

Cheney, Rufus, Jr Whitewater 1850

Child, James Lafayette i860

Clough, Darwin P Darien 1899

Cochrane, William Avery Delavan 1803

*Coe, Edwin Delos Whitewater 1S78-9

Conrick, Edward P Delavan 1859

Cooper. Dr. Joel Henry Spring Prairie 1S52

Cravath, Prosper Whitewater 1848

Davis, Thomas Sugar Creek 1863-6

Derthick. Waller ( leorge Lafayette [882

1 )ewing, Ely Bruce Elkhorn 1879

De Wolf, John Darien i860

Douglass, Carlos Lavallette Walworth 1873

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 85

Dow, Everett E Lagrange igoi

Dunlap, Charles Geneva 1875

Easton. Elijah Walworth 1851, [858

Edgerton, Stephen R Lafaj ette 1870

Estabrook, Experience Geneva iS; 1

*Farr, Asa W Geneva 1856

Fellows, Timothy Hopkins Bloomfield ^^2-3

Foster, George H Whitewater [863

Fraser, Frank L East Tn >y 1893-6

Goff, Sidney Clayton Elkhorn 1 < 1 1 1

( iraves. Gaylord East Troy [848

( ireening, William Lagrange 1 8, ,-

( irier. Thomas S Bloomfield 18-15

Groesbeck, Benjamin F Linn 1865

Hall, Henry Walworth 1 >

Harrington, Perry Green Sugar Creek 185 |

Hastings. Samuel Dexter Geneva iS p,

Hazard, Enos J Lagrange 1849

Heminway. Henry C Richmond 1851

Herron, Wilson R Sharon 1874- 1 877

Hill. Thomas Worden Hudson 1853, 1863

Hooper, Daniel Tl'°.v 1855, 1850. 1 8( >< 1

Hurlbut, Dr. Wrilliam Henry Elkhorn 1897. ' s' >' '

Isham, William Willard Delavan 1X55

letters. John Sharon 1864, 187 r

Johnson, Frank H Darien [905

♦Johnson. John B Darien 1 NS-

*Kellam. Alphonso G Delavan ,8,,,,

Kelsey. Milo Delavan 1848. T8 \g

*Kizer, Fernando Cortez Whitewater 1889, 1801

Kull. Edwin O Bloomfield 1909

Lake. Phipps Waldo Walworth 1854

Latham, Hollis Elkhorn 1.

Lauderdale, James Lagrange [853, 1856

Lee, Levi Elkhorn 1855

Long, Chester Deming Darien 1861

Long, Hugh 1 >arien 1848

Lown, George Hiram Walworth 1

1 ,3 1 m, Joseph Foster Darien 1808

86 WALWOHTII COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

McKibbin, John Linn 1858

Mason, Albert L Sharon 1879

Maxon, Joseph F Walworth 1891

Mead, Zerah Whitewater 1852

Meadows, William Lyons 1881

Merriam, Amzy Linn 1871

*Miller, Dr. Clarkson Geneva i860

Noble, Butler G Whitewater 1858

Palmer, Dr. Alexander S Geneva 1850

Pemberton, John Richmond 1878

Pettit, Paris East Troy 1866

Potter. John Fox East Troy 1856

Pratt, Orris Spring Prairie 1883

Pratt. Samuel Spring Prairie 1849, l855, l863

Ray, Adam E East Troy 185 1

Ray, George A Lagrange 1868

Raymi >nd, Shepard O Geneva 1866

* Reynolds, Dr. Benoni Orrin Lake Geneva . . . . 1876

Reynolds, Dr. James Constant Lake Geneva 1885, 1887

Richardson, Erasmus Darwin Geneva 1848

Rockwell, Reuben Hudson 1859

*Roundy, Dr. Daniel C Geneva 1864

Seaver, Joseph Warren Darien 1853

Seymour. Robert Thompson Lafayette 1856

Sharp, Elijah Matteson Delavan 1872, 1875

Sikes, George Sharon 1850

*Smith, Albert E Delavan 1901-4

Smith, Daniel Richmond 1864

Smith, Francis Sugar Creek t86l

: Smith. John A Geneva [868, [869

Smith. Lindsey Joseph Troy 1881

Spafard, Simeon W Geneva 1854

Spooner, Wyman Elkhom 1850-1, 1S57. 1N01

Sprague, Edward Harvey Elkhorn 1907

Stafford, Amos Wagrnan Bloomfield 1872

Stearns, 1 )aniel Mansfield Sugar Creek 1876

Stewart, \11drew J Richmond 1887

Stew art. Donald Sugar Creek 1882. 1883

Sturtevant, Charles Holmes Delavan 1863

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN". 87

Teeple, Charles S Darien 1876

Thomas, Salmon Darien 1856

*Tilton, Hezekiah C Sharon [865

Voorhees, Samuel Wood Sharon '857

Wakeley. Solmous Whitewater 1855, [856, 1857

Weeks. Thompson Dimock Whitewater [867

White, Samuel Austin Whitewater 1N71. [872

Whiting, Anderson Richmond 1854, [860

Williams, David Geneva [857

Winsor, Horatio Sales Elkhorn [865

Wood. Lewis X Walworth 1852

The names of physicians in this list and the next one show that the pro
fession, as practiced here, did not regard politics and medicine as incompatible,
the one with the other; and the Civil war found ;un >tlier field for their activity.
George and Dwight S. Allen were father and son, as were Hugh and Chester
D. Long. Samuel and Orris Pratt and Solmous and Eleazar Wakeley, the
latter of the State Senate. A. E. and J. A. Smith were brothers. .Mr. Tilton
was a Methodist clergyman.

CHAIRMEN OF COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Capron, John M Geneva [842

Mills. Dr. Jesse Carr Spring Prairie (843

Graves, Gaylord East Troy [843

Magoon, Dr. Oliver C Whitewater 1* I I

Bell, Nathaniel Lafayette [845, (846

Farnum, John Allen Geneva [846

Gale, George Elkhorn 1847, |SIS

Ray. Adam E Troy 1849, |S5''- l857

Snell. John Peter Linn 1850

Winsor, Horatio Sales Elkhorn (851

1 1 tton, George Darien 1852

Rockwell. LeGrand Elkhorn

Frost. Eli Kimball Sugar I reek • x54- 's55

Conrick. Edward P I >elavan ■ t8j8, [859

Hodges. Edwin Elkhorn [860, r86l

Sturtevant. Charles Holmes I )elavan

Hill, Thomas Worden Hudson 1863, [864, [865

88 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Allen, George Linn 1866

Allen, Lucius Spring Prairie 1867

Seymour, Robert Thompson Lafayette 1868. 1873

Chapin. William Densmore Bloomfield 1869. 1881

Richardson, Erasmus Darwin Geneva 1870

Lyon, Joseph Foster Darien 1871, 1872

Boyd, John William Linn 1874

Williams, David Darien 1875

DeWolf, John Darien 1876

Treat. Julius Allen Sharon 1877. 1882

Bishop, Matthew P LaGrange 1878. 1879

* Allen, Dwight Sidney Linn 1880. 1883-90

Allen. George Rue Bloomfield 1891-97

Barr, George W Linn 1898-1902

Douglass, Carlos Stewart Walworth 1903. 1910

Christie, George Darien 191 1

Messrs. Bell, Gale, Winsor, Cotton, Rockwell and Treat were Demo-
crats. Messrs. Mills. Cotton, Conrick, Lucius Allen, Lyon and Williams had
been or were afterward citizens of other towns than those here named.

The order of county officers as prescribed by statute for printing official
ballots is: County clerk (for many years named "clerk of the board of su-
pervisors"), county treasurer, sheriff, coroner, clerk of circuit and county
court, district attorney, register of deeds, county surveyor. The older ar-
rangement had been in the order of their desirability for candidates. This
placed sheriff, register of deeds and treasurer at and next to the head of the
tickets and the coroner at the foot. Since 1883 their biennial terms have
begun on the first Monday of January, in odd-numbered years. Since 1905
the superintendents of schools have been chosen the first Tuesday of April
and begun their terms on the first Monday of July.

COUNTY CLERKS.

McCraken, Volney Anderson Lagrange 1839

Latham, Hollis Elkhorn 1840, 1841. [843

Kelsey, Milo (old board) Delavan 1842

Fish, John (new board) Delavan 1842

1 lodges, Edwin Elkhorn 1846

Thompson, Albert A Linn 1847

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 89

Frost. Eli Kimball Sugar Creek [848

Cowdery, Lyman Elkhorn 185 J

Sibley. Charles W Bioomfield 1 853

Dewing. Myron Edwin Elkhorn 1857 1 87 (

Dewing, Ely Bruce (deputy) Elkhorn 1871

Cowdery. Dyar Lamotte Elkhorn 1 X75- k>oo

Clough, William E. (deputy) Darien 1900

Harrington, Grant Dean Delavan 1901-1913

Myron E. Dewing died March 26, 1 S 7 | . and his brother served till the
end of the year. The Cowderys were father and son. The latter died May
10. 1900. The records of this office have suffered little from fading and dis-
coloration, and are generally easily legible. Mr. Thompson's records art'
pleasant to look upon for their neat handwriting and their clerical form. At
two years old, Myron E. Dewing lost the ringers of both hands by burning in
the embers of a rubbish fire. He learned to write a bold, business-like hand.
and early reached a surprising degree of expertness in many things that
usually require unmaimed fingers. His aptitude for the duties of his place
made him almost indispensable to the county board. His two successors bet
tered his excellent example, and, since 1903, the board's proceedings have
been neatly and accurately typewritten.

COUNTY TREASURERS.

Hollinshead, William I Via van 1838. 1839

Norris, Edward Delavan [839, [840

Spooner. Jeduthun Sugar Creek [842

Winsor, Horatio Sales Elkhorn ri

Lee, Levi Elkhorn 1844

Bellows, Curtis Elkhorn [845

Mallory, Samuel Elkhorn 1846

Hartson, Henry Hobart Elkhorn 1847, 1 853 1

Latham, Hollis Elkhorn [852

T Iandy. Daniel Parmelee Geneva 1

Brett, John Flavel Elkhorn [81

McGraw, Newton Delavan 1X67-8

Fairchild, David Lupe Walworth [869-76

Blomiley, Fred W Lagrange 1877-82

Lauderdale. James Henry Elkhorn [81

90 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

*Church, Leonard Cyrus Walworth 1887-92

Clough, William E ,. . . Darien 1893-6

Allen. William H Bloomrleld 1897-1900

Farley. William E Lyons 1901-04

Foot, Harry H Sharon 1905-7

Foot, Clinton H. (deputy) Sharon 1908

\"< >rris, Harley Cornelius Elkhorn 1909-12

Since 1893 the treasurer has been limited by statute to two terms of con-
tinuous service. Mr. Foot died at Elkhorn, June I, 1908, and his son com-
pleted the term of office.

SHERIFFS.

Walling, Sheldon Geneva 1839

Mallory, Russell H Geneva 1841

May, William K Bloomfield 1 843

Bell, Nathaniel Lafayette 1845

Preston, Otis Spring Prairie 1848

Carver, Philetus S Delavan 1851

Crumb, Joseph Clark Walworth 1853

Gates, Joseph Geneva 1855

Perry, John Adams Troy 1857

Stone, Hiram A Darien 1859-60. 1867-8

*Wylie, George Washington Lafayette 1861-2, 1865-6, [881-2

Billings, Seth M Whitewater 1863-4

Humphrey, William Sharon 1869-70

Fay, Charles G Whitewater 1871-2

Tayl< t. ( "\ rus P Lyons I&73-4, 1877-8

*Goff, Sidney Calkins East Troy 1 ^7^-^

Babcock, Stephen S Delavan 1879-80, [883-4

Derthick, John Henry Spring Prairie [885-6, iS<>i-2

Wiswell, George Nelson Elkhorn 1887-8

* Foster, Lewis George Lake Geneva 1889-00, 1893-4

I [ollister, Seth Henry Delavan 1895-6, 1899-1900

McMillan, Fred Alonzo Whitewater 1897-8

\\ hite, Edgar E Elkhorn 1901-2, 1907-8

*Flanders, Joseph Taylor Lyons ,. . . 1903-4, 1909

Harrington, George L Lafayette 1905-6, 1910

I'iper, John Darien 191 1-13

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. f)t

Sheriff Flanders died suddenly at tea-table, December [6, [909, and ox-
Sheriff Harrington was appointed by Governor Davidson to serve until mh 1.
Mr. Goff is the oldest living ex-sheriff. Babcock and Wiswell arc dead. At
the end of Wiswell's term he was appointed United States marshal for east-
ern Wisconsin. He had held the post of sergeant-at-arms of the Republican
national convention of 1900, at Philadelphia.

The rather shadowy line of coroners began in [839 with Hollis Latham.
A single function, that of serving papers on the sheriff, if occasion requires,
is about all that is left belonging to these statutory but unsalaried and practi-
cally unfee'd officers, for justices of the peace may and usually do held in-
quests. A statute of 1875 seemed a little more favorable I" coroners, but
still left their pay to the judgment or liberality of county boards of supei
visors. William H. Bell, then of Elkhorn, had been elected in 1874, but,
according to usage, had not "qualified." He now hastened to take the oath
of office, and to ask the board at its November session to make the place

w < '

rth the holding

His memorial, petition, or "sifnication" was received as soberly as possi
hie. and the sum of fifteen dollars was the salary fixed. Since [848 the
coroners elected were, in that year, Horace Noble Hay, and thereafter
David Williams. Samuel Pratt, William 11. 1'ettit. John B. Hutchiris, Dr.
Daniel C. Roundy, G. C. Gardner. Julius A. Treat, Henry Adkins, G. C.
Gardner (again), Wellington Hendnx. Abram G. I. Hand. Charles D. Root,
William H. Bell, Charles Lysander Lyon. Mr. Bell was cho.cn at four
successive elections (the last one 111 [880), and Mr. Lyon has been elected
biennially from 1882 to 1910, and has given his official bond and taken
his oath of office for fifteen terms. From [848 to 1906, in which latter year
primarv elections put aside the old machinery of nominations. Republii
county conventions, whose work was always ratified at the November polls.
struggled titanically to determine majorities lor their nominees until n
the lower end of the ticket. Then, weaned of their almost deadly earn
ness, they ended their work in the smoke of cigars (passed aboul by success
ful candidates), with an acclamation for some worthy citizen who least
looked for such honor. The nomination for coroner was thus a tired con

vention's return to care free g 1 humor. Mr. Lyon's acceptance of h

fortune was at first his part of the joke, and it afterward became his ha
As turnkev and deputy under several sheriffs he was dear headed and r<
lute. Though now more than "eighty years young," he is yet the Yorick ol
county officers. The late Joseph F. Lyon was his brother.

92 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

CLERKS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.

Pettit, William Harrison Elkhorn 1849-54

Cousins, Henry East Troy 1855-60

Simmons, James Geneva 1861-70

Wentworth, John Theodore Geneva 1871-5

Lyon, Joseph Foster Darien jS/Sv

* Allen, Levi E Sharon 1878-84

Keats, Washington Sidney East Troy 1885-8

Dewing. Ely Bruce Elkhorn 1889-94

Morgan, Theron Rufus Darien 1895-1905

Kellogg, George Olney Whitewater 1905-12

Mr. Morgan died September 28, 1905, and Mr. Kellogg filled out the
term by appointment. Mr. Wentworth became circuit judge in June. 1875.
ami he appointed Mr. Lyon to serve till the next election.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

Baker, Charles Minton Geneva 1839

Estabrook, Experience Geneva 1S41

Barlow, Stephen Steele Delavan 1845. T<C!5-

Meacham. Urban Duncan East Troy 1849

Spooner, Alfred Stephens Delavan 1854. 1856. 1878

Smith. Harley Flavel (acting) Elkhorn 1854

Wentworth, John Theodore Geneva 1858, i860

Murphey, Newton S Whitewater 1862

Babcock, Alender O East Troy 1864

*Harkness, Robert Elkhorn 1865, 1868, 1870

Thomas, Alfred Delavan Delavan 1872, 1874. T876

Wheeler, Jaynes Bailey Elkhorn 1S80

Sprague, Edward Harvey Elkhorn 1882

Menzie, Silas W Delavan 1885, 1887

lu-alls, Wallace Sharon 1889. 1891

Sumner, Charles Bennett Delavan 1893, r895. l897

1 [amilton, Hubert O Whitewater 1899

Burdick, Hugh A Lake Geneva 1901, 1903

In-alls, John Peter Walworth 1905. 1907. 1909

Bulkley, Robert C Whitewater 191 1

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 93

Wallace and John P. Ingalls are brothers, the former now of Racine;
the latter was a soldier of the war with Spain. Messrs. Wentworth, llark-
ness, Thomas and Wheeler became judges of various courts.

REGISTERS OF DEEDS.

Rockwell, LeGrand Elkhorn 1 834 j

Davis, Booth Beers Hudson 1 842

Boyd, John S Sugar Creek 1843

Lyon, Isaac Hudson (846

Frost, Eli Kimball Sugar Creek 1847

Long, Chester Deming Darien [851

Perry, John Adams Troy 1853

Adkins, Henry Lagrange *&?r- ' 857

Humphrey. Benjamin Blodgett Geneva 185' >, r86i

Houghton, Otis B Spring Prairie 1863, [805

Lawton, James H Lagrange 1 867

*Noyes, Charles Augustus Geneva 1869, 1871, 1873

Sanborn, Arthur Loomis Geneva l&75> ' ^77

Morrison, William Henry Troy i%79- 1881, 1883

Webster, Joseph Haydn Elkhorn 1885. 1887

Taylor, William Thomas Lagrange 1889. 1891, 1893

*Barnes, Henry D Spring Prairie. 1895, [897, [899, 1901,

[903

1 1' >lmes, Frank G Whitewater [9°5! l9°7

Dunbar. Samuel James Elkhorn 1909, \<>i 1

Mr. Davis had lost both legs by freezing, lit' was a pioneer at Hudson,
but after his term of office had ended he remained a citizen of Elkhorn till
death in 1880. Mr. Noyes, his father's namesake, was a nephew of the pio
neer Warrens of Geneva village and a son-in-law of Benjamin B. Humph
He was a soldier of the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and a wound d at

Farmington, Tennessee, crippled him for life. Mr. Morrison became director
of fanners' institutes, and dud al Madison in [893. Mr. Webster 1- a
of the composer, Joseph Philbrick Webster.

COUNTY SURVEYORS.

Norris, Edward Delavan 1839

McKaig, Thomas Morris Geneva 1847

94 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Kelsey, Samuel C Delavan 1853

Tubbs, James Lawrence Lafayette .... 1855 to 1865, 1867, 1869

Beckwith, Warren Geneva 1865, 1871. 1873, T875

Child, James Lafayette 1877 to 1891

Taylor. Ray W Richmond 1891

Child. William Lafayette 1893 to 1905, 191 1

Maxon, Jesse G Walworth 1905

Teeple, George L Whitewater 1907. 1909

James and William Child were father and son. The elder Mr. Child
once said, in the latter half of his long tenure of this office, that while he had
done much professional work within that period, he had been employed
but three times because of his official position. As long as original corner-
stakes of towns and sections left their traces Mr. Tubbs was accounted the
one man in the county surest to find them.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

*Cheney, Augustus Jackman Delavan 1863, 1864

Smith, Osmore R Geneva A pp. March 1 , 1865

Bright, Orville Thomas Geneva 1867

Bright. William H Geneva \pp. Aug. 31, 1868

*Lee, Elon Nelson Delavan 1869

Montague, Melzer Sharon 1871

Ballard, Samuel P Sharon, I App. January 3, 1873 ), 1S74

Isham, Fred Willard Sugar Creek 1876, 1878

Taylor. William R Richmond 1880. 1882

Skeels. John G Sharon 1885

Williams. Leo A Whitewater 1887, 1889, 1891

Taylor. Kay W Richmond l&93i- 1895

Webster, Lillian B Whitewater 1897

Vi iss, John Gustavus Sugar Creek i8gg to 1909

Martin, Helen Elkhorn 1909

Mr. Montague was killed in December, [872 (by sleigh-ride accident),
and Mr. Ballard was appointed to serve till [874, and elected for another
term. The Taylors were father and son. in like order of service. Miss
Webster is mm Mrs. Charles P. Greene, of Elkhorn. This superintendency,
at first something mure than nominal, by slowly, surely, forward steps has
reached a high order of efficiency. Every district in the county, one hundred
and four (besides the graded schools and high schools), is visited yearly and
as much oftener as found necessary.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 95

SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR AND INSANE.

Gaston. Dr. Norman L Delavan 1852- 1855

Clark Henry B East Troy [852-1854

Williams. David ( Geneva [852-1855

Latham. Hollis Elkhorn [854-1886

Rice, Edwin Mortimer Richmond [855-186]

Gage. Thomas Spring Prairie 1855-186 |

Salisbury, Daniel Spring Prairie [859

Hulce. Elisha Richmond [86l (891

Hill. Thomas Worden Lyons 1864- [879

Dunlap. Charles < Geneva [879 [914

Davis. John Potter Richmond [886-1912

dishing. Joseph H Whitewater 1891-11)01

Spooner. Truman Rollin Whitewater 1001 [913

Hemstreet. Frederick Spring Prairie [912-1915

Mr. Salisbury did not serve and Mr. Gage resumed his place until his
resignation in November, 1864. Air. Hill died May 26, [879, Mr. Latham
February 26, [886, Mr. Hulce September 14. [893, and Mr. Cushing August
31, 1901. The resident managers at the county farm, rather confusingly
called superintendents, have been :

Irish. Earl M 1 >elavan [852

Irish, Joseph E Richmond • [853

French. Charles S ( leneva [855

Gray. Elihu Geneva [856

Gray, Thomas Baker ' Geneva ' s' ' '

Hill, Thomas Worden Lyons '

Dunlap. Charles Geneva [879

Davis. John Potter Richmond 1882

Allen. William II Bloomfield '

Charles. Henry R Whitewater '

Stanford. DeWitt Elkh. >rn

In [887 the county board ordered a tax of one tenth o) a mill for a
soldiers' relief fund and appointed a committee of three ' ivil

war to administer it. The fund has been found more than sufficient
purposes prescribed. The sum used in [910 was one thousand eight hundred
dollars. The members have been:

96 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Knilans, William Allen Whitewater 1888

Allen, Dwight Sidney Linn 1888

Matheson, John Elkhorn 1888

Church, Leonard Cyrus Walworth 1890

Kizer, Fernando Cortez Whitewater 1903

Meadows, John Greenwood Lyons 1908

Mr. Matheson died November 17, 1890. Captain Knilans removed in
1902 to Beloit. Mr. Allen died May 5, 1908.

Under a then recent statute, creating a state civil service commission,
John Gustavus Voss and Albert Clayton Beckwith were appointed, in 1905,
local examiners for the county, to hold their places at the pleasure of the
commission.

CHAPTER XI.

PAST AND PRESENT DIVISIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

Men of New England, New York and northern Ohm me1 in these .six-
teen townships to build up a new community in no way essentially different
from the communities they had just left far eastward. Most of these nun
brought their political ideas, notions, or prejudices with them. They were
Whigs and Democrats, with a few Abolitionists. They might vote, each ac-
cording to his former habit, at elections for delegate in Congress and foi
members of the territorial Assembly: but the record of the county's vote, if
such record was ever preserved, is not found. Judging partly from the
little now known of the sentiments at that time of successful candidate.-, there
seems to have been a small Democratic majority or plurality. The later
comers were mostly from the same states as were the first ground-breakers,
and do not appear to have affected greatly the relative strength of parties. In
the short infancy of the county and its towns it may be supposed that local
affairs had more influence at elections than opinions prescribed by national
conventions on tariff. United States Bank, sub-treasury, and internal impn
ments. Writing of the earlier days, in which he played some pari. Judg I
-ays: "Location of school houses, roads and amounl of tax lev) often made
tqwn elections most spirited of any in the year. Politicians of "Id towns
have no adequate idea of the spirit often manifested in a new town over these
matters. Feuds were got up between leading families that have not passed
away — and similarly throughout the we t." This may be a Macaulayan
"heightened and telling way of putting things, for which allowance must be
made." Whatever may have been the earlier facts as to April and November
elections, the yearly inflow of settlers must have tended more and more t"
clearly-drawn party lines in general elections. At the beginning of state gov-
ernment a new political question had just grown from the annexation of
Mexican territory.

By [848 both Whig and Democratic parties of the Northern states wi
already considerably leavened, as to their members, with the sentiment of
non-extension of slavery, ami the "Wilmot Proviso" bad spoken the word
for Walworth. At the general election of that year, while the electoral vote

(?)

98 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

of Wisconsin was for Lewi- Cass, this county's vote was 1.494 for Van
Buren ( Free-Soiler,), 804 for Taylor (Whig), 550 for Cass (Democrat).
In 1852 the county vote was 1.432 for Hale (Free-Soiler). 1,141 for Pierce
(Democrat), and 965 for Scott (Whig). In 1856 the returns showed
3,518 for Fremont, 1,297 for Buchanan. 4 for Fillmore. The intermediate
state and congressional elections gave similar results, for at each of these
the Free-Soil candidates were consistently preferred to Whigs or Democrats;
though in 185 1 the Whig candidate for governor. Leonard J. Farwell, was
of the Free-Soil wing of his party and therefore acceptable to Walworth.
When, in 1854. a convention met to organize the Republican party of Wis-
consin. Wynian Spooner was one of the leaders and lights of that high de-
liberation. From that year to 1910 the county's majority has been only for
Republican -policies, measures and candidates. Until i860 the newspapers an-
nounced almost daily the arrival of one or more "prominent Democrats" —
leaders or "wheel horse-" — of some state north of the Ohio and between two
oceans at the all-receiving Republican camp.

At the dissolution of the Whig party a tew of its members joined the
victorious Democracy, but by far the greater number went to the new and
hopeful opposition. It was observed by some of these ex- Whigs that many
converted Democrats were thrusting themselves into Republican leadership
anil finding choice places on Republican ballot- with little or no probation or
delay. Harley F. Smith, a lawyer of Elkhorn, who was both largely toler-
anl and harmlessly satirical, -aid to his Democratic friend Preston, early in
the campaign of [860: "< 'tis, we shall beat you this year, surely." Preston
answered drib'. "Aba!" and asked. "On-w hat-do-you-pred-i-cate-your-
o-pinion?" Smith's answer to this rather grandly-uttered question was:
"Well, we have now taken about all the slippery fellows from your party into
ours." In September. [856, Judge Doolittle, of the first circuit, who had
resigned after the January term of court, was a defeated candidate for nom-
ination at the Democratic congressional convention of the first district. Early
in the following January be was chosen United States senator. Arthur Mc-
Artlmr. the Democratic* president of the state Senate, and Wyman Spooner,
the Republican speaker of the Assembly, refused to sign the certificate of
Doolittle's election. This was "ii the ground that the constitution of Wis-
consin disqualified judges for holding other office within the period for
which the) bad been elected. Bui Doolittle was -cited at Washington, as
Judges Trumbull and Harlan bad been two years earlier, in spite of similar
provision in the Illinois and Iowa constitutions. Of course, some men said
that Mr. McArthur wished to punish Doolittle for his conversion or deser-

W w.w mi; i ii , 01 \ i v. u rs( onsin. 99

tion, and that Judge Spooner wished himself to take Senator Dodge's seat;
but this was measuring great minds by the gauge of small souls.

Before each jostling political atom had as yel settled easily and firmly
into its fitting place in the new political mass some slight personal jarring
was liable to occur now and again. Dr. Philip Maxwell, who had become a
Republican, had held Jackson's commission as a surgeon of the regular army,
and he revered "Old Hickory" as a Mars in war and a Moses in politics
Once urged to take Mime part in a Republican mass meeting For the county,

he demurred, saying he was tired of hearing Judge S] ner, "thai blue

bellied old Federalist, while he should stand up for two hours to abuse Gen
•eral Jackson." The Doctor was over touchy, for the Judge did hut a<
the old General of having invented the "spoils system." Such little differ-
ences, arising from previous political condition, soon di~.ippe.ncd. leaving
no trace.

Thoroughness of organization began with tin- party's birth, for it was
the work ot master hands. Leaders suppressed their rival ambitions and per-
sonal jealousies, and subalterns, such as local speakers and editors, were
trained to concerted action. The party platform was simple and intelligible,
and not liable to various interpretation. Even the earliesl receipt and publi-
cation of election results were not forgotten, as an instance may show, i in
the night of election day in [856 a few shrewdly-observing men at Elkhorn
sat till nearly daylight to receive returns from the other towns. They had
little or no help from telegraph offices al the few railway stations; hut mes-
sengers rode through mini and darkness, and as each one came his 1,
were found to vary so slightly from pre-estimates that the count) total dif-
fered scarce a hundred votes from the forecast. These political pre-calcula
tors had allowed correct!) for the if conversions in thi

few days of the campaign — for they knew their men, a- theii oppo
knew them not so well.

Instances may show how this was in that year with Democrats of
Walworth, hopeful as they were as to the electoral result at large, and not
inactive or noiseless at home. Lieutenant-Governor McArthur, in a speech
at Elkhom (having been told that at the \pril elections this was found the
only stronghold left to the county Democracy), likened the town to a "pearl
on a black wooly string" The vol tl in November was. 11;

Fremont, 86 for Buchanan, 2 for Fillmore. In the -am.- campaign Ja
Iladlev. of Milwaukee, pre-calculating hi

over John F. Potter, and fearing only Walworth, ere that Mr.

Potter could not have over [.600 majority in I nt) Mr Hadle)

TOO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

insisted on allowing 2,000, and on such basis counted upon election. This
estimate was here declared wildly extravagant. Election returns reached Mil-
waukee but slowly, hut the results in the other counties of the district seemed
to warrant celebration with cannonade, procession, martial music, banquet,
and joy unconfined. The firing was stopped and the rest of the order of
pleasure suspended indefinitely as soon as a dispatch from Walworth told
of -.370 majority there for Potter and hence of his election.

In that year the ratio of the Republican to the Democratic vote in the
county was 73 to 27. For many years afterward it remained steadily at
68 to 32. In 1908 it was 67.93 to 32-°7- Including all the parties in the
computation, the per centage of the total vote of that year was severally:
Republican, 62.2; Democratic, 29.4; Prohibitionist, 7.3; Social Democratic,
i.i ; with two votes for the Social Labor ticket. Though the course of gen-
eral elections has been so nearly uniform, there has always been a discoverable
tendency toward independent voting in assembly districts, cities and towns.
Five times since 1855 regular Republican nominees for assemblymen have
been defeated at the polls. In 1861 Hollis Latham, Democrat, was elected
as a Union candidate over Richard P>. Flack. In 1863 John Jeffers. independ-
ent-Republican, prevailed over AJanson H. Barnes. In 1869 and 1870 Judge
White. Democrat, similarly overcame regular Republican nominees. In 1877,
for the place of district attorney, Alfred S. Spooner was chosen over Joseph
11. Page, of Whitewater — the only instance in which, the whole county vot-
ing, a Republican nominee has been defeated. Between 1855 and 1911 most
Or all of the towns and cities have at some time or times elected Democratic
members of the county board and other local officers — wherein Walworth
differs little from such other American counties as an- generally Republican.

The several fluctuations, permanent or transitory, in party majorities at
presidential and "off-year" elections have not been wholly unfelt here, though
the county vote has nol always been noticeably affected bj them. The Greeley

movement touched local leaders more than their party's rank and file. The

Hayes-Tilden campaign seemed to move the parties into olden unity, as is
not unlikely to occur whenever both parties have nominated wisely, Vboul
four hundred Republicans changed their votes in the third Cleveland contest.
At the congressional elections of [882, [886 and [890, Republican majorities
were much reduced, but Stood well above zero.

Of Foreign-born citizens, Scandinavians, who are most largely from
Norway, have been almost unanimously Republicans. The Germans and most
others have been divided about proportionately between the greater parties,
the Republicans taking the larger number. The generally current notion

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. lol

that the trish-born arc nearly all Democrats leaves oul the very imporl
element of aon Catholic Irish, most of whom have Keen and are Republicans.
Since the Civil war there has Keen a perceptible re-distribution, politically,
Catholic citizens, who are not hereditary bondmen of any part) ; though a ma
jority of those of Walworth are still Democratic. Thi red population

is a negligible quantity— less than one hundred in the county. The attitude
of Walworth toward their race was shown by the vote in [849 on extension
of suffrage: Yes. 970: no, 189. Further, there had been no need, for its bel
ter enforcement here, to add in 1851 new sections and heavier penalties to
the older fugitive slave law: for neither the old law nor the new one was
likely to be effective here. The "underground railway" had man) stations
and station agents within the county borders, and the geographers of W
worth knew the routes to Canada much better than the ways backward to
hondage.

It was needful that most of this chapter should he used to sel forth
the rise, progress and later status of the party which is responsible for shap
ing the county's policies and administering its affairs. How U has done other
things and what have been the substantial results ma) he seen ,,r inferred
from the story of the county, even as imperfectly told in the foregoing and
following pages. As to that party's present status, little need he said h(
since history's concern is with things done and recorded, and not with things
moved, seconded and debated. In 1895, after four years of exclusion, the
Republican party resumed the administration of state government. Since
that time new definitions of the party creed have been proposed and opposed,
and in part, at least, imposed by the new school of Republicanism. Men of
Walworth made haste hut slowl) to change, even slightly, tin- ideas and usaj
which had prevailed for a half century: hut by 1004 were drawn wholly into
the state-wide strife. In that year's election while Mr. Roosevelt's plur-
ality was 3,522, his vote 73.4 per cent, of the count) total, Governor l
Toilette's plurality over Peck was hut 248, or 4 per cent. \t the same election
his primary-election hill, which became the law of the state, was generally
negatived by his Republican opponents, hut it had a majority of the smaller

cast. The ayes were j.i^^: n . -•: a rati 5 i" pi 5 \t

the first application of this law to a choice for United State- senator in 1910,
Senator LaFollette recei 1 of 3,833 Republican percent

of 76.3. The ratio of voters to whole population since i860 has l,
preciably higher for this county than for the state It is no
443 inhabitants, lour principal cau iroportion oi

a,-c the rable number of elderly families without minor children, the

102 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

small alien population, the generally easily accessible polling places and the
active interest of men (and women) of all parties in nominations and
elections.

\s a party, the Whigs left too little trace in the public records by which
to distinguish their actions from those of other men of their time, and it is
not now easy to name any considerable number of them with certainty. As-
suredly, they were not insignificant in number, and among them was their
full proportion of men of character and ability. A majority of these men
were sons and grandsons of Whigs of the Revolution, and it was their
harmless boast that as a whole they were better representatives than their
opponents of the higher intelligence and morality and the truer patriotism
of the American people. As citizens of a community then in its formative
stage they must have had their due influence upon the affairs of villages
and towns, school districts, and religious societies. There seems to have been
among them a few unavowed Abolitionists. More of them joined the Free-
Soil Democrats of 1848 and 1852. Nearly all of them passed as if naturally
into the Republican movement of 1854.

Democrats of the county were and are generally of like origin with their
invincible opponents, who have found them as to personal value, if not as
to number, not unworthy political foemen. Though so long kept from high
places, they have not been without the weight and influence of their personal
qualities on public business, and they have often found humbler official use-
fulness in their towns. The chief difference between them and their out-«
numbering competitors for places of honor, trust and profit may be found
by simple subtraction. The several official lists include much of the active
and publicly useful clement of the Republican party. Tt is not aside from the
general purpose of this work to name a few men of this greater of the sev-
eral minorities — men of differing personal qualities, more or less honored in
their party and not unvalued by their fellow citizens of all parties. ( )f these
were Maurice L. Avers. John Brown, Henry B. Clark, David and Elisha
Coon, George Cotton, Harvey M. Curtiss, Ebenezer Dayton, Francis Dillon,
\ndn-u Ferguson, < ieorge < rale, I >r. I [armon ( nay. Perry G. Harrington, Drs.
John M. and Samuel W. Henderson, Augustus C. and Jesse R. Kinne, Mollis
Latham, Ebenezer Latimer, Darius McKibbin, John II. Martin. John Mather,
Win. I'itt Meacham, James I). Merrill, Cyril L. Oatman, Dr. Alexander S.
Palmer, George Passage, Soldan Powers, Otis Preston. LeGrand Rockwell.
1 harles Wales, Dr, Henry Warue. \rchihald W'oodard. Dr. George II.
Yoin

WAI.WOK I II C01 N TV, U I I lnj

Tlie Prohibitionists arc sufficient in number t" hold a column of the
official ballot for their nominees. Their influence on the public weal is ii"t to be
measured with exactness by their showing at the polls. There is, no doubt,
a strength not always of measurable political value in consistent and unselfish
devotion to high, though to manj men seemingly impracticable, aims.

The hardly visible Social Democratic body is chiefly of two or three
cities, its entire vote less than one hundred.

CHAPTER XII.

MILITARY HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

The militia system of New York (not to name other states similarly
organized for defense and offense) afforded such liberal distribution of mar-
tial titles that it might now he wondered how any lawyer, working politician,
inn-keeper, or other reputable and prosperous citizen could have escaped one
of these marks of favor from the commander-in-chief, without peril of falling
into or upon one of the nearly as plentiful judgeships. The grades of gen-
eral, colonel and major were doubly preferred, for there was this uncertainty
about the title of captain that it was no more the right of a real centurion
than the possession of a master or ex-master of a canal boat or of a lake vessel
of any or no tonnage. Captains, majors, colonels and generals came as early
as others to Walworth. Dodge's and Duty's commissions were conclusive as
to the genuineness of the fortunate holder's rank.

That there was a Sixth Regiment of Wisconsin Militia, and that as
early, at least, as 1S41, is evident from the terms of Col. Edward Elderkin's
commission. Other officers now known were Lieutenant-Colonel Urban D.
Meacham, Major James Alex. Maxwell, Adj't Abel W. 'Wright. Capts. Lucius
Allen. James Harkness, Perry G. Harrington, Joseph L. Pratt.

The earliest statement in detail as to the organization of territorial militia
found at the adjutant-general's office shows that in June. 1 S46. men of Col-
umhia. Dane. Dodge. Jefferson, Portage, Rock, Sauk and Walworth, a regi-
ment fnnn each, were brigaded together, and in July the officers of the Wal-
worth regiment were Col. Caleb Croswell of Delavan (a few years later of

Baral I. Lieut. Col. Urban D. Meacham (a few weeks later succeeded by

William M. (lark I. and Major Thomas Morris Mel high. Tn August. 1846,
the men of Columbia, Dodge, Jefferson and Walworth constituted the first
Brigade of the Third Division, commanded respectively by Brig.-Gen. John
1 Gilman and Maj.-Gen. John \\ . Boyd.

lani'.uw 9, [847, Walworth was divided into eighl districts, to each as-
signed a o impany.

First District— Whitewater and Richmond: Capt. Jesse Pease; Lieuts.
Sil - Walker. William Potts.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 1>>;

Second District — Elkhorn, Lagrange, Sugar Creek: Capt. Perrj G.
Harrington; Lieuts. John G. Wood, William O. Garfield.

Third District- Troy, Lafayette: ( apt. Charles K. Dean; Lieuts. Will-
iam A. Smith. Charles W. Hillings.

Fourth District — Mast Troy. Spring Prairie: No return of offia

Fifth District — Darien, Sharon: Capt. Rial \\ . Weed, Lieut. David
J. Best.

Sixth District — Delavan, Walworth: Capt. Hiram Boyce; Lieuts. Daniel
Dobbs, Beardsley Lake.

Seventh District — Geneva: No returns.

Eighth District — Bloomfield, Hudson, Linn: Capt. tsaac G Miner;
Lieut-. Albert T. Wheeler. John Ames.

February 6, 1847. of Major-General Boyd's staff were Eleazar Wakeley,
division inspector; Experience Estabrook, judge advocate; while Colonel
Croswell's adjutant was Jacob M. Fish, and surgeon, Dr. Harmon Gra

It is probable enough that a few young men of the count) enlisted t'>r
service in the war with Mexico in the regular army, and thai a few m
were enrolled in one or more of the six regiments of Illinois volunteers for
like service. But no official record, except the inaccessible rolls oi the ad-
jutant-general's office at Washington, tells who these men were and how they
contributed to the patriotic work of "conquering a peace" with that faction-
torn country. A few men who returned from that war as soldiers of other
state- came to live in Walworth.

Throughout the fourteen years of peace which followed the Mexii
treaty of [847, Wisconsin was prudently prepared against insurrection and
invasion. Men of military age in each of the older counties constituted a
regiment and thc\ of the newer counties reported as battalions 01
were commissioned and appear in reports as generall) present for dut) but
the rank and file were not so generally visible. For an instance, Kdjul
General Utley's report for [853 -hows that the sixth of twent) nin<
ments was that of Walworth, and was then 3,180 strong on paper. The
Sixth Regimenl was then of the Second Brigade (under Brig Gen Philo
White of Racine), ■■< the First Di\ hat of M. 1 Rufus King of

Milwaukee I, and it en companies, from a- many town--, wen- Iett< 1

from \ to Q. It- field and staff officers were Col. Erasmus D. Richard
of Geneva ; Lieut.-< -1 \dam E. Kay. of Troy; Major Edwin Brainard,
Delavan: Xdi't Samuel II. Stafford, of Bl<
Thayer, of East Tro on Alexander S. P

panieS] in ordet mpany letter, with name- of captains and enrolled

strength of each, weri reported ;

io6

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Henry B. Clark
John A. Perry
Volney A. McCraken
Richard O'Connor
James Cotter
Perry G. Harrington

William H. Conger

H Spring Prairie Ezekiel B. Smith
I Hudson Lathrop Bullen

1 Geneva Tohn M. Nelson

East Troy

Troy

Lagrange

Whitewater

Richmond

Sugar Creek

Lafayette

K Delavan

L Darien

M Sharon

N Walworth

O Linn

P Bloomfield

( ) Elkhorn

William Pierce
Archibald Woodard
E. C. Allen
John M. Cramer
Albert T. Wheeler
Charles W. Sibley
Hollis Latham

Lieutenants
John L. Wilson, Wm. Vanzant 178
Ralph Goodrich, Israel Dean 188

207
Charles King, Leander Birge 293
Geo. James, Jacob M. Fish 138

Wyman Spooner, Jr., Theodore

B. Edwards 146

Sherman M. Rockwood, Harvey

M. Curtiss 126

Stephen Bull, Wm. R. Bern- 240
Abner Farnum, Edw'd Quigley 169
Thomas J. Smith, Sam'l C.

Spafard 256

H. A. Johnson, A. Briggs 300

Orange Carter, Henry Clark 171
Julius A. Treat, Robert Young 200
Elijah Easton, J. Weston 195

Robert Foot, Otis H. Hall 135

Henry S. Fox, Charles Allen 139
Alva J. Frost, Squire Stanford 99

Strength of regiment

3,180

In i860 James B. Schrom, of Whitewater, was of the Governor's gen-
eral staff as quartermaster. Daniel Graham, of Whitewater, and John F.
Potter were colonels and aids to Governor Randall. Walworth was now of
the Fifth Regiment and Kenosha of the Sixth, the two forming the First
Brigade (under Brig.-Gen. J. C. McKesson, of Wheatland) of the Second
Division, commanded by Maj.-Gen. Daniel C. Tripp, of Whitewater. (The
other brigade was of Jefferson and eastern Rock counties.) General Tripp
chose his staff from Whitewater, with two exceptions. All these officers
ranked as colonels: Frank L. Riser and Robert Williams, aids: Edward
Barber, paymaster; Henry Warne, surgeon; Newton S. Murphey, judge-advo-
cate; William II. McCallum, chief of engineers; L. R. Humphrey, chaplain;
John T. Wentworth (Geneva), commissary, ami a Palmyrene as quarter-
master. The field officers of the Fifth were Col. Caleb S. Blanchard, of East
Troy; Lieut. Col. Charles E. Bird, "i" Linn; Mai. Phipps W. Lake, ni Wal-
worth. Two volunteer companies were attached to tin- regimenl : "Company

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 107

A" (so named), of Whitewater, Capt. Lucius A. \\ inchester, and the Geneva
Independents. Capt. Daniel C. Roundy. Excepl thai these two companies

had each forty men, no further return was made of the Fifth Regiment. \
very few of all these names of militia officers ma) be found in the roster of
soldiers of the Civil war, most of them having passed the age limit. Captain
Wheeler, a young lawyer, was perhaps the onl) one named in these rosters
commonly addressed by his martial title.

Having given to Mr. Lincoln in i860 a majority of 2,319 in .1 total vote
of 5.517, the citizens of Walworth noted with interest the quickl) following
events, until the affair of Fort Sumter made it certain that the I nion could
be preserved only by war. The morning newspapers of April 15. [86l,
brought to them the President'- call to arms, and that day's drum beating
throughout the county summoned men to the evening's war meetings. Seats
and standing places at these assemblages were over filled and speaker- usually
accounted dull found willing and applauding listener-. \t such a time it was
easy to tip even cool, slow tongues with lire. It was but to let loose the spirit
of patriotism and of defiance to foreign and domestic enemies, and to forgel
such word as compromise. .Mr. Winsor, of and at Elkhorn, who had voted
for Douglas, speaking that evening, did not forget legal precision of term- in
the unusually warm flow of his indictment of the nation's enemies. He had
neither softer nor harsher word for them than "rebels," and thus the) remain
in history. Other speakers racked memory and invention for words and
phrases likest to thunderbolts and hence fittest for expression of patriotic
wrath. These village lawyers, retailer- and farmer- -poke thai which tl
hearers felt, and to one clearly-seen point, the preservation of the I Won by
national authority.

The call upon Wisconsin was for one regiment of infantry for a
of three months. Governor Randall was at once ofl mpanies enough

to fill three or four regiments. There was nol a compan) of uniformed and
drilled men in the county, but a few headlong youths found each his wa)
to Camp Scott, at Milwaukee, to enlisl in such compan had nol reached
its maximum number of one hundred and ten men. The Second and Third
regiments were organized b) state authority, in order that thi
Washington might be answered with partly-instn ;

more boys of Walworth were enabled to push their w;
In lune places were made for two companies nizing the Fourth. Com-

pany \ was of Whitewater and Compan) I of Gi
tributing to each. Several of the men of thi cre< itei

show,, by descriptive rolls at Madison, with < of

108 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

April; for the record of Wisconsin men's service begins with their accept-
ance as recruits and not with the often long-delayed mustering into federal
service. The interval between enlistment and muster was not subtracted from
the term of actual service, but the record of earlier enlistment is honorable,
and the state made such provision as it was able to do, for subsistence, clothing
and payment of its unmustered soldiers. After the action at Bull Run — in
which a few men of Walworth advanced, stood, fired and left the field only
at the order of William T. Sherman, their brigade commander, and at no
faster pace than his — men of Delavan and Elkhorn joined to form Company
A of the Tenth. About the same time Company K, of the Eighth, at Racine,
was filling its thin ranks with stout men of Bloomfield and Hudson. Sharon,
Whitewater, Lagrange and Sugar Creek respectively officered and manned
Companies C, H, I and K of the Thirteenth. A few men of several towns
enlisted among stranger comrades in the First and Second Cavalry Regi-
ments. Several of the boys of Hudson and Spring Prairie turned out for
service in the Ninth Battery of Light Artillery. Of the Third Cavalry, Com-
pany L was raised from the county at large. The towns not thus far named
sent their men singly and in squads to regiments and batteries most easily
reached at the instant of enlistment. Except the few men in the First In-
fantry, all these men of ]80i enlisted for three years.

Defeat and retreat in the campaigns on the Virginian peninsula and the
Rappahannock brought a new call for troops. The first regiment of Wis-
consin, under that call, was the Twenty-second. Company C was taken from
the Geneva quarter of the county, including also Elkhorn, and Company D
from Whitewater. The Twenty-eighth was but a few days behind, its Com-
pany 1) almost wholly of Whitewater. Company E of Sugar Creek and other
towns, Company 1 of Lafayette, Spring Prairie and the Troys, Company K
less of this county and few of any one town. Delavan supplied a colonel
for the Fortieth, a regiment of one-hundred-day men; Delavan. Elkhorn and
Walworth gave two captains and three lieutenants to Companies F and I.
The men of F were mostly of Delavan, Elkhorn, Sharon and Walworth.
Company K. Forty-ninth, was composed of men of Racine and Walworth
counties. To this company Delavan gave a captain who became major, and
Geneva gave a lieutenant. The First (and only) Regiment of Heav\ \rtillery
had a considerable number of our men. unevenly distributed among its twelve
companies. The whole enrollment, from first to last, was about -'.750 —
slighth more than the sum of the several quotas assigned. Had it been pos-
sible to levy all the troops of the ( i\il war within one year the men of Wal-
\% . , it 1 1 would have formed three average regiments, \s it was. the circum-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. I OQ

stances of the war made the company the largest military unit in filling the
county's quotas.

There is another, and in some respects hetter way of setting forth the
martial patriotism of Walworth. Wisconsin sent out fifty-om regiments of
infantry, four regiments of cavalry, one regiment of heavy artillery and
thirteen batteries of light artillery. Men of Walworth were to be found
in all these except the Twenty-tirst and Forty-first infantry regiments, and
the Second, Eighth. Eleventh, and Twelfth light batteries. Besides all this
service in home organizations, regiments and batteries of Illinois and of the
regular army, the gun-boat river service, and the navy received each a few
estrays from the same source. Walworth men served in eighteen states and
territories — in all the states of the Confederacy except Florida, in the border
slave states, except Delaware and Wesl Virginia, and in Colorado, fnd
Territory, Kansas, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. Their enlistments began
in April, i86l, and their service continued till May, t866. Distributed
among so many commands, the men of Walworth were parted to the far
north and to the Gulf, to the eastern sea and to the western ridges of the con-
tinent. By her young men Walworth followed to battle nearly every then
and yet famous commander, and leaders now half forgotten. She foil, .wed
her captains until they became colonels, and her colonels until they exchanged
their regiment- for brigades, divisions and corps. She advanced, attacked,
besieged, assaulted; she entrenched, Fortified, resisted, retreated, was i
tured, and knew Libby and Andersonville from the inside; she preserved
lines of communication, garrisoned posts, moved after murderous Sioux.
hanged bushwhackers in border states, marched through sullen, ill-wish
Baltimore, regulated Xew Orleans, warned awaj the French
Co — and, in brief, performed nearly every glorious and inglorious duty
that falls to the lot of soldiers. Her men came home to resume for a shorter
or longer time their places in the ranks of useful citizens. Many of them went
one by one to the no longer trackless and boundless west, and the Grand Army
membership in the county whose quotas they had filled is largely of later
coming comrades from other counties and stati

Non-combatant citizens Lore the various burdens of war with unend
ing patience, and upheld the war policies and rith little nti.-r.Ml

doubt or question as to their wisdom and necessity. First, there was the
burden of the currency of the state banks, nominally secured, in many in-
stances, by dep i e previously depreciated bonds of states wind, pa
ordinance's ol sion and of states which wen me time of doubtful
fidelity to the union of all the states. Then cam.- the call for their young

IIO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

men to arms, taking away the help needed on farm and in shop; and, too soon,
followed news of privation, sickness and death. Xext, the unstable national
war currency, its value falling steadily until the return of peace. Throughout
all was the variable fortune of armies in the field, when defeat seemed too
frequent and success but slowly and feebly pursued. Against all these things,
and things unspeakable, men's and women's souls were firmly fortified by
their sense of the justice of the national cause, and they held themselves in
readiness for further sacrifices. They subscribed to bounty funds, and then
voted town bounties in order that quotas need not be filled by conscription.
In fact, the district provost-marshal's wheel turned but seldom to make even
among the towns the burden of personal service in the field.

The women who met formally and informally as sanitarv aid so-
cieties, and as individuals, took upon themselves some duty toward the sick
and wounded at field and post hospitals, made no record of their timely and
most welcome services. But it is not unlikely that the state will soon publish
whatever the uncertain memory of survivors of that period of storm and
stress may recall of the good done by patriotic women of Wisconsin, with
some note of the doers. Should this be done, the women of Walworth will
have a place in the tardy memorial. One name, at least, is not forgotten
here, that of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth (Chesebro) Lee, then of Sugar Creek, a
daughter of Ebenezer Chesebro and Anna Griswold, wife of Nelson Lee,
and mother of one of the earlier superintendents of schools, Elon Nelson
Lee. She took her active part in organizing aid at home, and then went
in person to the wounded and sick in field hospitals and in the general hos-
pital at Louisville. What she did can not be told as yet with approach to
fulness and accuracy, but her matronly care and skill, so unselfishly and
noiselesslv given in that soul-trying time, are yet well and gratefully re-
membered.

Tlie father-, and mothers bad thought and talked much of the happier
time when the boys should come home and take again their old* places on
the farm and in the village shop. "Alas! our dreams, they come not true."
The boys had grown to manhood and maturer minds amid the quickening im-
pulses of that history-making period, had seen men and cities, and "glorious
old Walworth" was no longer all the world to them. They came home, but
for many of them, only to go out again. In the spring of 1865 men were
already eager to find, each citizen and returning soldier, his own place in the
activities of business, so long suspended or maimed by panic ami war. now
SO hopefully planned and resolutely pushed: and this before the last dirtv-
blue regimenl had slouched at the easy gait of veterans through the streets

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. Ill

of cities, from one terminal station to another, on its waj to camp of muster-
ing out and final payment. The service-worn followers of Granl and In-
great lieutenants were fast merging themselves in the "ugly rush" of cities
as better-paid mechanics, accountants, students at short-course business
schools, or servants of railway companies — all hopeful of rapid promotion,
and little minded to drop into the old obscurities and low-paid drudgerii
farm and village life, "where nothing happens." \ few enthusiastic patriots,
men and women, urged subscriptions to raise local monuments t>> the hi
dead, but were not always nor often successful. It was not yet time for mon-
ument building — certainly not for a county monument.

In course of time Grand Army posts were instituted, but at first and
quite naturally and therefore rightly their efforts and influence were dit
to the equalization of the unevenly distributed service bounties and to promo-
tion of more adequate pension rates with more liberal bureau ruling-. In a
few more years the steadily dwindling post membership suggested a county
comradeship which might include the few men who were not of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Occasionally reunion- of men of Walworth and Wau-
kesha counties of the Twenty-eighth and somewhat more general meetings
at the Lauderdale lakes and at Whitewater led to the formation of the Wal-
worth County Soldier and Sailors Association in r88o. It- membership i- in-
expensive and its proceedings but little burdened with formalism. It- yearly
meeting, held late in August, on grassy parks and under friendly tree-, brings
together soldiers and citizens in hundreds to " make a day of it"- and a long
evening as well. No greal time is wanted for election of officers am
of other less pressing business; and soon after dinner the bugler rail- hand
and singers,, speakers and hearers to a feast of ex< ellent music and an abund
ant flow of oratory, declamation, and plain -peaking — all received in best of
humor by the large, sympathetic and unexacting audiei

Among earlv organizers and builders of the Association, now not living.
were Col. Edmund B. Gray, an honorary member, a full-minded and ready
talker who never uttered nonsense nor was ever dull: Edwin D. • !oe, whom it
was very pleasant and good for comrades and decent citizens to know;
George W. Wylie, different from tin e >wn way most useful.

Men who had helped I- mal e larger history than that of counties earn.
Lieut-Gen. Henry C. Corbin. while yet at tin- head of the regular army
Henry Harnden. the captor of Jefferson Davis; Gen. Lucius Fairchild, of the
immortal Iron Brigade. National and state comm f the Grand Army

are always invited air! i lorn come. Of 1

speakers have been Rt. Rev. Samuel Fallows, brigadier

112 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

general, Forty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry, United States Senator Joseph V.
Qnarles, ex-Governors William D. Hoard and William II. Upham, Hon.
Alexander E. Matheson, of Janesville, and Jay W. Page, of Elkhorn I natives
of the county ). The altar, the pulpit and the bar of the county have not been
called upon in vain to lend interest to this county holiday.

soldiers' memorial roll.

In 1907 the board of supervisors appointed a committee of three of its
members with two soldiers to consider and report a plan for making a roster
of all the county's men in service in the Civil war, to be cast in bronze and
placed on an inner wall of the county-court building. This committee was:
Capt. Theodore A. Fellows, Genoa Junction ; R. Bruce Arnold. Lake Geneva ;
George Renner, Sugar Creek ; Leonard C. Church. Walworth ; John G. Mead-
ows, Lyons; Henry D. Barnes, secretary. In 1908 the committee's plan of
bronze plates and a record book was adopted and eighteen hundred dollars
was appropriated. The committee appointed two compilers of the proposed
roll, with directions to go to Madison and Washington, if needful, and exam-
ine adjutant-general's records. In 1909 a third board of supervisors chose
from samples of bronze work and appropriated one thousand two hundred
dollars more for a worthier design than the one at first considered. Early in
1910 plates containing the names of 2.743 men were secured to the walls of the
room previously set apart for the use of Grand Army posts. Provision is
made for the few names not yet found and verified. The session of 1910 added
three hundred dollars to the sums already appropriated, for the purpose of
completing the type-written descriptive rolls. It is noteworthy as indicating
the sympathy of the board and it- constituents with the wishes bf living sol-
diers that these several measures passed without opposition.

This roster, now more nearly complete and more nearly error-tree, and
more accessible than ever he fore, was compiled forty-three years after the
end of the war, when lew men were living and fewer were within inquirer's
reach who could correcl some of the errors and explain some of the seeming
anomalies of the fifty-eight large volumes of descriptive rolls of Wisconsin
soldiers. These volumes, written by as many hands, were compiled from regi-
mental returns and from the bi-monthly musters of companies. These were
often defective and sometimes wanting. Clerical errors are to he found.
though corrections, when authenticated, are entered (in red ink). The col-
umns for town and county of each soldier's residence and for the town
and county credited with his services are, many of them, par-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

113

tially or wholly blank, and even when the name of the town is shown, thai of
the county is often wanting. The names of Bloomfield, Genoa, Hone) (reek.
Hudson, Lafayette, Linn. Richmond, Sharon, Springfield, Sugar (reek and
Troy, all then and all but one now on the map of Walworth, are repealed one
or more times in other counties of \\ isconsin. St. Croix count) has four ol
these names, and there are four Springfields in the state. Th rolls

of the county for [860 determined some of these uncertainties; and the enroll-
ments of 1862, made by the several sheriffs, of citizens subjeel to military
service — now a part of the State I [istorical Society's collection of manuscripts
— might have helped further had all these returns keen preserved. The in-
valuable records of the adjutant-general's office at Madison are now securely
stored in the east wing of the new statehouse.

The form chosen for the Following soldier list, that by regiments, seems
most convenient for this work. A satisfactory list by towns is impossibl
the county svstem of the last two years of the war often drew men ol
town into service for another town, within or without the county, win
each new call for troops offered highest premium. Names of men who served
in more than one command are repeated for each such re-enlistment. < rfficers
are given their highest rank. It should be noted that officers, on their promo
tion, were sometimes transferred to another company in the same or an
regiment. Names marked with an asterisk 1 :: 1 are of men who died in sen -
ice. Two asterisks mirk names of men killed or mortally wounded in action:

FIRST CAVALRY.

I ...

Amann, Frederick 11

Babcock. Henry II K

Bradley, Ole J K

Burke, Thomas E —

Cansdell. Henry W., Ass'1 Surgeon

( assoboin, William L

Conant, John A B

Coon, Alonzo B B

Deacon, John R

Dewev. Washington II

Doneburg, John . I

♦Downey, John W I

I )i i) le, [1 iseph B

Eddy, Uriel C K

Rowers, I )avid S B

I 1 «ter, * harles R . F

Fox, ( leorge 1 1., chaplain.

Foy , Thomas

( ribbons, Michael II

1 Ireiber, Herman J I'

1 irossman, William I

I [allenbeck, Edwin II B

I [amilton, Jesse B . \

I [anchett, Alanson K

Hicks. Edwin R . B

5, William II . .
Keve I

ii4

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mahan, Edward —

Martin, John K

Marvin, Ferdinand ■ —

Medbery, John W B

*Moores, Edward P A

Mosher, Joseph E., 2d Lt G

Myers, Henry A H

Odell, Andrew J C

Parkhurst, James T

Pengilly, Alexander D

Pickett, Samuel H M

Piatt, Otis M

Randolph, William H B

Rann, Lallemand H., Batt'n Quar-
termaster:

Robbins, Eber F

*Rollo, Frederick C B

Simmons, James A

Smith, James A

Spencer, Levi M

Stilson, James \

Sullivan, Dennis I

Thayer, Hollister B B

Traver, Eugene F

Truax, John H F

**Truesdell, Philander K

Webber, Herbert F

Welch, Richard H H

*Wendt, Frederick A

Wright, George H B

SECOND CAVALRY.

*Allen, Jacob H K

Anderson, Stewart K

Armstrong, Henry L

Armstrong, Howard K

Barnard, Luther A E

Barnes, Herbert K

Bellows, George H K

Barnett, David A., 1st Lieut. .. K

Berry, Robert K

Bowen, George W K

Bradt. ( ieorge A K

Breed, Shubael II K

*Breed, William K

Bristol, Lucius F K

Brown. James I K

Cameron. Thomas K

Campbell, Alexander J K

"!*Carter, Legrand K

( 'alter, Lewis K

1 lark, Elijah K

I lark, Harry D K

Clark, Oscar F K

Clowes, Charles K

Corbin, Alfred K

Crocker, Benjamin F., Capt K

Cunningham. William P K

Cutler, William K

Davidson, George B., Capt K

Davidson, William K

Dodge. Levant K

Doolittle, Wayne C K

Dyke. William H K

Eckert. Charles K

Ellsworth, George D K

Enps, Emilius K

Fisher, Elias W K

Fleming, David K

Franklin, Joel K

Gaft'ey, Thomas H

Gibson, I reorge W D

Gilbert, Louis \ j<;

I loff, Milton \ K

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Greenman. James K

Greenman, Lorenzo K

Groshong. John B \

Hall. John G

Hammond. George W K

Hare, Stephen K

Hauck. David I .

Hawver, Dewey F K

Hillman. Arthur C K

Hillman, Edwin E K

Hillman. William W K

*Hines. Thomas K

*Hoel. Jacob J M

Holden, Silas Rockwell E

Hollister. William K

*Ho\ve. Charles M K

Hunt. William . . . .• K

Huntress, Merritt K

Hutchins. Fred W., Ca|)t K

Hutchins. Oliver C K

Hutchinson. Daniel F K

Jones. Walter S K

Joy, Fernando D K

Judge. Charles K

Kavanangh, William K

Kelsey, Charles K

Kelsey, James K

Lacy, John T K

Lake, Philip W K

Lawless, Th >mas K

Lippitt, Hezekiah K

Lloyd, Thomas Jr K

Loucks. George W K

McManigle, Ira L K

McMillen, Dennis T K

*Mllls, Henry K

Mohr, Albert K

Nelson, Andrew K

Nichols, Daniel M K

Odell, John A K

< 'Km m. Andrew K

Onderdi >nk, ( lharles K

( Kvens, John II...-. K

Payne, Andrew J K

Peck, Peter P., isl Lieut K

Pounder. ( in irge II K

* I '"under. JameS F K

Pramer. Walter K

( hiinn. James K K

Read, Jeremiah K

Reynolds, Philip T K

Riley, John P K

Rogei s, I a'mbert J K

Roundy, Porter M.. 2d Lieut . . . . K

Sage, ( hauneev K

Seaman, \lK-n (1 K"

Seaman, David B K

Seaver. Rodney K

Seaver, William. Q. M. Sergt.

Severson, Benjamin K

Shaw. George D K

Shea. William K

Sirrett, Ebenezer I I )

Sizer, Melvin K K

Smith. Francis K

♦Smith, Diner M K

'Smith. I i K

Smith, Washington K

Smith. \\ illiain K

Smothi Olwin K

Starin, < (range C . K

Steel, 1 hi -tan K

1 1., i-t Lieut K

IF K

W K

' K

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Strasser, Conrad K

Sweet, Eugene B K

Taggart, Leonard W K

Thompson, Richard K

Tremper, Edgar K

Trimble, Benjamin F K

Vanderhoof, John M., 2d Lieut. K

Van Valkenburg, Myron K

Waite, Orange R K

Wasmuth, Charles K

Waterhouse, Hugh K

Watson, Merritt K

Weaver, Silas Enslow K

Welch, George S K

Whitney, Samuel H C

Williams, Edson, 1st Lieut . . . . K

Williams, John R K

Wright. Spencer K

THIRD CAVALRY.

*Armstrong, Robert

Austin, Hiram

**Bartram, David D

Battisfore, Augustus J

*Bemis, Elijah M

Bliss, Andrew J

Brandon. John

Brandt, Julius E

Brandy, James

Carver, Aaron

*Case, William H

*Cass, Clarence W

Cass, Martin

Chapman, William

Church, Leonard C

( '< ilburn, Paul

Crane. ( Jeorge J

Crego, James P

(rites. John, 1st Lieut

Curtis, Myron G

Darrow, ' leorge W

i >cw ing, Nelson I h iratio

I )n\\ , I ,orenzo

Drake, Brew ster B

I luffy, James

101 wards, I. Mien J., Com. Serg't.
T'arr. \sa W., Or. Master

E Garfield, Eli William L

L Garfield, Oscar L

L Garfield, William M L

G Gilbert, Curtis E L

G Gilbert, Nelson B L

L Gleason, Herbert J., Hosp. Steward

G Goodsell, Harry, 1st Lieut G

D Hale, Joel G

G Hall, Samuel C L

D Hardy, Michael G

G Hart, Ithamar W L

E **Hooper, Daniel M L

G Hoskings. William D

A Howard, Patrick H

L Ingalls, Ludden B L

D Jackson, Levi L

D Jackson, Stedman L L

D King. Albert D E

D Kizer, Fernando Cortez, Capt. . . D

A Kling, George H D

L *Lavin, Thomas L

L Lavin, William L

C Lawless, Lawrence L

I . I .cn>v, I [enry T G

I. Lippitt, John W L

1 .1 iwe, Amasa D

1. 1 .umsden, h ihn T 1 .

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ii:

McGivern, Patrick 1

Marsh, David O G

Marsh, Eugene T L

Mohr, Matthias G

Morse, Lyman L

Nolan, James H

O'Hara, Edward G

O'Hara, Michael G

Parker, James M ( '•

Parker. Norman ( !

*Parmelee, Edwin A L

Perkins, Edwin G L

*Perkins, Oscar \Y L

Pern-, Charles A., Capt L

Puffer, Samuel J 11

Regan. Daniel P D

Reynolds, Benoni Orrin, Surgeon.
Rogers. Harold H. Serg't Maj.

Rogers, Herschel P G

Rogers, Mortimer F G

Royce, Henry L D

Russell. Elias B I

Russell, Thomas T I

Scott. Calvin L D

Scoville, James K II

Shahino. Henry D

Sheffield. Daniel J 1 1

Shugart, Albert M

Sncll, Walter II G

Snyder, Joseph G

Siren. William B

Stone. Lafayette D

Stoodley, William E L

Storms. Francis D

Stratton, William J L

Thomas, < leorge N < i

Thomas. Josiah G

Thompson, Dewitl C G

Titus, Otis I )

Traub, Adam I .

Tyler. Rollin G

Van Bogart, Tip ( I larrison) . .

Van I Ionic, Charles I < i

Van Moorsell, Martin I >

Van Valkenburg, Jacob < .

Weir, Ji ihn I .

Weldon, Michael G

West. William L

*Whitmore, Rue! L

Wilbers, Herman M

*Wilcox, Byron 1 1.

*Wilson, David G

Winer. John D

Wiswell, Charles Edward L

Wiswell. Henry C L

Wolfendon, Joseph T I

FOURTH INFANTRY-CAVALRY.

♦Adams, James II \ Beebe, Emery I F

Allen. Orlando 0 \ Bingham, Newcomb

Ambler. Henry C F

Aylward, Richard F

Barry, Melville A F

*Beardsley, Horace Gardner. ... F

Beckhard. Amos H \

Becklev, Homer Meader A

*Blake, Joseph

Blanchard, Lorison G F

Blodgett, Rollin F

Honker, [saac A

Boswell, Marshall E \

Bowers, Nicholas George F

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Branch, Charles L A

Brewer, Wilbur N A

Brice, John P F

Bridge. John W., Hosp. Steward.

Briggs, George Gaskill G

Britton, John F

Brown, George H., 1st Lieut. . F

Brown, Joseph F A

Browning, Lorenzo F

Buck, Jerome H A

*Bull, Charles Henry F

Burdick, Albert F

Burdick, Asbury F

Burdick, Charles H F

Burnham, John A

Burt, Roswell F

Burton, Nathan F

Bush, John H F

Cadman, Charles A

*Carmichael, Richard D F

Carroll, Patrick F

Castle, Lewis A

Castle, Philo A., ist Lieut A

Chaffee, Alfred E., ist Lieut. ... A

Chamberlain, Joseph A A

*Chappell, Turner C F

Church, George W F

Clark, Luther F

Cleary, Martin H

Coffee. Christopher C, ist Lieut. F

Conklin, James G F

Craigue, Nelson F., Colonel.
Creiger, Tehiel, Sergt. Major.

Cronk, Reuben R \

Curtice, I iharles !•'.., Capt F

Dake. Henry M K

Dake, Martin II K

Dake, William If K

Darling, Van Rensselaer F

David, Louis W F

Davidson, Ebenezer F

Davidson, Hugh R F

Dewing, Manville Henry A

Dewing, Norman Houston .... A

Dick, Charles W K

Dikeman, John W F

Dodge, Sidney W F

Dodge, William H F

Drinkwine, Commodore P F

Duffy, Thomas A

Dunbar, Oscar A

Duncombe, Moses A

Durkee, Harris R., ist Lieut. . . . F

Eaton, Oliver K A

Ennis, James A

Farnsworth, William R ...... . A

**Farnum, Ezra C F

Farrar, George Henry F

Felch, Chester E. W A

Felch, John E A

Ferguson, Samuel D A

Finch, Gilbert B.. ist Lieut A

Fish, Stephen L A

Fitzgerald, Michael F

Fowler, John E H

Freeler, Jacob A

Gibbs, James L F

Gill, Thomas J A

Goodenough. Walter \

Goodwin, Gilman ( '• F

Gray, James L D

( iray, Robert Bruce F

Green, Charles A \

*Green, Horace D., Hosp. Steward.

< '.undersoil, John \

Hamilton, Frederick B A

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

119

Handy, Thomas J F

Harrington, John W A

Harris, Chester C E

Hart, Patrick F

Haskell, Jeremiah F

Haswell, William S F

Heller, Jacob A

Henderson, Edward F

*Herrick, William Lafayette . . . F

*Holden, George A

Hopkins, Ephraim F

Hotchkiss, John F

Howard, John C D

Hulburt, D. William, Com. Serg't.

Humphrey, Jerome B A

Jacobs, Abraham C F

Jacobs, Daniel F

Jerome. Albert A F

Johns, Charles A., 1st Lieut F

Johnson, Allen S F

Johnson. Nelson \

Keith, Franklin \

**Kenyon, Clark M A

Keyes, Stewart W F

King, Walter M A

Kittelson, Austin A

Kizer, Frank L \

Klock, Marcus R F

Kribs. Charles \

Lawrence, Henry E

Leach, Jonathan F

♦Lewis, Charles II \

♦Lovejoy, Calvin S \

*Luce, Joseph S F

Ludman, Frederick W \

*Ludman, William T \

Lull, Noyes F

*McBride, Allen B F

Mc( iraWj Edgar S F

McManus, Josiah C F

McNeal, Charles II F

Magill, Henry II F

♦Marshall, ( leorge F I

Matthews, James F

Matthews, William Henry F

**Maxon, 1 Janiel B., ist Lieut . . F

Mead. Isaac X., 1st Lieut F

A I m|'i at t, William 11 \

Mood) . Edward L \

M01 idy, Reuben T \

Mi irfc m, Marcus W \

Mulligan, Samuel (twice) . . . . A F

Murphy, John \

XetT. Henry X F

Xewcomb, Joseph F

Nichols, Daniel W F

Nilsson, Nils \

Xyce, Hiram S \

Oleson, Ole B \

Parker, George E F

**Parks, William F

♦Patterson, Ashbel \

Payne, Aaron F

Peck, George Wilbur, _'d Lieut.. E

Perry, ( iharles \

I 'err) . I [enry \

Phillips, ( ieorge II \

Phillips, Jacob \

Pixley, I tolphus E., ts( Lieul . . . E

Powell, .Charles C I

Pramer, Levi I

I 'reed) . Stephen \

Proctor, I >a\ id \ \

Puffer. ( Ihenery F

'utnam, I [enry I

Ralston, William H I

120

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

*Ranney, Moses A

Reese. Sylvester \

Ripley, Jacob F

Robinson, Franklin A

Ross, Washington F

Roundy, Daniel C, Capt F

Rouse, Timothy F

Rowe, John A

So >tt. James A

Seeley, Milo F

Shaver. James H F

*Sherman, Alfred F

Sherman, Charles F

Sherman, Horace F

Simmons, Charles F B

Simmons, David E A

Smith, Clark H F

*Smith, John F

*Smith, Levi F

Smith, Sidney \

Snow, Harvey L F

*Squires, John H F

Stearns, human G F

Steele, Charles W A

Stevens, Edward J E

Storms, William If F

Sw in, Ira A

Sw in, [eri une \

**Tabor, William M V

Trumbull, Fitzjames F

**Tuohey, Patrick F

Tupper, Alvaro W F

Tupper, Jerome B F

**Tupper, Joseph P F

Turner, George A

Utter, Cyrus D F

Van Norman, Charles R F

*Viles, Gustavus Granville F

*Vodre, Charles A

Waffle, Leander F

'Walker, Geo

Weatherwax, Andrew J..jd Lieut. F

Weatherwax, Monroe J F

Webb, Major P A

Weeks, Martin W F

Weeks, Theodore F

Welsh, Hiram J ■ A

Wenham, William 11 V

Whalen, Patrick F

Whelan, Joseph P A

White, Nelson W F

Wills. .11. Ole \

Wilson, Asad F

Wire. Gideon J A

Wood. John F

FIRST HEAVY ARTILLERY,

\nyaii. William B

Baker, Benjamin R II

Hear, Isaac K

Beckwith, Edward Seymour ... A

I >eeden, Ji ihn E

I'.li^s, | )aniel F

Bowers, Nicholas George B

I Irainerd, Francis E E

Brown, James E

Brow lie James Edwin C

Mullen, Robert G

Butler, Sidnej \ B

Carle. Jonas H B

( ihristmas, John B

( ^olberg, ( harles K

Cole, fudson E B

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

121

Coulthard. James A \

Cox, William E

Crites, Alexander L

Crites, George L

Cross. George L

Demroe, John L

Drake, Charles P E

Dntcher. Samuel —

Eggert, Charles II

Eldredge. Charles T A I

Falmer, Wallace W L

Farr, George L

Finch. George E

Finch, Solomon J E

Fisher, Augustus C E

Fisher, John E

Fowler, Benjamin F L

Fuller, James E AT

Garrett, Andrew J, ist Lieut. ... A

Caskill. Joseph B

Gilbert, Don A \

Goff, Sidney Calkins E

Haywood, Charles \

Henderson. John Hicks B

Herron, John \Y K

Hess, Nicholas E

Hickox, Hervey West B

Hill. Amasa P E

Hill. Elhridge F

Hill. William H. Com. Sergt.

Hopkins. Daniel C 1-

Howard. Wilder M E

Hubbard, John W B

Huntress. James K. P B

Huntress. Samuel Doctor I'.

Johnson, John E

Karbetski, August L

Keeley, James L

Kelley, fohn E

Kenyon, William L

Know Iton, I >a\ id E E

ECrokofsky, Frederick L

Langham, Edward \

Lew i^, James C

Lewis, Mark A C

Lingenfelter, Daniel F

Mead. Isaac \\ G

Medbery, ( ieorge W E

Motherway, John E

Moult' m, Stillman F

Olds, John J I

Oleson. Lars L

O'Neil, William L

Parker, Ji iseph F K

Perry, John Adams C

Pier, Michael E

Ouinn, Thomas I .

Ray, Patrick Henry, Captain. ... I

Sales, William M B

Sanhi tii, 1 loratio 1! E

Sands. Peter F

Scott. Marion I : . A

Sewell, < ieorge E C

*Shearman, I Eenry S B

Sin >rt. Ji ihn \

Smith. Edwin R \

Smith. William R I

Starkey, Thomas K

Stevens, Evarts C B

Steven-. Martin E., tsl Lieul .... G

Stewart, < 'harles I

Stone, ( ieorge W \

Swift, John II

I >ft, Alfred \

Utter, I >■■ ight B

Van [saac L

ph I

Wagenknecht, Charles D

122

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Warner, Samuel P B

Welch, Sidney H

Wells, William S E

Wheelock, Norman E

Whitney, Throop B B

Willis, Anson C A

Wilson, Samuel J L

Winsor, Curtis H B

Wood, Edgar A C

Wroe, Thomas J., Com. Sergt.

Williams, John E Yost, William

LIGHT ARTILLERY FIRST AND THIRD BATTERIES.

Cansdell, Henry, Surgeon.

FOURTH BATTERY.

Ellison, Wesley.
Groesbeck, Gilbert.

Loucks, Andrew M.
Maxwell. James.

Snow, Orrin D.

FIFTH BATTERY.

SIXTH BATTERY.

Fernald, Clarence D.

Miller, Clarkson, Surgeon.

SEVENTH BATTERY.

Berges, Henry P.
Brown, Joseph F.
Criger, William.
Evans, Jesse G.

Graham, James.
Hutton, Jonathan B.
Wilbur, John F.

NINTH BATTERY.

Ashley, Henry.
Bemis, Lyman A.
Borst, John.
Brown, Theodore.
Brownlee, John.
Cole, Leander.
Cox, Daniel.

Crawford, John H.
Derby, Eugene W.
I )euel, Joseph B.
Fielder, Henry.
Fisk, Clinton O.
Flagerman, 1 [enry.
Fowler, ( ieorge \V.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

'-\$

Fowler, John
*Funk, Charles.
Funk, Edward.
Granger, Josiah.
Haight, Benjamin J.
Haines, Samuel J.
Haller, Samuel.
Haller. Theodore.
Hand, John Wesley.
Harp, Joseph.
Healey, Christopher.
Holton, Richard.
Ingham, Silas A.
Kyburz, William.
Langdon, Isaac M.
Lawrence, Charles.

Lull, Noyes.
Magill, John C.
Maycock, 1 tarry.
Meadow s, John G.
Merriam, James E.
Owels, Herman F.
Owels, William.
Robertson, Oscar B.
Stulken, Gerhard E.
Tayli >r, James P.
Travis, Francis W.
Tripp, George W.
Watts, Edmund T.
Watts, Gebhard.
Watts, James.
Wilcox, Thomas H.

Banfield, Michael R.

TENTH BATTERY.

Cash, William.

THIRTEENTH BATTERY.

Beckley, Homer Aleader.

Bond, Samuel.

Boyle, Felix.

Branch, Willard S.

Campbell, Robert A.

Chaffee, Alfred E., First Lieutenant.

Clark, Edward F.

Corkett, John K.

Cross, George L., First Lieutenant.

Dancey, George E.

Dewing. Norman Houston.

Fisk, Lucien J I.

Flanders, Arthur W.

Fryer, James.

*Green, Addison.

Green, Charles A. .

Hall, William.

I farrison, Alpheus T.
Holcomb, John J.
Hunt, Charles P.
Jotie^. ^mericus \ .
Ji Hies, I [enry L.
Magill, James A.
: Plain, John V.
Redf Til. Spencer T.
Robinson, I >avid S.
Rockwell, Morris E.
Saunders, Michael.

S< hultz, August W.
Sewright, I . iLre.
Simpson, Thorn;
in-. I [enry C.

124

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Stoner, Hiram.
Thatcher, George D.
Walsh, William.
West, William.

Westphall, William.
*Wickett, Thomas.
Wing, George Nelson.

FIRST INFANTRY.

Becker, William H B

Beckwith, George Henry C

Carter, Arthur W B

Carville. James C

Devendorf, Daniel B., Asst. Surgeon

Dye, James Wr Band

Fabian, August C

**Fabian, Charles C

*Fischer, Emil Caspar C

Hinzpeter, August C

Kingman, Newton H K

Kirsner, John C

Lawrence, Henry C

Lawrence, William R C

Lawton, William B

Leary, Daniel C

Lippitt, John W E

Lumb, William E

Marbecker, James M B

Mead, John B

.Montague. Henry O B

Moore. Edson B

Morgan, Leman C F

Mosher, William Henry B

*Mulligan, James B

Neiheisel, Peter C

Neldner, Frederick C

Norcross. Pliny K

Owens, John H B

*Peake, William C

*Relyea, Leo/is B

Savage, Horace D B

Schlieger, Conrad C

Scrafford. James B F

Sentenn, Lewis W C

Skillen. John C B

Slocum. James Band

Wandall. Henry B

Weyrough, Jacob C

*Whilden, Jesse - B

SECOND INFANTRY.

**Baldwin, Theodore F K

Barright, Augustus D F

Beckwith. Edward Seymour . . . . K

I >' >yle. James K

*Flanders, Martin V K

Garrett, Andrew J K

Gilbert, Don A K

I layne, Nicholas K

Knapp, Franklin P K

Mcintosh, James K

Mclntyre, John D

McLachlen. John D

Nagel, Nicholas K

Ray, Patrick Henry K

Rodman, Martin F

Salisbury. Charles J K

Si-' ►field, I leorge F F

Stratum, Alcinous C

WALWORTH COUNTY, Wisconsin. [25

Stratton. Gilmore M C Whitney, T. B K

Teachout, Nelson E K Wilkins, 1 [enry B K

Welton, Marvin F Winne, Oscar F G

THIRD INFANTRY.

Baker, Charles E Johnson, Lorenzo D I

Bartlett, Oscar F., Surgeon. Mcl-'arlane, Edward P B

*Baxter, William K .Meyer, Francis Xavier D

Beans, Albertus I Newell, Alonzo K

Browne. William Adamthwaite. . G Otterson, Osmund \

Cornell, Louis A Otterson. Warren P \

Feeny, James — Priem, Richard \

Hart, Charles A A *Sales, William 1 1

Hart. John R A Sawall. Louis K

Hart. Perry A Williams. Jabez K

*Haswell, Joseph A

FIFTH INFANTRY.

Baker, Nathaniel E Money, I 'eter -

Eggleston, John F ** Riley. Abram K \

Hanson, John F Storey, John W G

Ingalls. Alfred K Sturgis, William B Vdjt

Tones. William G —

SIXTH INFANTRY.

Allen, William G D Kilmartin. John G

Bartlett, Oscar F Wt. Surgeon Rogers, John W D

Brennan, John I > Van Wie. I )avid C K

Coonrod, Martin C Wilson, < leorge W

SEVENTH INFANTRY.

Barrett, Patrick K Carney, Edward K

I '.card. Josiah II K Carney, George K

Browne, James Edwin B Claflin, John S K

Bruce, fohn W.. 2d Lieut K Costley, William II

i2b

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

♦Cromwell, Orrin B B

Durham, John B

♦Eddy, Nathan H K

Eggleston, Leroy A K

Ellis, William D K

Fenton, John H K

♦Herrington, Albert M K

Hoyt, George S Major

Hoyt, John M Captain K

Hughes, William K

Huntress, Gideon K

Huntress, Hiram B K

Hyde. Willis K

Klein, Carl K

Livingston, Reuben L K

Lyon. Frederick S K

McCabe, James K

**McKinney, William D K

McNamara, Michael K

Miller, Peter G. C K

Morse, Samuel B., 2d Lieut K

** Norton, Charles B K

**Norton, Nathan K

Sentenn, Menander O I

Smith, Charles W I

Snyder, James H K

Stever, Washington, 1st Lieut.. K

♦♦Stillson, Thomas H A

Teachout, Alfred K

**Walrath, William W.. 2d Lieut. T

*Watson, George F K

**Whitcomb, Francis T

White, Nelson I

Wilkins, Louis S K

*Wilson, William S K

Wood. Stafford L K

Wood. Stillman K

EIGHTH INFANTRY

Alcroft, George K

Baker, Horace K

Billings, Levi J K

Dawson, Thomas K

Dickinson, Charles D K

Farley, Edwin K

Fellows, Theodore A.. Captain. . K

lYrnald, Clarence K

Fernald. Frederick K

Faulkner. John K

Field. Francis M K

Grestjen, Isaac K

I [art, < leorge N K

I [erzog, Edward K

Hickox, Alfred A K

Hicknx, William E K

Hobart, John Chaplain

Holmes, George S K

Hubbard. John K

*Lowe, John H K

Mack, Hulbert C K

*Mairie, Albert Dickson K

♦Manning, Charles B K

Miller. Amos J K

*Mott, Josiah K

Myles, Nellis —

Noyes, Charles Augustus K

Olp. Harry K

♦Paddock, Herbert G K

Palmetier, Charles, 2d Lieut. ... K

Palmetier. Jared K

Powderly, William II K

Randall. Cedric B K

Rollow, Francis F

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

'-7

*Rouse, William N K

Rutenber, Menzo K

Sentenn, Benjamin fi

Smith. Albert E., Capt B

Smith, Charles W K

Smith, William R K

Tin >mas, David K

Thurston. Alfred X C

*Tupper, Silas W K

W eeks, Levi K

Whonn, William K

Wyman, Frank I K

Wyman, < leorge K

NINTH INFANTRY.

Alt". Marcus E

Boiler, Franz '. E

Booth, Andreas —

Good. Anton G

*Grossmeyer, Johann D

Hille. John H

Holl, Leonhardt D

Kieslich, Franz, Hosp. Steward

Naumann, Friederich E

Xaumann. Moritz I".

Scheitel, Joseph C

Scherle, I tenry II

\ orpagel, Julius | |

TENTH INFANTRY.

**Adams, Daniel

*Adams. Mortimer

*Adams, Peter

Alf. Wendelin

Babcock, Ira E

Babcock. Plimpton

**Bell. William J

Blakeman. Absalom

*Bovee, Andrew D

Bovee, Cornelius

Brabazon. William

Bradt. William I

Briggs, \\'il! >nr X

*Bro\vn. Sibley

*Burdick, Chester A., ist Lieut.

Burr. Charles FI

Burtard, John

Carroll, Patrick

Carver. Edward W

A *Coburn, William II A

A Conant, Shumway . . . .' \

A Concklin, Charles W \

A **Concklin. James II \

\ Conrick, J. ( tecar A

A ( lornell, Peleg \

A Dalton, William \

A Day, William W D

A I (euel, Ji iseph I! Hand

A I teuel, Mortimer \

A I )e\ one, William J \

\ I >e\\ ing, < Irlando \

A Dewing, Walter Edwin \

A Dopp. ( leorge C \

C Eati tn, Ji i eph S. J \

A Eckerson, Sherrod \

A Ewing, Albert O \

A Foster. Elon G \

A tin, William M \

128

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Fowler, George W A

*Frost, Francis M \

German, William H \

Goff, James M., Adjutant.

*Griffin, DeWitt \

Hall, Robert \

Halverson, George F A

Hare, Levi A

Harkness, Robert, Major.
Harrington, Flavius J., ist Lieut. A

Harrington, Woodbury A

Hay, Washington T \

Heaton, Abram A

**Hein, Peter \

Hitclicock. Amos Hunn A

Holland, George H A

Hooper, Jamin H A

**Hunt, George W A

* Johns, Freeman A

*Johnson, Henry O., major.

Jokich, Frank A

Kline. I )avid A

Lee, Elon N A

*Lee, Luther V

**Long, John H \

Lord, Andrew H V

Luce. Robert M \

*Mc( 'aim, John \

!*Manning, Frank E \

Matteson, 1 )avid \

Vlatteson, William \

Moffatt, Willis B \

Montague, Harrison M A

Morrison, Thomas H A

Mulville, Martin A

Nicholai, Theodore A

Xorcross, Levi W A

Odell, Fernando \

Parsons, Elisha Y A

Peny, Coryclon M A

Pilling, Richard \

*Rector, Hugh A A

Red ford, William \

Ripley, James B \

Sayles, William B A

Scott, Marion L A

Shaver, Martin V A

Sheldon, Josiah A

Smith. Fred V A

**Snell, Charles \

*Snell, James K V

Spurr, George A

Sterling. Franklin \

Stewart. William J \

Thanet, John M \

*Tyler, Joseph A

Vail, Franklin A

Wadkins, William H. C A

Williams. MSlo K \

*Wilson, James S A

Wood, Robert B \

Wood, Walter \

Woodward, Benjamin 1" D

Woodward, John D

i I I \ i:\rn [NFANTRY.

* Bowman, Ransom \ Cox, Charles A H

Boyce, Hilton W., \.sst Surgeon. *Fryer, Henry C

Bryant, I [orace F < iillingham, William D

Bryant, I [orace I )

D I [odeen, Curtis 7. G

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

129

Huntley, Frank A C

Huntley, Selden C

Lyman, Richard B D

Meracle, Alonzo C

Semple, Charles C

Sergeant, David P I

Sewright, John, 1 >t Lieut C

Smith, lames H II

Tessin, John C

Warren. Addison H

Widner, Martin D

W ill..r. Thilander C

TWELFTH 1\ I \N TRY.

Barnes, William H. Harrison, Band.
Dove, James, Band.

Doyle, Thomas K

**Foster, Benjamin F I

Gagnon, Louis K

Gaylord, Josiah Wilson, Band

Hogle, George J D

Jackson, James A H

Jillson, Orrin C, Prin. Musician.
Latham, Edward M., Band.

Morehouse, U)ram, Hand.
< )gden, Stansherry, Band.

Ottman, George F C

Parker, Levi M C

I 'otter, Monroe, Band.
Potter, Paraclete, Band.
Robbins, Edwin R.. Band.
Shaver, I [enry ].. Band.

Stroud, Alfred C

Taylor, fames I ' \

THIRTEENTH IN 1' \ NTRY.

Allen, Levi E C

Bahcock. Hosea I

Babcock. James I

Bacher, Philip C

Bailey, Harrison C

Barber, John C II

Bardwell, Henry G., ist Lieut.. C

Barney, James P II

Bauer, Jacob C

Beckwith, (ieorge Henry, Capt. 1 1

Bell, William R C

Berrie, John. Principal Musician.

Bidwell, George C

Bigelow, Francis A I

Bogardus, Wesley C

Bollinger, Daniel C

(9)

Bottrell. Richard I

Bo ■ e, Lorenzo D. F C

Boyce, Volney J C

er, < "harles C

Boyington, I hester II

Brandt. Eugene II

Brewer. « !< i >rge I

n, William I ' '

*Bulli « i i ederick II

k, Charles H K

Burdick, Edgai 0 K

Burkhart, < Christopher ... I

: Burton, I farlow C

Burton, William S C

Bush, David H C

Bush, Henrv C

130

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

*Bush, Peter C

Bush, William H C

*Cameron, George H. Captain . . I

Carroll, Henry I

Casper, George M C

Castle, Alonzo L H

Chatfield, David B I

*Clark, Albert S C

Clark, Oscar F C

Clark, Walter S C

*Clark, William M C

Clarke, Oliver P K

*Clemons, Harvey I

Cline, Christian C

Codding, George B E

Cole, Frank C

Colton, Harvey T 1

Conable, Henry H C

Cone, Melville C

Cone, Wilbur C

Conner, John I

Cook, Joseph I

Cook, William J H

Corey, Barnabas M C

*Corey, Charles H C

Corning, Andrew C

Coxshall, William I

*Crandall, John B K

Crevelin. Charles C

Crofts, Hobart B C

Cron, Christian C

*Dane, David I

1 )ane, William I

1 >avis, James W I

Deignan, Charles I

I )cmpsey, Andrew I

I lennis, William C

-Dibble Virgil M I

I >obie. b'lin C 1 1

Dockstader, Jerome G K

Dockstader, Willard K

Doolittle, Orla W C

Dougall, Thomas H C

Draper, Napoleon B K

Duncan, Solomon I

Dunn, David D C

Dunn, Robert S C

Dunn, William B C

Eckerson, Willis D C

Edwards, David I

Elliott. Ozias H

Ellis. Charles H

Emerson, Benjamin H

Emerson, George W H

*Finch, Lorenzo D I

Fish, John T., Captain C

Flansburg, Isaac C

Foote, Franklin I

Forrester, Robert C

Foster, Edwin I

Foster, Leander J I

Fountain, Frederick I

Freer, Charles E

Garbutt, Joseph I

Garrity, John I

Gates. Boukritz I

Gilbert, Louis A 1

Gile, George Franklin C

Gillard. Seth K

Gilson, John W H

Glover, Robert, ist Lieut H

Gould, Leander I

Graham, Charles C, ist Lieut.. H

Green, Dewitt C K

Green, Jerome C

( rreen, Theodore T K

i iroesbeck, Elias II C

Gunderson. Harvey H

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

131

Hale, Layton L C

Hall, William H H

*Halverson, John B

*Hamilton, George I

*Hanson, Halver H

Hare, Ambrose 1

Hare, Caleb E H

Hare, Charles 1

Hare. William I

Hayden, Lucien II C

Hayes, George C

Hegert, John C C

Henry, William J I

Herzog, Henry 11

Hodgson, Calvin W C

Hodgson, George H • C

Hodgson, John S C

Hodgson, William P C

Hollis, John H

Hollis, Myron 11

Hollister, Bradford N C

Hollister, Hiram A C

Hollister. Uriah Schutt, Captain. K

Holt, Henry C

Horton, Elisha G., Asst. Surgeon.

Hotchkiss, David C

Hotchkiss, Jared 1

Hotelling. Joseph I

Hyde, Newton C

Jacobson, Ole II

Janes. Alonzo I

Janes, William I

*Johnson, William \

*Johnson. William W C

*Kammerer, William Adam .... C

Kingman, Isaac W I

Kingman. Newton II., Captain.. I

*Kingman, Thomas R I

*Kirby, William II C

*Kittelsi hi. Jesse II

Knaub, William C

Knilans, James K I

Knilans. William A.. Captain. . . . G

Knox, Henry 11., ist Lieut I

Knudsi 'ii. Erie, Band.

Kroll, Anson C

Kuemmel, Augustus II., Colonel.

Labuwi, Matthias C

Lain, David S C

Lamoreaux, Daniel K.. 1st Lieut. C

Landon, John S C

Lark in. Sylvanus O II

Larson, Andrew, Band.

I ,asher, ( rarrett II

Lasher, Leonard \

Lathrop, Thomas B I

Lauderdale, Julius H.. Captain.. I

Lee, Andrew B II

Levalley, Benjamin F C

Levalley, ( harles H C

♦Levalley, John S C

Levalley, Lafayette C

Little. Ira \

Loomer, Charles E I

Loomer, Wallace E I

Loucks, William, 2d Lieutenant. C

Lowell, Jerome C

Lownsbury, Albert W.. Sergt. M

Met '.inn' m, I [ugh C

*Mc( 'art. Andrew C

Mel larthy, Mountford I II

McDonald, I >avid 1

Met !ee, John II

\l<-< rtnnis, I '.'ii ick I

♦Manning, Gilbert H

Markle, Charles I

Markle, Jesse B C

Markle, William T I

132

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Marlette, Giles F

Mason, Addis E I

Maxon, Elisha K

Maynard, Hiram W I

Meicel, Frederick E

♦Mereness, Jacob B C

Mereness, Luther J C

Merrill, Harvey C

Merrill, Martin L C

Merrill, William C

Millen, William H

♦Miller, John I

*Miller, John R I

Miller, Peter I

Miner, Rosell C

Morgan, James C

Morris, Azel Bird I

Moulton, Henry N C

Murdock, Alexander I

Myers, Oliver T C

Nelson, Oliver H

Nelson, Simon H

♦Niblick. John I

Niles, Jabez S C

Norcross, Alanson K

♦Norcross, Frederick F K

Norcross, Pliny, Captain K

Norton, William I

Noyes, Charles S., Major.

O'Brien, Michael .' T

O'Brien, Patrick C

Olds, William I

Olson, Martin H

Olson, Ole ist H

Olson, Ole 2d H

♦Osmundson, Ole H

Ostrom, Oscar H C

Owen, William E C

Parish, Benjamin I

Parks, Henry H C

Parks, William D. L. F C

Parsons, William H

♦Patterson, Josiah H

Patton, James A C

Perkins, Daniel E H

Peterson, Kittel H

Phelps, David C

♦Pilcher, Thomas I

Pixley, Sardis C

Pixley, Wilbur R C

Powers, George W C

Pramer, David C

Pratt, Edgar J., Captain H

Pratt, Joel A H

Pratt, Joseph L., Captain H

Quant, William H I

Rae. William I

Ramberg. Paul H

Rankin, George H H

Rami, Lallemand H H

*Rice, Seymour 2d C

Robinson, James H

Rodewalt, John H C

*Rolof, William H

*Rosser, Ernst I

Russell. Thomas O.. O. M. Sergt.

♦Salisbury, Samuel I

Sanders. Samuel C C

Savage, James —

Schermerhorn, Lawrence C

Sewell, George E I

Sherburne, Ceorge A K

Sherman. John W C

Sherman, Silas T H

Slocum, James, Rand.

Smith, Byron G K

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

133

Smith, John I

Smith, John C C

Smith, Robert H

Smith, Robert W I

Solverson, John C H

Stark, Lorenzo H I

Steele, George W K

Stewart. Archibald H K

Stoner, John I

Storey, Columbus C

Storey, Elliott C

Stupfell. Charles H C

Sweet, Jacob D

Sweet, Marion D D

Tallmadge. Asa C

Taylor, Luke I

Thompson, Albert C

Totten, Lyman C

Townsend, Nicholas I

Townsend. Paul H I

Tremper. John M I

Van Buren, Sylvester H C

Van De Bog-art, Isaac 1

Van I >e Bogart, Napoleon I

\\ aters, James I

WClih, Melvin M.. Band.

Webster, lames X K

Weed. Myron W II

Weed. Nathaniel Jr 11

Weicher, Nicholas H

Welch. Daniel I

Welch, John II C

Welch, William II I

Welton. Charles W H

Welton. Laban C H

West, Ralph I

Weston, Allien 11 K

Whitmore, Elias D

Wicke, John F. W C

Wilc<>\, Florence F C

WVilkins, Alden I

Wilson, Charles A C

Winegar, Alfred I C

Winne, James 1

Young, Israel W B

FOURTEENTH [NFANTRY.

Bender, Matthew W K

Bradburv. Charles II

I liiit'm.m. Robert O K

Stockdale. Elisha I

FIFTEENTH INFANTRY.

Abby, Byron D

Anderson. Lars ( ■

Andreassen, Olaf I

Barr, Jabez D

Bjornsen, Nils I

Gillard, Charles A D

Hanson, Ole K

Johnson, John I)

Nelson, Rasmus K

I 'ederson, Anders H

en K

Rice, Uberl E K

Sorenson. 1 fans C

134

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

SIXTEENTH INFANTRY.

Barhydt, Lewis H B

Barhydt. Ransom B

Comstock, Peter D D

*Dart, Charles B

Fox, George H., Captain B

Fox, Randolph A B

Hollenbeck, Aaron B

Hollenbeck, George D B

Hoye, John B

Kavanaugh, Dennis F

Mann. Leonard G

Reynolds, Joseph F

Riley, Patrick F

Tullar, Sidney B., ist Lieut B

Wood. Edgar A H

SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY.

Browning. Joseph F

Daly, James A

Delany, Frank F

Delany, Patrick F

Delany, Thomas F

Dougherty, James B

Dwyer, William F

**Griffin, John F

Keenan, John ist F

Keenan, John 2d F

Kelley, Peter F

McBride, John F

**McCormick, Patrick F

Murphy, Patrick B

Purcell, Martin F

Roach, John F

Ryan, John F

Scanlon, Timothy F

Shelley, George F

Stokes, Cornelius F

Sullivan, Patrick F

Tark, John D

Taylor, Thomas H I

Tesch, Friederich F

Walsh, James F

Walsh, Thomas F

Whalen, Tohn F F

EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY.
Bi'iggs. George II.. Assl Surgeon. Hill, Zelotes

NINl III Mil IM- WTRY.

Baltus, Joseph F

Chase, Philo \V., Asst. Surgeon.
I 'evi ndorf, I >aniel B., Surgeon.

Edwards, 1 >a\ id E

I [ageman, Friedrich F

Kingsburj , Theodore A., Hosp. Stew

Nelson, Peter A B

Sheldon. Kirk W A

Steeps, Friedrich F

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

135

TWENTIETH INFANTRY.

Burt. Roswell . . D

*Butts, Charles W D

Clark, Daniel D

**Corliss, Jonathan D

Cox, William D

Drake, Charles H D

*Delano, Edgar C D

Delany, Thomas D

Doane, Sanford D

Ellis, Edgar E., 1st Lieut D

Farnsworth, William H., 2d Lt. D

Gardner, Eugene F D

Gillette, Almerin, Captain D

Grimes, Terence D

Holland, Cornelius O D

Huntress, Samuel D D

Jennings, Whitney G D

Ketchpaw, Alurillo W D

King, George W D

Knowlton, Freeman T D

McKaig, Emmett D

Madden, James H D

Mountain, David D

O'Connor, Peter J D

Parr, Thaddeus G

Phelps, George H D

Read, Charles G D

** Remington, Henry S D

Rockwell, James L D

*Romain, John B D

Safford, Peter D

Stephens, J. Dwight D

Taylor, Ralph W D

Wood, Henry C D

TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY.

Adams, William D

*Aikin, James P C

* \ikin. Theron C

Albro, Henry D

*Allen, Darius T C

Allen, Dwight S C

Anderson, Edward B

* Avery, Thomas D

Ayers, Benjamin F D

*Ayres, Winfield S D

Bailey, James B

Bailey, John C

Baker, Francis E B

Balcortl, William R C

Barlow, William W D

Barr. Robert C

Beach. George W D

Becker, Marcus D

Belding, George T., Com. Sergt.

Bellows, Leonard H D

Blanchard. Caleb S., Asst. Surgeon.

Blanchanl. Charles C D

Blanchard, E. Darwin D

Blodgett, William D

Bond. Alfred B

I >i K 'die. David C

I'.' mm, Zadock II D

Braliaxon, William D

Briggs, James C D

Briggs, Joseph D

Bright, U illiam H C

Brown, ' ieorge If., Captain.... B

Buell, I 1 1 . 1 1 les E., 1st Lieut C

Buhre, < harles E C

136

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

I Sullen, Robert C

Burbank, Jerome, Asst. Surgeon.

Burdick. Albert D D

Burdick, John M D

Burdick, William D D

Burk, Andrew C

**Burns, Michael C

Button, Ezra W C

Cansdell, Henry, Surgeon.

Carey, Julian M C

Carey, Peter C

Chapin, Monroe C

Chapman, Menzo W D

Chittenden, Albert C

Church, Mattoon A C

Clark, Charles A C

HI ark, George E D

Clark, John W C

( ioburn, George, Jr D

Coburn, John C D

Cone, Ela C

Cone, John J., Principal Musician.

Cone, Sylvester C

**Congdon, John R D

Conklin. John \ 'D

Conrick, J. Oscar, Adjutant.

*Cornue, Albert C

( < mil, Thomas B

Crandall, Charles W D

1 rane, Fernando C

1 ullen, Martin B

Cunningham, Levi G D

Cutler. Daniel T D

Cutler, Riley II D

Dame, James F 11

I (arrow, Silas H C

I )avey, Joseph (

I ).i\ idson, Thomas I D

1 (avis, Edw in F D

Davis, Harrison D

Davis, Henry S D

Dayton, John S C

Delap, Wesley D

*Deming, William H C

Densmore, Chauncey C

*Dix, John P C

Dockstater, Albert D D

Dudley, Charles E., 1st Lieut. . . . D

Easton, Chauncey O D

Eddy, Harvey C C

Edwards, Evan D

Edwards, John K D

*Ellis, Calvin G C

Fay, John B

**Fellows, Amos C C

*Fellows, Elnathan C

Ficht, John George D

Fleming, James B

Foster, James M D

**Fuhr, Wendel D

Gage, Chauncey D D

Gibson, William L C

Gleason, Edward C

Gleason, William Erskine C

Goodwin, Almon . " C

( ioodw in. Edwin D

( rray, Elihu W C

( Gregory, Myron L D

♦Griffin, James D

( rroshong, William D

Hale, Joel C

Hall. Henry D

♦Hall, Willard M D

I [and, Lacon 1 C

1 [arrison, Orville N C

Hart. Edwin R C

I [enry, William C

1 feuston, Reniamin C

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

137

I lines, John D

Hodgkins, Warren C

Hodgkinson, Joseph D

Holcomb, James J C

Howe, Andrew J C

Howe, Myron W C

Hudson. Clark L C

Hunt, Henry C D

Hunt, Walter G D

Hyde. Legrand D C

* Ingham, Hamilton C

**Jacobs, George D

Johnson, David B C

Johnson, Harrison R D

Johnson, ( )rson D D

Jones, David R D

Jones, Evan D

Jones, William D

Kathan, Faylander D

'*Kavanaugh, Thomas D

Kay, Edwin C

Kellam, Alphonso G Major

Kenney. Stephen D

Kingman. Isaac W., 1st Lieut.. C

Knapp. William D

Knilans, George D

Knowles, Stephen, 2d Lieut.... C

Kober, Herman B

Leach, Lyman W C

Lewis, Henry \V C

Lewis, John J I

Lobdell, Marion C I

Lytic Henry C

McArthur, James D D

McDonald. John D

McDonell. John C C

McLain, John D

*McMillen, Robert G C

Marcy, Lucius S D

May. Darwin R., Capt C

Menzie, Charles H D

Merriam, Frank C

Merriam, Noah C

.Millard, Maxon P C

Moorfield, Thomas C

: Morgan. Benjamin F C

Morin, James C

* : Morrison, Thomas D

MJ isher, Lorenzo D D

Mnsher, Thomas D

Nelson, Sumner B

Noyes, Harvey J C

( )sborne, Hazard D

Osborne, John D

( >wen, James C

( hven, Wartroop S D

*Parker, Henry D

Peck. Phineas Page D

Perry, J. Lyman D

Perry, William Norman D

*Pierce, Franklin S C

Pierce, Theodore S C

Pope. Alexander B

I 'ope, Benjamin B

Powell, Jonathan C

I'unlv, George F D

Purdy, Henry D

Read. Rollin C

Redford, Robert C

Rewey, Fayette D

Rewey, Philander D

Robbins, Henry C

Robillard, John C

Robinson, We^t I '

Rockwell. Frank M C

Rogers, \<lell>ert D. L C

138

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Rogers. John D C

*Rogers, Joshua F C

Rollins, John J D

Rollow, Lewis C

Ross, Clarkson N C

*Ross, Martin F C

*Rouse, Anthony D C

:< Rowley. John D D

Rowley. Silas R D

*Russell. Robert D

*Rust, John F C

Rutenber, Augustus C

Sanborn, Herbert J C

Saulsbury, Robert S D

Scoville, Charles W C

Scrafford. James B D

Scrafford. Marshall D

Scrantpn, William Clark D

Seymour, Benjamin C

Shimmins, Richard I

Shoemaker, Martin D

Siperly, John R D

- 'erly. Reuben D

Slocum, John R D

- th. Alexander T C

Smith. Charles \Y., Major

E th. Cornelius C

5 ith, George J C

Smith, James C

- th. Julius P D

Sm 'V. . Benjamin F C

■or. Wallace C

5l tford, David L C

ens. Martin E C

Stewart, Arthur D

51 >rk, John M C

Mbert E D

eter, Theron E C

Sullivan. Dan D

Sullivan, John D

Taylor, Orsamus J C

Thomas, Herbert H D

Thompson, William C

Tinker. William H D

Tome. Peter C

Topping. John M D

Traver, Ralph W B

Underwood, William P B

Van Brunt, Henry C

Van Wie, John C

Veley, Alonzo D

Yeley, George W D

Yoorhees. George L D

Yoorhees. Jasper C D

*Wachter, Jacob B

Wait. Porter C

Walsh, Thomas B

::\\ alton, John C C

Walworth, Jasper B D

Watkins, Charles C

Webster. Robert G C

Weeks. John A C

W'eishar. Jacob D

WVeisskopf. Peter D

Wells. A. Chandler C

W eter. James P C

Wheeler. George D

WYhilden. Robert D

White. Charles B C

White, James H C

Williams. James R D

Williams, Richard M., 2d Lieut. D

Wilson. John Melvin C

W ood, George W D

"Wood. Henry D

Wr . njamin F C

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 1 39

TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY.

Fulcomer. Henry K * Smith. Charles

Sergeant, David P D

TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.

* Cheney, Edmund W A Lynch. Bernard G

Fahey, Michael H Wheeler. Tared P Surgeon

TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.

Jones, Lorenzo F Rose. William W C

Kane. Benjamin E

TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.

Awe. Fritz C Kraemer. Johann N C

TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.

Brown. Edward I Hanson. John H

Doyle. James B A Xelson. Eric H

Falk. Ole Xelson, 1st Lieut H Peterson. Ole H

TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

Adams, Hezekiah I Bigelow. Horace E

■Allen. Fayette L I Billings. Levi J.. Capt K

* Ambler, William K Bingham. William E., 1st Lieut. E

♦Amundsen, Bernard D Blomily. John E

Arwood, Andrew W E Bloodgood, Hiram S E

Bacon, Robert A E Bloodgood, Lewis E E

Baker. John W I Bolser, Mahlon X E

Baldwin, James A D Bonnet, Charles D

Barnes, Henry D I Bortle. Samuel E

Becker. Bernard I Bortle. Winslow E

Bell. Samuel I Bowman. William H T

Bentley. Samuel A Braasch. Ferdinand K

Bigelow, Amos E Brabazon, John E

140

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

I '.rash, John I

Brewin, John E

Briggs, William J., ist Lieut. . . K

Brigham, Truman E A

Bristol, Robert W I

Brooks, Charles E E

*Burdick, George J K

Burr, Ralph E I

Buttles, Daniel W I

Carl, Frank I

Carl, John I

Carpenter, Lewis D

Carver, Thomas Corvvin B

Castledine, William K

Catlin, John E

t award, James J K

Chamberlain, Chauncey E

( hasc. William I

( 'hene\ , Robert , A

: ( la])p, Eli I

Clawson, Garrett K

Clement, Garrett D

( lenient. Samuel D

Conant. < iordon K

I oncklin, Stephen J I

Conrv, Thomas K

Corkitt, George D

• 1 11 kins, Patrick K

Cornell, Silas K

i i miter, James W I

< lowing, < leorge 1*'.. ( 'apt K

I i i\\ Its. \^a Saxton 1

< !ox, ( lharles E

Cox, I [enry A D

Crandall, 1 torace B., Capt 1

< !riger, < ieorge P D

1 lancej . Thomas D

Daniels, Ubert 0 I

I hull, Edward 1>

Dawley, William J D

*DeGroat, George D

Deilman, Peter D

DePuy, Edwin M K

Deuel, Edwin M I

Dingman, Charles A K

Donohue, Michael I

*Dort, Amos D

Douglas, Oscar W D

Duwling, William D D

Durant, William A

Dutton, Henry O E

Early, John D

Edwards, Daniel I

Edwards, Hiram D

Eggleston, Frank I

Farrar, George H I

Faust, Franz D

*Feder, Wilhelm E

*Feiss, Benedict D

Fero, Silas K

Ferry, Charles I

*Fichler, Augustus I

Firth, Robert D

Fitzsimmons, Patrick E

Footc. Addison O I

Fox, Charles L I

* Frank, Hiram P I

*Gaskell, John I

Gaylord, John D K

*( rleason, Burnham 1

< ileason, Josiah I

( Joodrich, 1 )avid N D

"Gould, Alvin K

( bant. John D

I rrass, Nicholas T

Gray. Edmund I'. . ( 'olonel.

Groenwald, Johannes K

Groth, John F K

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

141

Guest, John I

Haage, Frederick D

Haight, Hyland B E

Hamilton, William —

*Hare, Jesse D

Harrison, John W D

Hartwell, Smith A., 2d Lieut. ... I

Hassold, Lewis K

Hawes, Lewis K., Asst. Surgeon.

Hay, Sylvanus Devillo E

Hayes, Hiram N., 1st Lieut D

Hays, Alonzo D

Heath. Amos K

Heath, Charles H E

Hebbard, Asa W., 2d Lieut E

Heiden, Henry A

"Henderson, Donald D

I lendrickson, Clesson A D

*Hibbard, Henry H I

Hicks, Jackson V I

Hills, Edwin T K

"Hills, George D

Hitchcock, Leonard S K

Hix, Henry D

*Hodge, James A D

Hodges, John I

Holmes. Charles D

I [olmes, David M I

1 1' Jton, John I

Hubbard, Alva B I

Hudson, Charles D

I Iuntley, Isaac Newton E

I I yde. George K

Jackson, James E

Jones, Francis K

Keenan, Patrick D

Kenyon, James R., Capt I

Kenyon, Ralph C E

Kershaw, Job I >

King, Farrell 1

Kinney, Francis D

Knowlton, Francis P E

Kober, Charles I

Kuhn. Charles D

Kynaston, John D

Langen, John I

Langstaff, James E

Larkin, Michael D

Lasher, John H D

Lingeman, Henry D

Loomer, William E E

Lyman, Edwin C E

McKenney, Jeremiah I

McManus, John A

Magill, Jerome B., Adjutant.

Maher, Michael I

Martel, Joseph E

Matheson, Donald I

Matheson. John I

Mayhew, William H 1

Maynard, William D

Mead, James M., 2d Lieut D

*Means, John E

Miles, John D

*Miller, Isaac D

Miner, Nathan N \

Moore, Michael E

.Morton, Ira P., Capt K

Mountain, John I

Mount ford, Aaron I )

*Murray, James I

Newcomb, Joseph J E

Nelson, Peter D

Nickerson, Gilbert E D

*Nims, 1 >ew itt I

Noblet, Joseph, Jr r

Noblet, Peter I

Noblet, Valentine 1

142

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Norcross, Edwin R E

Norton, Bernard I

*Nott, William H I

O'Brien, Michael I

**0'Brien, Patrick I

O'Brien, William I

Olsen, Gilbert D

♦O'Reagan, William I

Organ, John, Jr I

Ostermeier. Michael D

Parker, John A K

Park-. Milton B I

Patterson, Albert I

*Peake, Gilbert I

: I 'irk, John T K

Peck, William W \

Phelps, Anson D E

*Phelps, Arthur K

Phoenix, James R A

Phoenix, John W A

Pierce, ( 'harles Z D

Poland, Arthur I

Pollock, Thomas I

Potter. Alfred C I

Pratt, George W E

l\ainH'\ . Fayette S I

Redington, Edward S., Capt. ... D

Redmond, John A

Reed. Hiram H K

Reinhart, Albert D

*Robbins, Charles E D

♦Robinson, John B E

Rockwell, Charles W D

Rockwell, John B E

Rodgers, John W D

Rusch, I Icnry D

Sanford, 1 >aniel K E

Sat ight, Andrew D

Schein. ( '<mrad I

Scholl, Charles D

Scholl. Christopher D

Schroble, Charles W D

Schrom, James B., ist Lieut. . . D

Schulz, John D

Seymour. Alex. T., ist Lieut. ... I

**Shabino, Joseph A

"Short, George W I

Short, James I

Shubert, Harvey I

*Simpson, Charles H D

♦Smith, Delos C I

Smith, George ist —

Smith, George D

*Smith, Lyman D E

Smith, Lyndsey J., Capt I

Smith. Oscar D

Snider. John E

Snow, Eli H E

Spencer, Lorenzo D K

Spoor, Charles I

♦Sterling, James H I

Stewart, John A E

Storms, Charles I

Stnmg. Solomon I D

Stuit, Charles I

♦Sullivan, Jeremiah 1

Sullivan, Michael E

Summers, Stephen E

Smth. .Matthias D

Sutcliffe, Sam I

Sutherland, Morris S K

Taylor, Charles H 1

Taylor, lames D

Taylor, James B E

Teller, Johann D

l hi imas, Francis I

I hi imas, Jacob D

Thwing, Emery Z E

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Tiffany, Alfred W . . I

Timlin, Patrick D

Tolifson, Bringel E

Trautman, George D

Troy, Edward D

Tucker, George D

Tuller, Chesley B.. 2d Lieut. . . . B

Utley, Cyrus I

Vanderpool, Aaron L I

Vaughn, Alonzo I

Vaughn, Henry Clay I

*Vaughn. John I

**Yellam. Andrew E

:|AYalker. Jacob D

Ware. Charles A D

Waters, Isaac I

Watts. Henry H. 1st Lieut. . . . D

Webster. Albert J C

*Webster, Henry C F

Webster, Wheeler B E

Weeks, Clark O I

**Weeks, Spencer J I

Weiss, Joseph D

*Welch, Hiram J E

Wells, Edward I

West, Dennis I

Wheelock, Norman D

*\\Tiite, Seymour I

*Whitton, John I

Wilber, David C E

Wilkins, Horace T E

Wilkinson, Horatio N D

Wilkinson, Joseph E

nVilliord, Hardy E

Williams, Emery D I

Williams, Harry —

Wilson, John H

Winslow, George M D

Woodward, William H T

Wray, Thomas . . . .' D

Wright, Benjamin F K

Wright, Duncan I

Wylie, George W., Quartermaster.

Yeomans, Cyrus D

Young, Menzo K

*Zeeter, Frank K

TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY.

Bowen, Edward H.

THIRTIETH INFANTRY.

Vlkins. Henry Breckinridge . . . K Bruce, Robert C

Adkins, William K Eastwood, Reuben K

THIRTY-FIRST INFANTRY.

Hanchett, Charles C. C ( !

THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY.

Comstock, Peter D A Uhflettig, Caspar C

144

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

THIRTY-THIRD INFANTRY.

Coney, Henry —

Dilley, Oscar H G

*Lyon, Samuel E F

Xickerson, Charles W E

THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.

Hoeger, Louis

G Shavor, Edward P A

THIRT\r-FIFTH INFANTRY.

Beilby, James D

Brainerd, Sardis D

*Brown, Millard F H

*Carley, George R H

*Chappell. John D

Corhin, Alfred G

*Cronin. Timothy D

*Diven, John H

Huntley, Delos W H

* Jones, San ford F

I iddle, George E

*Liddle, Thomas E

Liddle, William E

McCarty, Charles G

McDonald, Michael —

Markham, Alfred P H

*Nicolai, Henry F

Owen, Ole G

Parker. Luther E

Ray. Henry E.. First Lieut I

Stevens, Martin E., Second Lieut. G

Sturtevant, Edwin, Capt A

Taylor, Richard F E

Thompson, Frank A

*Thompson. Ole G

Wall, Walter I

HIRTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.

*Balcom, Russell M C

Blakesley, Forrest —

< ihase, Albert O H

**Cleaves, Corydon L C

< one, I [enry C

*Dayton, William W C

I n wr\ . Frederick A

Dibol, Daniel II \

Flint, Perry G \

< ierman, Zenas Crane A

Griffin, Charles E., Capt A

I [and, < reorsre C A

Hart. Walter O \

Haskell. Martin A

♦Hudson, Harvey W C

Kelsey. William E

Locke. William E

Long, Edward J A

Lucky, William \

I .nun, James T A

Mead, Ezekiel A

Miller. Alanson, Hospital Steward..

*Miller, Clarkson. Surgeon

Palmer, Ralph I H

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

145

*Peck, Truman G

*Pultz. Abraham B

Putnam, Levi A

Reagles, Ezra A

Shabino, Antoine E

*Stagg, Charles N E

*Stevens, John E C

**Upright, William A

Van Nest, Peter S., Chaplain

Virgin. Charles \V A

Wandell, Henry G

Weber, Albert C G

\\ halen, Daniel D

Whipple, George W G

Willsey, John J C

: Wilson, George E

Wright, Charles H D

THIRTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.

Aldrich, Samuel K A

Allen, Thomas J A

Artie, Courtland J A

Babcock, Charles R G

Baldwin, Francis A G

Barnard, Francis D A

Barron, George G

Briggs, Thomas A

Carman, Henry H

Carney. John A

Carney, Xelson H A

Case, Charles —

Clark. Joseph E G

Cline, George A

**Cline, George, Jr F

Coyne, Thomas —

Cross, George L I

•^Cruver, John M G

Davis, Charles —

*Duley, John \V B

Dunn, Payson F

Everly, John —

' Gardner, Eugene C

' rleason, Michael. Jr B

1 [arrison, John L C

I [erber, Ferdinand A

(10)

Hodgson, Albert F

Hodgson, George \Y F

*Hunt, Oliver H A

Hutchinson, Albert W A

Hutchinson, Robert A

Jones, San ford, First Lieut. ... A

Lynch, Patrick E

Lyon, Edgar I

Mfclntyre, John G

M. Mullen, John D

Miller, Jacob F

Moore, George L —

Moore, William H A

Morehouse, Robert D

Mulheron, Peter E

*Neff. Charles J G

Norton, Edward T H

Odell, John A A

**Peck, Carroll M H

Peterson, Peter \

I 'owers, Clarence L G

*Reiner, Johannes A

Rosenkrantz, Anson C \

Roundy, Daniel ( '.., Surgeon

Roundy, Porter \\\. Hosp. Steward

Rowe, Georgi \ H

146

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Sargent, Edward N I

Sew ard, Joel E

*Sprague, Henry R G

Thon, Jacob I

Tapper, Oramel E A

Weed, Edward Z A

:\\"ells, William G

**Wheeler, Benjamin F A

Whitford, John F C

THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

Booth, Stephen M E

Brennan, James F

Byrum, Carlos C G

( litirehill, Christopher E

* '.( mklin, Daniel H

Cook, William H K

Duncan, John R F

Ellis, Henry C F

Godfrey, John D D

I [askins, Daniel S K

Jefferson, James K

Mooney, Patrick I

< Hmstead, Ephraim H

Parkins, John WT K

* Pells, David .'.... K

Prouty, Albert S K

Ryan, .Michael G

Stevens, Jacob C K

White, Tohn G

THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY.

Bartholomew, William

Beckw ith, Alanson

( hamberliri, Everett, Captain .

Chamberlin, Sidney

Estabrook, Edwin C

Cooled, Fritz

Gunnison, Samuel

Hollenbeck, John M I

Howard. Willis B B

Janes, Mlortimer A

Mckinney. Jeremiah

Mitchell, Isaac

Thayer, Lyman B

Zinn, William

FORTIETH INFANTRY.

Allen. S. Merritt B

\llton, Andrew I)

Andrews, Edward I

Bailey, Willard C F

l'>al<!\\ in. John F

Hall, Rufus R C

Barker, < harles W F

Beckley, Edwin R . . .' I"

I lennett, Jay W I

Bennett, Sanford Fillmore, 2d

Lieutenant F

Billings, Henry M F

Birge, Charles D

Black, Charles L I

Blair, Albert B

Blanchard, Charles C, Hosp. Stew'd.
Blanchard, Ofrin W.. Surgeon.
Brennan, William I

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

147

Brett, James Elverton E

Burdick, Matthew F

Burt, Roswell F

Campbell, John F

Carswell, Orland F

Case, Adelbert C

Cheney, Augustus J., Captain. ... F

Clapper, Frank F

Clark, Dan W F

Clark, Daniel F

Clark, Horace L F

Clarke, James Dallas F

Clute, James W F

Colburn, Mahlon F

Corey, Barnabas M F

Cotton, Russell F

Crandall, Albert F

Crandall, Paul B F

Cravath, Pitt D

Curtis, Hiram H B

Cutler, Charles W F

Davis, Levi : F

Densmore, George F

Dunham, Ephraim F

Eaton, Orrin C E

Elmer, Philander D F

Faber, Jacob I

Ferris, Isaac Lewis D

Field, Alden F

Fitzgerald, Richard F

Flanders, Philip W F

Flint, Myron L F

Gibbs, Cyrus C C

♦Gilbert; Charles H., 1st Lieut. . . I'

Gillson, Erastus I

Gleason, James I

Graves, Dennison A D

T fauna, William S F

Hatch, Nathan R F

Hauser, John H.. (apt E

Hauser, Robert B E

Hodges, George AV F

Hodgkinson, Charles J F

Holden, William J C

I loll i st it, Harrison I' K

Hollister, Kinner N., Captain. . . I

Hull, Clarence E D

Hutton, John, Jr F

Hutton, William F

Hutchins, Fred WT F

Jeffers, Thompson F

Jefford, Thomas Jr I

Jones, William B

Kaye, Adin F

Kelsey, Benjamin F

Kennedy, John F

Kent, Isaac F

Kingman, Arthur L K

Kinne, George F

Kinney, Horace B F

Kishner, John Charles F

Larson, James F

Lasher, Peter B I

Latta, William B B

Lauderdale, James E C

•Lomas, Joseph F

Losee, ( rilbert C F

Met annon, John F

McCracken, Frank L C

McDonnell; John F

McGraw, John W F

McKinley, John C

Malloi \ , I [enry Levi F

.Marriott. 1 1 enry H F

Merwin, James II F

.Miner, Rufus If D

: Moody, David X F

Moore, William II F

148

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Morefield, Thomas William F

Mosher, Jacob R F

O'Brien, John K

Ottman, Philip M F

Palmer, Norman P F

Phelps, Jonah F

I'illsburv. Marcus A C

Potter, Lorenzo F

Potter, Monroe F

Randall, Jonathan L F

Ray, \V. Augustus, Colonel.

Read, Edward P F

Reap, Henry I

Redneld, William H F

Redford, Farrington F

Reeder, Stephen F

Rockwell, Aklis L D

Rollow, Charles D

Rolo, Daniel PI F

Sanborn, William Howard F

Shader, John E F

Sheldon, William E B

Simmons, William H F

♦Small, Henry J F

Spooner, Henry Fish, 2d Lieut. . F

Swinney, Edwin F

Taintor, Benjamin C F

Taylor, Luke F

Taylor, William R C

Truax, Henry F F

Trumbull, Russell S F

Utter, George S D

Vincent, Oscar F F

Watson, Van Ness C F

Weaver, Franklin C F

Westgate, William R B

Wheeler, Charles F F

York, Dennison C

FORTY-SECOND INFANTRY.

Adams, Luther II F

Uexander, George W G

I laker, H. John B

Baker, Zerah T G

Ball, John F

Benedict, Andrew G F

I'.t t:.;, I l<vr!.iah 1\

I '" >hiK'Y. Archibald F

Brown, Richard K C

Bryant, I .cw is N F

Burke, William B

(lark. Myron J G

*Coan. William I

i olton, Ebenezer F

Cutler, John II G

I )aln mple, I [amilton S F

De I'.iw. William ( i

Delap, Ira F

Dunham, James L F

Durston, Edward W G

Ferris, William T H

( iardner, William D. S C

Goodrich, Harvey C F

Greenman, Jacob F F

I [alverson, I lalvcr D

I I arris. Benjamin F G

I [arris, James F

I [enshaw , Charles 11 F

Hicks. Richard S G

Hitch, Edward G

*Hollenbeck, Robert G

Jackson, Fdson I> B

Kenyon, Monroe F

I aw ton, lames 11 G

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

149

Lawton, Samuel G

Lloyd. John F

Lyman, Walter C

McCart, Freeman F

Morter, George C

Oleson, Jacob D

Osborn. William G

*Parker. Ellis J K

Parks, Jonathan B F

Parks, William A F

Pette, Ambrose F

Rand. Edmund G

Remmel. Charles F

Renshaw. Andrew J D

Rice, Lafayette M K

Roach, Thomas G

Ri muds, George W G

Sawyer. Adna F

See, Alexander H

Smith. Everett H G

Soule, Robert F

Starkson, John C

Sweet. Enoch F

Thomas, James K

Tierney, George B

Watson, John G

Welch, Leander F

Welch. Seymour F

Whitney, Alva L K

Zelie. Myron G

FORTY-THIRD INFANTRY.

Abernethy, Alexander C

Assenmacher, John D

As>enmacher, Peter D

Birkenmeyer, Joseph A

Brandt, James H C

Brandt, Samuel C

Brownell, Horace P A

Brownell, Otis I

Collins, Henry F

Durfuse, George K

Durfuse. John K

Eck, Frederick K

Englerth, Adam K

Eugene, John B., Quartermaster.

■ l-'.vre, ( Jeorge M 1

Fitzgerald, Jonathan C

Freeman, John H C

Garvin, Eber N C

Gillett, Robert A K

Goodale, Charles J A

Gregory. Uriah F

Groner, Michael C

Harris. Henry F

*Hatch, Nathan H A

Hazen, Amos C

Holcomb, Jeremiah A

Joslin, Albert F

Kelli igg, Amos C

Kellogg, Charles C

King (or Kling). William C

Loomis, Benjamin L C

1 .1 lomis, Joseph C

Loomis, ( (scar M C

McKee, Abraham G

Nau, Jacob G

:' Nye, Austin C

Osborne, Robert I

( Isborne, Thomas I! A

( >wen, William T F

Peer, Miller C

I' inck, Edward F

I '< ii iler. Sumner C

150

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Raftry, Thomas K

Rasmussen, John A

Ries, Charles I

Russell, Thomas O., 2d Lieut.. H

Satorius, Matthias K

Seibert. George K

Shaw, William F —

Snider. David D C

Snow, Willis S F

*Spencer, Archibald I

Stanton, Leroy A

*Tenney, Nelson M I

Thomas, Charles E A

Trumbull. David D

Tuohey, John K

Walsh, Thomas I

Wentz, Andrew F

West, James I

Wilson, John S F

FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.

Abies, Cornelius G Lad, Knud O

Flitcroft, Lorenzo D D

Giesme, Ole J —

Hauf, Simon G

Kling, William B

Krouse, John B

*Lederer, Joseph G

McGarry, Thomas E

Miller, Charles Henry G

Perry, William N., 1st Lieut. . . . F

Roach, John M E

FORTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.

Bruestel, Joseph F

I icwirth, William C

Ewig, Anton E

Geile, Gerrit C

Gessner, George E

( Iroh, John E

1 lass, August E

Herzog, Henry E

Kunde, Albert E

Meisner, Frederick F

Roth, Jacob C

Schelinski, Martin E

Wesche, Christian —

Wirson, Tohn E

FORTY-SIXTH I \ FANTRY.

\11dcrson, Augustus E

Briggs, Joseph F

P.i ' 'ker, Theodore E

Burton, Edward E

( Carpenter, Silas I ) E

1 up, William C K

id . Merrill E

Elvidge, Mark K

Ericksori, Nelson E

I lanson, Johannes E

I feath, Cyrus D E

I limy, George N E

I linry. William L E

1 [inkley. Albert E

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

IS'

Hotchkiss, Moses E

Laveson, Lafe E

Logan, William A E

Morris, Timothy F

Nelson, Gilbert E

O'Brien, Michael E

Oleson, Lewis E

Oleson, Ole E

Parsons, Frederick O E

Pattee, Gad H E

Reeves, Julius E

Snyder, James R E

Stout, James M E

Thayer, Ruel E

Wall, Thomas . . E

Way, Hiram E

Wilkinson, George E

Williams, Albert E

Yeaman, Wishart E

FORTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.

Appleyard, Thomas B

Bath, Irving, Ffosp. Steward.

Bissell, Charles —

Brennan, William E

Broderick, Luke F

Biitz, Albert E

Closson, Henry G G

Coleman, John L B

Conklin, Charles W., 1st Lieut. . B

Conlin. Matthew H

Cooley, Rufus, Jr., Chaplain.

Copeland, William B

Coulthard, William B

Doane, Leland B

Doane. Sanford B

Dousman, John P F

Enright, John B

Estabrook, Edwin C B

French, Charles B F

Gleason, James E

Hamilton, Edgar C E

Hamm, John B

Hammer, Carl B

Hargrave, Faithful B

Harrington, Coleman B

Harrington, George E G

Hayden, James H

Heald, William F

Hoffer, Charles F

Hotton, James B

Ingham, Thomas B

Kampstra, Albert F

Lombard, Avinzo F

Lombard, Jefferson G F

McCarty, Patrick : . . . . F

McClymont, James B

McDonald, Lemuel F

Magill, Alonzo I '.

Magill, Henry H B

Marsielje, Isaac F

Mericle, Abram I I

.Merrill, James H B

Mitchell, Edward I'.

Murphy, William B

Nelson, < rustav I >

Noblet, Alexander B

Noblet, John B

Noblet, Peter A B

O'Brien, John B

O'Hrien, Thomas II

O'Brien, William E

Olson, John I )

152

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Olson, Martin . ■ D

Owens, Michael B

Pearl, Edward S F

Randall. John J B

Redmond, John —

Richmond, Thompson P F

Ritchie, Patrick B

Rockwell, Henry —

Sheridan, Patrick B

Stillman, James H

Stradtman, Christian F

Thayer. Edgar ■. ... B

Thornton, Mathias F

Toole, John —

Trainer, William B

Vandewege, Martin F

Ward, George B

Watkins, George C B

Wood, Tohn R B

FORTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

Armstrong, William B

I'arhvdt, Horton I

Beckwith, Samuel F

Brockel, Nicholas B

Buell, Leroy N., Serg't Major.

Carver; Aaron, ist Lieut K

Chappell, Henry B

Christianson, Brandell B

Estey, Marquis E F

French, George H A

( rould, < 'harles L F

Graham, Charles T A

I [ampsi m, Charles F

Harris. Charles F

1 hath, Jeremiah A

Heath, Marion \

Jones, Charles B

Kaiser, Ehrhardt D

Kaiser, Frederick D

Loefert, Gottfried F

Martyn, James L F

Mueller. Fritz F

Rogers, William F

Sanders, Henry F

Schiesser, Paul B

Schofield, James A

Smith. Christian F

Tess. William F

Tupper, Henry N F

Van Horn. James H B

Walbert, William B

FORTY-NINTH IN PANTRY.

Andrus, Arthur D K

Andrus, Francis L I\

Balcom, William A K

Barber, George W K

Barker, Alexander K

I >egley, James T K

I'iencman. Joseph C

Blanchanl. Charles C, Hosp Stew.
Blanchard, Orrin W., Surgeon.

Blunt, Francis K

Booker. < ieorge D

Brewer, George W K

nett, David M D Brown, Charles H K

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

153

Brown, Joseph H D

Buckles, Robert D

Buening, Ludwig H

Burt. Linus D K

Byard, John K

Campbell. Patrick F

Campbell. Robert K

Carlin. Patrick K

Chadwick, William K

Chapman, Joseph C

Cheney, .Augustus J.. Major.

Clark. Benajah D

Dalrymple. Hilas H K

Davis, John A K

Davis, John C K

Delap, Henry K

Derby, George W K

Dickens, Edwin G K

Dickens. Thomas S K

Dodge, Otis K

Edgerly, William M D

Ewen. Wallace D K

Fairchild. David K

Finch. Abraham K

Finch. Charles K

Fuller, Thomas. Jr K

Gaffy. Daniel F

Gleason, Jacob L F

Gunderson. Oliver C

Hadley. Luther K

Harding, Abel G K

Harding, Henry N K

Hare, Albert J C

Hauser. John TT.. Captain D

Hauser, Robert B D

Hicks. John K

I [1 ifstatter, George F K

Hogan, Patrick K

Hogan, Pierce K

♦Humphrey, West B K

Huntress, Hiram B., 1st Lieut. . G

Isham, Francis Devillo K

Jacobs, Elder F K

Johnson, Andrew . . K

Jones, Franklin K .

Jones, Frederick E K

Kelley, Francis C

Kingman, Arthur L K

Kishner, George K

Knapp, Henry D K

Larson, James K

Lewis, Oliver K

Lloyd, John G

McClellan, Charles C

Malier, .Michael C

Mervin, James H C

Moody, William K

Moon, Joseph K

Morgan, Franklin D K

Morgan, Solomon P K

Xicul. William K

O'Hara, David C

' Heson, Halver K

Parshall, Jonas K

♦Patrick, Levi K

Paul, Oscar S K

Paul, Sylvester K

Payne. Charles 11

Pemberton, John K

Phillips, David T K

Phillips, William K

Pratt, George W K

Randall, Rozell K.

Redman. Timothy K

Riley, Hugh C

Roy, William II K

Sanborn. David O K

Sanford, Daniel K., 1st Lieut... G

154

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Saxe, Louis K

*Sheldon, Eugene A K

Sheldon, Horace K

Sheldon, William K

Sholes, Elisha C D

Sinn, William B

Skinner, Austin F I

Slack, George K

Smith, John A., Captain K

Smith, Stephen H D

Southwjck, Henry K

Southwick, James K

Stone, Henry A K

Stork, Nelson K

Stout, Nelson K

Stout, Zebedee M K

Sturtevant, Charles A K

Summers, William K

Topping, Josiah M H

Tostevin, John K

*Tubbs, Hiram D K

Van De Bogart, George W. . . . . K

Vrooman, Daniel E K

*Ward, Dustin K

Westinghouse, Julius' K

Whalen, Patrick H K

Wharry, Robert K

Williams, Ole K

Wilson, James K

Wilson, William K

Wright, James A K

FIFTIETH INFANTRY.

Noyes, William E Townley. Barney

Smith, William E E

FIFTY-FIRST INFANTRY.

Coleman, John E

Concklin, Thomas H K

Gregory, David H

Healey, Hugh F

Horn, John A A

|i ihnsi "i, Samuel E

l"linson, William E

Knight, Charles E

Maxwell, George W B

Orr, William E

Parker, Samuel A

Ryan. Thomas F H

Thorn, William H

Wolf, Samuel \

II FTY-SECOND INFANTRY.

Bennett, 1 >avid M.. ist Lieut.. .

. A

Graham, Charles C, < >. M

1- t. Paul 1'

Keeler, Norman A.. Adjutant.

Lucenski, Nicholas D

Winter. Simon D

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 1 55

U. S. ARMY.

Armington, George W. . . .4th Inf. Moore, William 4th Inf.

Brockway, Stephen 13th Inf. Munn, Ransom 13th Inf.

Brown, Frederick M. . 1st Vol. Eng. Olson, Andrew P 4th Inf.

Doane, George 4th Inf Reynolds, Martin 4th Inf.

Drake, James 4th Inf. Roberts, Joseph 4th Inf.

Drake, John 4th Inf. Rowland, Howard R 4th Inf.

Fairbanks, Carroll, 1st Sharp Shoot- Ryan, Michael 13th Inf.

ers. Schultz, Frederick 13th Inf.

Foster. Henry 4th Cav. Springer, James 13th Inf.

Gercke, Charles .. Hospital Steward Thomas, Henry C 4th Inf.

Johnson, John. 1st Sharp Shooters. Tillotson, John S., G, 1st Sh'p Sh't's

Kelley, Patrick 4th Inf. Tyler. John D., G, 1st Sh'p Sh't's

May, Eli,. .Hancock's Corps, K 2d *Tyler, Loren K., G, 1st Sh'p Sh'ts

Mellon, John 4th Inf. Van Dyke, Abner, Hancock Corps,

Mitchell, Michael. .A, 1st Vol. Eng. White, John 13th Inf.

ENLISTED FROM OTHER STATES,

Allen, Augustus C 7th 111. Inf. Hope, John P C, 90th HI. Inf.

Beckwith. Albert C. . . 1st la. Bat. How, William — 13th 111. —

Brown, Charles A, 36th 111. Inf Labo, Abraham H, -2d 111. Inf.

Chester, Robert. . . . 111. Cav. Moore, Jabez H., Lieut

Cowley, James C, 90th 111. Inf B, 1st 111. Lt. Art.

Durkee, Harris R C, 9th 111. Cav L, 2d 111. Lt. Art.

Farr, Edward D — 72d 111. Inf. Perry, Charles A I, 42d 111. Inf.

Fitzgibbon. Edward. C, 90th 111. Inf. Sloan, Patrick C, 90th 111. Inf.

Fitzgibbon, James. C, 90th 111. Inf. Sullivan. John.... — , 36th 111. Inf

Gross, Daniel C, 9th 111 Cav. Whelan, John — , 23d 111. Inf.

Holland, John H..II, 95th. HI. Inf.

1 . S. NAVY.

1 tar* t V I'.aggs ( iharles I.. Hicks.

Calvin Barnes.

U. S. COLORED TROOPS.

John Cosley 29th Inf. Charles Hunt Unassigned

John Gillman 29th Inf. Deny McDonald Unassigned

156

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

William Mason Unassigned Robert Sercer 29th Inf.

James Owens Unassigned Andrew Smith Unassigned

Henry E. Randolph ..Unassigned Abraham Tillman Unassigned

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

For the war with Spain in 1898, four regiments of National Guard were
taken from Wisconsin for service in the field. The company at Whitewater,
then and now Company C, First Infantry, was filled by recruiting, assembled
at Camp Harvey and ordered southward. Its officers were Capt. Leverette
H. Persons, First Lieut. William H. Hahn, Second Lieut. Edward T. Weyher.
and of its enlisted men, sixty-two were of this county. Besides these, nine
men enlisted in other companies of the'same regiment, and sixteen served in
Company A, Fourth Infantry. None of these men reached Cuba, but four
died in service, namely: Bloxham, September 8, T898: Miller, August 3;
Southwick, September 4; Whaley. September 6, the first three at Jackson-
ville, the last-named at Second Division Hospital. The enlisted men were:

FIRST INFANTRY.

Ames, William M B

\nk' uncus, ( harles H C

Balsiey', Dottie . C

Barfell. I [an ey C

Bloxham, Alfred W C

Boswell. Carlton M C

Brunet, Abelardo H

Buckley, Henry C

Cadman, Henry J C

Charles, George R., Corp C

Coleman, Abner C

( 1 mroj , Martin, Jr C

Coolcv, I larry J C

Crandall, Bowen C

( 'utter, Elmer A., 1st Sergt C

I lerthick, Julius M E

1 >c\ inc. William J C

Everson, Edward O C

I leorge, Willie R C

Hahn, Arthur H.J C

Hall, John W\. Corp C

Heffren, Charles G., Corp C

Henry, Herbert A C

Higley, Arthur G., Corp C

Huntress, Joseph J C

Ingalls, John P F

Johnson, Charles E., Serg't. . . . C

Johnson, Olaf, Serg't C

Kamm, Ernest C

Koelzer, William L C

Lilienthal, Emil A C

Ludtke, Willie A C

Lyon, .George W., Corp C

McBride, Thomas C

McLaren. Paul, Corp C

Marsh, Fitch G C

Marskie, Philip H C

Miller. Louis R C

Murphy, Henry Francis. Corp. . C

Odell, Charles E C

Odenwalder, William C C

Page, Benjamin II C

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

157

Poole, James E C

Poole, Thomas C

Protheroe, Lewis C

Reichel, John A

Remy, Francis G E

Rosrnan, Rolf P. M., Serg't.. C

Schneider, William H C

Shimmins, Harry W C

Smith, Ouincy K C

Southwick, Herman E C

Spracklin, Charles A. H., Quar-
termaster Sergeant C

Stolf, Charles B

Thorne, Edward J C

Tibbets, Clark C

Trolle, Sophus \

Wegner, Henry A C

Whaley, Ray B

Wing. William G. N C

Wolf. Christjohn C

Wrigglesworth. James C

COMPANY A, FOURTH INFANTRY.

Burns, John.

Concklin. Henry W. , Corp.
DeProux, Thaddeus S.
Dingman, Romie, Corp.
Eddy, Ehvin L., Sergt.
Fowlston, William G, Corp.
Gillard, John B., Corp.
Kelly, Tames H.

Lannon. Philip.
McDonongh, Peter J.
Montague, Myron G, Corp.
Riordan. James T., Corp.
Tearney, Thomas J., First Serg't.
Thornton. Clarence E.
Tuke, Reinold H.
Willett, Walter F.

Of these men, Trolle enlisted from Darien ; Lyon, Odell, Protheroe,
Shimmins. Smith, Southwick. Wolf, Wrigglesworth, from Delavan ; Conck-
lin, DeProux, Eddy, Gillard, Kelly, McDonongh. Riordan, Tearney, Thorn-
ton. Tuke, Willett, from East Troy; Fowlston, Huntress, Lannon, from Elk-
horn ; Cooley, Whaley, from Heart Prairie ; Brunet from Lake Geneva ; In-
galls, from Linn; Ames, from Springfield; Derthick. from Spring Prairie;
Burns, Dingman. Montague, from Troy Center. Sergeant Tearney had
served in Company F, Fifteenth I'nited States Infantry, and Troop D,
Seventh United States Cavalry, five years in all. He was mustered out as a
quartermaster sergeant. All the other men were credited to Whitewater,
forty-nine, including officers.

One more service humbly but honorably useful, in behalf of law and or-
der, was performed by young men of Delavan and Whitewater in [886, when
rioting at Milwaukee called thither Governor Rusk and several companies of
the National Guard. Our boys were not assigned to Major Traeumer's firing
line at Bayview, but threats t" property in other parts of the city compelled
some days of guard duty, and the promptly-arriving Walworthians served
faithfully wherever they were placed.

CHAPTER XIII.

NOTEWORTHY INSTITUTIONS.

Three noteworthy institutions of wider than local interest are in the
county, but neither founded nor sustained by the county or its citizens, namely :
The Yerkes observatory, the State School for the Deaf and a State Normal
School. The first is one of about two hundred and thirty observatories named,
with their latitudes and longitudes, in each year's American Ephemeris and
Nautical Almanac, and situated in nearly all the countries of the habitable
or endurable earth. The second ranks among the highest in the states. The
third is the second in order of establishment of eight such schools in the
state.

YERKES OBSERVATORY.

A far-western institution of learning had ordered from Mantois, of Paris,
two 42-inch glass disks to be combined and finished as an object glass by Alvan
Clark & Sons, Cambridgeport. Mass., but found itself unable to go further
in constructing and mounting a telescope. George E. Hale, of Kenwood
Observatory (privately equipped), and the late President Harper, of the
University of Chicago, thus found opportunity to buy these faultless disks
and with them to build and mount the most powerful refracting telescope
in the world. The means were soon supplied through the liberality of the late
Charles T. Yerkes, and in [892 contracts were made with the Clarks for finish-
ing the lenses and with a Cleveland firm for the mounting of this "Dread-
naught" of immeasurable space. The planning and general direct). hi of the
work, as to buildings and instruments, was committed to Mr. Hale. From more
than twenty places were offers of land for the purpose in hand. It was found
requisite that the site chosen should be within one hundred miles of Chicago
and readily accessible from city and university; that it should be sufficiently re-
mote from the dust, smoke, glare of street lights, and jar of cities, and not too
near the paths of earth-shaking freight trains. Too close neighborhood of
many dwellings was also to be avoided. These conditions seemed best ful-
filled b\ thai part of section 1. town of Walworth, which looks southwardly
across the western end ni Geneva Lake. \ tract of fifty-three acres was
given b) John Johnston, Jr., lying in the southwest quarter of the section.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 159

In 1907 this area was increased to nearly seventy acres, which includes a part
of the narrow strip of section 12 which lies between section 1 and the water's
edge. The lake frontage is six hundred feet long, and a pier for steamers has
been built there. The lake, at this end, is about one and a half miles wide,
covering most of section 12 and about half of section 13, and the view from
the observatory to the opposite shore is not in any way likely to become less
fair or more shut in. The observatory stands within easy distance from the
highway, one mile westward from Williams Bay, and from the highway
leading southward to Fontana, about two miles away. By way of Fontana
and Harvard to Chicago it is seventy-six miles. By way of Williams Bay
and Lake Geneva it is about ninety-three miles. It is nearly equidistant from
Lake Geneva, Delavan and Elkhorn, and its dome can be seen from the south-
western quarter of the last-named city. Its latitude is 420 34' 12.64"; its
longitude 5I1. 54 m. 13.64 sec. or 88° ^y 18.6" from Greenwich observatory.
The site of the building is one thousand and fifty feet above sea level and
about one hundred and ninety feet above the level of Geneva Lake.

Mr. Hale visited the greater observatories of both hemispheres before
determining his own plans and derived some especially useful suggestions
from the buildings and equipments at Mount Hamilton and at Potsdam,
Prussia. The form of the building is cross-shaped, with head to eastward,
its longer dimension three hundred and twenty-six feet, ending, westward,
in the great dome, ninety-two feet in diameter. The centers of the smaller
domes, at the arm-ends, are one hundred and forty-four feet apart. The
style is described as Romanesque. The outer walls are of brown Roman
brick and terra cotta. The equipment is adapted to a wide range of astro-
physical work, perhaps the whole range of astronomical investigation. Be-
sides the great telescope of forty-inch aperture, there is one of twenty-four
inch and one of twelve-inch aperture; there is, apparently, a full furnishing
of apparatus for photographic, spectroscopic, spectroheliographic and what-
ever other processes men of this century may use for their prying into the
visible and invisible contents of "nature's infinite book of secrecy." The
cost of ground, buildings and apparatus is estimated at four hundred thou-
sand dollars.

The first successful measurements of star heat were made at this insti-
tution in the summers of 1898 and T900, and a long and valuable record
is already made of photographic observations of sun and stars. Results of
these and other investigations are published in bonk form and as contributions
to scientific journals. Among these publications arc "The Study of Stellar
Evolution," bv Prof. Hale: "Researches in Stellar Photometry," bv Prof.

l6o WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Parkhurst; "The Rotation Period of the Sun," by Profs. Hale and Fox; and
two volumes entitled "Publications of the Yerkes Observatory"; Vol. I,
pp. 296, "A General Catalogue of One Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety
Double Stars Discovered from 1S71 to 1890," by Prof. Burnham; Vol. 2,
pp. 413, papers by Profs. Barnard, Burnham, Frost, Hale, Parkhurst and
others. The observatory contains more than three thousand volumes and
about the same number of pamphlets, and receives eighty scientific magazines
and journals.

No time is found available for permitting visitors to look through the
telescopes, but two or three hours are given each Saturday to visitors for
seeing, under the instruction of a staff member, the instruments and their
working. Each year several thousand visitors are received and go away
wondering. The observatory staff is composed of the following named
persons :

Edwin B. Frost, professor of astrophysics and director.

Sherburne \Y. Burnham, professor of practical astronomy.

Edward E. Barnan 1. professor of practical astronomy.

John A. Parkhurst. instructor in practical astronomy.

Storrs B. Barrett, secretary and librarian.

Philip Fox, instructor in astrophysics.

Oliver J. Lee, computer.

Mary R. Calvert, computer.

Mary F. Wentworth, stenographer!

Frank R. Sullivan, engineer in charge of forty-inch telescope.

Oscar E. Romare, instrument maker.

Henry J. Foote, carpenter.

Wilfred Beguelin, lantern slides.

Diedrich J. Oetjen, day engineer.

Louis F. Clay, night engineer.

Astronomers from other institutions often pass the summer there, as
volunteer assistants in research.

STATE SCHOOL FOB 'I'll E DEAF.

In [843 Increase V Lapham, of Milwaukee, whose various services to
science are not yel ungratefull) forgotten, wrote to Moses McCure Strong,
then president of the Territorial Council, asking him to lay before that body
for its consideration and favorable action a draft of resolutions which, in
effect, petitioned Congress for an appropriation of public land in aid of in-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. l6l

stitutions for the instruction of deaf and blind children, and for the care of
the insane. The Legislature duly memorialized Congress, but w ithout result.
Ebenezer Chesebro, an early settler of the town of Darien, had a daugh-
ter who was born deaf and thus "wisdom at one entrance quite shut out."
Ariadne had received some instruction at a New York school for the deaf.
Her father, in 1850, induced Miss Wealthy Hawes, then of Magnolia, in Rock
county, to come to his house and continue the girl's education. A neighbor's
son, James A. Dudley, then aged twelve years, found here, for him, a golden
opportunity. These two continued their study, the next year, under John A.
Mills, a graduate of the Xew York institution. Four years later these two
pioneer teachers became man and wife, and both were employed at the state
school, he as teacher, she as assistant matron. The little class at Mr. Chese-
bro's house increased to eight pupils, but was soon suspended for want of
funds. The six later pupils were Clarissa B. Kingman, of Darien. Washing-
ton Farrer. of Summerville, Rock county, with Abraham, Betsey, Charles
and Helen Hewes, of Eagle. Mr. Chesebro's feeling was too deep and strong
and his mind too beneficently active to let the school drop and become one
more matter fi ir sterile regret. About one hundred citizens of the county
joined him in a petition to the Legislature of 1852 for the establishment of
at least one school in Wisconsin for instruction of deaf children. Thanks to
the merit of the proposition in itself and to Assemblyman Barlow's effective
presentation of its justice and expediency. Governor Farwell's signature,
April 19, 1S52, made the bill to incorporate the Wisconsin Institute for the
Education of the Deaf and Dumb a law. The site was to be at or near the
village of Delavan. Nine trustees were appointed, one-third of the board re-
newable each year. This number was reduced about 1870 to five, and in
1881 the board was abolished, its functions having been transferred to the
state board of supervision. This body succeeded the older board of state
charities and reform and is now known as the slate board of control. For ;i
few years the trustees were chosen from the county; but, with increase of the
school's importance to the state came representation of other parts <>\ the
State. The trustees resident of the comity were:

William Cheney Allen Delavan 1852-62, 63-7]

James Aram Delavan 1872-75

Joseph Baker Sharon '857-58

Alanson Hamilton Barnes Delavan 1861-73

Chauncey Betts Delavan 1854-65

(11)

1 62

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Dr. Orrin Willard Blanchard Delavar 1854-

Ebenezer Chesebro Darien 1852-

Edward P. Conrick Delavan 1858-

Nicholas Montgomery Harrington .... Delavan 1854-

Dr. Henderson Hunt Delavan 1852-

William W'illard Isham Delavan 1857-69, jy

Saniuel Rees LaBar Delavan 1876-

Rev. Phipps Waldo Lake '. . .Walworth 1852-

Hollis Latham Elkhorn 1858-

Chester Deming Long Darien 1860-

Dr. Thomas M. Martin Delavan 1862-

James Alexander Maxwell Walworth 1852-

Dr. Clarkson Miller Lake Geneva 1858-

Dr. Jesse Carr Mills Elkhorn 1852-

Joseph D. Monell, Jr Delavan 1854-

Timothy Mower East Troy 1858-

Franklin Kelsey Phoenix Delavan 1852-

Albert Salisbury Whitewater 1880-

Wyman Spooner Elkhorn 1852-

Salmon Thomas Darien *853-

< id irge G. Williams Whitewater 1852

57
54
61
70
?8

7"
81

56
81
72

65
54
61

56
58
63
•54

S3
S8
54

NON-RESIDENT TRUSTEES.

\\ inchell I '. Bacon Waukesha 1

Henry L. Blood Appleton 1

Rev. Aaron L. Chapin Beloit ( College) 1

1 Histin G. Cheever Clinti >n 1

Samuel Collins Yorkville 1

Martin Field Mukwonago 1

Joseph Hamilton Milwaukee 1

Edward D. Holton Milwaukee 1

I [arrison Reed ( )slil«>sh 1

\ II uri Salisbury Whitewater 1

Moses McCure Strong Mineral Point 1

John I-'.. Thomas Sheboygan Falls 1

Mi J. I'.. Whiting lanesville t

869-72
868-78
870-76
875-81
859-60
859-62

875-78
879-81
856-58
879 8]
856-58

^74-77
869-72

Some of these trustees of the county and <>i the state at large, at their
! visits, found more or less personal interest in the pupils, making

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 1 63

them feel that the state, while performing its duty in instructing them, had
also parental care for each one's comfort and happiness. President Chapin
addressed them in their signs, wisely and profitably, and left them with a
truer understanding of their relations with that larger world from which
they had seemed so harshly cut off.

The state's appropriations in 1852 were one thousand dollars for build-
ing and five hundred dollars for a year's conduct of the school. Dr. Joseph
R. Bradway, of Delavan, was appointed principal and John A. Mills teacher.
Franklin K. Phoenix, the only son of the founder of Delavan, himself a
youthful pioneer, gave nearly twelve acres of the highland beyond the outlet
of Delavan Lake, now the west end of the city, lying north of the Tanesville
road, an extension of Walworth avenue. About twenty-three acres were
bought a few years later. The first building was of brick, two stories high,
and was part of a larger plan. It gave room for thirty-five pupils. When
finished, in 1857, the main building was of three stories, its cost about thirty
thousand dollars. To this a sufficient workshop and a barn were added at
some further cost. On the morning of September 16, 1879, tne main build-
ing was burned to the ground. For several months thereafter temporary
quarters for the children were found in the remaining buildings and in one of
the churches of Delavan. A change of site was proposed and urged by a
few newspapers at Milwaukee and elsewhere — each as in duty and honor
bound preferring its own city as the heaven-appointed though thus far man-
neglected home for the wards of the state. There was probably but one judg-
ment or feeling among the men and women of Walworth and this was
promptly and fairly well expressed two days after the fire by the newspaper
at F.lkhom in the following editorial comment :

"It is believed and hoped that the location of the school will not be changed
from Delavan. but that the new building will be located on the site of the old
one. The school has passed through many ordeals, recently, but it was pros-
perous in a high degree when this calamity came upon it, and it is hoped that
every citizen of Walworth county will feel an anxiety to have it re-established
on its old foundations and under present management."

At the legislative session of 1880 Assemblyman Barnes (a well-chosen
member for the task in hand) looked effectively to the greater good of the in-
stitute and to the smaller interest of Delavan, and the sum of seventy thou-
sand dollars was appropriated for re-building. Thus, one more phoenix
arose from its own ashes with youth and vigor renewed. (Had the institute
been burned and re-built otherwhere than at Delavan the cruelly over-worked
Arabian bird need not have done service here.) Besides the administration

164 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN'.

(main) building, a school house, chapel, dining hall and dormitory were pro-
vided for the growing needs. The establishment is sufficient for the full
care of two hundred and fifty pupils. The yearly expense is from fifty thou-
sand to sixty thousand dollars. The total expense since 1852 has been about
two million one hundred thousand dollars.

A statute of 1858 required payment of seventy-five dollars for each pupil,
but it so operated to restrict materially the usefulness of the school that it was
soon repealed. A similar ill-advised statute was enacted in 1867, and this,
too, was soon repealed. The Civil war seriously affected legislative liberality,
and the teachers were the most direct sufferers. In June, 1861, a class of
five pupils was graduated with the full formalities or ceremonies of such oc-
casions at other institutions. Miss Emily Eddy, the first woman employed
as teacher, in 1868 began her experiments in speech-teaching. As. early as
1861 she had observed some, to her, suggestive facts as to pupils
who, from disease or accident, had become deaf, and she patiently and in-
geniously evolved methods of her own by which to teach these children to
speak with their lips and to hear with their eyes. In 1868 Miss Harriet
B. Rogers, a teacher of this art in a Massachusetts institution, visited the
school at Delavan. From her Miss Eddy received that summer a short couse
of instruction by which she so profited that hundreds of pupils have since
found reason to remember these two women with more than common grati-
tude. At a later time Miss Eddy brought some improvement of teacher-
method from the institution at Jacksonville, Illinois. It is said that Wiscon-
sin and Illinois were earliest of the states of the old Northwest to adopt this
branch of mute-instruction.

The school year of forty weeks begins the first Wednesday of Sep-
tember T11 the usual instruction in writing, reading, composition, arithmetic,
geography, natural science and drawing. with oral speech ami
lip-reading to semi-mutes and capable congenita] mutes, is added manual
training. Cabinet making began in i860, shoe-making in 1867, printing in
[878 ami baking in 1 SS 1 . Girls are also taught housekeeping, baking ami
sewing, U>ou1 [879 began the publication of the Deaf-Mute Press, a home
organ of the teachers and pupils. About [882 it- name was changed to
Deaf-Mute Times, ami aboul [896 il became the Wisconsin Titties. Its edi-
torial work has always been from fair In excellent, and it- mechanical appear-
ance creditable to foreman and printers. In [906 Prof. Warren Robinson
took a bolder step, and put forth the American Industrial Journal, an illus-
trated : 1 year magazine, "in the interesl of the industrial depart-
ments "i schools For the deaf ami the deaf themselves throughout the world."

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 1 65

This is said to be the only such publication in the world. Its number for De-
cember, 1910, indicates its temporary, if not permanent discontinuance for
want of sufficient support. The editor, who speaks, but does not hear, has
acquired a mastery of the art of expression in pure, plain English words
and clearly- formed sentences, seldom met in modern newspaper work, and
at least one of his contributors has profited similarly from judicious teaching.

Miss Anna Johnson, a blind mute (one of three at this school), now
about twenty- four years old, tells in simple, faultless phrases some of the in-
cidents of her silent, darkened life. The short story is interesting and suf-
ficiently moving, though in nowise an appeal for sympathy, and its style is
for its purpose admirable. A school which does such work as this well de-
serves the state's, support and encouragement, even if its opportunities for
such work were still less frequent. Miss Johnson's case is not that of Laura
Bridgman. nor of Helen Keller, since she lost her sight at twelve and her
hearing at fourteen. "For three years I lived in darkness and it was very
much like a prison; for no one seemed to recognize me, and as I could not
see or hear enough to help myself, everything around me was silent." In
19x14 she was sent to the school at Delavan, but sickness so far interrupted
that but four years have been profitable for instruction. She had learned at
home to sew and knit, and has since learned to use the Braille writer ( for
the use of blind persons), and now finds it easy to use the Remington and
other typewriters, and also the Singer sewing machine, with its various at-
tachments— threading her needles and regulating her work with ease. She
has read many books for the blind, but most enjoys the "Life of Helen Kel-
ler." A few of her own words may show this young woman'- unconquer-
able spirit :

"To be deprived of sight and hearing is not so great a misfortune to
those who are so afflicted as it may seem. A blind-deal" person can be just as
happy as one who has his perfect sight and hearing. No one can im-

agine how happy I have been since 1 learned to sew. I can sit alone in the
dark or light with my sewing and be as happy as any queen. Low many
happy thoughts 1 have now when 1 am making something for a friend or for
my sisters or mother. * * * When I can be among the flowers and Irees
1 am perfectly happy. * There is always something which can

amuse a blind-deaf person and add much to make his life like that of a
person with sight," — and more in like cheer) strain.

The average attendance at the school is now aboul two hundred pupils.
The whole number, since t*5_\ is about eighteen hundred. Until r88o the
head of the school was designated as the principal. Since that year he is

l66 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

known as superintendent. The following official list shows several long
periods of service there.

PRINCIPALS.

Dr. Joseph R. Bradway 1852- 3 Dr. Henry W. Milligan... 1865-68

Rev. Lucius Foote 1853- 4 Edward Collins Stone.... 1868-71

Horatio Nelson Hubbell (acting) 1854 George Ludington Weed. . 1871-75

Louis Henry Jenkins 1854-6 William Henry DeMotte. . 1875-80

John Scott Officer 1856-65

SUPERINTENDENTS.

John W. Swiler 1880 Elmer Warren Walker 1903

.Charles P. Cary 1901

No subordinate at this school may hope to reach its superintendency.
Time has shown the usefulness of this limit to promotion. But from its
teachers have been drawn chief officers for similar schools of other states.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

The board of regents in May, 1866. chose a site at Whitewater for the
second of the state normal schools, this, after having exacted from the vil-
lage a bonus of twenty-five thousand dollars. Two members of the building
committee were Newton M. Littlejohn and Samuel A. White, the first then
a state senator and the other a regent. The school was opened and dedicated
April 21, 1868, and enlarged in 1870, 1881 and 1897. The area of its ground
is ten acres, rising eight hundred and seventy-six feet above sea level and
sixty-six feet above the ground at the railway station. It has been planted
with more than a hundred species and varieties of trees and shrubs, largely
under direction of the late President Salisbury. Thus Normal Hill, as seen
from its foot and from afar, has become as fair to look upon as a vice-regal
country seat.

This institution, one of eight such parts of the system of public instruc-
tion, has. like them, the full equipment of similar schools in other states. It
employs twenty-six teachers including those in the training schools. Its
valuable library has more than fifteen thousand volumes. Since 1870 the
school has graduated one thousand six hundred and twenty pupils, of whom
aboul ninety seven per rent, have since done teachers' work.

The men whose influence upon their fellow citizens secured this school
for their village builded no better than they knew, for they acted in the full

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. T67

light of observation, experience, sound judgment, and true public spirit, and
thus kept step in the march of American civilization. Greater benefit has thus
come to Whitewater than the profits to retail dealers and boarding-house
keepers. The whole county, too, and the adjacent towns in Jefferson and
Rock have some appreciable share in this greater gain, as many a poor man
and his child well knows.

The presidents of the school have been: Oliver Arey, 1868-77; William
F. Phelps, 1877-9; J°hn William Stearns, 1879 to January, 1885; Theron B.
Pray, January to June, 1885; Albert Salisbury, July, 1885, to his last sick-
ness and death in 191 1.

Mr. Arey died at Brooklyn, N. Y., December 13, 1907. Mr. Stearns
passed to a chair in the State University, that of theory and art of teaching.

Albert Salisbury was born at Lima, Rock county, January 24, 1843;
died at Milwaukee June 2. 1911. His early life throws some light on his
later career. He was bred to farm work ; served in war time in a regiment
that never rested; finished his college course at Milton in 1870; conducted
* teachers' institutes from 1873 ; superintended and inspected schools in the
Cotton states, for the American Missionary Association from 1882; and be-
gan his presidency at Whitewater in 1885. All that he was by natural en-
dowment and by acquisition, the total sum of which was enough to warrant
at least a moderately high-aiming ambition, he gave wholly to the plain duty
before him. Most of the graduates of Whitewater passed under his master-
ship and guidance, and to most of them those brief years were the most profit-
bearing of their lives. He had much of that collateral know ledge which gives
its own value to every man's work, but he cared more to know a few things
and understand them thoroughly and comprehensively. He could admire a
superficially brilliant man without envying him. In or out of school, honest
endeavor and modest worth were unlikely to escape his notice and surely en-
listed his sympathy. He took ground early, with tongue and pen, for free
text books for township high schools, for free carriage of pupils to and from
their district schools, for everything that in theory was desirable and by
wisely considered and carefully conducted experiment had been shown else-
where practical and beneficial. His feeling was deeply moved in behalf of
children whom poverty deprives of their share in public instruction, and he
talked often and well of the state's duty to see that their right be not taken
from them without their fault. To have known him as a friend was a goodly
thing and is now a pleasant memory. To have known him as a teacher was
great good fortune. He helped to make histor) for the county, lie has be-
come rightly a part of tin- county's history..

l68 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

MILITARY ACADEMY.

A fourth institution, of great importance to American parents and sons,
but not of Walworth's creation or maintenance, is likely to come within a
year or two. It is proposed to transfer the Northwestern Military Academy
from Highland Park, Illinois, to the shore of Geneva lake, at the place long
known as Kaye's Park, in the town of Linn. The managers have secured the
option of buying forty acres of land, having one thousand feet of lake front-
age. This situation is very convenient for such instruction in naval exercises
as is useful for soldiers; and, if found expedient, for a department of the
more general naval instruction. The Legislature of 1911, by appropriate en-
actment, authorized prohibition of the sale of intoxicant beverages within a
circle of five miles radius, measured from this site as its center.

The object of this institution is not only to train citizen-soldiers, but also
to form Christian character and develop manliness ; and to such ends the
discipline and instruction are directed. Major R. Davidson, commandant,
with his officers and one hundred or more of his pupils, came to this place on'
Memorial Sunday, 191 1. He had invited attendance from all the neighbor-
ing posts of the Grand Army of the Republic to take part in the program
of prayer, band music, singing and speaking, and be gave these survivors of
a half century the place of honor in the order of marching. Colonel Jerome
A. Watrous, a soldier of two wars, and Major Davidson explained the gen-
eral purpose of the school, and the cadets closed the day, at retreat call, with
a few evolutions on the parade ground. All this will become familiar here
for the needful work of building is (in 1012) about to begin.

CHAPTER XIV.

WALWORTH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Within less than fifteen years after the end of the Pottawattomie occu-
pation, a few men of mind and will and of some weight in the affairs of their
towns, mainly farmers of the Troys and adjoining towns, combined to form,
or develop, a county agricultural society, and thence a yearly county fair.
Most of these men lived long enough — and worked as long as they lived — to
see the infant enterprise of 1850 move in orderly progress, without halt or
backward step, to the foremost place among similar societies of the state. Of
these men the names of Homer and Seymour Brooks, Jacob and William Bur-
git, Simon Buel Edwards and Emery Thayer, of East Troy; John Fearnley,
Albon Mann Pern,- and Augustus Smith, of Troy; Sherman Morgan Rock-
wood, Jesse Pike West and Stephen Gano West, Sr., of Lafavette; Perry
Green Harrington, of Sugar Creek, and Edward Elderkin, of Elkhorn, are
preserved. No other record is found of work done previous to the fair and
cattle show opened at East Troy October 16, 1850. The day was showery,
but the attendance was encouraging. The plowing matches were postponed
to the 25th. Thirty-five first premiums, seventeen second premiums, and
three third premiums were awarded. Of these, nineteen first premiums went
to citizens of East Troy : William Bates, James Booker, Tosiah F. Brooks
(3). Homer Brooks (2), Jacob Burgit, S. Buel Edwards, Charles Hillard,
Cephas Hurlburt, Mrs. John A. Larkin, S. McNair. Michael O'Regan, Joel
Pond, Elijah Pound. Walter A. Taylor. Emery Thayer (2). To men of
Troy, five first premiums ; Hiram Brew ster, William Lumb, John J. ( >lds. I'aris
Pettit, Augustus Smith. Other first premiums were awarded to Franklin
Kelsey Phoenix, of Delavan ; Charles W. Smedley, of Hudson ; William
Child, of Lafayette: James Lauderdale, of Lagrange. Mr. Phoenix displayed
twenty-five varieties of apples and a noteworthy entry- of garden stuff.
Josiah F. Brooks sold two bulls, brought from New York, one at two hundred
and ten dollars, the other at one hundred and fifty dollars.

The officers of this fair were Augustus Smith, president, and Seymour
Brooks, secretary. Before dispersing, the members chose officers and man-
agers for the coming year. In April, 185 1, a meeting was held at Elkhorn,
and the whole county was brought explicitly within range of the society's

IJO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

activities. A premium list was made, and the fair appointed at Elkhorn,
October 14th and 15th. The society met in the evening of the 15th for
adoption of a constitution and election of officers and three managers, all to
act as an executive committee. Article eight, of the constitution, fixed the
place of holding the fair at Elkhorn. But in 1853 it was held at Delavan.
Article nine prescribed the fast evening of each fair as the time for electing
officers. In 1852 the number of managers became five.

August 19. 1853, Samuel Pratt resigned as manager and Colonel Elder-
kin was chosen in Ins stead. Mr. Hollinshead moved, and it was ordered, to
hold the fair at Delavan, Sepi ember 23d and 24th. A committee of arrange-
ments for this purpose was appointed, all of Delavan town and villager
Aaron H. Taggart, Ira P. Larnard, Charles T. Smith, William Hollinshead,
Jonathan Williams, Cyrus Brainard. David Williams was made marshal,
with Dr. Norman L. Gaston and Nicholas M. Harrington as assistants. Sep-
tember 23d, election of officers. Ordered that executive committee procure
one or more competent persons to address the people on one of the fair days.

September 2j, 1855, the constitution was so amended as to require nine
managers, besides the four principal officers. September 11, 1856, Hon.
James R. Doolittle, of Racine, delivered the annual address.

September 25, 1857, the members of the society met in accordance with
article nine, of its constitution, and passed the following resolution : "That
the election of officers of this society be postponed till the first Wednesday in
January, 1858, and at that time said election shall be held in the court house
at Elkhorn."

January 6, 1858, Treasurer Hodges reported as the receipts of the fair
of 1X57 the sum of eight hundred thirty-nine dollars and fifty-five cents. The
amount on hand after paying premiums was two hundred and fifty-seven
dollars. Land had been bought of Colonel Elderkin in 1855 for a permanent
fair ground on a time contract running ten years, with interest at ten per
cent. This meeting ordered payment of two hundred and fifty dollars on this
contract. Colonel Elderkin was directed to go to Madison to collect for the
society the state's yearly appropriation of one hundred dollars in aid of
count) fairs, then amounting to two hundred dollars. If allowed and paid,
the sum \va> to he applied to payment for land- If nut collected, he was to
draw a suitable memorial, asking the Legislature fur relief. Wyman
Spooner, Horatio S. Winsor and Edward Elderkin were appointed to examine
: titution and records to find if the societj was so organized as to enable
n 1- hold real estate, ami they were directed to reporl at the nexl meeting.
Mr. Elderkin, then one ol the secretaries, was ordered to l>u\ a record hook

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. I7I

and transcribe therein the constitution, by-laws, and the whole record of the
society's proceedings. The acts of the annual meetings of the society and of
its several executive committees for sixty years, as recorded, have not yet
filled the book thus begun by Colonel Elderkin, though it is not an unusually
large one of its kind. Its contents hardly present more than a fairly traceable
outline of the society's history and rate of growth.

This is in part explained by the fact that in this, as in many organiza-
tions for other purposes, it has been found convenient to add many executive
functions to the secretary's duty as a recorder of proceedings in session of
society and committee. For many years following 1865 this so variously
useful officer has seemed to persons outside of the management to combine
in himself the executive, legislative and judicial power of the society. The
later creation of minor superintendencies has not made the secretary's duties
much less diversified. For many years the officers were paid little or nothing
above their expenses. The secretary now receives $400, the treasurer $250,
the president $100 (by act of the session of 191 1). the superintendent of
privileges $75, the marshal $40. Members of executive committee are paid
for one day's service, two dollars each. The working force, other than those
just mentioned, at the last fair was 160 persons: Under the superintendent
of the ground, 12; police, 29: treasurer's office, 18; secretary's office, 8; at
gates and amphitheater, 23; in floral hall, 22; in speed' department, 14: judges
for premium awards, 34. Their total pay, $1,355.71. Since the fair of
1909 there was paid to laborers and repairers employed in care of the ground,
in the course of one year, $629.10; for permanent improvements, $77^-37;
for insurance, $233'.75- The total receipt for 1910 was $19,147.73, of which
sum $293.79 was ^e balance on hand from 1909, and $2,200 was received
from the state treasury pursuant to provisions of statute in aid of county
fairs. In January, 191 1, the unpaid liabilities amounted to $65.62. These
paid, and the state's aid received (usually in February), the society sets out
for the year with $3,404.40. The sum of trotting purses paid was $4,760;
sum of premiums paid, $4,072.75.

The fair of 185 1 was held along Church street, south of the park, south-
western part of the village. One or more fairs were held on the park, [n
1855 the society began to buy land for a permanent fair ground. The place
chosen was (and is) well within the village limits, in one of the Elderkin
additions, a few rods from the point at which the Spring Prairie road meets
Court street. The certainty that the railway, then building from Racine to-
ward Sunset, would reach Elkhorn within the next year had some el'lVd on
Colonel Blderkin's mind as to the coming values of village real estate though

172 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

he stopped a little short of extravagance in his valuation of the six acres sold
to the society. He let it go at one hundred dollars per acre, giving ten years
for payment, and accepting ten per cent interest. The society now owns and
occupies a fraction more than thirty-nine acres. About fifty or sixty rods
further northeastward the branch railway to Eagle, curving along the eastern
side of the ground, crosses the highway at an acute angle. It seems the so-
ciety's manifest destiny to acquire this triangular space — about six and one-
half acres — within a few months or years. By two extensions southward the
old village cemetery, having been vacated by special statute, was added, giving
a Court street frontage of twenty-two rods. A few groups of second-growth
oaks and other trees give a parklike effect to this part of the ground, and a
few lawn seats make it at present an attractive resting place for tired visitors.

During the four days of the fair the railway supplies special trains, and
the attendance, gathering from distant counties of Wisconsin and Illinois,
has been computed variously at from twenty thousand to thirty thousand.
When the fair week falls in dry weather, as it usually does, the dust-laden
air along the several highways of the county, to one who has seen this sign
of great armies in motion, is a reminder of the summer campaigns of the
Civil war. For most of the morning hours the procession of vehicles headed
for the white city inclines one to wonder if anybody stays at home in this
holiday week.

In [879 Henry G. Hollister. vice-president for the previous year, was
chosen president of the society, and, thereafter, with two exceptions, such
order of succession lias been the usage. The vice-presidents thus declining
< >r passed over were Benjamin T. Fowler in [884 and Hiram S. Bell in 1894.
Ebenezer Davidson has, since 1879. twice reached the presidency by way of
the present order of promotion.

PRESIDENTS.

Aldrich. William II.. Spring Prairie , 1900

\llrn, Dwighl Sidney, Linn 1888

Allen, George R., Bloomfield 1885

Allyn, Alexander H.. Delavan 1886

Babcock, Walter E., Spring Prairie 1909

Blakely, William, Darien 1884

Brewster, John M.. Troy 1896

Briggs, Merman A.. Delavan 1891

Brooks. Seymour. Eas1 Troy , 1861

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. I73

Buell. Sidney, Linn

Clough, Darwin P., Darien

Cross, Hiram, Lagrange _

♦Davidson, Ebenezer, Lake Geneva !893>

Downs, Lemuel, Delavan

Dunlap, Charles. Geneva 1869,

Dunlap, William Penn. Geneva

Edgerton, Stephen R., Lafayette

Edwards, Simon Buell, East Troy

Flack, David Lytle, Geneva

Foster, Asa, Sugar Creek

Fulton, John L, Whitewater

Gibbs, Charles R, Whitewater

Grier. James M., Bloomfield

Grier, Thomas H., Bloomfield

*Hare, Ambrose B., Richmond

Harrington. Perry Green, Sugar Creek 1871,

Hollinshead. William. Delavan 1863, 1864,

Hollister, Henry George, Delavan

Jeffers, John, Sharon

Johnson, John B., Darien

*Knilans, Williarn Allen, Richmond

Lawson. Frank E., Walworth

Lean. Robert J., Lagrange

Manor, Newell B.. Bloomfield

Martin, Charles, Spring Prairie

"Meadows. John Greenwood, Lyons

Meadows. William, Lyons

Mills, Dr. Jesse Carr, Lafayette

Morse, Frederick A., Whitewater

Mulaney, Charles A., East Troy

Nichols, Levi A., Linn

Pratt. Orris, Spring Prairie

Preston. Otis, Elkhorn 1855, '58-'6o,

Reynolds, James E.. Troy

tnour, Robert Thompson. Lafayette

Smith, Augustus, Troy

Starin, Henry J., Whitewater

Stewart, William H.. Richmond

878
905
854
191
897
870

903
887
874

8/3
877
907

NN< ,
890
904
910
872

81 15

879
876

898
882
908
892
902

875
895
89]

853
899
906
90T
883

'62

S.X.,

850
852

894

174 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Wales. Charles, Geneva 1867, 1868

Williams. David, Geneva !85i

Wiswell, Charles Harriman, Sugar Creek 1912

*Wylie, George Washington, Lafayette 1866

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

Bell, Hiram Sears, Walworth

Brooks, Seymour, East Troy

Buell, Sidney, Linn

Cheney, Rufus Jr., Whitewater ^859

Derthick, Walter George, Lafayette

Edwards, Simon Buel, East Troy 1854, '55, '57

Flack, David Lytle. Geneva

Fowler, Benjamin T.. Lagrange

Harriman, Rufus Dudley, Lafayette

Hendri.x. Wellington, Lafayette

Hill, Thomas Worden, Lyons 1867,

Hollinshead, William, Delavan 1852.

*Hollister, Uriah Schutt, Darien

Martin, Charles. Spring Prairie 1870.

Morrison. William Henry, Troy

Potter, Robert Knight, Lafayette

Smith. Augustus, Troy

Starin, Henry J., Whitewater

Voss, John Augustus

Wales, Charles, Geneva 1863, 1864

Williams, John. Darien

Wiswell, Charles Harriman, Sugar Creek

*Wylie, George Washington, Lafayette

SECRETARIES.

894
856

866
860
877

'73
871
884

875
869
868
862

874
872

876
850
851 •

855
912

865

853
qn
861

Brooks, Seymour, East Troy 1850, 185 1

Elderkin, Edward, Elkhorn 1850, '51, '54-'65

Williams. David, Geneva : 1852

Latham, llollis, Elkhorn i852-*54, '56, '6i-'68

Golder, Peter, Elkhorn 1853

Win- ir, Horatio Sales, Elkhorn 18^5

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 1 75

Carpenter, Seth L., Elkhorn 1858

Frost, Eli Kimball, Sugar Creek ^59

Martin, Charles, Spring Prairie i860

West. Stephen Gano, Elkhorn 1869-1878

Morrison, William Henry, Troy 1878-1884

♦Alien, Levi E., Elkhorn (from Sharon) 1885-1890

*Stratton. William James, Elkhorn 1891, 1892

Mitchell, Samuel, Elkhorn 1893-1896, 1903, 1904

Harrington, George L.. Lafayette 1897-1902

Norris, Harley Cornelius. Elkhorn 1905-1908

Porter, Francis Maxwell. Elkhorn 1909-1912

Until 1866 it was usual to elect two secretaries sometimes, assigning one
to the duty of recording and the other to the division of correspondence.
After Mr. Carpenter — a young lawyer who lived a few months at Elkhorn —
Mr. Latham served as corresponding secretary- until 1866, when the two sec-
retaryships were united in one officer.

TREASURERS.

Rockwood, Sherman Morgan, Lafayette 1850

Hodges, Edwin, Elkhorn 1851, 1854, 1856-1860

Golder, Peter, Elkhorn 1 1852

Hollinshead. William, Delavan 1853

Mallory, Samuel, Elkhorn 1855

Brett. John Flavel, Elkhorn 1861-1866

Rockwell, Le Grand, Elkhorn 1867-1869

Latham, Hollis, Elkhorn 1870-1883

Lyon. Wilson David, Elkhorn 1884

Latham. Le Grand. Elkhorn 1885-1897

♦Brett. James Elverton, Lyons 1898-1911

John F. and lames E. Brett were respectively father and son, as were
also Hollis and LeGrand Latham.

Names marked with a * are of soldiers of the Civil war.

CHAPTER XV.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Clergymen and pious men with gift of tongue and not unused to leader-
ship in prayer meeting were among the early settlers of Delavan, Lafayette,
Spring Prairie and Walworth, and perhaps other towns, and were not long
wanting in any town. It has been learned how Colonel Phoenix came by his
military title. His religious activity was even then as manifest as his
energy in founding a city. He prayed, exhorted and preached at Delavan
and Spring Prairie and, not unlikely, at Elkhorn and other points. Mr. Dwin-
nell was nearly as early and quite as zealous in this field of labor, though he,
too, had his load of secular cares as farmer and town officer. Their fellow
pioneers, though not all of them professors of religious faith, were not gen-
erally unwilling to hear instruction and exhortation; and these preachers of
good tidings for a time carried their messages through a nearly roadless
country, crossed by many bridgeless streams, with the steadfast resolution
and, if needful, high hardihood of the pioneer clergy everywhere and always.

Churches were not an immediate need. Men and women met for relig-
ious communion in many small assemblies at the larger cabins, and when
school houses appeared these were made doubly useful. In pleasant weather
no finer temples than the oaken groves — nowhere distant nor liable to be over-
crowded— were needed for the larger gatherings. The short pioneer period,
"the first low wash of waves where soon would roll a human sea," was fol-
lowed by immigration at such increasing rate that co-operative effort was made
as available for church building as for more mundane enterprise-. After [843
(be county board authorized the sheriffs t<> lei the court bouse for Sunday use
of infant religious societies at a nominal rental rate, which was later but little
reduced by imposing onhj the cosl of heating and sweeping. Not the church-
less sects at the county seat only, but all within convenient riding or driving
di tance of the center stake might avail themselves of this liberal disposition
oi the supervisors -if such sects could agree upon a scheme of days and
hours for their several services,

Baptisl societies were funned a1 (lie villages of Delavan in iN.><). Spring
Prairie in [841, East Troy and Millard in [842, al Walworth in 1844, Past
Dela an and Geneva in 1845. From these were formed the Walworth Bap-

WALWORTH COl'NTY, WISCONSIN. 1/J

tist Association in 1846, now the oldest of the county associations, which are
constituents of the almost venerable Wisconsin Baptist convention, the first
session of which latter body was held at East Troy in July, 1846. A session of
the convention was also held at that place in 1856, and at Delavan in 1870,
1883, 1 89 1 and 1909. Increased population in the several towns soon enabled
each local society to build itself a church, aud these primitive meeting places
were most of them followed by a succession of better buildings, each showing
some advance in the means, liberality, and architectural taste of its builders.
In order of membership the Baptist churches in 1909 were Delavan, 391;
Elk-horn, 189: Walworth, 135; Lake Geneva, 100; Millard, go; East Dela-
van, 5.5; Darien, 3J ; Spring Prairie, 25. In order of value of church prop-
erty; Delavan, $35,000; Elkhorn, $21,500; Lake Geneva, $19,000; Walworth,
S4.900: Millard, $4,500; East Delavan, $4,200; Darien, $3,100; Spring Prairie,
$1,500. This denomination is the only one which has a count v association.

Of the several denominations now having society or parish organiza-
tions within the county, the Baptist, Congregationalist, Methodist and Epis-
copalian were earliest on the ground: and the first of these was and is numeri-
cally strongest. But Catholic missionaries had been long first in Wisconsin,
and among these the Fathers Lejeune, Brebeuf, LeMercier, Vimont. Lale-
mant, Raguneau, de Ouens, and Dablon, in their now invaluable "Relations,"
laid the foundations of Wisconsin history. These and other patiently heroic
men also laid the foundations of an archiepiscopal province and its three di-
oceses. It is not unlikely that Fathers Marquette and Allouez had crossed this
county and had lingered 1>\ its lakes long before Bigfoot lorded it at Fontana.

It is certain that the settlements of 1836-7 were not long unnoticed nor
neglected by the Episcopal bishop at Milwaukee, and the infant parishes at
Delavan, Elkhorn. etc.. soon knew Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper's face and voice.
Parishes were organized where and when practicable, and these have pros-
pered steadily and. in total effect, mightily. There are now large and hand-
some churches at Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva and Whitewater, and
chapels or missions at other points.

The Congregational church was planted early and has grown with the
county. Its now most active societies are at Delavan, East Troy, Elkhorn,
Geneva Junction, Lafayette. Lake Geneva and Whitewatei

A few Presbyterian societies were formed, bu1 nearly all were soon ab-
sorbed by its ancient rival, the Congregatinnal church. The Presbyterian
church at Lake Geneva had a long and generally prosperous life, bul in [883
its members voted for Congregational organization.

(12)

I78 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

The Methodists, never far or long behind the founders of new communi-
ties, sowed on fertile ground and now stand beneath a broadly sheltering tree.
They have absorbed the allied sects, which a while flourished in Walworth as
everywhere else in America. Wesleyans struggled a few years for separate
existence, and then yielded to the inevitable. The churches of this denomina-
tion show the usual increase of wealth among its members, with incidental
growth in architectural taste.

English-speaking Catholics have been for more thai, three centuries ac-
quainted with poverty as to their parishes, and too often with worse than
poverty as to themselves ; and none have shown forth better than they the
sweet usefulness of adversity. For several years Catholics of English and
other tongues were so few and so dispersed that the county seemed over-long
but a field for painful mission labor. Theirs is the good that comes from
waiting without resting, for time has been kind to them. They have emerged
from the wilderness and one looking upon their churches at Delavan. East
Troy, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva. Lyons and Whitewater might feel moved to
adapt the Davidian verse : "Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of
Jerusalem :,and abundance for them that love thee."

Seventh-day Baptists have long maintained themselves, as in a strong-
hold, at Walworth,

The Lutheran church is firmly fixed and its societies are well distributed
through the county, at Darien, East Troy, Ekhorn (two), Lake Geneva
(two), Lyons, Richmond, Sharon, Sugar Creek. Whitewater (two).

The ideas or opinions of CJniversalism have been and are yet, perhaps, as
widely held in this county as elsewhere, but its denominational activity has
thus far shown fewer results than that of some numerically smaller religious
divisions. Its adherents have sometimes made temporary alliance with L'ni-
tarianism and other forms of liberal theology. Its few churches are not always
open, nor does its printed teaching circulate among its readers as of old.

Spiritualism, or "spiritism," as scoffers have named it, traveled as 'fast as
the mails of the time From it- birthplace at the home of the Fox girls, not
Ear from the depository of Joseph Smith's golden plates. Walworth was thus
but few days behind Cattaraugus in receiving tidings from the unseen world
of the unstable bul far from unfruitful air. Intelligent and worthy men and
women were not wanting among converts, and "mediums" of various gifts
of perception and power of interpretation were at once developed, l'.elievers
met at household "seances" and met in general conventions, newspapers and
1 ks were lead and studied, and at Whitewater a temple was built. Its doc-
trines and practices are nol yel obsolete, though it has here less of the aspect
■! organized sect

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. I79

At Joseph Smith's death a rag of his mantle was wafted to Spring
Prairie and lodged upon James Jesse Strang's shoulders, thus to endue him
with gifts of prophecy and leadership. The city and temple of Voree rose,
obedient to revelation, in 1845 and, obedient to counter revelation, was aban-
doned in 1847 to rats and weasels, and the temple rafters were suffered to fall
down on a cow. A few persons may have returned from Beaver Island in
1856, but not to restore "the fair city of Voree." A few followers of the
younger Joseph Smith came from the desolation of Nauvoo, in 1845, to the
vicinity of East Delavan, where they built a church of Latter-day Saints and
lived without offense to their neighbors. The society still exists, somewhat
dwindled in number and with less regular service at their church.

Mrs. Eddy's doctrines have pervaded rather than divided the churches of
the old Protestant orthodoxies. Her followers are not easily to be estimated as
to their number, but their influence is manifest. They are diffused through-
out the county and appear to be still increasing at some fair rate. Their prog-
ress is more like the silently powerful natural forces than like the swiftly
rushing whirlw ind or the upheaving and rending earthquake.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The liberal policy of the federal government had set apart section six-
teen of each township of the national domain as an aid to new states in the
establishment of common schools ; but, in earlier years of the county a square
mile of public land, at its best, was not a rich endowment. Some notion
may be formed of its value to the school fund from a report in 1848 of a
committee of the county board as to the condition of school, seminary and
university lands within the county. Of section 25 (a seminary section) of
Sugar Creek it was noted that the timber had been cut away unlawfully and
that the value of the land was thus reduced by one-half. But this may have
been the only instance of such spoliation of the rights of children.

Before the full organization of towns the schools received some attention
of the county commissioners. One of then firsl duties was to set off school
districts, referring boundaries to range, township and section lines. Private
enterprise had taken the first practical steps, For American matrons and
maidens could not and would not Miller the young children to lose more than
one school year in the transit from a land of schools to the late home of the
Pottawattomies. So, as volunteer teachers, they brought together their pupils
by twos and threes and sometimes sixes at some consenting neighbor's house
and at once laid bases for the better order of things about to follow ; while

l8o WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

men met, debated, resolved, amended, referred, reported, voted and after
much such like ado, acted.

Judge Gale observed that however men differed on most things of town-
ship concern, they were at one as to the instant need of schools. The com-
missioners, in 1839, appointed town school inspectors: For Darien, Nicholas
S. Comstock, Loren K. Jones, Amos Older, Lyman H. Seaver, Jacob Lee ; for
Delavan, Charles S. Bailey, Milo Kelsey, Alvin B. Parsons, Henry Phoenix,
Salmon Thomas; for Elkhorn (old town). Tared B. Cornish, George Esterly,
Volney A. McCracken, Zerah Mead, Jeduthun Spooner ; for Geneva, Charles
M. Baker, Andrew Ferguson, Charles M. Goodsell, Samuel Hall, Russell H.
Malic irv: for Spring Prairie. William Arms, Richard Chenery, Solomon A.
Dwinnell, Ansel A. Hemenway, Jesse C. Mills: for Walworth. William Bell,
Phipps W. Lake, James A. Maxwell, William Rumsey, H. Smith Young.
Better men than these, taken all together, could hardly be named for such
service in 191 r.

A meeting of school commissioners (or inspectors) and other citizens,
was held at Elkhorn, December 1. 184J, at which George Gale, Moses Bartlett,
Edward Elderkin, Solomon A. Dwinnell and Orra Martin were appointed to
draft suitable resolutions and were directed to report at an adjourned meeting,
which was to reassemble December 24th. Their work was duly submitted and
adopted :

"Resolved, That nine-tenths of American youth lay the foundation of
their education in common schools, and their after success depends on the
prosperity of these institutions.

"That a well organized system of common schools is indicative of an
intelligent and enlightened community.

"That Wisconsin should not be behind old states in the great cause of
education.

"That the following text-books are recommended: Reading, Leavitt's
Easy Lessons; Porter's Rbetorical Reader; Goodrich's First to Fourth Reader;
spelling, Webster's Elementary Spelling; geography, Peter Parley's and
Olney's; grammar, Smith's, Kirkham's; arithmetic, Adams's, new edition;
composition, Parker's Exercises.

"Thai we recommend to teachers of common schools a more general
introduction and teaching of English composition."

Ii was further resolved to call a convention of the friends of education
hi iln counties of Jefferson, MKlwaukee, Racine. Rock and Walworth, to
meet at Easl Troy, Februarj 1. r'843, "tn consider the best methods of ad-
vancing the interests of common school education in the territory." Gaylord

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. l8l

Graves presided at this convention, and Judge Gale, the secretary, says that
the proceedings were spirited, and that among resolutions adopted was one
recommending establishment "of a normal school for the education of teach-
ers." The convention adjourned to Elkhorn, third Wednesday in May fol-
lowing; but it never met again. It might seem that a few warmly interested
men of somewhat telescopic vision were permitted to think and talk for their
less imaginative but vary practical neighbors, but not to act for them in such
wise as to raise the tax rate. August 7, 1841, the return to the county com-
missioners of delinquent tax was, for schools $150.45, for roads $193.63.

Until 1805 each town chose its school superintendent. This system was
found inefficient, variable in method and operation, and behind the spirit of
the age. The count}- superintendency promised better things, but its advan-
tages did not at once follow its creation ; though enlightened men, in touch
with the State Teachers' Association and other widening and substance-giving
influences, were chosen to lead order from chaos. Public opinion or sentiment
on the subject of education is not formed by teachers alone. It has always
been favorable, as an abstract proposition, to a system of state schools; but
the advancing ideas of superintendents and teachers do not always work in-
stant conviction in the minds of taxpayers, — at least, as to special new meas-
ures proposed. These may seem in the nature of doubtful experiments, liable
to carry with them new or higher taxation, and therefore requiring looking
before leaping. The nearness of one of the normal schools has been, on the
whole, of incidental advantage in moving forward the public mind to larger
liberality of thought and action. A large percentage of the pupilage at the
Whitewater institution has been resident within the county, and many of those
graduated have taught at least a year in home districts before finding other
usefulness abroad. Thus, their parents and friends have been brought more
or less into knowledge and not seldom into sympathy with the views of leaders
in the movement toward school improvement. Able officers of the State Uni-
versity, the normal schools, the state superintendency. and the State Teach-
ers' Association have been heard as lecturers and have had their legitimate
influence. The taxpayer of this century, now better in formed and larger
minded, is often found upholding a school system unknown to his boyhood
and which he had for a time distrusted and opposed.

The fully organized high schools of four little cities and as many in-
corporated villages have contributed to this evolution of better public senti-
ment. The more forward or more fortunate youths of the district schools,
passing to and through the neighboring high school, have fairly measured
their own benefit received from this upward step and have seen more clearly

l82 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

to what practical ends the higher education may tend. The county high
schools are steady feeders of the stream of young life toward the university,
the colleges and the technical schools ; and names of young Walworthians are
found in every class list. So, in the slow march of years, the dream of the
earlier educator is in course of fulfillment, and the system of public instruc-
tion has become nearly one and indivisible. The direct and now plainly seen
result is to make the children of many races in Wisconsin homogeneous and
truly American.

CHAPTER XVI.

ROADS AXD ROAD-MAKING RAILWAYS.

The earliest of all roads were the Indian trails. Of these the most im-
portant was that from Milwaukee to Galena, passing through the northern
part of the count}' and having lateral branches from Whitewater to hurt
Atkinson and elsewhere in the Bark River country. Mr. Cravath describes
this as about fifteen inches wide and trodden in the spongier places to such
depth as more to resemble a ditch than the "highway of a nation." A trail
from Geneva lake passed by way of Lafayette and East Troy to Mukwonago
lake, and this became part of the "army trail," used by federal troops in their
marches between Fort Dearborn and the forts of the North and Northeast.
Another trail from the foot of Geneva lake led to Godfrey's at the upper
fork of the Fox, near Rochester, and thence to Racine, with a branch to
Milwaukee. But these lateral trails varied more or less in their course, and
were sometimes confusing to white travelers, so that fords were found
with difficulty or missed wholly. Generally, the Indians found the most
practicable routes from point to point, with short cuts and detours suited to
conditions of weather and soil; but their roads, so cunningly surveyed, were
not made with hands. Other trails led from lake to lake and from village or
camp to hunting, fishing, and trapping places. Some of these routes, no doubt,
gave partial direction to white men's first roads.

There was no distinct trail from Gardner's prairie to Turtle creek. Allen
Perkins, returning in July, 1836, from his new'ly-made claim near Delavan,
lost his way and was found twenty-four hours later by Colonel Phoenix — -
more -killed in the craft of woods and prairie — and guided to Gardner's.
Thereupon the settler- turned out and dragged a tree over the whole route,
so breaking down brush and weeds and scratching soft or loose earth as to
make the way plain and nearly straight. The present highway from Dela-
van to Elkhorn, and the more southerly of two mads thence to Spring Prairie,
coincide nearly with the route taken b) Colonel Phoenix.

The territorial Legislature established a few routes from the lake shore
to the valley of the Rock, — as, from Milwaukee and Racine to Janesville and
from Kenosha to Beloit; but these were in no wise king's highways for
smooth and rapid transit. The) became, in a way. trunk roads, for the

184 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

county's system of highways. To define road districts and appoint viewers
for roads ordered or authorized were among the earlier duties of the first
governing board, the county commissioners. With the soon-following or-
ganization of the several towns their supervisors, under direction of the
yearly town meetings, ordered the work of the plows and the shovels, stopping
scrupulously at town lines. If this was not a good method, it was the only
one practicable for more than sixty years.

Twenty years after the coming of Gardner, Meacham, Payne and Phoenix,
the ways in spring and fall, and in open winters, were in many if not in most
places just as bad as patient men could endure — and patient men were in the
majority. For instances, the crossings of Sugar Creek valley and that of
Duck Lake marsh were just a little better than the adjacent bogs. Perhaps,
taken together, the roads leading out of Elkhorn were the worst within the
knowledge of men. The road to Delavan was bad. The two roads into Sugar
Creek were worse. The road leading due eastward toward Spring Prairie
(Colonel Phoenix's trail) was worst. The town line roads northward and
southward were pluperfectly worst. That which passes the fair ground into
Lafayette and thence eastward was for two miles plusquamperfectly vile, and
hence not to lie described in fair terms.

Much has been told and written of privations undergone and difficulties
met and overcome by the pioneers. It may be doubted if they and their chil-
dren and grandchildren have endured anything much worse than their own
roads; for these were a long-lasting and for long a hopeless affliction to men
and their unmurmuring beasts. The men of Elkhorn and adjoining towns
were not wanting in enlightened public spirit. The}-, as other men, were ruled
by the circumstances of their time, which, neither tor Walworth nor for the
next county in any direction, were then favorable to boulevard-making.

There is gravel nearly everywhere in the county, but not everywhere of
the fittest for road making. Some fortunate towns have it at the pathmaster's
convenience, whenever he may work, while for other towns it must be hauled
at greatly multiplied cost, or. an inferior compound of clay, sand and pebbles
must be used. For tin- past twenty years the more general tendency lias been
to use the better material. For at least one-half of the year the greater part
ol the POads are lilted well out of the mud, and the fair-ground is no longer
fronted h\ a "hole of sorrow."

But tlie good thai sometimes comes to such as can wait seventy-five years
seenis now at band. The county board of 1911, at its November session,
acting under a statute of that year, elected as its first county board commis-
sioner Herman J. Peters, of the town of Sharon 1 who is a son of the super-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 1 85

visor for that town). The sum of nine thousand five hundred dollars was
appropriated for the work of 191 2. This is the sum of fifteen appropriations
made previously by as many towns, only Troy not in the list. The state
levies a like sum. which when collected is returned to the county on conditions
prescribed by statute. The towns retain the initiative, and may each do its
road-work by its own officers and citizens. The work done in any year is
limited to fifteen per cent, of the county's road mileage. To receive statutory
aid the towns must conform to the general plans of the state road commis-
sion and admit the supervision of the county's officer. If this is done, the prin-
cipal roads will become parts of a state system. In order to secure such a
result, the adjoining counties interchange plans of each year's work to be
done, so that road may meet road at the county lines.

In brief, state and county roads will have nine-foot roadbeds, of best
material locally available, well rolled, with enough margin for meeting and
passing vehicles, and will be built under competent direction. Cities and in-
corporated villages must pay state and county road taxes, but road-making
stops at their limits. Hence, these municipalities will have such streets as
they may care to make or may choose to endure.

RAILWAYS.

The Legislature of New York in 1826 incorporated the Mohawk &
Hudson Railway Company with a capital of three hundred thousand dollars.
and this might be increased to a half million. Its line was from Albany to
Schenectady, fourteen miles, and the road was built in 1830-1. In 1830 the
Canajoharie & Catskill and the Delaware & Hudson companies were incor-
porated. About this time other companies were chartered, as, the Port Byron
& Auburn, Hudson & Berkshire, Great Au Sable, Catskill & Ithaca, Salina &
Port Watson, Canandaigua & Geneva, Ithaca & Owego railways. The
counties in which lay these proposed lines supplied no small share of the first-
comers to Walworth, many of whom may have been jolted over a few miles
of straj>-rail, at ten or twelve miles an hour, through forests and swamps pri-
meval, in low-roofed compartment cars, behind locomotives of low horse-
power, and at rates not fixed by statute.

The lakes were a natural highway from Buffalo to the line of ports
placed at the mouth of rivers and creeks from Green bay to Kenosha, each
one a new Tyre; but railways were needed, and at once, by which to reach
the inland and river counties, to distribute throughout the Wisconsin paradise
a part of the rising tide of immigration. The settlements of Walworth were
scant fifteen years old when the -fast- following railway builders had reached

l86 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Chicago by two lines through Michigan and Indiana, and were looking at
farther Iowa as their own.

Men of Milwaukee were neither blind nor idle. In 1847 a railway to
Waukesha was projected and in four years it was built thus far. Money was
needed to carry this line across to the Mississippi. A change in its charter
gave it a definite western terminus at Prairie du Chien, and in 1856 the first
train ran across the narrower part of the state. The road was new-named
Milwaukee & Mississippi. It reached Whitewater in 1852 and in the same
year was built to Milton. This was nearly as soon as Chicago was reached
from Detroit and Toledo, and but thirteen years after Dr. Tripp had built
his mill. This road enters the town at section 1, turns southwesterly at the
city, and leaves by section 18.

Racine, too, had golden visions of trade diverted from the big villages of
Chicago and Milwaukee to the rising city with "the finest harbor along the
lake." In 1852 her railway investors procured a charter for the Racine, Janes-
ville & Mississippi Railway. Her own capital was insufficient, and the coun-
ties and towns along the proposed line were urged to issue bonds and their
citizens to subscribe to stock. The western terminus was not fixed definitely.
Partly, perhaps, because if built wholly in Wisconsin the line would be rather
too near the Milwaukee road's way, but probably more to secure a desirable
connection with Iowan lines south of Dubuque, the course was diverted from
Janesville to Beloit and thence through Freeport to Savannah. As at first
surveyed through this county the track would have been nearly straight from
I ,yons to Delavan. leaving Elkhorn a mile or more northward. There was no
excess of cash capital at Elkhorn, but there were poor men whose minds were
filled with dreams of nothing less than a triple-junction of long-line railways,
and from such a maze of frogs and switches and side-tracks and Y's it must
follow as surcl}- as the working of the law of gravitation that trade must
leave Chicago and all other fictitious, accidental and temporary trade centers
and huddle itsell about the court house square. One railway was building
up Whitewater like an exhalation. What three railways would do for Elk-
liorn only assessors and census enumerators could tell, after the wonderful
doing. It was easy enough for Elderkin, Preston, Smith. Spooner, Utter,
Winsor, and all the talkers of a county-seat t" persuade their hopeful fellow
citizens that private money and village bunds could net be invested in other
i\ with such certainty of quick and yearly increasing profit. Elkhom raised
twenty thousand dollars and Delavan twenty-five thousand dollars, and early
in [856 tbi' track was extended From Burlington to Delavan, with stations
also at Lyonsdale and Springfield. In the fall the work was carried through

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 187

Darien and Allen Grove to Clinton, where the Chicago & Northwestern road,
passing through Sharon village, crossed on its way to Janesville. The next
year the work was pushed about two stations beyond Beloit — Brockton and
Shi Hand. The business panic of that year checked railway building, though
in 1859 trus road reached Freeport and halted there until a change of owner-
ship, with change of name to Western Union, extended it to Savannah, and
later to Rock Island.

In 1869 the great Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul consolidation, which
already included the Western Union line, built its straight line from Chicago
to Milwaukee, making a new crossing at Western Union Junction, now named
Corliss. In 1869-70 seventeen miles of track, from Ea'gle to Elkhorn,
through the towns of Troy and Lafayette, with three intermediate stations,
connected the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien division with the Racine & South-
western division. There were men along this line who imagined that passen-
gers between Milwaukee and Rock Island would be brought by way of this
new track. But the company's policy was not so much to rearrange travel-
routes or to build up new cities of Walworth as to make it unlikely that some
other company would fulfil the old dream of a road from Milwaukee through
East Troy to Beloit. As a small part of a great railway system this branch is
not profitless, and it is of much convenience to local travelers and shippers.
Neither citizens nor towns were asked to aid this bit of railway-building.

In 1853 men of Whitewater, Elkhorn and Geneva obtained a charter
as the Wisconsin Central Railway Company. Beginning at Genoa and run-
ning diagonally through the county much curved from Geneva toward Elkhorn,
and onward in a nearly straight line to Whitewater, and thence through Jef-
ferson, Columbus and Portage, the builders would be providentially guided
to a suitable terminus at Lake Superior. Erom Genoa to Chicago its trains
would use the Galena & Chicago Union tracks. Millard and Heart Prairie
lay on this crow-flight across the county. By 1857 the line was nearly de-
termined through Stevens Point to the mouth of Montreal river. The first
president of the company was Legrand Rockwell, and the last one was Rufus
Cheney, Jr. From first to last Edwin Hodges was secretary and treasurer,
Frederick J. Starin its chief engineer, and Winsor & Smith its attorneys. It
is not now easy to find director lists or names of stockholders, bul Charles M.
Baker, of Geneva, George Bulkley and Otis Preston, of Elkhorn, Eleazar
Wakeley, of Whitewater, and perhaps John A. Pierce, of Millard, were among
the leaders. But for the day of reckoning, for business men of America, late
in 1857, this road might have been built. Much grading was done almost
continuous!] from Genoa to Whitewater, and at points beyond. The towns

l88 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

along the line had been authorized by statute to give their bonds in aid. and
most of them had done so, in amounts up to the statutory limit, which varied
between fifteen thousand and forty thousand dollars. They who could not
or would not subscribe to stock could easily enough vote for issuance of vil-
lage or town bonds. As Mr. Simmons tells for Lake Geneva: "This was
considered a glorious opportunity to get something for nothing, as we should
secure the road, while the bonds would pay for the stock — and the stock in
turn would pay the bonds, — and the dividends would pay the interest." Mr.
Cravarh says that Messrs. Cheney and Wakeley "were very successful in ob-
taining subscriptions, most of the inhabitants (at Whitewater) taking from
one to five shares." At Klkhorn whoso owned his home lot and one quarter-
acre lot besides was already well on the road to wealth not earned with hands.
In all this there was nothing peculiar to the men of Walworth. The Legisla-
ture of Wisconsin, like the legislatures of other states, had been chartering
possible and improbable railways since 1850. The air was everywhere filled
with talk of prosperity-bringing railways and of first-class cities springing
ii] > in a day and a night. An instance of great things unforetold : where was a
cornfield in 1855 was Clinton, Iowa, in 1856, with more than a thousand in-
habitants, and other thousands looked for by every train and river steamer.

Kenosha is but ten miles from Racine and, in seventeen years of strife
as to which should be greatest, had fallen somewhat behind. In that period
01 railway chartering, namely, in 1853, it did not seem impossible, at Kenosha.
to reverse their places in order of population and business, nor even to rival
Milwaukee. A charter was easily procured for a railway through Geneva and
Sharon to Beloit, and also an enabling act by which each town so traversed
might vote for an issue of bonds. Before the towns bad voted, a change of
route directed the line to Rockford by way of Genoa, with a design to reach
Rock Island and divide the trade of Iowa with Chicago. It was a Napoleonic

conception with a Water! ratcome. The Chicago & Northwestern Company

gave Kenosha a line to Rockford and thence not as Kenosha willed but as the
company found mos( to it^ own advantage. The little citv now prospers at a
healthy rate, from its natural advantages.

Milwankccans. too. saw in mind's eye a highway across Walworth fields
to Beloit, thus to conned their city with the trade of middle and farther Iowa.
This line was to come into the county from Mukwonagn and pass through
I .m Troy. Troy, Lafayette and Elkihorn, to Delavan and thence its trains
would use tlir Racine load's tracks to Beloit. Horatio llill, president, and
mosd of the directorate were oi Milwaukee. Among the local incorporators
were Manson II. Barnes, vice-president, Alender (A Babcock, secretary and

WALWORTH COCNTV, WISCONSIN. 1 89

treasurer. Elias Hibbard, Levi Lee, Joseph D. Monell. John A. Perry, Sewall
Smith, and Christopher Wiswell.

In 1857 the grading was well under way and there was every fair sign
that trains would run over the whole route within another year but for that
all-arresting monetary panic from which business had not yet recovered
when civil war began.

The collapse of all these plans of railway-building bore heavily on the
whole community, but upon none more than upon men who had too liberallv
mortgaged farms and homes to pay -subscriptions at the sales of stocks. The
towns could stagger along for a few years under their several loads of bonded
indebtedness. Both towns and farmers presently found that they had not to
settle with the bankrupted railway companies, but with men to whom panic
periods were their own peculiar harvest times; for there are few calamities
in human affairs so widespread and complete that a fortunate few, if so
minded, may not turn to their profit while the many "weep and bleed and
groan." So much like swindling it seemed, to men of the less complex civiliza-
tion of country life, to be held for the face value, or even a large-profit com-
promise value, of bonds which had cost the latest holders nearly nothing, that
something of the spirit of Bunker Hill was aroused. In April, i860, a suc-
cessor to the late Chief Justice Whiton was to be chosen, and an issue was
made, in several counties, on the validity of these farm mortgages. The
decisions of lower courts were often unpopular (though Judge Noggle, of
the first circuit, decided in 1859 against the bond holders), and the partly self-
victimized farmers and their friends looked to the supreme court for relief.
A. Scott Sloan, of Beaver Dam, in a temporarily famous letter to his brother,
Ithamar C. Sloan, of Janesville, seemed to take an equitable view of the ques-
tion. The letter was published in his interest, and it gained for him a large
majority of the vote of Walworth and of a few counties in similar plight. For-
tunately for the permanent credit of the state, Judge Dixon — already on the
bench by appointment — was elected, and the sober second thought of Wal-
worth helped to keep him in place until his resignation in 1K74. The year 1861
brought the new burdens of war to divide men's attention.

The whole story of the Wisconsin Central Railway is not yet told. Late
in 1856 nine miles of strap-rail, outworn in service of the Galena & Chicago
Union Railway, was laid from < ienoa to a point near Geneva village and trains
ran to and from Elgin. Thus the much desired connection was made with
Chicago. The next year the citizens of Geneva made an effort, and broughl
tracks and trains into the village. The depression of business, ever)
where continuing until hope could scarcel; cri ite from its own wreck new

I9O WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

hope and this with the wear and tear of the make-shift rail-laying, operated
to take away the locomotive and to put on a horse or mule team, and even
this reduction of power was again reduced, accidentally, by one-half.

The Chicago & Northwestern railway, in 1856, laid about four miles of
its track across a corner of the town of Sharon, making a station at the vil-
lage, and pushed onward to Janesville. The next year it was built to Fond
du Lac and probably farther. As far as now known the company asked
nothing and received nothing from Sharon but its right of way across that
fortunate town. Fifteen years later it came into Bloomfield and Geneva by
arrangement with a local company. In 1871 a few citizens of Geneva and
its vicinjty, among whom were Charles M. J laker, Robert H. Baker, John W.
Boyd, W. Densmore Chapin. Lewis Curtis. John Haskins, Thomas W. Hill,
Erasmus 1). Richardson, and Timothv Clark Smith, procured a charter for
the State Line and Union Railway Company, to be built from Genoa to
Columbus and thence to some point, not named, in the Kingdom of Ponemah.
President Baker made a contract with the Chicago & Northwestern company
to build and operate the road from Genoa Junction to Lake Geneva. In 1887
this load was extended to Williams Bay, six miles from the city, and ninety-
two miles from Chicago, and is now a part of a great system of connected
railways owning or operating ten thousand miles of tracks.

From time to time, after the Civil war, a faint hope was revived in the
minds of men by rumors of new corporate combinations which would or
might find it expedient to lay tracks from Lake Geneva to Whitewater and
obliquely onward toward the arctic circle. Between 1871 and 1881 the Chi-
cago, Portage & Lake Superior Railway Company acquired some more or less
disputed title to the right of way. cuts and dumps of the dead Wisconsin Cen-
tral company, and the brighter day for all here concerned seemed about to
break in sun-lighted splendor. But a transfer of a million dollars in paid stock
of the new company to the Chicago, Minneapolis & Omaha company, whose
interest, it seemed, was not to 1 mild this piece of road, soon dissipated that
ihi >rf lived dream.

At the legislative msmhh of iXNj a bill to bestow a grant of public land
upon the last named company was considered and passed. Donald Stewart.
an assemblyman for Walworth, moved an amendment requiring the company
to pa) certain old claims held by citizens of the county againsl the old com-
pany, The amendment failed of passage, hut Mr. Stewart signalized him-
self li\ a speech that commanded hearing, though it had no further effect at
M'adison. I lis opponents spoke in such high terms oi this speech that his
constituents were nearly persuaded that in the combative farmer of Sugar

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. ICjI

Creek the county had found its ablest and stoutest representative, past, present,
or likely soon to come, of its interests. He served another term, and then
his district forgot him and his great speech.

William R. Chadsey, one of the old Central company's building con-
tractors, had some real or shadow}- rights in its forlorn road-bed, and these
were more or less complicated by suits and cross-suits in the federal court at
Milwaukee. Having himself outlasted whatever commercial credit he might
once have had, he urged the attention of a few capitalists at New York to a
railway map of Wisconsin. Thus they might see readily that time had but
confirmed the wisdom of the first projectors in their choice of a way from
Chicago to anywhere in the farther Northwest. Long lines had since been
built on each side, leaving a rail-less belt of rich and highly improved farms,
each with its enormous barn, wind-mill, and other evidences of wisely-directed
and well-rewarded industry, and dotted with villages waiting but the railway-
builder's touch to make them each a forever-flourishing city. Gen. William
S. Rosecrans was called to their councils and was commissioned to come with
Mr. Chadsey and see for them what had been done, what must be done, and
to judge of the likelihood that enough local business could be assured to
warrant the outlay. The two men went over the line from Lake Geneva to
Portage, in July, 1883, and on reaching Whitewater found there a federal
marshal's deputy awaiting them with papers, enjoining them to perform no
act denoting possession of any part of the old line. Whatever ( feneral Rose-
crans reported, it has not since appeared that the men at New York cared to
invest in an endlessly complicated suit in the federal court.

In [886 a new Wisconsin Central railway was built from Chicago, cross-
ing the older lines from Kenosha and Racine at Fox River and Burlington,
respectively, and entering Walworth county at Honey (reek, making a station
at Lake Beulah, and passing through Waukesha county into the indefinite
northwest. It is now known as the Chicago division of the Minneapolis, Saint
Paul & Sault Sainte Marie railway system, controlling about four thousand
miles of track.

In [901 the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company built its Chicago
Tanesville and Madison division, crossing the towns of Linn and Walworth
and a corner each of Sharon and Darien. Its stations within the county are
Zenda (in Linn), Walworth village, and Bardwell, ai first named Tioga, in
Darien.

Two short but very useful electric lines at presenl complete the railway
list of the county: from Harvard to Walworth village and Fontana in [899
and from Milwaukee by way of Mukwonago to Ea ' I roy village in rc;o8, Men

I92 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

were securing rights of way in 191 1 for an electric line from Lake Geneva to
Whitewater along the grades of the old Wisconsin Central company. Though
this action does not assure an early construction.it has raised, in the minds of
men. some renewal of old hope.

CHAPTER XVII.

COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY.

The county board. January S. (846, adopted a resolution directing Sheriff
Bell "to lease without rent the middle office on the east side of the hall in the
court house for the use of an historical society whenever said society shall be
formed in the county and shall desire the use of the same for a library and
cabinet. Said lease to be completed and ended whenever the board of super
visors shall so order, and said society is prohibited from keeping a fire and
lights in said room without the special consent of the sheriff." It is not prob-
able that the board thus acted on its own initiative, but quite likely that
Messrs. Dwinnell and Gale had prepared its way. Fifty-three citizens signed
a call for a meeting, to be held April 2d, to organize such a society!, but that
date had been fixed for a school convention at Elkhorn, and the matter was
neglected and forgotten.

\ small county, its towns settled nearly simultaneously and having lie
tween them no physical or other barrier: most of its permanent citizens known
eacli to each in the transaction of public and private business, and not a few
of them affected by ties of blood and marriage; the pioneer period only thirty
years behind and vividly remembered — such a county is the natural home of
an old settlers' society. So thought the men who met at the Farmers' Hotel,
in the homelike village of Darien, March 30. [869, organized a new count)
institution, and gave the old and the young of Walworth another yearly 1 1 < .It
day. A constitution was adopted: a president, seventeen vice-presidents, a
recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, and five executive
committeemen were chosen; a day was fixed, October 5, [869, for the first
yearly assemblage, on the fairground ai Elkhorn; and this constituent assem
bly then adjourned.

At the October meeting, the second Wednesday in June was appointed
tor the county reunions; but, since [875, these meetings have been held on
other June days and on other week day-. The sixth and seventh mi
were held at Lake Geneva, the ninth and tenth at Delavan, the eleventh and
twelfth at Whitewater. \11 the other meetings were held at the fair ground,
Elkhorn.

(13)

194 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

It was resolved June 18, 1879, to take measures to procure the compila-
tion and publication of a short, authentic history of the county with some
accounts of the lives and characters of no longer living pioneers; to urge the
co-operation of living pioneers and their children in the work of collecting
data; to appoint a historical committee to receive the gathered information
and to determine how much of it should be printed — the rest to be preserved
with the records of the society, — and to authorize the committee to choose a
suitable person as editor, who should prepare the selected matter for the
printer. All expense incurred was to be paid from the society's fund and
from proceeds of sales of the finished work. A special meeting was held at
the court house, September 2, 1879, at which James Simmons, Stephen G.
West and Rev. Joseph Collie were chosen as the historical committee, and a
large sub-committee of one or more men of each town was appointed for the
work of collecting data. The Western Historical Company (publishers), of
Chicago, became aware of the society's purpose, and arranged with the com-
mittee to take from Mr. Simmons the information — which must have been
considerable — already accumulated, to finish the compilation, to canvass the
county, and to deliver the completed work to subscribers. The book was as
nearly faultless in plan and execution, editorial and mechanical, as most
county histories of thirty years ago. Many of its minor errors might have
been corrected had proofs been sent to Mr. Simmons for revision. The his-
tory of each town closed with biographical sketches of notable citizens, nine
hundred and ten in all. The compiler. William G. Cutler, of Milwaukee, was
at almost infinite pains to secure full and accurate information. (His father.
General Lysander Cutler, was one of the commanders of the Iron Brigade —
men of Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan — the fame of which should be
deathless.) The book was published in 1882.

The presidents of the society have been men whose names appear once
or oftener in the official lists of the county and its towns, and hence most
readers will readily assign each to his home ;

Daniel Salisbury - March, [869 Charles R. Beach 1879

Le Grand Rockwell- -October. [889 Stephen Gano West 1880

Charles Minton Baker 1870, '71 Seymour I 'rooks 1881

Perry Green Harrington 1872 Chester Deming Long 1882

Cohn William Boyd [873, '74. '"? Cyrus Church 1883

George Cotton ■ 1876 Avery Atkins Hoyt 1884

Hiram Ashley Johnson 1877 Julius Allen Treat 1885

Otis Preston 1878 William Densmore Chapin, 1 886, '93

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

195

1887 Nelson West 1899

1888 Dwight Sidney Allen 1900, '05

1889 Henry George Hollister 1901

1 S< h 1 Darwin P. Clough 1902

1909 Theron Rufus Morgan 1903

1892 Albert E. Smith 1904

1894 William Allen Knilans T906

1895 Alexander Hamilton Allyn 1907

iS()f> James S. Reek (of Linn) 1908

1897 Leonard Cyrus Church 1910

1898 Walter F Babcock 191 1

The corresponding secretary from 1869 to 18S1 was Edward Elderkin,
except in 1872, when Peter Colder was chosen. The recording secretaries
were :

Carlos Lavallette Douglass

Daniel Locke

Simon Ruel Edwards

Doric Chipman Porter

Washington S. Keats 1891,

Herman A. Briggs

George Washington Wylie

\.sa Foster

James Simmons

Mortimer Treat Park

William Pitt Meacham

James Simmons 1869 to 1881

Levi E. Allen 1882

Fred Willard [sham__i883 to 1889
Jay Forrest Lyon, 1890 to 1894, '01

Stephen R. Edgerton 1895, 1896

Henry Henderson Tubbs, 1897 '98

Wallace Hartwell 1899

Le Grand Latham 1900

Wilbur George \\eeks__1902. [903

Francis Havilah Fames. 1904, 1905

John Henry Snyder, Jr., 1906, 1907

Norton E. Carter 1908

George Olney Kellogg r909

Will Edmund Dunbar 1910

James Elverton Brett 191 t

Albert C. Beckwith was chosen in 1894, but could not serve, and thus
Mr. Lyon added another year to his official usefulness.

The duties of treasurer have been well discharged by:

Hollis Latham 1869 to 1884 Fred Willard [sham 1901

Charles Wales 1885 to 1896 Charles Dunlap 1902 to 1908

Wallace Hartwell. 1897, 1898, 1900 Hark) Cornelius Nbrris 190*) 11

Le Grand Latham 1899

These yearly meetings, in the best of all the months, made opportunities
for a few hours of reunion of such of the pioneer families as bad been neigh-
bors and friends in their eastern homes, but had long been separated b\ nearh
the county's width. There was for several years yet so much of the pioneer
ways among them that it was not unusual to bring with them old-fashioned
picnic baskets, well filled with the richness of this favored land, and the fair-

I96 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

ground buildings gave shelter when needed. Fortunate was the villager of
Elkhorn, who, straying among the several groups, found at lunch time old
or new friends from the county corners. For that once in the twelve-month
such hungry, water-mouthed wight might do as "Governor Hartran-uft."
who, it was told, "h'isted food at the Eisteddfod and stuffed, and stuffed,
and stuffed." It was a custom, for a few of these earlier years, of good Elk-
horners to supply the lunchers with enough coffee, sugar and cream for the
day's need. The pioneers are gone, and a fourfold cord no longer hinds the
society, but a threefold cord is still strong enough to hold together their suc-
cessors. The year's business is generally dispatched with little debate and
less dissenting vote. Domestic and imported speakers fling about their spells
of woven words and waving arms, thus to hind indulgently consenting hearers
to their hard seats and wearying standing places, alternating with band play-
ers and douhle-quartette singers. Governors, congressmen and eminent
thunderers at the bar of greater county seats have aforetime come this way
in much desired June, and may conic in long aftertime to lend the day each
his "small peculiar," and to see old Walworth in one of it- non-sectarian.
non-partisan, uncommercial, unscheming aspects.

The Walworth Count) Historical Society was incorporated August 29,
1904, by ten members of the I'M Settlers' Society. It was not attempted, as
in other years, to arouse the indifferent, nor to assemble unknown friends of
such a movement. Mr. Page said to a friend, "Let us act at once." Eight
more friends were ready for instant action, and the dream or hope of [846
became a reality. Nine of these movers were named in the first officer list.
which is yet unchanged 1 except as to treasurer) by election, resignation, re-
moval, or death; and the tenth lies in a soldier's grave. In it- first report, in
September, [904, to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, to which the
count) society is auxiliary, was shown a list of twenty members. Pursuant to
provisions of chapter '150, statutes of 11)07. a room in the basemenl of the
count \ courl building, well wanned and lighted and accessible, was in that
year placed at the society's service for storage of it- bulkier collections
\houi two hundred feet of shelving is crowded with its variously valuable
printed matter. I low this societ) sees the task it ha- undertaken may he
fudged, perhaps, from the following extract from it- reporl for 1006:

"This hod)- is made up of intelligent members, who are therefore ca-
pable of doing some useful work, and who. h\ the fad of their membership,
ma\ be presumed to he willing so to contribute to the society's objects. ITo
find and take some working part, greal or -mall. 1- to assure and increa -
ch one's permanent interest in the institution we have founded. We have

WALWORTH C01 NTY, WISCONSIN. 1 97

taken the first step, which costs; and movement forward at some fair rale,
and continuously, is but a just expectation. Neither one nor a hundred willing
minds and hands can do all that has been too long left undone; hut we can
gather no inconsiderable fraction of the records and memories of the past
and tlie passing, and can move onward with the ceaselessly coming.

"A great collection of hooks, pamphlets, circulars, maps, charts, diagrams,
pictures, autograph letters, and relics of real interest is very desirable; hut
such matter will accumulate with comparatively little effort. The most im-
portant division of our work — one that may yet give some distinction to our
societv — is what each member or his friends may contribute: Manuscript
accounts of early arriving families; of the earlier social life; of long-gone
relatives and esteemed friends; of pioneer road-making; of abandoned high-
wavs; of the growth of villages; of church building; of earlier schools; of
business development, and changes therein; of the decay of certain industries
and the causes thereof; of crop-, greatly above or below the average; of
changes in the county landscape arising from known causes; of earlier
caucuses, conventions, and public meetings; of various phases of public
opinion; of early mail communication; of wayside taverns; of stage routes;
of past generations — how they lived, how employed and amused themselves;
where men and families came from, and whither they went for greener
graves: of epidemic diseases and other notable calamities; of the personal
appearance and distinctive qualities of men in public service, and similarly of
law vers, physicians, and clergymen; of personal service in war; of local geo-
graphical names now disused or not found on maps — in short, of things the
like of which we mis- in the meager details of the histories of our ancestral
Eastern towns, and which will he valuable in many ways to coming genera-
tions, since they will show how men, women and children of the nineteenth
and first decade of the twentieth centuries lived, thought and acted."'

MEM BER LIST.

Adkins, Henry De Lafayette. Elkhorn 1904

Beckwith, Albert Clayton. Elkhorn |

Beckwitb, Edward Seymour (died), Elkhorn [904

Hill. Dr. Benjamin Jephthah, Genoa Junction |'M<>

Bradley, Henrj (died), Elkhorn [908

*Bradley. William Mallory, Sail Lake City 1905

Brett, Jame> Elverton, Springfield i9°5

Carswell, Orland, Elkhorn |'>"|

I98 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Child, William. Lafayette 1906

Cook, Daniel Seymour, Whitewater 1911

Derthick, Edna Lorene, Elkhorn I9°4

*Douglass, Carlos Stewart, Fontana 1910

Eames, Francis Havilah, Elkhorn I9°4

Fellows, Theodore A. (died), Genoa Junction 1910

Flanders, Joseph Taylor (died), Lyons 1909

Frater, George William, Elkhorn I9°7

Goff, Sidney Clayton, Elkhorn I9°8

Harrington, Grant Dean, Elkhorn 1910

*Isham, Fred Willard, Elkhorn 1904

Isham, Ruth Eliza (Wales), Elkhorn 1904

Kellogg, George Olney, Elkhorn 1905

*Kinne, Dr. Edward, Elkhorn I9°4

Larnard, Ira Pratt, Delavan 1911

Lean, Frank William, Lagrange I9°5

Lyon, Jay Forrest, Elkhorn I9°4

Meacham. William Pitt (died), Troy 1911

Morgan, Theron Rufus (died). Elkhorn ■ 1905

Morrison. Smith Baker, Elkhorn ■ I9°6

Page. Jaw Wright. Elkhorn I9°4

Rockwell. Le Grand, Elkhorn T9°6

Skiff. Benjamin Franklin. Flkhorn 1904

Skiff, Tris Emeline (Stowe), Elkhorn I9°4

Snyder, Clifford Francis. Munich 1906

*Snyder. John Henry, Jr.. Elkhorn I9°4

Sprague, Edward Harvey, Elkhorn . 1904

Thomas. Katherine Wentworth, Elkhorn 1904

♦Wales, Charles Marshall. New York 1904

"West, Walter \anm. Elkhorn 1004

Mr. Morgan died September 28, [905; E. S. Beckwith, May 28, 1009;

Henry Bradley, August 17. [909; Captain Fellows died Fehruan 10. 1012;

Mr. Flanders, December [6, [909. Asterisks denote members of the State
Society. Officers, 1904-11)11: Beckwith, president: Lyon, vice-president;
I. II. Snyder, secretary; Kinne, corresponding secretary; Eames, librarian:
Carswell, treasurer; Page, F, W. [sham and Sprague, executive committee.

CHAPTER XVIII.

EDITORSHIP AUTHORSHIP THE FINE ARTS.

Since no country nor generation of men is permitted to foreknow how
much of its own literature shall live and become classic, it is, of course, yet
too early to say what and how much of the Walworthian product of seventy-
five vears will outlive contractor-built state houses and the everywhere seen
triumphs of statuary art. If another Sidney Smith should ask who reads a
book, goes to a play, looks at a picture or statue, of Walworthian make, or
what the world owes to Walworthian science or industrial skill, the answer
must be a re-echo of the unkindly needless question. But, if there is a great
uncaring world outside of Walworth, there is, too, a modestly self-esteeming
world-in-little within her borders — one which lives not alone by the products
of her fertile acres. As vet it is true ( not too true, but simply true i that neither
son nor daughter of one of these seventeen towns has gained greatest dis-
tinction in literature or other form of art, or has greatly enlarged the domain
of pure or applied science, or has added to the list of best-selling patent rights.
But there were early signs and are yet tokens of aspiration in all these
directions.

The foundations of written history, for this county, were laid chiefly by
Mr. Dwinnell, Judges Gale and Baker, Prosper Cravath and James Simmons.
Others have contributed their personal recollections and impressions, of less
historical value, but interesting and useful. But if these five forethoughtful
men had not made and preserved notes concerning men they knew and events
in which they had a part, the county's history would be but gleanings from
the broken files of newspaper, from the sometimes discontinuous official lists,
and from the meager and disjointed minutes of clerks and secretaries of the
courts and boards — often needing for their interpretation the intelligent mem-
ory of men long ago dead. It is not much which these early chroniclers and
annalists have left to posterity, hut. such as it is, it supplies the <\r\ bones of
clerical entries with -Mine flesh and blood to give them more human aspect.

Rev. Solomon A. Dwinnell, for nearly fourteen year- resident in La-
fayette, removed in [850 to Reedsburg. lie then seems to have planned a
history of the pioneer period of the count) he had left. lie made a
considerable roll of scrappy notes — historical, descriptive, reminiscent and

2O0 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

reflective. His papers contain autobiographical sketches, prepared at his re-
quest by Dr. Mills and Judge Allen. In these papers Judge Allen, though not
excessively diffident nor sparing of words, tells too little; while Dr. Mills,
thought quite modest enough and not too lavish of words, tells too much.
Mr. Dwinnell died in 1879, and Mrs. Dwinnell gave his manuscripts to the
State Historical Society, and part of their contents have been published in
that body's "Collections."

Judge Gale made sixteen very orderly, legible and helpful foolscap pages
of notes on the settlement and organization of the county, its early school
meetings, temperance movements, and the first newspaper — his own. at Elk-
horn in 1845. He knew that of which he wrote, and his accuracy may easily
enough be trusted. His interest in public affairs was active and intelligent,
and his judgment of men with whom he acted appears to have been calmly
favorable — neither censorious nor eulogistic.

ludge Baker's chief service to local history is contained in a paper first
read at a meeting of old settlers in [869, then revised by himself and. with
an introduction by Lyman C. Draper, published in the State Historical So-
cietv. sixth volume of "Collections." It naturally lacks Judge Gale's concise-
ness, since it covers a longer period of time and includes greatly more detail
of local interest. His estimate of Judge Irvin proves himself an indulgent
judge of his fellow men.

fames Simmons published his carefully compiled "Annals of Lake Ge-
neva." 222 pages octavo, in [897. lie was in every way qualified a- to judg-
ment, taste and literary turn of mind, and by his personal knowledge and his
wide acquaintance with men of the county, for the preparation of this valuable
local history, lie should have been, had other pursuits allowed, the historian
of the county. In such case, his work would have l>een done with all possi-
ble fullness and accuracy, and in kindliest spirit — and in his own clear, grace-
ful style.

Prosper Cravath, surveyor and lawyer, and not unskilled in the art of
telling himself "for many years really the foremost citizen of Whitewater"
in tS;N published his recollections and impressions of the village a- he
knew it between [837 and [857. This was in a series of articles for the
Whitewater Register. Pitt X. Cravath began a continuation of his father's
ik by compiling from the local columns of thai helpful newspaper. His
friend. Spencer S Steele, who had promised to share the proposed labors,
presently found himself sole compiler. Cravath's notes having been lost, Mr.
Steele u.i- obliged to begin at [858, and he carried the work forward t" [868.
The Civil war, as it affected the town and village, received full attention, and

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 201

several circumstances of long later interest to soldiers and their friends are
thus preserved permanently. In [906 these partial histories, with shod
papers by Airs. Melinda I Mack) Pratt, Julius C. Birge, Mrs. Louise I Wood-
bury 1 Palmiter. Daniel Seymour Cook. Mrs. Rachel O. (Shepard) Cook,
Edwin D. Coe and Albert Salisbury, were published as "Annals of White-
water," a duodecimo volume of 283 pages, edited by Prof. Salisbury and pub-
lished by the "Federation of Women's Clubs in Whitewater."

The newspaper, from 1845 onward, afforded an outlet for the breathing
thoughts and unfrozen words of men who cared not to go to the length of
pamphlet or book on politics, temperance, public morals, currency, state reve-
nue and many another more or less fiercely burning question of their time;
and on the less combustible topics of schools, farmers' interests and local im-
provements. These articles, even if unsigned, were often, if not usually, too
carefully thought and too ably and forcibly written to be mistaken for edi-
torial effort; though editorship here was not inferior to that of other counties.
At the least, these volunteer contributors gave wholesome variety to the
weekly editorial entertainment. Among the occasional writers now mosl
easily and clearly recalled were Judges Baker, Gale, Colder, Spooner and
Wentworth, Cyrus Church. Cravath, Eastman, George Esterly, Milton Gard-
ner. Osborn Hand, Dr. Henderson. Menzie, Dr. Reynolds, Simmons, H. F.
Smith and A. S. Spooner.

Whatever may be other or final judgment as to the relative merits of
these men. considered as writers, for the purpose of this volume. Wvman

S] ner is placed first. He thought with deliberate care, and wrote like a

master of that classic English prose of which his long study and great love
had availed him much, preferring "high seriousness," but not scornful of oc-
casional lighter graces of literary composition. Mr. Church wrote of (he
earlier schools of Walworth, in new-paper articles preserved in the Historical
Society's much-containing scrap-books. Mr. Hand, a nearly self-taught
teacher and very thorough in the rudiments, had also read the English classics
with pleasure and profit: but his written matter was less weighty than
Spooner's. He had some eccentricities in conversation, but he wrote candidly
and clearly. Hi-; friend. Eastman. loved paradox so well that hi- simpler-
minded friends knew not when he was sincere. Dr. Samuel Win Henderson
wrote in the spirit of the duelisl who lire- to kill, and sometimes illustrated
with hi- own jack-knife "it white pine, a- wickedly Funny as Nast's pictorial
persecution-, though in other ways quite unlike. Menzie wrote with much
abilitv and vigor, but a- if duly retained, like a practical lawyer. Mr.
Simmons was possessed of nearly all the mental, moral and personal qualities,

202 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

and in not noticeably lower degree, that lie so generously ascribed to Judge
Baker. It is not unlikely that he had a finer, nicer literary sense than his
friend; though one would not willingly compare these men to the lessening of
either. He wrote with a natural grace of his own and with seeming ease,
though his materials were often enough collected with patient care. He could
write in terms of partisan warfare, but that was not his chosen task. In his
later life he was employed in "digesting" the vast bulk of decisions of the
higher courts of New York and of Wisconsin. His older fellow citizens had
long hoped that whenever Judge Golder should lay off the burden of the
county judgeship its honors and salary would pass to such a worthy suc-
cessor; but a little- revering generation gave a small plurality to a younger
man, a nearly newcomer, though Mr. Simmons was second among four candi-
dates. The other aforenamed writers wrote with much ability, and with
more or less vigor and elegance, like decently educated gentlemen, but with
no strongly marked distinctiveness of style.

In newspaper editorship the highest place must be accorded, as his birth-
right and his conquest, to Edwin Delos Coe. He was equipped for duty by
various experiences, as student, soldier, lawyer, before he began "to turn the
crank of an opinion mill" at Whitewater. The Register had always been one
of the best village newspapers in the state. Mr. Coe soon placed it beside the
"first among equals." His well-filled local page reflected his most likable
personality, and he was not hidden or disguised in his incomparable editorial
column. I k- wrote with no air of superior wisdom or authority, but bestowed
freely upon his fellow editors his professional and personal courtesy, which
fell like the dew of ITermon upon the half-deserving and the nearly undeserv-
ing, lie affected nothing, not even modesty, though never a man with a press
at his hark was less self-assertive. When the sterner duty of a party organ
called upon him to smite and spare not, his pen became indeed a wea]>on of
offense. I If was wholly free from editorial or literary jealous), hut over-
generously gave others "more praise than niggard truth would willingly im-
part." In short, lie brought to his work' learning, world-knowledge, judg-
ment, tact, insight, wide-ranging fellow feeling, humor, and with these all
the armory of wordy war.

Major Shepard S. Rockwood, an infant settler of Lafayette, ex-soldier,
normal school professor of literature and mathematics, poet, elocutionist and
scholar in politics, was in his own way as editorially Forceful as Coe and
more industrious and laborious, lie wrote with the precision, directness and
conclusiveness of geometrical demonstration. As a means to his political ad-
vancement he bought the senior paper at Elkhorn, in 1882, and for one vear

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 203

edited even' line of it, even to its stereotype plates. He made the Independent
a positive quantity and an appreciable force in Wisconsin newspaperdom.
His hope was to sit in the Assembly of 1883 and in the forty-ninth and sub-
sequent Congresses; but the men of the district which he had left in boyhood
and to which he had but lately returned, knew little of him, except that he
seemed "too far up the gulch" for them. Besides. 1882 was a politically bad
year for many another honorably aspiring citizen. He passed early in [883
to a daily paper at Janesville, and thence to the Register, at Portage, where
he died in 1905.

Ely B. Dewing's education was of common schools and printing offices.
He had an early liking for the best in literature, and his style was formed,
not by conscious or unconscious imitation of any of the masters, but by catch-
ing something of the breath and finer spirit of many. He never accepted him-
self as a great writer, and thence, perhaps, was a greater than he knew. His
knowledge of men best worth knowing was not so state-wide as that of Coe,
Rockwood or Cravath; but his work and ways were not provincial. To these
contemporary editors he was not a jealous rival, but a kindred soul. As act-
ing editor of the Independent from mid-1884 to the end of 18S8. he gave
that paper some distinction in Wisconsin pressdom. His was within that
golden period when Horace Rublee, John Xagle. Governors Hoard and Peck,
Lute Niemann, James Monahan, Nicholas Smith. Champion Ingersoll and
Colonel Watrous gave wholesome substance and variously pleasing and stimu-
lant flavor to editorial discussion and local commentary.

In most ways different from these three rare spirits, though in his own
way fit to make them four, was Pitt Noble Cravath. Apparently unlike' his
father and mother in body, mind and spirit, though, no doubt, he was in some
way their true heir, he seemed rather Gallic than Anglo-Saxon. Tie was
readily drawn to new things in politics, but not disposed to overturn the social
order, and he loved the clamor of partisan discussion — himself one of the
noisiest, but least likely to degenerate to demagogism or fanaticism. The
work of party organization was very much to his liking. His paper, al first
named the "Ptiddingstick." was edited with sufficient vivacity and originality,
but did not much reflect his personal qualities. Ili^ tongue, organ of his
impulsiveness, might move him to much radical utterance: hut his pen sub-
dued him to editorial decorum. A second newspaper at a city or village of
Walworth may bring a little fleeting fame, hut it requires mure than brilliant
editorship to make it live and support a family, 1 ravath had other abilities,
and the county was not yet ready for political revolution and reconstruction.

In their own day it was good fortune to know these four editors, and it

204 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

is yet pleasant to such as live and remember, though it be regretfully, to have
known them. It was not editorship that passed away with their death or re-
tirement, but only the quality or flavor that each gave it from his own person-
ality. Men whose shadows now lengthen in the low westering sun may re-
call, without morbidness, the memory of thing's that "come not back with time
and tears."

It would be as easy to tell who first broke the surface of the county with
a factory-made garden spade as to name the first to "build the lofty rhyme."
She may have been one of the Misses Bigfoot, in Algonquin elegiacs, not
translatable without damage to its sense and beauty. He may have been
Christopher Payne, whose life was a Homeric epic, and whose precious manu-
script may have been destroyed in the war with Brink. Since chronological
order is impossible, no order at all may answer here.

If this county ever really had a poet the critics must determine between
George W. Steele and Shepard S. Rockwood. In 1904 Mr. Steele published
a small volume, "Dierdre, a Tale of Erin, and Other Verse." The legends of
the Celtic maiden are as numerous as those of the Arthurian heroines, and
tlu- lawyer of Whitewater owed nothing to Mr. Yeats. It is not the general
purpose here to assort, grade or appraise the poetic product of the county, but
a few words may not lie useless. The diction and idiom of these poems are
English and intelligible, neither "gaud} nor inane." There is in them neither
Greek nor Browningese, no affectations of obsolete words and grammar, even
those of Chaucerian or Spenserian kind or flavor, no ingenious coinages, no
new licenses or excess of old ones, no patent-applied- for philosophy of life,
nebulous metaphysics, questioning of omnipotent purpose, and not too much
of Arnoldian high seriousness. Neither is there more echo of the ancient and
modern (lassies than one likes to meet in reading new authors. If these nega-
tives do not prove this volume poetry, they may indicate that the author
wrote with judgment and taste, and that his work may claim fairly thus much
ii' 'I ice in this compilation.

The total sum of Major Rockwood's published poetry would not till
more than ,1 vest-pocket volume, lie was not unknown as a paid contributor
to Eastern magazines, and wrote poems for greal occasions One of his more
notable efforts "l" the latter kind, recited in his intense manner of declama-
tion t" a state mass meeting "i Republicans at Madison in 1880, was said to
have drawn iron tears down Zachariah Chandler's cheeks, lu his not too
frequent lighter moods Rockwood dropped into politico-satirical lyrics; but.
in general, his muse was a well behaved, sobei minded member of the sacred
nine, lie had strong common sense and well controlled feeling, and also sense

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. .20^

of poetic form with feeling for the sweetness of unheard melody. Thus, his
thought was not commonplace, his expression mawkish, nor his lines left
half-filled.

Most spontaneous, facile, fluent of home poets was in the fifties, a young
man of Elkhorn, at once, and in proportions about equal, a poet, mechanical
inventor, journalist and critic. Horace Lucian Arnold's fast-driven pen
dropped eight-syllable rhymed couplets as if their flow were endless, and no
verse form was beyond its achievement. This promising young man's poetical
reading had given him a standard for measurement of his own product, and
he was too self-critical to print his clever crudities. Nor would he revise.
recast, or redress them. It was easier to write a wholly new poem tonight
than to perfect last night's work. In the course of more than fifty years he
has contributed poems, stories, reporter work, reviews, mechanical and scien-
tific discussion to the press of Chicago, New York, Edinburgh and elsewhere.
Though his work has never quite reached greatness, it is virile, and it usually
compels some reader's attention. A collection, with due selection, of his
lyrics would show that here was one more of Walworth to whom poetrv was
not a thing of rhyme-ends onlv.

The county has known and sometimes honored its own song writers,
poets of occasions and casual contributors to the poet's corner. Rev. Henry
De Lancey Webster, Ely B. Dewing. John L. Forrest, John T. Wentworth,
James Simmons. S. Fillmore Bennett, Charles H. Burdick and Mrs. Harriet
Marian | Perkins) Leland are among the best remembered. Of the living
there are many more, no doubt, than can be named here; and their modest
merit is known to a few friendly readers. Though the wide world may never
find out these younger children of the muse, the sweetness of a well-
remembered line, stanza, or poem may linger yet long in some kindly memory.
Seth Knapp Warren, son of the pioneer mill owner, had more education
and a better reading habit than most of his schoolmates at Lake Geneva, and
in later life turned more than the\ to the story of the universe, as told bj the

"i" and the later scientists He digested his reading at leasl partially, and
the resull of his reading and thinking or musing was a bound volume of

ii\ four small pages, printed at home in [888. His matter is chiefly a
compact and generall) fairly and temperately worded, though possibly in-
accurate restatement of the theorj of evolution a- to the origin of stars and
solar system-. His own attitude is indicated in few words at page i (.: "Bui
until some theorj i which can show clearly that thi i natural

powers * * * could form solar stems, with all their motions, from
chaos we would better follow and teach the biblical accounl of creation; as ii

206 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

is, even in its literal sense, the most reasonable that has ever been written."
He objects to science that while it has found much of the laws of the universe,
it lias wholly failed to find the law-giver ; and he shrewdly takes into his ac-
count the differences he finds among scientists. His work had the approval
of the late Rev. Isaac N. Marks, of the Episcopal church at Lake Geneva.
It is at least easy to read, for it is seasoned with fewest technical terms and
is wholly free from mathematical formulae and scientific tabulations. Mr.
Warren wrote and talked like an intelligent gentleman, and he had, moreover,
some artistic tastes and aspirations.

In the art of musical composition the county for long heard but one
name, that of Joseph P. Webster, who came from Racine to Elkhorn in 1857
as a teacher of music. Between that year and his death in 1875, it is believed,
he produced most of his songs, cantatas and other compositions. His pub-
lishers were Higgins & Company. Lyon & Healy and Root & Cady, of Chi-
cago, and Ditson, of Boston. A flood of newer music has half-effaced the
recollection of his once familiar titles, though nut all have thus been retired
from public favor. The little story of one of these seems worth preserving.

In 1865, L. J. Bates, of Detroit, submitted to Lyon & Healy the words
of a song and asked for a suitable composer. He was advised to write to
Air. Webster, and in the same year these publishers put forth "It Will Be
Summertime, By and By," words by L. J. Bates, music by J. 1'. Webster. It
is not here known how much favor this song found, but it is recalled that it
was sung at the dedication of the Normal School at Whitewater in 1870.
Five four-line stanzas, with each a varying five-line chorus, contained these
lines, the second of each chorus: "Wait we the dawn of the
bright by and by; Watch for the day-star of the dear by and 1>\ : I 'ray for
the dawn of the sweet by and by; Is there, oh! is there a glad by and by:
Herald the dawn of the blest by and by." The closing lines of these choruses
were: "It will lie summertime by and by; Earth will be happier, bv and by;
Truth will be verified, by and by; Faith will be justified, by and by; Right
will be glorified, by and by." The principal lines recited the several wrongs
endured by poor humanity.

These lines seemed to Mr. Webster to express the thought which he had
no skill to utter but in music, and their writer became at once his dear friend.
One of these phrases he repeated so often that another song-writer in 1868
fol'owed its hint and gave it a new setting. Mr. Webster went home, and
choosing from his store of musical memoranda that which besl suited his sense
of the occasion's propriety, he worked out with his habitual care and patience
the "Sweet By and By." on which the world lias been pleased to rest his

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 20/

fame as a composer. For him there was no such word as '"impromptu" in art.
Passages, long 01 short, might he "inspired," but the entire and perfect work
must be reached by the methods of other artists, lie worked by the laws of
his own intellect and feeling, which he obeyed because he could not suspend
or change them. He was self-critical, and he knew well when he could work
and when he must wait. Xo publisher could urge him, no fellow-composer
advise him, no friend lead him. He was little critical as to the literary quality
of songs offered him. but only required that their sentiment should be humane
and decent, and that harsh consonantal sounds should be filed to smoothness.

Frank S. Harrington I 1 854-1909), a son of Nicholas M. Harrington, of
Delavan and Darien, became at an early age a singer of more than usual prom-
ise. Fncouraged by the friendly appreciation and advice of Professor Web-
ster, he subjected himself to thorough training in the principles of musical
composition, and for several years was known to eastern publishers as a com-
poser of organ music. At the time of bis death he seemed on the way to
greater distinction in his art.

The schools of Boston. London, Paris and Rome have drawn from the
county several pupils of the higher culture and instruction in vocal and instru-
mental music. The art of hearing music is also cultivated, and the lights of
the operatic or lyric stage draw yearly hundreds of hearers to Chicago and
Milwaukee, each for at least one evening's soul-felt delight. Such singers and
performers of national fame as do not scorn the smaller audiences find ap-
preciative hearers at the cities of Walworth. Local philharmonic clubs lend
their not negligible influence to elevate the public taste for immortal music.
In olden time, too, the county has had its string bands, cornetists, flutists,
pianists and vocalists, their various performances, once thought incompara-
ble, yet recalled as remembered pleasures.

The palette and brush have drawn many young men and maidens aside
from commoner things, though few have persevered, and fewer are within
any one person's present recollections. This, of course, by reason of their
long absence. One of these was John Bullock, at Lake Geneva, who painted
landscapes with some success and who seemed born for further achievement
hail not fate been untoward. David Walling Humphrey, a school boy at
Elkhorn and art student at Chicago, has won recognition among artists.
William T. Thorne, of Delavan, has reached a high place as a portrait painter,
and has his studio at New York. Adolph T. Schultz, also of Delavan, lianas
his landscapes at the Chicago Art Institute. Clifford Francis Snyder, of Elk-
born, practiced as a doctor of dental surgery for some years at Berlin, having.
though a young man. imperial patronage, for American dentistry was then in

208 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

high favor there. He sold his business and placed himself under Benjamin
Constant's instruction at Paris, and later under that of Albert Nieuwhuis, at
Laren, Holland. From boyhood his aptness in portrait drawing was marked.
He went in jcjoo to "Munich, there to sojourn, it may be, until overtaken by
fame, wealth, or death.

Oratory, as an art. has had here but one true votary, namely, John
Luther Lamkin (1854-1896), of that part of Sharon town called South
Grove. He wedded himself to a possibly original theory of his art: in effect,
that voice and action are all, — if, only the voice be trained to the hoarseness
of thunder and the action be suited to the orator's conception of the beauti-
fully terrific in muscular motion. His words need have no meaning, if but
polysyllabic and sonorous. He imagined or boasted that he could crack a
plate glass window by an abrupt emission of sound from the lower cells of his
lungs. But Lamkin threw thunderbolts gracefully, and his meeting, saluting,
passing, parting, even on the street, were fine-art illustrations. For the
rest, he was a thrifty farmer and a worthy citizen.

Since 1856 the only lawyers who seem to have cultivated a great forensic
style were Norton and Ingalls. William C. Norton was son of a farmer of
Lafayette. I lis voice and manner were somewhat dramatic. Inn lie was re-
garded as a forceful speaker. None better than he could raise an ant-hill
matter to the height of the tree tops, and none could better move his client
to self-pitying. Wallace [ngalls, a native of Linn, acquired an agreeable and
effective delivery and never forgot to adjust his words and actions to the
needs of his carefully considered matter. Alphonso G. Kellam, Alfred D.
Thomas, Thompson 1). Weeks and Charles B. Sumner never attempted the
higher flights; but the) are Favorablj remembered for their clear, candidly
persuasive and gentlemanly manner of laying their cases before jurors — often
the most effective eloquence. Each of these men was often called upon as
speaker for more public occasions. None of them, excepl [ngalls, now at
Racine, is yet living.

CHAPTER XIX.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST.

The formation of local temperance societies began at Spring Prairie as
early as 1838. In this work the men and women of Delavan, Elkhorn, Geneva,
and Whitewater were but a few weeks or months behind Mr. Dwinnell's
neighbors. At Lake Geneva. December 25, 1839, a temperance society was
formed by fifty citizens, at Mr. Baker's house: Benjamin Ball, president;
John Chapin, vice-president; Charles M. Baker, secretary; Charles M. Good-
sell, William K. May and Morris Ross, executive committee. In the autumn
of 1843 a county society of Wasbingtonians was formed at a meeting as-
sembled at the -court house. Its officers were Doctor Mills, president ; William
A. Bartlett and Jarvis K. Pike, vice-presidents; James Simmons, secretary;
George Gale, treasurer; James O. Eaton, Solomon A. Dwinnell and Expe-
rience Estabrook, executive committee. No further record of this societv is
found, but among well-remembered and oft-repeated names of organizers and
sympathizers are those of Ball, Baker, the Goodsells, Hall, Lake. McNish,
the Phoenixes, Potter, the Spooners, Sturtevant, Topping and Vail.

These early movements were followed by a continuous line of societies
similar in form and devoted to like purpose, namely: By moral suasion to
induce men to become total abstainers from the products of the distillery,
brewery, wine-vat and cider-press Closely after them came, first, the Sons of
Temperance, then the Good Templars. — both continuing with varying acti\it\
and energy until all such societies, with their doctrines and rituals, became
supplanted by or merged in politically organized prohibitionism. Hut the
growth of total abstinence, as a habit of life rather than as a moral dogma
professed, is not exactly measurable by the number of votes counted lor the
Prohibitionist party ticket.

Until 1871 the statutory fee for bar-room license was nol less than twen
ty-five nor more than fort) dollars. In 1873 the higher limit was made one
hundred dollars, and in [874 one hundred and fiftj dollars. |n September,
1889. pursuant to a new statute, the villages voted separately to determine if
flu- fee should be two hundred and fifty dollars, three hundred and fifty
dollar-, or five hundred dollars, and the highest sum prevailed. When the

(14)

2IO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

license fee was lowest it went, appropriately enough', to the poor fund : when
increased it went to road and street fund ; it is now part of the general fund
of cities, villages and towns. The effect of the higher fee has not heen
to reduce the number of drinking places — nor, perhaps, to increase it. though
there are more licenses issued than before.

CIVIC SOCIETIES.

The several affiliated societies, fraternal and benevolent, found here at
once a friendly atmosphere; for, within and without the lodge rooms, Wal-
worth is sociable and neighborly. Freemasonry began almost with the villages,
and, though it has felt some alternations of zeal and luke-warmth, it has with-
stood the assaults of well-meaning opponents at home and of wandering
apostles from Wheaton. It was never healthier in body and spirit than it is
here in 1911. Its feminine ally, the Order of the Eastern Star, also finds favor
here as elsewhere about the states. The list of lodges, past and present, is
shown as follows:

Harmony Xo. 12, Delavan (with Elkhorn), discontinued in 1859.

St. James No. 41, East Troy, chartered in 1853.

Geneva No. 44, Lake Geneva, chartered in 1853.

St. John's No. $y. Whitewater, chartered in 1855.

Elkhorn No. yy. Elkhorn, chartered in 1856.

Sharon No. 116, Sharon, chartered in [859.

Delavan No. 121, Delavan, chartered in [860.

I >arien No. 126, Darien. chartered in i860.

Spring Prairie No. 1 .V- Spring Prairie, discontinued 1904.

Geneva Junction Xo. 250, Geneva Junction, chartered in [894.

Walworth Xo. 286, Walworth, chartered in [903.

There are Four Royal Arch chapters: Elkhorn Xo. 17. Union 1 at Lake
Geneva) Xo. 28, Delavan Xo. 38, Whitewater Xo. 00. A commandery of
the Masonic degrees of knighthood, at Delavan, is numbered 33.

Odd Fellowship had also an early foothold, and ha^ not yel yielded
wholly to the rivalry of the younger orders. Knights of Pythias, Modern
Woodmen, Catholic Knights and Knights of Columbus have each established
their claim to recognition as a part of modern social life.

The Grand Army of the Republic, its membership limited by the lives
of one generation of men, is by that circumstance peculiarly conditioned. Its
normal growth was rapidly upward, reaching its maximum within a few years,
after which it^ course must he steadily downward until nothing hut its records

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 211

and its few relics shall be left as reminders that such a post-bellum comrade-
ship once existed. Its several posts are named and numbered thus:

Abraham Lincoln No. 3, Darien ; George H. Thomas No. 6, Delavan ;
James B. McPherson No. 27, Lake Geneva; Charles E. Curtice No. 34. White-
water; Rutherford B. Hayes No. 76. Elkhorn; Henrv Conklin No. 171. East
Troy ; Duane Patten No. 270, Sharon.

TURTLE CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT.

Proceeding under provisions of chapter 419, statutes of 1905. two-thirds
or more of the interested owners of land lying along Turtle creek and marsh
filed their petition, November 1, 1908, to the circuit court for the establish-
ment of the Turtle Creek Drainage District. Charles Dunlap, Henry D.
Barnes and John G. Meadows were appointed commissioners, and took the
oath of office April 19, 1909. Thev were empowered to survey and determine
such ditch lines as they should find practical and expedient, to appraise bene-
fits and damages, and on acceptance of their report to let the contract and see
it faithfully performed. Henry H. Tubbs was employed as civil engineer.
There were several ineffectual remonstrances received and filed, and on June
26, 191 1. the contract was filed. The work is practically begun. The main
ditch begins in section 14 of Richmond, and ends in section 6 of Delavan, its
course generally that of the creek. Its length is 5.94 miles, depth four to
seven feet, with a fall of 14.93 teet- Four lateral ditches — one from section
19 of Sugar Creek — have a total length of 5 25 miles, with fall varying be-
tween 9.15 and [5.2 feet. These nearly eleven miles of ditching and dredging
will cost nearly $38,000, and will drain 3.188 acres. The work includes thirty-
four bridges or crossings.

TROY DRAINAGE DITCH.

A similar petition of owners along the great Hone) creek marsh was
filed in the circuit clerk's office April 13. [910. Judge Belden appointed Walter
A. Babcock, Charles H. Nott and George B. Cain as commissioners and these
men took the official oath October 8, [910. ( In this, as in the other com-
mission, the member first named is chairman, the second is secretary, and the
third is treasurer.) Their report has been accepted, the contract will be let
early in T912. and the work will begin without delay. The main ditch, from
a point in section 25 to a point near the middle of section 31, is 3.375 miles
long, two to twelve feet deep, and lias eighteen feet fall. There are seven

212 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

lateral ditches with total length of 8.75 miles. These ditches will be crossed
by thirty-eight bridges, one of which will cost $1,500. This work will re-
cover or improve 4,832 acres of land, at a cost of nearly 850,000.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF ROADS.

At the session of the county board, November, 191 1, Herman J. Peters,
of Sharon, was chosen county commissioner of roads. This was in accord-
ance with a statute providing for a state system of road-making.

ASSESSOR OF INCOME TAX.

Pursuant to a statute of 19] 1 the office of supervisor of assessments has
been abolished, and that of assessor of income tax created. The first ap-
pointee, in 19 1 2, is William Francis Dockery, of Whitewater.

THE SPECULATIVE SPIRIT.

Not every man of older Walworth was entirely content to hoe in prairie
mould or drudge in village labor for plain subsistence and scant\" savings.
Hardy men went, in iN-|.<) and after years, around Cape Horn and across
plains and Sierras fur the gold of California and Pike's Peak, and a few
came back rich in one kind of experience. Other men, in another way adven-
turous, confided part of their little surplus to the keeping of the beneficent
lottery, and the example of one who drew $3,000 was for long set forth in
Mons. Dauphin's advertisements and circulars as proof that they only can
win greatly who risk a little. Thu>. the sanguine projectors and reckless
schemers ol a later period did not break new ground here.

The return of gold and silver to general circulation, after seventeen
years of irredeemable paper currency, gave rebirth to business of every kind
in 1X71). Monetary panics were thought to have been at last retired to the
limbo of serfdom, judicial torture, the death penalty for petty felonies, and
other relics of the barbarous pasl Confidence soon became extravagant
hope — prolific parent of a few successes and many failures. Speculators of
the type of -elf deluded John Law, of Lauriston, and operators of the tribe
of Montague Tigg, of Pall Mall, flung their enchantments broadcast, and
with such effecl that for a few months not a few men seemed so bereaved of
their usually better judgment thai prudence was out of date and even com:
men ial honoi a barren ideality. Projects, from legitimate to lawless, inviting
inexperienced investors, increased like insects, and men's day-dreams and mi-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 213

sound sleep were rilled with visions of sudden wealth. Among the myriad
temptations were lots in new cities of the South and West and in new sub-
urbs of old cities everywhere between tbe poles, farm lands from Assiniboia
to the Arctic circle, mines of all the metals from aluminum and antimony to
yttrium and zirconium and of minerals from anthracite to zinc-blende, rail-
ways across every continent, oil wells, silk without cocoons, — in fine, gold
from seawater, sunbeams from cucumbers, something from nothing.

Most of these several short roads to riches were in effect one: to buy
printed certificates of shareholding and watch the markets hourly for first
indications of coming showers of the world's chief desire. A local annalisl
has told of one who. living but to make his fellowmen quick-process mil-
lionaires, took real estate and personal property in exchange for shares and
came to own one-sixth part of the area of his home village. There were
about a dozen of these guides to Aladdin's cave who were citizens of the
countv, most Of whom were involved with their clients in the collapse of
their undertakings. The period of greatest local interest to investors and
onlookers was 1885-7. The county was not, as a whole, made poverty
stricken, and speculation did not end with the memorable rise and fall of thai
period, but became of less public concern.

MELODRAMA IN COURT.

A tragi-comic affair was said in the next day's Independent to have
taken place at an evening session of the circuit court. March 31, [859. A
man most improbably named "Burorecy" flung a tobacco quid at somebody
within the bar. The shot hit ex-Judge Cowdery's bald seal]) and. ricochetting,
struck Judge Xoggle's left eye. The startled Judge losl his balance and
knocked over a lamp filled with the compound of camphene and alcohol, then
sold as "burning fluid," spilling it- extra-dangerou contents upon Sheriff
Stone and thence upon ex-Sheriff Pern, whose coat tails caught fire. In
the sudden movements of men— tor a wonder, in the dark -the clerk's bai
was nearly broken, the stove-drum and pipe knocked down, and a general
combat followed in which Messrs. Clarke, Farr, Keep. Kellogg, Lyon and
Menzie were more or less battered or ruffled. Oi course, tin- account was
intentionally made extravagant and impossible, M, to confuse the public mind
as to what had actually taken place, — which, most likely, was some breach of
court decorum by two lawyers not named. Tin- date of publication, too,
may have helped to suggesl to reader- thai all this was but the local reporter's
"joke of the season." But FTotchkiss & Leland were to., editorially caution-

214 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

to take such liberty with the names of judges, sheriffs, and lawyers without
some slight foundation of truth for it. The fact that the following Tuesday
was judicial election day may have disposed Xoggle, Keep and Lyon to let
the voters laugh the matter into forgiveness and speedy forget fulness.

EARLY EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS.

Before a system of common schools could 1>e evolved children were as-
sembled in small groups at the larger log dwellings for private instruction.
Many of the teachers were moved by their sense of duty toward those whose
education seemed too likely to be arrested indefinitely — for some of them — in-
effect, to the marring of all later life. Such names of these teachers as have
been preserved from the wreck of the unrecorded past, and are available for
present use, are too few for imposing tabulation. Dates assigned to teachers
at Elkhorn are conjectural, but nearly correct.

In 1837 Mrs. Rebecca A. Vail, in a room over Andrew Ferguson's store,
at Lake Geneva. She was the wife of James W. Vail, an early settler of
East Troy, and afterward lived at Milwaukee.

1839.

Louisa Augier, at East Troy ; daughter of Robert Augier, of that town
Mary S. Brewster (1816-1910), at Spring Prairie, daughter of Deodat
Brewster, of Geneva (Mrs. Edward Pentland).
Julia Dyer, at Delavan.
Mrs. Ladd, of Mukwonago, at Troy.
Juliette Merrick, at Gardner's Prairie; daughter of ('"1. Perez Merrick.

1 840.

Olive Hooker (aged fourteen), at Lafayette: twenty pupils.

Mary S. Brew ster, 1 '.cne\ ,1.

Ruth A. Bunnell, Lafayette.

Lydia ( "an-, Elkhorn.

Mrs. Mary Carter. Darien.

Hannah M. ("lark. Walworth: eighteen dollars for summer term.

Melissa I Cornish, I .agrange.

I"lm M Lewis, Walworth: eighty dollars Tor winter term.

Chester I). Long, Darien. winter term.

Adeline Met Yaeken. Sugar (reek.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 21 5

Theodoras Bailey Northrop, Lafayette; private school, term finished by
Eben Whitcomb.

Sheldon C. Powers, of East Troy, at Whitewater; district school.
Mrs. Adeline M. (Seaver) Carter.
Dr. John Stacy, of and at Lake Geneva.
Airs. Electa (King) Ward, Bloomfield.
Mrs. Moses D. Williams. Walworth.

[841.

Mary S. Brewster, Elkhorn : district school.
Edward Elderkin, Elkhorn.
Sarah Perrin. Lafayette.

1842.

Marietta Chapman, Lafayette; fifteen pupils.
George W. Hoyt, of Rochester, Lafayette; winter term.
Harriet Lyon. Hudson, a daughter of David Lyon.
J. B. Hunt, Whitewater.

I 843-

Adelaide C. Beardsley — at first for religious instruction, afterward a
district teacher at Elkhorn.

Lydia Chapman, Lafayette (Mrs. Edward Winne).
Henry Farrington, Lafayette.
Gracia Ward, Linn.

NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.

Generally, events here noted are not mentioned elsewhere in this work.
Many more of at least equal interest might have been included had the) been
within the narrow range of one person's knowledge or opportunities for find-
ing and placing them in true order of time.

July 10, 1836. — Colonel Phoenix preached to fifteen persons — all the
neighborhood but one family — at Dr. Hememvay's. Four of these professed
religion. Daniel Salisbury prayed, and all sang. Jul) 17th. the Colonel
preached to the Hemenway family, Palmer Gardner, David I 'ran and daugh-
ter, and Mr. Salisbury. Two of these nodded and Doctor Hemenway fell
fast asleep. At the close of service seven more persons came in.

July 4. 1837. — A dance al Othni Beardsley's house, Troy.

2l6 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

June 15. 1839. — William Birge vs. Willard B. Johnson, first suit dock-
eted in Zerah Mead, Esq.'s court, Whitewater. In this year a sovereign's
court, for settling disputed land claims, was assembled at Whitewater. A
territorial road was made from Rochester to Madison, through Spring Prairie,
Troy, Lagrange and Whitewater.

lulv 4. [840. — Celebration at Whitewater. Dr. James McNisih, of
.Geneva, spoke on intemperance and slavery, at William Birge's big barn.
Milwaukee Weekly Sentinel taken by subscribers at Whitewater.

\pril 25, 1842. — A county agricultural society organized.

1843. — A series of revivalist meetings held at Whitewater.

1844. — A good harvest season; wheat, twenty-five bushels per acre. Tax
on Whitewater Hotel eighty-four cents.

August 8, 1845. — Date of Western Slur, Elkhorn, Vol. 1. Xo. 1.

1841;. 1850, 1851. — A series of increasingly had years for farmers, called
the "pink-eye years."

[851.- A flood swept away several dams in the southern towns

[854- An epidemic of Asiatic cholera.

lune — , 1858. Dams at Duck Lake and Lyons bursted by freshet.

1 800. — An exceptional year for wheat crop. The county's surplus esti-
mated at one million bushels. The crop for the state was largest of any
in the union.

April 2, [867. — Willis Clarke, colored, elected town sealer for White-
water.

[873-4. — Organization of Patrons of Husbandry — Grangers — through-
out the county.

Inly 23, 1874. — Destructive hurricane at Lake Geneva.

Augusl — . 1875. — N. 1\. Fairbank, of Chicago, placed six thousand
young hass in Geneva Lake ami built hatcheries.

lanuarv 8, 1881. County clerk sold park feme to Jacob KLetchpaw.

Max [8, [883. \ destroying whirlwind passed over southern towns.

August — , 1889— \ hoard of pension examiners appointed to sit at
Elkhorn Drs. Benoni O. Reynolds, William Henry Hurlbut and George
I lenry Young, Jr.

May <>, [890. Mr. Simmons noted a snowfall at Lake Geneva.

April 26, [893. George Streng, at Troj village, killed a burglar.

fuly 7. 180;. Steamer "Dispatch," with six passengers, sunk in one
hundred and ten feel of water, Geneva I ake, 1>\ a hurricane.

September 1. 1007. — Barbers of the count) raised shaving rates to fif-
teen cents

\la\ 20. [909. Earthquake tremor felt at Elkhorn and elsewhere.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 2IJ

DAIRY INTERESTS.

Statistics of dairy industries for 191 1 show five milk condensing' fac-
tories: H. M. Clark's, at Delavan; Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company,
at Elkhorn (nearly read}' for work) ; Borden Milk Condensing Company, at
Genoa junction: American Milk Company, at Sharon: Walworth Milk Con-
densing Company, at Walworth. At Lake Beulah is a factory for making
"fancy" cheeses. At Fayetteville, Jacobsville and North Geneva are "skim-
ming stations" of the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company.

The several creameries are distributed and named as here shown :

Adams Adams Little Prairie Little Prairie

Bloomfield Bloomfiekl Lyons Lyons

Bowers Bloomfield Centre Lyons Spring Valley

Darien Darien Richmond East Richmond

Darien Fairfield Richmond j. L. Kilkenny Factory

East Delavan East Delavan Richmond Town Line

East Troy East Troy Sharon North Sharon

Elkhorn Springfield Springfield

Wisconsin Butter &- Cheese Co. Spring Prairie Spring Prairie

Geneva Honey Hill Cheese and Creamery Co.

Heart Prairie Heart Prairie Troy Troy Co-operative

Honey Creek Honey Creek Whitewater Marr's

Lake Geneva Whitewater Union Produce Co.

Lake Geneva Milk & Creamery Co. Zenda Foresl < Hen

Dairv production, as reported for 1910, showed 4,754,48] pounds ol
butter, or four and one-half per cent, of the production of sixty-six counties;
and 147.400 pounds of cheese. Walworth was third in creamery production,
and in fifty-six counties was forty-second in cheesemaking. Amount re-
ceived for all dairv products was $1,438,888. The whole number of cows
milked was 26,022.

EARLY BIRTHS.

The following list of earlier births within the county, though not in
each instance verified by reference to public or family record, musl be nearl]
correct. Names marked * are of buys who became soldiers oi the Civil war:
July j, 1836 — Geneva, daughter of lame- Van Slyke, Geneva; died fune,
1856.

2l8 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Sept. 27, 1836 — William Pitt, son of Urban D. Meacham, Troy; died No-
vember 3, 191 1.

June — , 1837 — Henry, son of Israel Williams, Jr., Linn.

July 8, 1837— Clara Anna, daughter of William Bell, Walworth.

Aug. 11, 1837 — Alfred Delavan, son of Salmon Thomas, Darien; died 1896.

Sept. 14, 1837 — Sarah M., daughter of Sylvester G. Smith, Spring Prairie.

Oct. 12, 1837 — Tirzah Amelia, daughter of Luke Taylor, Darien.

Oct. 12, 1837 — Harriet, daughter of Joseph Whitmore, Spring Prairie.

Oct. 12, 1837 — *Darwin K., son of William K. May, Linn.

Nov. — , 1837 — Mahala, daughter of Solomon Harvey, Spring Prairie.

, 1837- — Henry, son of Robert Godfrey, Walworth.

Mar. — , 1838 — A daughter of Ansel A. Hemenway, Spring Prairie.

June 1, 1838 — Henry, son of Oliver Van Yalin, Spring Prairie.

June 24, 1838 — *Silas Wright, son of Harry Tupper, Bloomfield, died 1865.

Sept. 18, 1838 — Mary, daughter of Nathaniel Bell. Lafayette.

Oct. — , 1838 — *Woodbury, son of Perry G. Harrington, Sugar Creek.

Nov. 13, 1838 — Albert Ogden, son of Milo E. Bradley, Geneva.

Nov. 22, 1838 — Phoebe Ann, daughter of Samuel Cole Vaughn, Spring
Prairie.

Dec. 19, 1838 — Oscar D.. son of Roderick Merrick, Spring Prairie.
- — , 1838 — Helen P.. daughter of John Rosenkrans, Sugar Creek.

Jan. 7, 1839 — Le Grand, son of Hollis Latham. Elkhorn.

.Mar. — , 1839 — * James II.. son of Henry Harrison Sterling, Lafayette.

Apr. i, 1839 — Harriet, daughter of William Bell, Walworth, died 1890.

Apr. 23, 1839 — Frances, daughter of Solomon A. Dwinnell, Lafayette.

May 25, 1839 — Wallace, son of Daniel Hartwell, Lafayette; died 1909.

Oct. 8, 1839 — Jane Eli/a. daughter of Benjamin F, Trow. Bloomfield;
died about 1871.

Nov. 18, 1839 Julius ('., son of William Birge, Whitewater.

Jan. 8, 1840- 'I.hi.Im-n Joseph, son of Sylvester G. Smith. Lafayette;
died [905.

Mar. [2, [840— Leroy Williston, son of Austin I.. Merrick. Spring Prairie;
dead.

Ma\ i<>. [840 William James, son of William Bell, Walworth: killed
< Ictober 8, 1862.

July [3, [840 Emily, daughter of Nathaniel Bell, Lafayette.

Wl; 10. [840 "Henry Christopher, son of Christopher Wiswell, Lafayette.
• [840 Wendell Ptilver, son of W. Fletcher Lyon. Hudson.
. (840 Florana Lily, daughter of John Rosenkrans, Sugar Creek.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 2IQ

— , 1840 — Nancy, daughter of Freeborn Welch. Sugar Creek.

Jan. 21, 1841 — Kinner Newcomb, son of Cyrenus X. Hollister, Darien;

died 191 1.
Mar. 29, 1841 — Otis E., son of Samuel Cole Vaughn, Spring Prairie.
Sept. 1. 1841 — *\Yilliam J., son of James Holden. Lagrange.
July 23, 1842 — *Lucius, son of William Bell, Walworth; died [862.
Aug. 2, 1842 — William H.. son of Samuel Allen, Bloomfield.
Nov. 2, 1842 — *Charles Edward, son of Christopher Wiswell, Lafayette;
died 1864.

— , 1842 — Smith D., son of Daniel Hartwell, Lafayette.

Mar. 10, 1843 — August, son of John Bernhardt Wilmer, East Troy.
Nov. I, 1843 — Mary Jane, daughter of Daniel J. Bigelow, Sugar Creek.
. 1843 — Emmet, son of Thomas McKaig, Geneva.

June 28, 1844 — Hiram Sears, son of William Bell, Walworth.

July 8. 1844 — Helen Louise, daughter of William O. Garfield, Elkhorn.

July 14. 1844 — *William Henry, son of John Mayhew and Lucinda Allen.

Nov. 23, 1844 — Emma Pamela, daughter of Edward Elderkin, Elkhorn.

Nov. 24. 1844 — Lucretia May, daughter of Palmer Gardner, Spring Prairie;

died 1865.

Sept. 14. 1845 — George, son of George Gale and Gertrude Young, Elkhorn.

E \KI.V M VRRIAGES.

There were several known instances in which one. first choosing his
claim, made the coming wife's way clear and then went eastward to marry
her. Thus it was with Palmer Gardner, James Holden and Solomon A.
Dwinnell, for examples. Tin- very earliest marriage ceremonies were likely
to have been performed at Milwaukee. Racine, or at some convenient clergy-
man's or magistrate's just across the county line.

Jan. 2^. [837 — Charles Augustus Noyes and Xanc Page- Warren, of Gen-
eva, at Racine.
Sept. 3. [837 — Reuhen Clark and Maria Van Valin, Spring Prairie.

10. [837 -Sylvanus Spoor and Caroline S. Goodrich, Troy.
Nov. — . 1837 — William Bentley and Jane Campbell, Spring Prairie.
Apr. — , 1838 -Hollis Latham and Lemira (Bradle) 1 Lewis, Elkhorn.
Apr. [8, [839 — Elijah Belding and Man James, Richmond.
May 15. 1839 — Bradley B. Plato and Lucretia C. Hawes, Richmond.
May 25, 1839 — Caleb Blodgett and Orinda Jones, Darien
June 4, 1839 — Rev. Jami I I I ndei and \nn Elizabeth Porter.

220

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

June

12, I<

Aug.

7> I

Aug.

25j I

Sept.

5' J

Oct.

3, li

Nov.

JO, I

Dec.

12, I

Dec.

26, 1

Feb.

9- i

Alar.

28, 1.

Mar.

.v. '

May

4. "

July

9, i

July

9, i

Inh

25, .,

July

25, .

Aug.

13. '

Nov.

5> '

Nov.

10, 1

Nov.

Av 1

Nov.

30. 1

1 )ec.

[3. '

Dec.

22 I

Jan.

12, I

Feb.

24, 1

Alar.

[8, 1

\,.r.

• V '

Apr.

II, 1

Apr.

-'/"■ 1

May

3. 1

June

6, 1

July

3. '•

July

8, 1

Aug.

15, .

I l, i

31, 1!

Nov.

1. 1

Dec

15. 1

839 — Christopher Columbus Cheesebro and Maria Johnson, Darien.

839 — George W. Robinson and Adeline Caldwell.

839 — Ransom Sheldon and Maria Theresa Douglass, Walworth.

839 — Asad Dean Williams and Cynthia B. Powers, Whitewater;

839 — Jacob Hamblin and Lucinda Taylor, Lafayette.

839 — Alexander Hervey Bunnell and Mary Dyer. Spring Prairie.

839 — Austin Leonard Merrick and Esther C. Cook. Spring Prairie.

Syj — John Mather and Hannah Stephenson, Sugar Creek.

840 — John Ruddiman and Mary Bunker, Troy.

840 — Lucullus S. Pratt and Lydia Comstock. Darien.

840 — Tompkins Dunlap and Pearley Adams. Geneva.

840 — Porter Bowen and Hannah Older, Darien.

840 — John Martin and Eliza Ann Cheesebro, Darien.

840 — Martin Pollard and Rachel Powers. East Troy.

840 — Dudley W Cook and Nancy Dunlap, Geneva.

840 — Thomas McKaig and Asenath Dunlap. Geneva.

840 — Marcus Moody and Lucy P. Barker.

840- Josiah Burroughs Gleason and Sarah Bacon, Spring Prairie.
840 — Peter Noblet and Lydia A. Baker, Spring Prairie.
840 — Samuel N. Loomer and Huldah L. Loomer, Sugar Creek.
840 -John Mayhew and Lucinda Allen. Spring Prairie.

840 Leland Latch and Harriet A. Estes, Troy.
840 — Benjamin Sweet and Elvira Cornish, Lagrange.
841 — James Fuller and Ruth L. Bunnell, Lafayette.
841— John Powers (of Linn) and Laura Stephen-. Geneva.
841 — Abel Sperry and Eliza Beckwith, East Troy.

841 -Jonathan Patterson Chapin and Sarah Jerrod, Bloomfield.
841— Orison Gray Ewing and Hannah Watson, Lagrange.

841- Samuel Brittain and Eliza Hoyt, Spring Prairie.
■s 1 1 ■ Oliver Salisbury and Emily Cravath. Whitewater.
841 — Alfred B. Weed and Elizabeth Rice, Richmond.
841— James E. Bell and Chine Electa Van Nostrand.

lleuiA Barlow and Emeline La Bar. Delavan.
84] Theodore Benjamin Edwards and Adeline Moore Mc-

< !racken, Sugar 1 "reek
841 [saac Van Wen Severson and Elizabeth Topping, Walworth.
■v 1 1 David S. Elting and Eliza Manwell, Lagrange.
841 Horace 1 oleman and Juliette Merrick. Spring Prairie.
84] William Carter and Adeline Scaver. Darier

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 22 1

Mar. 23, 1842 — Sterling P. Searles and Ellen Dalton, Geneva.

Apr. 16. 1842 — Norman C. Dyer and .Mary Lake. Hudson.

Apr. 24. 1842 — Stephen B. Davis and Esther Newell, Sugar Creek.

Oct. 13. 1842 — Benjamin Goodwin and Clarinda Wait, Hudson.

Oct. 16. 1842 — Jonathan C. Church and Dorcas James, Richmond.

Nov. 24. 1842 — Charles Taylor and Louisa Augier, East Troy.

■ — , 1842 — Lemuel Rood Smith and Melissa Campbell, Hudson.

Jan. 10, 1843 — James O. Eaton and Mary Miranda Dwinnell, Lafayette.
Feb. 8, 1843 — Edwin DeWolf and Elizabeth C. McCracken, Lagrange.
Feb. 9, 1843- -William Birge and Frances Ostrander, Whitewater.

Feb. 12, 1843 — Thomas Worden Hill and Lydia Ferris, Hudson.

Feb. 16, 1843 — Erasmus Darwin Richardson and Alma O. Spa ford. ( leneva.
Sept. 7, 1843 — Albert Ogden and Charlotte Boyce, Elkhorn.

Oct. 4. 1843 — Stephen Steele Barlow and Anna Maria Parsons, Delavan.
Nov. 1, 1843 — Chester Deming Long and Laura Ann Lee, Darien.

Nov. 15. 1843 — Edwin Wallis Meacham and Emeline M. McCracken.

Nov. 16. 1843 — George Washington Dwinnell and Abigail Catherine Wil-
son. Lafayette.

Dec. 21. 1843 — J. Sperry Northrop and Catherine M. Lyon, Hudson.

Dec. 25, 1843 — Edward Elderkin and Mary Martha Beardslev. Elkhorn.

IN MEMORIAM.

The death list, within the years here shown, must fall very far short of
the facts. For the following years the stones and records of cemeteries
partly supply the lack of official registration. Even after cemeteries were
laid out and dedicated many of the dead were buried in small private enclos-
ures, some of which must have been plowed over for a half century, — what-
ever reservation may have been mule at the first sale- of the including
farms. Rain- spon heat down and gra>- and weed- hide unvisited, uncared-for
graves, and white man has not more reverence for the resting places of
strangers of his own race than for those of the conquered or cheated heathen
tribes.

lul\' 3. [837 — Mary E., child of Syl ester G. Wright. Spring P
Sept. 14. 1837 — Mrs. Eliza Cornish, ael 64, Lagrange.
Dec. 25, [837 — William C. Merrick, insane, act. 33, Spring Praii
June it. [838— Olive, wife of Phipps Hartwell, Lafayette
Sept. 6. [838— A child of Ansel A. Hemenway, Spring Prairie.
Nov. 13. [838- Mary] - r), wife of Lucius \.l East Troy.

JJJ

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

21,
28,

13.

Nov. 22,

July i3i
Sept. 19,
Oct.
Oct.

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Mar. 14,

May 21,

Mar. 5,

Apr.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Apr.

27,
20,
June 1 1.

June

Jul)

Aug.

Oct.

July

Sept

Oct.

16,

20,

-•5-

26,

Nov. 21,

Dec. 20.

Mar. 3,

Apr. 15,

Apr. t8,

June 21,

July 23,

Aug, 13,

Aug t6,

838 — Simeon Robinson, Troy.

838 — William Casporus. accidentally, Lake Geneva.

830, — Daniel Edwin LaBar, aet. 50. Delavan.

839 — Jotham Newton Baker, aet. 21, Whitewater.

839 — Mary, wife of John Cummings, aet. 58, Walworth.

839 — Amelia J., wife of Henry Frey, aet. 45.

839 — Benjamin Whitcomb, Whitewater.

840 — Col. Samuel Faulkner Phoenix, aet. 44. Delavan.

840 — Apollos Root, Lafayette.

841 — Christopher Columbus Cheesebro, aet. -'4, Darien.

841 — Abby Frances Goodsell, aet. 33, Lake Geneva.

842 — Rosetta, wife of Azor Kinney, aet. 31, Whitewater.

842 — Dorcas (Perry), wife of Thomas James, Richmond.

842 — Mary, widow of Israel Ferris, aet. 85, Whitewater.

843 — George Matthews, aet. 38, Troy.

843 — Henry Phoenix, aet. 50, Delavan.

843 — Sprowell Dean, aet. 48, Troy.

843 — Martha W. (Larrabee), wife of Charles M. Baker, aet. $~.
Lake Geneva.

843 — Jonathan Perry, — with suspicion of poisoning, — Lafayette.

843 — Eli Mood}, aet. 63, Bloomfield.

843-- Harriet ( Wheeler), wife of Daniel Salisbury, Spring Prairie.

843 — Cabin Pike, aet. 41. Whitewater.

844 — Charlotte (Boyce), wife of Albert Ogden, Elkhorn.

S44 — Dr. James Tripp, aet. 49, Whitewater.

N44 lluldah 1 Cornell), wife of Judge John Martio, aet. 49
Spring Prairie.

844 — Benoni Bradway, aet. 52, Delavan.

844 — Philinda, wife of Joseph Hall, aet. 411. Richmond.

845 -Lydia ( Dodge), wife ^i Silas Salisbury, aet. 59, Whitewater.

845 Eliza P. (Gay), wife of Samuel II. Stafford, aet 34. Bloom-
field.

845 — Esther (Cravath 1. wife of Nelson Salisbury, aet. 32, White-
water.

845 -Clementina M., wife <•{ Thomas Harrison, aet. 34, Spring
Prairie.

845 James R. Bruce, aet 31, Darien.

845 — Harriet 1 Boyce), wife of \lvah 11. Johnson, aet. 27, Darien.

845 \ustin II. Wright, aet. 31, East Troy,

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 223

Sept. 10, 1845 — Aniasa Allen, aet. 69. Lafayette.

Sept. 18, 1845 — Phoebe (Blakeslee). wife of Elijah Church, aet. 51. Wal-
worth.

Sept. 20, 1845 — Asaph 1'ratt, aet. 55, Whitewater.

Oct. 3. 1845 — Sarah, daughter of Webster Bailey, wife of Whitefield
Bailey. Walworth.

Jan. 2, 1846 — Thomas K. LeBarron. aet. 27, Whitewater.

Jan. 16. 1846 — Jesse Hand, aet. 63, Hudson.

Aug. 13. 1846 — Robert Kennedy Morris, aet. 39, Lagrange.

Sept. 18. 1846 — Harriet C. wife of Charles A. Soper. aet. 26, Darien.

Oct. 14. 184c) — Capt. Israel Williams, aet. ^y. Walworth.

Oct. 17. 1846 — Cynthia, wife of Stephen Knapp, aet. 59, East Troy.

Oct. 20. 1846 — Chanty L.. wife of Loren Stacy, aet. 42, Hudson.

Oct. 24. 1846 — Harriet (Newell), wife of Albert H. Smith, aet. 31, Delavan.

LOSSES BY FIRE.

An incomplete list of more or less destructive fires, though of little
value as history, may help to fix dates of other events associated with them
in men's memories. It is so far from full that a list nearly as long may be
found in the Delavan fire department's record of the last twenty years.
Apr. 14. 1844 — William Birge's house. Whitewater. A child of three years

burned.
May 9. 1844 — "A great lire at Sharon."
Dec. — , 1845 — Andrew Ferguson's store. Geneva.
Dee 10. 1852 — Samuel Tibbets's home, Sugar (.'reek.

— . 1858 — Benjamin !•". Pope's house, Elkhorn.

May 15, 1859 — Patrick O'Brien's house. Darien.

Sept. 22, 1859 — Methodist church. Elkhorn.

Jan. 12. i860 — Alexander II. Bunnell's house, Lafayette.

Jan. 23, i860 — Two newspaper offices and other buildings, Delavan.

Apr. 29, i860 — John A. Farnum's house. North Geneva.

Feb. 26. 1862 — Henry Lord's house, town of Delavan.

Nov. 25. 1862 — Lemuel Webster's house, Sugar ('reek.

Nov. 10. 1866 — Chaffee's planing mill and Thiele's cabinet shop, Whitewater.

Feb. 26, 1867 — Centralia store and other buildings, Elkhorn.

May 31, [867 — Esterlv reaper works, Whitewafc

Nov. 10. 1867 — Several store- in Main street, Whitewater.

Nov. 30. [867 I ole & Hunter'-- pottery. White

224

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Apr.

25. 1

Jan.

29, 1

Feb.

26, 1

Mar.

28, 1

July

2, I,

Aug.

13- I

Aug.

21, I.

Dec.

31- 1

Apr.

5- J

\!,i\

2, I

July

7. I(

Feb.

19, 1

Sept.

16, 1

Mar.

Jan.

7> l

Jan.

10, 1

July

5, r,

Apr.

2 1

Aug.

_'<>, 1

Nov.

18, 1

Nov.

8, 1

Apr.

24, 1

Aug.

5) '

May

[6, 1

Oct.

31, ii

Dec.

6, 1

( let.

31, if

Feb.

:i >. 1

\ug.

28, cj

Sept.

17. >

Oct.

l. [*

Oct.

7. if

July

Aug.

x. 1,

Jan.

1. 1

867 — John Welch's store, Whitewater.

872 — Ouigley's vinegar factory. Lake Geneva.

873 — County House, North Geneva.

874 — Ethan B. Farnum's store. Springfield.

875 — Office of Whitewater Register and other buildings.

875 — Office of Walworth County Liberal, Elkhorn.

875 — Goff's grain house, Delavan village.

875 — Nathan W. Mower's barn, lightning-struck and burned.

875 — Hollis Latham's house, one of the oldest at Elkhorn.

876 — Doane's and other stores, Delavan.

876 — Isaac Way's house, with two children. North Geneva.

876 — Darien Water-cure building.

879 — Episcopal rectory, Elkhorn, badly damaged.

879 — State School for the Deaf, Delavan.

880 — Steamer "Arrow," in Geneva lake.

881 — Benjamin T. Fowler's house and cheese factory. Heart

Prairie.
881 — John ( i. Flack's house and creamery. North Geneva.
881 — Artemas Baird's house, Elkhorn.
884 — Cooler E. Wing's house, Elkhorn
885 — William Harwood's barn. Little Prairie, lightning-struck

and burned.
880 — Public school building, Elkhorn.
888 — Railway passenger house. Elkhorn.
890 — Dynamite explosion and tire at Doane's store, Delavan, liim-

sel 1 and another killed.
890 — George W. Ferris's house, Elkhorn.
891 Mrs. Margaret Casey's house, Elkhorn.

891 The Daniel Botsford house, Elkhorn.
891 — Steamer "< tt\ of Lake Geneva," in Geneva lake.

892 The John Driscoll house, Elkhorn.

893 William K Chambers's house, Lauderdale Lake.
893 — Strow hotel and twelve more stores and shops, Delavan.
893 Field lire, wesl of Elkhorn, threatened the whole villa
893 Kachel's dairy supply building, Elkhorn,
893 Isaac Vloorhouse's dwelling, North Geneva.
No 1 Whiting House. Lake Geneva.
No 1 I [1 tllenbeck cottage, I -auderdale.
896 Barn and cattle on Franklin II. Eames's farm. Lafayette.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 225

Mar. 12, 1896 — Implement Company's store and Lore's laundry. Elkhorn.
Mrs. Lore fatally burned.

Apr. 1, 1896 — Clifford A. Mower's store and Grove creamery. Bowers.

May 10, 1896 — Bumstead's butter factory, Elkhorn.

Mar. 9, 1898 — Frank Lumb's store.

Apr. 25, 1898 — Mrs. Casey's house, Elkhorn.

Sept. 13, 1899 — James F. Jude's hotel, barn, etc., East Troy.

Sept. 22, 1899 — William DeGroff's house, Williams Bay.

Jan. 5. 1900 — Patrick Campbell's bouse. Walworth.

Jan. 31. 1900 — John H. Lauderdale's house, Elkhorn.

May 10, 1900 — Mettowee Hotel, by Delavan lake.

Apr. 30, 1901 — Daniel Carey's barn, etc., Darien.

Nov. 2, 1901 — KLenilworth Inn. Delavan lake.

Feb. 6, 1902 — House on the William Lincoln farm, Spring Prairie.

Apr. 10, 1902 — Ira Enders's bouse and contents, Delavan.

May i, 1902 — W. Allen Barnes' mill, or shop, Elkhorn (once a church).

Oct. 30. 1902 — William. Albert and Julia Wickinson burned with their
house, in Lagrange.

Dec. 22, 1902 — Workshop and instruments at Observatory, near Williams
Bay.

July 28, 1903 — Ernest Hand's barn and cattle. Sugar Creek, lightning-
struck and burned.

July 31; 1903 — James Cutler's barn, Darien, — largest in the county.

Dec. 25, 1903 — Public school house at Lake Geneva.

Feb. 14. 1904 — John W. Hare's store, Walworth village.

Oct. 24, 1904 — Arthur Deist's house. East Troy.

Nov. 16, 1907 — Baptist church, Elkhorn.

Jan. 19, 1908 — Robert Opirz carriage shop, East Troy.

Apr. 4, 1908 — James Baldwin's house, Darien

July 12. 1908 — L. P. Sutter's barn, Delavan, one of largest in county.

Oct. 15, 1908 — House on Eames farm, Lafayette.

July 2, 1909 — Wilbur Lumber Company's mill, Honey Creek.

lulv 28, 1909 — Town Hall, two nd shop, Darien.

Apr. 3. 1910 — House on Joseph Heimbach farm, neai Honey (reek.

Oct. 12. 191 1 — Millard E. Mills's farmhouse, Elkhorn.

(15)

CHAPTER XX.

TOWN OF BLOOM FIELD.

It is not now known why town i north, of range 18 east, was so named.
There was Bloomfield, Essex county, northern Xew Jersey, and there was its
namesake in Ontario county. New York, which is now two towns. East Bloom-
field and West Bloomfield. It does not appear that any considerable number
of settlers came from any of these places. It is not improbable that the early
naming of Bloom prairie led to this appropriate name for the whole town. It
has Linn westward, Lyons northward, Randall and Wheatland, both in Keno-
sha county, eastward, and the Illinois towns of Richmond and Hebron, in
McHenry county, southward. At the primitive division of the county into five
towns the southeastern quarter constituted the town of Geneva. By further
legislation, January 23, 1844, Bloomfield, Hudson and Linn were severally
set off from the parent town for home rule. There is in Waushara county,
too, a township named Bloomfield, whence arises part of the difficulty in
identifying the soldiers of the Civil war for whom credit should be given to
this part of Walworth county.

The surface of the town is as fair to look upon as that of anf part of
the county or of the neighboring counties. Though there is no great extent
of level prairie, its slight unevenness nowhere breaks abruptly into hill coun-
try, nor are there great areas of low-lying swam]). Its wooded sections are
fairly distributed. The timber is mostly oak of the usual varieties, on the
level and high ground, while a tew patches of swamp lands are cov-
ered with tamaracks. These evergreen-bearing swamps are often
or generally peat-bottomed, with blue clay underlying. Modern scien-
tific farming will at some time lead away the water and convert the peat into
fertile soil. The Nippersink, by its three valleys and thosr ,,f its little tribu-
taries, distributes the relatively small marsh surfaces fairly about the town.
Along the Kenoshan border the Towers lake chain in sections 13. _>_(., a small
part of Ryan's lake in section 3, Pell's lake, in sections [5, 22, and a few
glacial pol holes, subtract aboul 928 acres from the total area of the town
That is. official estimate shows -'-\i [2 acres of land surface: but, as the well-
informed leader is aware, owing to surveyor's slight inaccuracies, as well
as tn the convergence northward of all meridian lines, township areas are

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 22J

not invariably 23,040 acres of land and water. Bloom prairie reaches out into
Hebron and Linn, about two-thirds way across the town northward and some-
thing like one-third way eastward from the line of Linn; and its primitive
unplowed beauty was in no way deceitful.

The whole town, for the first forty years of its settlement, yielded the
usual fair to full returns in grain and root: but. like its neighboring towns, it
has found its truer value in its adaptation to corn raising and.dairv produc-
tion. Returns for [910 made to the county clerk show these acreages of
improved land: Barley, 301: cabbage. 2<)\ corn, [,339; growing timber.
1,307: hayfield. [,86] : oats. 2.331; potatoes. 103: rye. 74; wheat. 30. Mr.
Sikes shows census of live stock and true values: 3,093 cattle. $02,000; 845
hogs, $9,300; 804 horses, $66,200; two mules, $200; 1,056 sheep, $3,900.
Land values, for town. Si. 73 1.000, at an average of $jH.2j per acre; for
village, 458 acres at $429.47 per acre, whole value $196,700. The valuation
of town and village is 5.01 per cent, of that of the entire county.

The population of Bloomfield, including Genoa Junction, at seven fed-
eral enumerations, was: 1850, Xji); 1800. 1. 140; 1870, [,091; 1880. 1,007;
1890, 1. 197: 1900, 1. 314; mho. 1,485. In i<k>3 the state census gave the
village 710 inhabitants and 856 to the rest of the town. The census of [910
shows a loss of one for the village.

The permanent settlement of the town began late in 1830 with the com-
ing of Henry Kimball and his son. Oramel. who made their claim in section 6.
The elder pioneer brought his wife. Keziah. and such family as they had.
from Otsego county, as soon as he had made for them a home in the solitude
He was born in July. 1783, and died January 31. 1S51. His wife was bom
in 1783 and died August 10. 1852. Oramel was horn May 20. 1815, and
died in the town of Delavan, June 27 ■. 1882. His wife, Lucinda, who outlived
him. was born in 1830.

The earliest coming family was that of Harry and Elizabeth Tupper,
late in 1837. Their son. Silas Wright Tupper, eldest of four children known,
was born in the town. June 24. 1838: enlisted in [86] as a private of Com
pany K. Eighth Infantry: re-enlisted in 1803; was transferred December 28.
[864, to Veteran Reserve Corps; died February 12. [865, in the military
hospital at Indianapolis, '["he other children were Sarah A., born in 1844;
Norman H., born in [846: Ellen A., bom in [848. Harry Tupper died in
California. Elizabeth, daughter of Eli and Dorothj Moody, was horn March
2. 1813; died May 1. [881. John and Levi Moody were her brothers, both
unmarried, and both came among the settlers of [838.

228 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN'.

Among other best remembered settlers from 1837 to 1840, inclusive,
were Hiram and Clarissa Barker, Thomas Buckland. John and Clarissa
Chapin, Jonathan P. and \Y. Densmore Chapin, Charles Dorathy, Timothy H.
Fellows, Carl Freeman, Samuel T. Hatch and wife, Caroline; Jeremiah and
Orpha Jerrod, Andrew and John Michael Kull. William K. May, Welcome J.
Miller, Marcus Moody, Doric C. Porter, Dan and Eliza Rowe, Thomas Peck
Rutenber (1809-1855) and Polly Brazee. his wife; Sebastian and Apollonia
Schurman, Benjamin Franklin Trow (1802-1870) and wife, Aurelia H.
(1814-1890) ; Ebenezer and Mary Tupper, Everton Walker, Jonathan Ward.
Isaac White, Jr.

Within the next eight years came Samuel and William Allen, Thomas
Beeden and wife, Elizabeth ( 1810-1849), Schuyler Besteder ( 1800- 1883)
and wife Eliza Jane (1806-1889), Dewitt C. Blakeman, Morris Wait Blod-
gett, John Brown, J. Sidney Buell, Edward Bundy, Conrad Burget, John
Burns, William Worth Byington, David Ward Carey, Enoch B. and James
B. Carter, Levinus Carver, George H. Christian, Simon Williams Clark,
Robert Cobb, Dudley Wesley Cook. Peter L. Craver, Edward Crowell. Will-
iam Doughten, Delamore Duncan. Alfred W. Dyer, George Woodward Ed-
wards, James Ervin, Andrew Everson, William Faulkner, George Field,
Langdon Filkins, Jason Fobes, John Chesley Ford, Abiel, Joseph and Russell
Fuller, James Grier, Dike W. Hall, Jonah Hanchett, Jr., Daniel P. Handy,
Ephraim and Nathan Harrison, Dewitt C. Hay. Alanson K. Hill, Charles
High, James C. Latour. Valorous 1). Manning, Eli Manor, Stillman Moores,
John II. Nichols, Edwin Ruthven and Enos Hanchett Olden, Ira A. Pell,
Thomas Peters, John Yerwell Petty, Oakley A. Phillips, Preston Brewer
Plumb, Joshua Post, Archibald, David and James Primmer, Solon Read and
Alinda M.. his wife. Lyman Redington, Cyrus and Erastus R. Rugg, Hiram
J. Sawyer. Joseph W. Searles, John Sibley, George Smith. Clark Williams
Spafard, Amos W. and Samuel II Stafford. Aimer Strickland
(1814 1900), Philo C. Taylor. Hamilton Temple, Dr. Oliver S. Tif-
fany. Jeremiah and William < i. Tmesdell, Samuel Ward. Michael VVelden,
William II. Whiting. Nathaniel B. Whittier, William R. Wilkins, Thomas
Wilson. Abner Wing. John Wood, Uanson and Silas P. Wright. \ few of
these may have boughl governmenl land without intending to settle. One
such instance was that of \ndrew Galbraith Miller, for many years judge
of the federal court at Milwaukee, who bought in section [3. A Larger num-
ber went a few years later to other towns, counties, or -tale-; ami a few of
the old settlers died within the next few years.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 229

Neither from public and private records, nor from the memory of aging
men and women of the next following generation, are now to be gathered,
with fair approach to fullness or exactness, many facts as to the earlier lives
and later careers of the fathers and mothers of the county; though something
might yet be done to recover and preserve these "little lines of yesterday,"
were time and much effort to be given to such labor of love. The following
notes include a few names of later comers :

Heman H. Allen (1813-1888) married Caroline 1!. (1816-1892),
daughter of Calvin P. (1798-1861) and Pamela Gay.

Hiram Barker (1801-1884) married Clarissa A. Bronson (1808-1879).

Elizabeth (1810-1849), wife of Thomas Beeden, was buried at Lake
Geneva. Thomas and wife Jane were living in i8(>o.

Adeline, daughter of Thomas Buckland, was married in February, 1841,
by Judge Baker, to William Williams, of McHenry county. This was the
first marriage in Bloomfield.

William Worth Byington (1822-1909), a native of Vermont, married,
first, Adeline, daughter of Abner Wing and Mehetabel Ingham; second, Mrs.
Sarah B. ( Newton) Pier. He was for several years in business at Lake
Geneva, and came in 1876 to Elkhorn, where he died.

Enoch Boutell Carter ( 1819-1902), son of Leonard and Persis, was born
at Leominster, Massachusetts. Charlotte | 1824-1910) was daughter of Will-
iam Vincent and Lydia Wilcox. Enoch married in 1845.

Jonathan Patterson Chapin, son of John and Clarissa, married, March
18, 1 841, Sarah, daughter of Jeremiah and Orpha Jerrod.

Samuel Rogers Darrow 1 1809 [89] ) was a native of Herkimer county.
New York.

Charles Dorathy (1811-1893), son of Joseph, came in 1840 to Bloom-
field. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Tupper. His
second wife was Eliza Kimball.

Delamore Duncan, son of William and wife. Ruth Gilmore, was a broth-
er-in-law of Timothy II. bellows.

George Field married Emma, daughter of Abiel Fellows and Dorcas
Hopkins.

Nathan Harrison was born in 1801 and died in [883. Anna, his wife,
was born in 1804 and died in 1887.

Samuel Tucker Hatch 1 [802-1882), son of I larman 1 whose wife was
named Tucker), came in [840 to section 12. His first wife was named Caro-
line; his second was Mrs. Lucy Small. It is nol known that he was of the
same family as others of his name, in DeLv.ui. Geneva, Linn, or elsewhere.

22,0

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Charles High (1809-1887) was probably son of Charles and Christine,
of Washington county, New York. He came in 1841 to section 30, and
married Nancy B. Rolfe, of Milwaukee. His farm was one of the largest
and best in the town.

Alanson King Hill (1813-1894) was born at Canton, New York, and
died at Lake Geneva. His wife was Nancy Agnes Wellwood.

There was in Bloomfield, long ago, and perhaps is yet, a second Kimball
family, of German origin. From tombstones it is inferred that the name
was Kimpel, and changed by local pronunciation to the more familiar form.
Carl R, of this family ( 1814-1891 ). had wife. Anna E. ( 1826-1885).

James C. Latour (1795- 1883) was born in New York (city). He came
with wife. Christina (1798-1856), to sections 3, 10.

John Loveland (1810-1886) was born at Middletown, Connecticut. He
came in 1841 with wife, Elizabeth Latour ( 1X14-1906).

Eli Manor ( i8_'_'-i885) was son of Joseph and Louisa Lucia Manor
( Tliis name is spoken "Man-ore." ). lie built the only hotel now at the Junc-
tion.

Eli Moody (1780-1843) and wife Dorothy (1784-1847). Of their
known children. Elizabeth was Mrs. Harry Tupper; Levi (1808-1890) died
unmarried; John died October 27, 1802, in naval hospital at Mound City.
Illinois, seemingly in gunboat service. Alfred ( [815-1881) may have been
of Eli's family.

Stillman Moores bought land 111 sections 14, -'3. His wife, Mary 1 1S07-
1880), was daughter of William and Susannah Coleman.

Enos Hanchett Olden (born iN_>_>) came about [842 to section 15, and
soon afterward married Julia A. Gregg (horn [826). Their farm, now
Elisha T. Hibhard's. has been found ralhrr remarkably adapted to fruit-
raising.

Ira A. Pell ( [800-187] ). namesake of the lakelet in section 15. married
Mary I.. ( [816-1883), daughter of Ephraim and Alida Farmer.

Otis I'.. Phillips ( [798-185 I and wife Olive ( (800-1865) were buried
at Lake Geneva, lie may have been son or brother of Oakley A. Phillips,
who may have been a non-resident buyer in section 31.

lames Primmer (horn [816) and wife Hannah (burn iS_>i). daughter
uf Philip and Rebecca Shaver, were natives of Rensselaer county. They came
tn section 7.

fohn Siblej was one of the founders "i the Episcopal society. Mis
son. Charles W. (county clerk [853-7), married Lucy, daughter uf Abiel
Fell 'w s and I >i ireas I \< ipkins,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. _>3 I

Jane Eliza Trow, daughter of Benjamin F. and Aurelia II., first girl
born in the town — October 8, 1839— lived to marrv and died about 1X71.

Everton Walker (born 1810) and wife Susan (born 1814) came to
section 4 in 1839. They left the state later than [860.

Jonathan Ward (1814-1872) married Electa King (1820-1894) and
came to section 5 in 1837. In [860 they had five children. They were buried
at Lake Geneva. Airs. Ward seems to have become Mrs. Adams.

Silas P. Wright (1815-1896) was horn near Sackett's Harbor; lived
on section 20, Bloomfield : died at Lake Geneva. Mary, his wife, was born
in 1816.

Bloomfield centre — not Centre — was but a convenient way of denoting
the site of an early school house, a half-mile south of the town-centre, on the
diagonal road from Geneva to Richmond (or, a little later, to Genoa). This
house for long served as a meeting place of religious gatherings and early-
societies, and for other township purposes. The first school was taught in
1840 by Mrs. Electa (King) Ward, in section 6, at a house built for her
use as a private school. There is now a district school house on her husband's
farm, at the center of section 5. There are at present in the town (the village
not included) six school districts, of which two are joint districts — No. 6 with
Lyons; Xo. 8 with Randall, in Kenosha county.

The whole number of soldiers of the Civil war whose service was credited
to Bloomfield was one hundred thirty-one. If not all of these were really
residents of the town the non-residents were fairly offset by the men of
Bloomfield who were enrolled for other towns. Her volunteers turned <>ut
promptly in the first two years, and her citizens voted liberal bounties in order
to fill later calls for troops. The town was well represented in the Fourth
Infantry-Cavalry and the Eighth and Twenty-second Infantry, and by smaller
numbers in many other commands. Company K. Eighth Infantry, the Live
Eagle regiment, was credited with thirt) six batik'.- and skirmishes, in six
states. Its orderly sergeant. Theodore \. Fellows, returned as its third cap-
tain, after exactly four years of constantly active service.

The town and village records are quite full and generall) legible. The
clerks have usually been chosen for their fitness, and have often been re-
elected. The bonk- tor 1X50 arc a- easily read as printed script. The clerk
for that year was Mr. Youlen, a young farmer who had at that time a work
ing partnership with David \\ . Carey, and whom nobody but the latter's son,
Julian M. Carey, seems now to remember. The official list for the town of
Bloomfield is as follow - :

232

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

CHAIRMEN OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

William K. May 1844

Cyrus Rugg 1845, '47- '49

'56-58, "65

Timothy Hopkins Fellows

1846. '68, '73

Samuel Allen 1848

David Ward Carey 1850

Heman C. Stewart 1851

Schuyler Ward Benson

1852. '74. '75

William Densmore Chapin

1853-55, '60, '61, '63. '64, '81

Amos Wagman Stafford

1859, '66, '67, '69. '72

Adolph Freeman 1862

Alfred H. Abell 1876-79

Andrew Kull. Jr 1880, '82-84

George Rue Allen 1885-97

Russell Holmes 1898- 1900

Thomas H. Grier 1901. '02

Charles W. Forbes 1903

John H. Hoffman I904-'o5

Elijah T. Hibbard 1906-08

Clifton S. Arnold 1909

Frederick C. Paskie, res 1910, '11

Elijah T. Hibbard. acting 191 1

Elijah T. Hibbard, elected 1912

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Alfred II. Abell 1863, '74. '7-^

James Grier Allen 1904

William II. Allen 1873. '77-'8o

Thomas Beeden 1847. 40

Bryanl S. Benson r873

Schuyler Ward Benson 1840. '51

Sidne) Buell 1866, '8]

William Ira Buell 1 867-72, '82-84

Enoch Boutell Carter

[846-47, '51, '52, '60, '70. '71

John Chapin 1844

Robert Cobb 1861, '62, '65

Timothy Hopkins Fellows

[856, '57, '65
Charles \V. Forbes [887, 1901, '02

Daniel Forbes 1881

William Forbes 1850. '74. '7^

Andrew \V. Foster... [888 93

Adolph Freeman 1861. '63

Joseph Fuller 1854, '55

Frederick Gleason 1885, '86, '98

Andrew W. Hafs IQOS- °6

Orville X. Harrison 1880. '82-'84

Elijah T. Hibbard__i890, '99, 1900

Frederick Henning 1891-93

John Huffman 1804. '98-1903

Michael Hoffman 1885-88

Richard R. Hoffman 1910-12

Russell Holmes 1S05-07

Clifton S. Arnold [866-r68

Seth L. Banks 1848

Dewitl C Blakeman 1853-4

William Irish [848

Elijah Jewett 1852

William G. Katzenberger 1909-12

Dr. Selvey Kidder [876-79

Oramel Kimball [864

William Kimball 1804-07

\11drew Kull, |r. I9°5

Edwin 0. Kull 1889

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

'■33

Jacob Maas 1904

James C. Merritt i860

Welcome Joseph Miller 1868-69

Daniel T. Moores ^903

Enos Hanchett Olden 1867

Lawrence Palmitier 1853

Frederick C. Paskie 1907-09

Morris Read 1866

Solon Reed 1&59- '72

Cyrus Rugg 1844

Hiram J. Sawyer 1850

Amos Wagman Stafford

1845-46, '58, '64

Heman J. Stewart 1850

Everton Walker 1856

Edwin Woodman 1857-58

Ira Williams 1855, '62

Samuel J. Wilson . 1876

TOWN CLERKS.

Lyman Redington (2 mos.) 1844

William Densmore Chapin 1844

Jason Fobes ^45

George Field 1846-47

Robert Moores 1848

Samuel Allen 1849

William Youlen 1850

James S. Stilson 1851- '66

Charles W. Sibley 1852, '63

William Worth Byington 1853-57

Wells W. Belden 1858

George C. Perry 1859-61

Ichabod A. Hart 1862

*Charles Augustus Noyes, Jr.,

1864-65

* Frederick Fernald 1867-69,

1872-75, 1878-9

Adam C. Fowler 1870

William T. Beeden 1871

Julian Marcellus Carey 1876-77

Andrew W. Foster 1880-84

Charles Derby Blanke 1885-1901

Clifton S. Arnold 1902-04

John Deignan 1905-10

Andrew W. Hafs 1910-12

Mr. Deignan having resigned in 1910, Mr. Hafs was appointed for that

\ear.

TOWN TREASURER.

John Wood 1844-45

William Densmore Chapin__ 1N41 1 [g

Dewitt C. Blakeman 1850

William Worth Byington 1851-52

Eddy Cole 1853-54

John Chapin 1855

John Read 1856

Joseph fuller 1857

Homer field [858

Samuel R. Harrow 1859

Solon Reed 1860-62, '64

Ira Williams 1863

Oramel Kimball [865

Charles Augustus Noyes - [866-68

Vbner Fuller [869-70

David B. Maine 1871-1885

William II. Allen 1886-189]

Elijah T. Hibbard 1892. 1902

234 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

John Hubbard Miller 1893-95 Richard R. Hoffman 1904-08

Frank Marshall Miller 1896-99 Henry Kimball 1909

H. Albert Gibbs 1900-01 Doric W. Forbes 1910-11

Alfred Darling 1903 Charles Gifford 1912

A few assessors are named between 1855 and 1 * > 1 1 : William Besteder,
1855-6; Donald Forbes, 1881-91: Bryant T. Benson, 1882 and 1908-11;
George R. Allen. 1883-4; Alfred Darling, 1892; Edwin O. Kull, 1894-1906;
Frank A. Grout, 1907, — whence it appears that sometimes there were two
assessors.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

lleman li. Allen 1864 Andrew Kull, |r 1874, '76

Clifton S. Arnold 1905, '07 Edwin O. Kull 1892

Rasmus H. Bjerning 1910 David B. Maine 1877-85

Dewitt C. Blakeman 1859, '61 John Moore 1888, '90, 1900

Milton B. Carey 1875 William C. Moores, v 1884

Doric W. Forbes 1908 Frederick C. Paskie, v !9°9

Charles R. Foster__ 1864-75, 1880-93 George C. Perry 1859-63

Thomas H. drier 1892 Charles H. Prouty 1898

Frederick A. Grout, v 1902 Hugh Reed 1868

Andrew W. Hafs, v. v 1909. 'to Frederick C. Richardson, v 1895

Nathan Harrison 1868-75. '/6-83 Henry O. Roberts.- 1884-87

[chabod A. Hart i860 Dan Rowe 1843, '65

Elijah T. Hibbard 95v., '98, Amos Wagman Stafford 1870

IOOT. [903, '04, '10 James S. Stilson 1866

Horace Johnson 1862. '69 William E. Trow 88 v., 91-97

Louis \. Kimball [893, '95 Joel Washburn i860

These dates are usually those of the several elections for a term of two
years; but two dates connected by a dash indicate beginnning and end of
service. Vacancies, rilled for one year, are shown by letter "v."' Only names
of justices who tiled with the clerk of the court certificates of their election
are shown, because of the uncertainty as to winch of others elected took the
oath of office.

GENOA J UNCI CON .

Nature drew no line between the sovereignties of Illinois and Wisconsin,

The fair and fertile fields of Bloomfield, I. inn. Walworth, and Sharon
stretch 1 . 1 1 southward into the older state. Tin- village of Richmond is about

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 235

two miles below the point at which the Nippersink abandons Wisconsin, little-
more than a stone's throw from the state line. Its slightly earlier settlement
and its immediate growth as a center of local trade, with similar development
at the foot of Geneva lake, placed churches, schools, mills, shops and stores
within fairly convenient reach of the earlier-coming fanners of Bloom-
held, and thus retarded village platting in that town.

In or about 1850 James F. Dickerson came to improve the null-site and
to lay out a village, which was named Genoa, a little below the united Nip-
persink and on its left bank, in section 35, within a quarter-mile of the state
line. Its railway distances are: From Chicago, jj.i, miles; from Richmond,
1.3 miles; from Lake Geneva, H.j miles; from Kenosha, jj.^ miles; from
Harvard. 16.8 miles. All its railway connections are by two intersecting
Chicago & Northwestern lines. In no long time arose occasional confusion
in the mail service because of another Genoa in DeKalb county. Illinois.
To avoid this the word "Junction'' was added to the village name, and now
Genoa postoffice is in Vernon count}, Wisconsin. The territorial road from
Kenosha to Beloit passed through the present village plat, within the limits
of which it is named Walworth street. The village lies on slightly uneven
ground, giving easy ascents and ready drainage. Its appearance as a whole
and in detail is clean and homelike, its roadways hard and smooth, and its
cement walks are now measurable in miles. In the modern ways of city life
this village may be regarded as suburban — directly and quickly reached from
Chicago by four daily trains.

Charles A. Noyes bought in [853 a share in the mill property, and also
built the Cottage Inn, to which the Manor House succeeded in 1 87 1 and
remains as the Junction House. .Mr. Dickerson had died, and Adolph Free-
man had married his widow and for a short time controlled the mill manage-
ment. Mr. Noyes was followed by Thomas Carter and A. J. Goin, from
whom the mill passed to John Alexander Pierce, of Millard, and Charles
Covell, and in later succession to John Albert Pierce, the Genoa Junction
1 ompany, ami Julian M. Carey. Within a few years Mr. Care) turned the
water-power to its presenl use, that of supplying the village with electric
light. The Pierces were father and son. and their ownership of the mill
was in more than one way memorable.

Welcome J. Miller came in [850 from Kenosha, where be had well
learned his business, and began work as a maker of carriages and farm
wagon- of such quality and workmanlike finish as to secure a wide market
for his steadily increasing production. IN- two older boys, as they grew to
manhood, became hi- partners, and for long the Miller wagon made the linn

236 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

and the village famous. Modern conditions of manufacture and sale do
not lung permit the several rivalries of small establishments. Mr. Miller
died m [885 and the sons have been forced into more humbly useful repair-
ing and smith-work.

The Borden Condensed Milk Company, whose products reach the fron-
tiers of civilization, has here one of its large and fully ecmipped factories,
handling the local supply of milk to the extent of forty thousand pounds
daily, and making Genoa Junction an important shipping station.

H. Albert Gibbs has here an ice cream factory, the product of which
finds its market in this and several near-lying counties. His business seems
likelv to be permanent, and is an important addition to the village enter-
prises.

The yearly production, and shipment by railway, of cabbages has be-
come a noticeable feature of local industry.

The earliest postoftice here was named Bloomheld, and was successively
named Genoa and Genoa Junction. There is no local record of postmasters
in their order of service and with beginning of each one's term of ofhce. but
the following list is as full and accurate as men's memories now supply:
James S. Stilson, Schuyler W. Benson. Julian M. Carey, 1878; Albert E.
Simons, 1885; John Coppersmith, 1889; Lanson G. Deignan, 1893; Dexter
B. Holton; Julian Marcellus Carey, 1897: Charles H. Prouty, [908.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

Rev. Lemuel Hall, a pioneer clergyman then of Geneva, came April 5,
[846, in ln-lp Rev. Leonard Rogers in the work of organizing a Congrega-
tional society, with twelve members, at the center school house. About [852
its meeting place was fixed at Genoa. In the pastorate of .Mr. Caldwell a
sightly and convenient church was built at Park and Freeman streets at
a cost (with bell) of nearly five thousand dollars. This was in 1804-^. Ad-
dition was made in [892 for Sunday school room and parlors. The present
membership is forty-four persons. Dr. Benjamin J. Hill has been clerk of
the society for more years than Ik1 can tell without reference to church record.
Mis nearesl predecessor was Mrs. Asa C. Rowe. Mrs. Frances Bundy, one
of the rarhesi members, is yet living, near the village, in her eighty-sixth

year, her mind clear and tilled with memories of younger III nlield. The

succession of pastors is: Leonard Rogers, 184(1: J. V. Downs; Christopher
Columbus Caldwell, 1854: Francis J. Douglas, [869; Charles II. Fraser, [883;
Hiram \\ . Harbaugh, [886; Henrj < >. Spelman, [890; Bryant C. Preston,
189J; James I!. Orr (three months), [893; Herbert V Kerns, [893; Joseph

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 237

W. Helmer, 1895; Frank B. Hicks, 1897; Alexander E. Cutler, 1904; Benja-
min F. Ray; Frank Atkinson; Charles Parmiter, 1910. There was now and
then an interregnum in this pastoral succession — generally not more than of
one year's length.

It has been told as a fact of town history that the first religious society
organized was by twelve Methodists, at the center school house, in 1X41.
However this may have been, except for prayer meetings at convenient
houses, the members of this denomination attended church at Richmond until
1887. In that year they met at Spice's Hall, in Genoa Junction, Rev. Daniel
Cross holding services. In the next year they built a Sunday school room
with "supper room" above. This was in the pastorate of Rev. Air. Smith.
In 1894 the main building was finished and dedicated, with Rev. Frank C.
Richardson as pastor.

Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper held Episcopal service in August. 1X4S, at
Air. Whiting's house in section 32, administered communion to members of
the Whiting and Sibley families, and a Whiting daughter. The parish of the
Holy Communion was organized in October with William H. Whiting and
John Sibley as wardens and Samuel Allen. Robert Moore, Charles W. Sibley
and Royal Sikes as vestrymen. Rev. .Messrs. McNamara, Ludlum, Peters
and Studley were successively rectors of this parish, and a few years later
the rectors at Lake Geneva came over monthly. In the absences of clerical
attendance, as at present, the service is read by lay readers. Mr. Whiting
built a chapel in 1849 on section 29, for temporary use; but it lias nol yet been
replaced by a more permanent building.

The Evangelical Lutheran society was organized in [881, its mem-
bership including eight families. It owns a lot in the northern pari of tin-
village, but holds its services in alternate afternoons at the Congregational
church Its pastorate is suplied from Lake Geneva or Slade's Corners, lis
present membership is about forty families.

The German Methodist societj was formed in [885, in connection with
the church at Bristol, Kenosha county. It holds no property, but uses the
Methodist church fortnightly in summer and once in three weeks in winter
It- membership is .about twenty-five.

I om MERC! \1 [NTERESTS.

The State Bank of Genoa [unction was organized in [904 with lliel Al.
Holton as president, John Moore as vice-president, Thomas Moore as cashier,
and six stockholders besides. The capital was five thousand dollars. This
bank seems to have made but one yearly report.

238 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Chester A. Stone had been for some time in business at the village as a
private banker. In 1904 he found it practicable and advisable to bring his
business under statutory provisions. With thirty-five other stockholders he
organized the Citizens State Bank, with twelve thousand dollars capital,
Tames Crier Alien as president. Hoxie W. Smith as vice-president, and him-
self as cashier. Most of these stockholders are men of the town and village,
and of Lake Ceneva.

About 1889 Capt. Luther Cranger Riggs, soldier, poet and editor, began
to publish tlic Genoa Junction Journal, as a thus localized edition of his paper
at Richmond. lie was one of the order of cry-aloud, spare-not country editors,
and seemed to think that peace is dear at any price and too inglorious for an
ex-centurion. His militant editorship was regarded as vigorous and racy, and
it was rather overcharged with his own personality. His paper leaned to-
ward prohibitionism and the abolition of minor evils. He suffered some
loss from a lawless entry upon his premises at Richmond, with attendant
malicious mischief, as. some dumping of type cases or newspaper forms into
the Nippersink. His troubled career ended with his death, October 31, 1891.
1 le was then aged about fifty years.

In [900 a new paper, the Times, began under ownership of Hurley B.
Begun, followed about [902 by Charles F. Dixon; in 11)03 '>>' A. M. Spence
(but initials are doubtful); in [903 by Chauncey A. Swenson; in [909 by
Morris B. Rice; in 191 1 by Swenson F. Foster, by whom it was discontinued
about the end of the year.

VILLAGE ORGANIZATION.

At an election held July 23, [901, the citizens of Genoa Junction ac-
cepted a village charter by vote of 1 2j to 107. This was on the petition of
Dr. Benjamin J. Bill, Julian M. Carey, Eli E. Manor, John Moore. Edward
Miller and Chester A. Stone. William Child, county surveyor, established
the village boundaries and made a plat for record at Elkhorn. The first vil-
lage board was made up of Russell Holmes as president, with Dr. Benjamin |.
Bill, Charles 1). Cibbs. George Gookin, H. Frederick Henning, Eli E. Manor.
Edward Miller, as trustees; Charles D. Blanke as clerk. II. Allien Gibbs as
treasurer, and Julian M. Carey as member of the county board Mr. Holmes
is still president, having been relieved only in [904 and 1910. in which years
John H. Miller was chosen. Mr. Blanke's service as clerk has continued with-
out an interval. The later treasurers elected were Clarence A. Graves in
[902, Charles II. Prouty in 1906, Lanson G. Deignan in [908, \. Willis Hyde

WALW0RTI1 COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 239

1809. Joseph W. Westlake became assessor in 1902, and William E. Trow in
1903 and is still in service. Mr. Carey served four years on the county
board, followed in 1905 by Capt. Theodore A. Fellows, who served till his
death. February 10, 191 2; and in April Mr. Carey was called back. Dr. Bill
has been and is vet health officer.

CHAPTER XXI.

TOWN AND VILLAGE OF DARIEN.

The land area of the township of Darien is given officially as 22,700
acres, leaving 340 acres (surveyor's errors excepted) under water. Turtle
creek comes out of Delavan and flows in the devious way of prairie streams
for more than eight miles to reach the line of Bradford, in the next county,
making a sigmoid flexure through sections 13, 12, 11, 10, 15, 16, 21, 17, 18,
its exit from Darien nearly due west from its entrance. Its tributaries are
few and small, the two larger ones coming out of Sharon, crossing sections
32 and 31 near Allen Grove and meeting the Turtle beyond the county line.
The wooded areas were greatest in sections 3, 4, 9. The smaller forests and
groves are so distributed through the town as to divide the open country into
several locally named prairies, as Blooming, Hazel, Ridge, Rock, and Turtle.
Rock prairie, in the northwestern sections, reaches into neighboring towns,
and is one of the most fertile in the state.

STATISTICS.

County clerk's tables for lyio show a total land value of $2,203,700,
of which $104,400 is the estimate for two unincorporated villages. Average
value per acre, $89.83. Acreages of crops: Apple trees, i 14; barley, 4,095;
beets, 20; corn, 5,564; growing timber, 2,047; hayfield, 3,785 ; oats, 1.535;
rye, 126; wheat, 200; no potatoes. Numbers and values of live stock: 2,586
cattle, $67,200; 1,355 hogs. $13,600; 731 horses, $55,400; 9 mules, $610;
864 sheep, $2,600. Automobiles, 14. The population, at seven federal enum-
erations, was: 1850, 1,013; iSl1". [,590; 1870, 1,583: 1880, 1,394: [890,
1,218; 1900, 1.371 ; 1910, 1, 241).

Town 2 north, range 15 cast, was at first included in the town of Dela-
van, from which it was detached by legislative action January 6, 1 S40, and
named from Darien. Genesee county, New York, the last previous home of
several settlers of influence in the new community. Elijah Belding and Chris-
topher C. Chcsebrough came in April, 1837, apparently by way of the Phoe-
nix settlement, making claims respectively in sections 1 1 and 14. Both broke
land and planted a few acres, and Mr. Chesebrough built a house, though he

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 24T

had not yet married. Near the end of May, Joseph and Arthur \V. Maxson
followed Turtle vale to section 18, where they found passable water power,
on which, four years later, they built a sawmill and thirteen years later a
gristmill. In June William H. Moore came to section 15. and Rev. Hiram
Alvah Kingsley to section 19. Mr. Moore raised, threshed, ground and ate
the first grain crop raised in Darien. John Bruce, Cyrus and John Lippit,
Salmon and Trumbull D. Thomas came, the first to section 22, the Lippits to
section 35, Salmon Thomas to section 12, his brother to section 1. August
11, 1837, Alfred Delavan Thomas, son of Salmon, was born to other use-
fulness than hoeing corn or milking cows.

Within the next four years came Orange \V. and William T. Carter,
Ebenezer and Jabez B. Chesebrough, John Curtis, Leander Dodge, Charles
Ellsworth, Jared Fox, Jasper Griggs, Cyrenus N., Kinner, Lemuel and Will-
iam Hollister, Robert A. Houston. Alvah B., Asher and Hiram A. Johnson,
Loren K. and Lyman Jones, Robert Law-son, Hugh and Chester D. Long,
Elisha McCollister, William Gregory Mayhew, Amos Older, Lyman H.
Seaver, Hiram A. Stone, John Valentine Walker, John and Joseph R. Wil-
kins, Archibald Woodard, Minthorn Woodhull.

Before the new town was seven years old it received these accessions to
its citizenship: Oscar Anderson, Hiram Babcock, Eusebius Barwell, Levi
Beedle, Dearborn Blake, Levi Blakeman, Willard A. Blanchard, Jeremiah
Bradway, Philander Brainerd, Lorenzo Carter, John Mudgett Chase, Wash-
ington Chesebrough, John Clague, George Clapper. Nicholas S. Comstock,
John B. and Richard Cook. George Cotton, Horace Croswell, Josiah and
Samuel W. Dodge, James Dudley, Cornelius Dykeman, Walter P. Flanders,
Asa Foster, Samuel Fowle, Henry Frey, Alexander and James Gallup, Thomas
George, Homer B. Greenman, Samuel K. Gregory, John Haskell. Silas llaskin,
John B. Hastings, Robert Hutchinson, Amos Ives, Parley W. fones, Peter
M. K.eeler. Eli and Henry King, John Sardine Kingsley. Stephen Kinney.
Timothy Knapp, S. Rees LaBar, Ira P. Larnard, Zebulon T. Lee, David
Lindsey, James McCay, Newton McGraw, Stephen and Thomas M. Mc
Hugh, Moses McKee, Thomas M. and William Martin. Alfred A. Mott,
Joseph Edward Newberry, Jacob and John N. Niskern, Edson P.. ami Will-
iam Older, Hiram Onderdonk, Amos Otis, Joshua Parish, Nicholas Perry,
Amasa T. and Ovid Reed. John Reinhardt, Lucius Relyea, Erastus Rood,
Charles F. and James A. Scofield, John Woodard Seaver, John Martin Sher-
man. William H. Shimmins, Henry Smith. Charles I'. Soper, Joseph Murray
Stihvell, Randall Stone. Edwin and Luke Taylor, Ezekiel Trip]), Isaac Vail,
(16)

242 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Abraham and Cornelius Veeder, Josiah Vrooman, George Walker, Alfred
Watrous, Rial N. Weed, Carey Welch, Victor Moreau Wheeler, Lewis Wil-
kinson,-John Williams, Ebenezer and John Woodard.

Christopher Columbus Chesebro, son of Ebenezer and Anna, was born
in Albany county, November 13, 1S16; died at Darien March 14. 1841. He
married Maria Johnson, June 12, 1839.

Jabez Brooks Chesebro (1811-1881), eldest son of Ebenezer, married
Mary Simpson and had six children.

Nelson W. Cole (1818-1903) married Harriet (1832-1900), daughter
of Martin and Esther Post.

Asa Foster (1807-1857) bought land in sections 22. 30. He married
Lucy (1810-1881), daughter of Orange Carter and Elizabeth Rumsey.

Henry Frey (1785-1865) and wife, Amelia J. (1794-1839), must have
been among the earliest settlers, since Mrs. Frey's tombstone is in the village
burial ground. Her death, then, is the earliest found in the town. Mr. Frey
was for some years postmaster, and was an active business man. His son,
Philip R. Frey, was first railway station agent at Darien, and was transferred
to the station at Corliss about 1870.

James Gale (1821-1884) married Phoebe Ann (1826-1903), daughter
of Frederick Rosekrans and Desire Braman.

John Brooks Hastings (1815-1902) was born at Pembroke, New York;
came to Darien in 1843; married in 1846 Hannah Maria (1825-1882),
daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Reed.

Asher Johnson (1 791-1873) came from Steuben county, New York;
bought land in sections 4, 17, 19, 20. His wife was Amy Smith (1793-1882).
Sons, Alvah B., Hiram A., John J., and Samuel, and daughter Celeste (Mrs.
Joseph R. Wilkins).

Alvah B. Johnson, son of Asher (1812-1899), married, first, Hannah
Boyce (1818-1845) • second, Jane P. Kerns.

Zebulon Taylor Lee (1801-1858), son of Ouartus Lee and Keziah John-
son, was In nil at Willington, Connecticut, and was buried at Allen Grove.
He married Sabra (1804-1883), daughter of Orange and Elizabeth Carter.
He bought land in section 32. Of his children were Amelia Josephine (Mrs.
Dr. John Dickson). Laura Ann (Mrs. Chester IX Long), Almirette (Mrs.
William II. Babcock).

Cyrus Lippit (1810-1888). son of Hezekiah and Susan, came from
I attaraugus county to section 35 in 1838, having married in [832, with his
wife Lydia ( 1810-1881), sister of John Bruce. She was born at Phelps, Xew
York, Her sister Susan was ^Irs William Phoenix.

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 243

Ovid Reed (1820-1890), son of Alexander and Elizabeth, born in
Darien, New York; married Jane M. Seaver, daughter of Joseph W. and
Mary.

Erastus Rood 1 [816-1900) married Hannah M. | [826-19P0), daughter
of John and Susan Wilkins.

Charles P. Soper (1821-1879), son of Asahel and Clarissa, married,
first. Harriet C. ( 1820- 1846) ; married, second, in 1N4N. Wealthy I. Gallup
1 [823-1910). Asahel ( 1790-1846) and Clarissa (1793-1869) died at Darien.
They were from central New York.

Salmon Thomas (1 801 -1887) and wife, Elizabeth Stowell (1816-1893),
removed to Delavan village.

Trumbull Dorrance Thomas (1806-1889) and wife, Mary Jane (1818-
1885), also removed to Delavan. He was Salmon's brother.

John Wilkins (1872-1868) and wife, Susan f 1 794-1851 ) , came from
New Jersey with sons James (1805-1900) and Joseph Rusling (1817-1907).
James married Hannah Ferguson ( 1806-1878). Joseph Rusling Wilkins
married Celeste (1818-1891), daughter of Asher Johnson.

John Williams, Jr. ( 1 798-1877), married Ann, daughter of Orange and
Elizabeth Carter. A son. Deloss (1824-1907), married Lydia M. Phelps.

EARLY GROWTH.

In 1837 John Bruce built a house near the road to Beloit at the central
part of section 27. This modest mansion also served as a wayside inn, until
[843, when his son, James R. Bruce, built a hotel with such substantial
frame and workmanship that it still serves the purpose of a public house.
Henry Frey built a store in 1844, and filled it with a large stock of goods.
A postoffice had been established there in 1839. A hamlet grew slowly about
these buildings until 1856, in which year Mr. Frey, Hiram A. Stone and
Edward Topping platted the village of Darien, through the middle of which
the railway came that year from Racine and onward to Beloit. The new
station at once became an important point for shipping the abundant grain
crops of Darien and other towns, and as busy a distributing point for the
trade in pine lumber. Less grain than then is now raised and forwarded.
but the station has not lost its relative importance. Before 1862 five grain
houses were built, severally by Parker M. Cole, Hiram Onderdonk, John
Williams, John Bruce and M. Bushnell Stone. These have been operated
by men who knew how to draw and hold trade.

The village is on slightly uneven ground, bul has no difficult street
grades. It is generally a few feet higher than at the station, where it is

244 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

945 feet above sea level. It is 9.4 miles from Elkhorn, 65.9 miles from
Milwaukee (by rail), 84.7 miles from Chicago. It is as yet unincorporated,
and has about four hundred inhabitants. (In October, 191 1, the village re-
jected a proposition to incorporate by a decisive majority.)

Its churches are Baptist and Methodist, each costing about three thou-
sand dollars. The town of Darien has seven school districts, of which three
are joint districts. The village supports a graded school, with six teachers,
doing excellent work. The school house was built in 1903 of red brick,
two stories high. A town hall, very convenient for many public occasions,
was built about 1870 and burned July 28, 1909, and with it most of the
priceless town records.

In 1897 the Farmers' State Bank was organized with a capital of fifteen
thousand dollars, John R. Eagan cashier and resident officer. It has a build-
ing suitable for its purpose. Like most villages in the county, Darien is an
active dairy center. Its cemetery, northwest of the village, lies on sloping
ground, and is kept in perfect order. Several of the fathers and mothers of the
town we're buried there, and also at the Mount Philip cemetery, Allen Grove,
which lies north of the station, within the town of Darien. The village
(Darien) has a tidy little park of two or three acres; but, in larger sense, the
village itself with all one may see, from its higher points, of field and grove
makes one of the finest parks in Wisconsin.

Clinton street, Allen Grove, lies along the south line of Darien, in section
31 ; and the Sidney Allen addition to the village plat lies north of that street.
The railway keeps to the Darien side, having its station at the top of Allen's
hill, at an inconvenient distance from the half-abandoned village. Bardwell
station, or crossing, at first named "Tioga," is in section 32. 2.5 miles from
Darien and 1.7 miles from Allen Grove. Its station building and its Y's
are all there is in sight besides the intersecting lines of two divisions of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway system. Why this crossing was not
made at Darien may be one of the inscrutabilities of railway building.

As nearly as may now be learned the town and village of Darien fur-
nished one hundred thirty-eight soldiers for the Civil war. Migration and
death have so far reduced the number of resident ex-soldiers as to suspend the
once flourishing Grand Army post.

The several postmasters were Christopher C. Chesebro, John Bruce.
Henry Frey, Edward Topping, Moses Bushnell Stone. Nathaniel Wing Hoag,
Joseph F. Lyon, Charles S. Teeple, George F. Lathrop, Rodney Seaver,*
Horace Everett Seaver, Edwin E. Park,* Frederick Siperley, John W. Gar-
butt.* The three whose name- are starred were soldiers of 1861.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

245

The loss of records, burned with the town hall, makes the official list
of the town somewhat incomplete; though part has been recovered from
county clerk's and circuit court clerk's records, and part from newspaper
files at Delavan and Elkhorn.

CHAIRMEN O!-- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Salmon Thomas 1842, '44, '53

John Bruce 1843, '45

Newton McGraw 1846-7

Gaylord Blair 1848

George Cotton 1849-52

Chester Deming Long 1854

Hiram Averill Johnson 1855, '58

John Brooks Hastings 1856

Josiah Dodge 1857

George \Y. Lamont !8.S9

Parker M. Cole 1860-62

John DeWolf 1863, 76- '79

Horace Everett Seaver 1864

John J. Johnson 1865-6, 1885-6

Joseph Foster Lyon 1867-72, '74-5

Daniel Rodman 1873

John B. Johnson 1877, '80-1, '84

Darwin Pratt Clough 1878. '87-1)7

William P.lakeley 1882-3

John McFarlane 1898-9.

John Piper 1900-1

George Christie 1902-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Charles Allen 1875-6, '79

Isaac \V. Babcock__i867, '79-80, '82-3

Willard B. Babcock 1861, '78

George W. Benner 1901-08

Gaylord Blair 1850

Byron J. Blakeley 1899-1900

Willard Blanchard 1849

Daniel Carey 1885

Orange Walker Carter 1845, '&9

George Christie 1886-95, 1900

Rufus Conable 1850

George Cotton 1846

John Cusack 1893-96, '98

Truman P. Davis 1865

John DeWolf 1856, '58

Josiah Dodge 1849

Lemuel Downs 1878

Tared Fox 1843

Cyrenus M. Fuller 1864

James Gale 1859-60

Moody Orlando Grinnell 1859

Wickham H. Griswold 1877, '85

Lewis E. Hastings 1888-90

Henry J. Heyer 1898

Edwin E. Ilillman 1873

Uriah Schutt Hollister

1866, '70-2., '74

Asher Johnson [842, '45, '48. '52

Hiram Averill Johnson J853"4

John J. Johnson 1863

William B. Johnson 1872

Abi jali Jones 1862

Loren Kenney Jones 1844, '60

George W. Lamont 1858

Ehenezer Latimer 1851

Peter M. Latimer 1862

246

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

John Lippit 1843

Hugh Long 1844

James W. Long 1891-2, '97

Alexander A. McKay 1870-1

Johnson Good well Matteson_i88i-2

Arthur W. Maxson 1867

Frank Niskern 1887

Hiram Onderdonk J85I-3

Joshua Parish 1854

Frank Pounder ^97

Dr. Andrew J. Rodman 1876

Daniel Rodman 1869

William Rood 1899

Horace Everett Seaver 1863, '66

Lyman Hunt Seaver 1842, '45, '57

Charles P. Soper__ 1848, '56, '65, '68

Arthur H. Stewart 1880-1

Hiram A. Stone 1857

Israel Stowell 1868, '73

Charles S. Teeple 1864

Edgar Topping 1861

John Milton Vanderhoof 1909-12

Rial X. Weed 1847

John Williams 1846-7

William H. Williams 1874-5, 'yj

Elmer C. Woodford 1901-11

Names are wanting for both supervisors in 1884, and for one of them in
each of the years 1883. '86, '90, and '93; but it is probable that Mr. Chris-
tie's service was continuous from 1886 to 1896 inclusive.

TOWN CLERKS.

Joseph Warren Seaver 1842-6, '57

Andrew J. Weatherwax 1847

Jonathan Hastings 1848

Calvin Serl 1849

Charles P. Soper 1850-2, '54

Elias W. Grow 1853

William A. Waterhouse 1855-6

Nathaniel Wing Hoag

1858-62, '64-71

Orange Williams 1863

Theron Rufus Morgan 1872, '76-9

Horace Everett Seaver 1873-5, '85

John Milton Vanderhoof

1 880-3, '86-9

Rile)- S. Young 1890-7

George L. Reed 1898-11)1-'

TOWN TREASURERS.

Loren Kenney Jones 1842

Hiram A. Stone 1843

Leander Dodge 1844

\.sa Foster 1845-6

Jonathan Hastings 1847

Henry Frey 1848-9

Hugh Long 1850, '59

William A. Waterhouse

'51-2, '57-8, '61-2, '64, '68

Lyman Hunt Seaver ^53

James Gale 1854

William Harper 1855, '60

John I). Older 1856

John S. Hodge 1863

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

247

Joseph Foster Lyon 1865-6

John Milton Vanderhoof 1869

Leroy Dodge 1870

Avery H. Stone 1871-2

Lucius C. Waite 1873-4

James Stryker 1875-6

Darwin Pratt Clough 1877

Rodney Seaver- 1878-80, '82, '85-90

William Edwin Clough 1881, '87

Edwin E. Park 1883-4

John McFarlane 1891-5

Henry J. Heyer 1896

James Thorpe 1897-1912

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Ellis S. Barrett 1911-12

Edwin Buck Carter 1885-88

John S. Dodge 1862-64

John Gilbert 1910-12

Orvellus Henry Gilbert- 1860-4, '72-4.
Nicholas Montgomery Harring-
ton 1861-6

William Harrison 1859-61

Uriah Schutt Hollister 1867-8

Hiram Averill Johnson 1887-8

George W. Lamont 1863-7

Chester Deming Long 1877-82

James W. Long 1888-9

Joseph Foster Lyon 1863-9, 74_(l

Arthur \Y. Maxson__ 1864-6, '69-71
Peter J. Miserez 1900-1

Washington Mulks_ 1890-2, '99-1901

Eugene D. Odell 1885-7, '89-93

Dr. Andrew Jackson Rodman

1883-4

Adna Viles Sawyer 1897-1910

David H. Seaver, bet. 1896 and 1905

Horace Everett Seaver 1881-3

Calvin Serl 1860-1, '64-6

Edwin II. Smith__ 1878-94, '97-1902

Charles P. Soper 1866-70

Calvin Graham Sperry 1866-8

Moses Bushnell Stone 1859-61

John Milton Vanderhoof 1871-7

Bert H. Welch 1895-6

David Williams 1869-79, '82-99

Archibald Woodard 1870-8

CHAPTER XXII.

TOWN OF DELAVAN.

At the first division of the county, January 2, 1838, for town govern-
ment the southwestern quarter was named Delavan. The Phoenix brothers
sought thus to dedicate a newly planted community to total abstinence from
the use as beverages of spirituous and malt liquors, wine and cider. Ed-
ward Cornelius Delavan, a rich man of Albany, took an early part and
became a leader of great personal influence in the temperance movement of
the later thirties, which increased noticeably for some years thereafter. The
organization, founded on a belief in the efficacy of moral suasion, was volun-
tary, and without other ritual than a publicly taken pledge. Officially named
the New York State Temperance Society, its members were better known
as "Washingtonians." Mr. Delavan's social position, as well as his ability and
earnestness, made his name a household word in temperance families until
his fame was eclipsed, about 1850, by Neal Dow, the apostle of "legal sua-
sion." In their sales and leases of real estate in their new town and village
the Phoenix proprietors inserted a covenant, in effect, that no liquor should
ever be sold on land conveyed or left by them. But this stipulation did not
long outlast their own short lives.

The town of Walworth (with Sharon) was set off in 1839, and the
town of Darien early in the next year, leaving the name Delavan to town 2
north, range 16 east. One more dismemberment, February 2, 1846, gave
section 1 to the new town of Elkhorn. Of seven measurements recorded
by the state topographers the highest and lowest points were respectively
nine hundred and sixty-eight ami nine hundred and five feet above sea-level.
The higher ground is in the vicinity of Delavan lake.- — on both sides and at
its foot, — at points along it ^ outlel ami on hanks of Turtle creek, and in
the sections lying nearest the town of Sugar Creek.

Delavan lake is second in area and only in that way inferior in its nat-
ural beauty to Geneva lake. It is about three and one-half miles long, from
a half-mile to a mile in breadth, and its greatest depth, near its middle point,
is fifty-six and seven-tenths feet. Its largest inlet. Jackson's creek, comes
from Geneva into the town at section 12 and crosses sections 14 and 22 to
reach the foot of the lake. A much smaller stream comes out of Walworth,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 249

crosses sections 33, 34 for less than a mile, and meets the lake near its tipper
end. Its one outlet, opposite the mouth of the larger inlet, takes a swan-
necked course to reach the Turtle near the city of Delavan. A widening
of Turtle creek, near by, locally named Lake Como, completed the sugges-
tion to Pottawattomie imagination of the body, neck, and head of the bird
from which they named the lake and its outlet. Turtle creek comes out of
Richmond into section 6, enters Darien from section 18, and winds its way to
the Rock near Beloit. The so-called island, which at wettest seasons has been
really an island, rises high above the water level, at the head of the lake, as
if to mask a small marsh which was part of the primitive lake-basin.

The farms at the broad foot of the lake are among the finest in the
county. They were owned for many years by the Mabie brothers and their
heirs, but have passed into other ownership. The high banks of the lake,
once well-wooded and now not wholly bare, are lined with summer homes,
hotels, parks, picnic grounds and steamer landings, — and, in brief, the Algon-
quin fishermen's Wah-ba-shaw-bess has become the white men's highly civ-
ilized Delavan lake. Whatever changes have been or may be made, the lake
itself and the natural height and slope of its containing walls will remain;
and the Pottawattomie' s grandson may fish as of yore in Swan lake, but
must first buy the county clerk's license and must submit his catch to the
game warden's count. The Delavan Lake Assembly Association's ground,
about thirty-seven acres, fully equipped with auditorium and other suitable
buildings, lies at the head of the outlet. Its yearly meetings bring visitors
from far beyond the county borders, and have had their part in making the
little lake a part of the geography of American inland waters, not to know
which argues one's self unknown and as having yet something of rational
interest to learn. About thirty-five years ago a steamer, the "D. A. Olin,"
was built and launched, but was found rather too large for practical use. The
present flotilla is two small serviceable steamers and numerous unregistered
sail-boats.

The land area of the town of Delavan is 18,751 acres, valued at $2,629,-
000, an average value $140.25 per acre. Crop acreages for 1910 were: Bar-
ley, 1,556; corn, 345: growing timber, 1,183; hayfields, 3.038; oats, 1,769;
orchards, 54; potatoes, 135; rye, 166; wheat, 28. There were nine automo-
biles. The population of town and village in 1850 was 1,268. At the six
following federal enumerations it was for the town: i860, 890; 1870, 821;
1880, 930; 1890, 667; 1900, 993; 1910, 903.

Col. Samuel F. Phoenix having discovered the lake, its outlet, and the
point at which the road from Racine to Janesville must cross the swan's

25O WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

neck, chose his lands by quarter-sections and half-quarters in sections 15,
20, 21, 22, 33, 34. He built his cabin in section 15, near the foot of the
lake. Henry Phoenix entered land in sections 7, 17. 18, 19, 20, 21. The
brothers jointly entered parts of sections 23, 24, 28, 29. Section 18 includes
the site of their village. These men dealt justly and liberally with other
men who came to build and people the rising city. The Phoenixes came
with enough money for their enterprise, and their money, business abilities,
and personal character and qualities gave them proportionate influence as
long as they lived. A house was built early enough in 1836, on the east
bank of the outlet and within the village as soon afterward platted, to admit
their cousin, William Phoenix, and wife Susan, with their family and board-
ers, as occupants, in October. Allen Perkins had also built earlier in the year,
at a point on Turtle creek, within section 18, but did not stay long. In 1837
Colonel Phoenix brought his wife and son from Perry, New7 York, and
Henry's family came in 1838.

A saw-mill was built between the village and the lake in 1838, and was
at once set at work to turn out materials for a grist-mill, at the village. In
1838 a stock of goods was brought and set out for sale, at first near the
saw-mill, but a few weeks later at the house in the village. One of the
earliest revenue measures of the county commissioners was to impose a deal-
er's license fee of ten dollars on the firm of H. & S. F. Phoenix ; but it does
not appear in record that the county commissioners licensed a tavern in town
or village.

No registry of arrivals was ever made and preserved, but the persons
here named probably came to village or town by or before 1843: Abner
Adams, William C. Allen, Ira Andrus, James Aram, John Auchampaugh,
William Averill, Enoch Bailey and sons, Henry, Nehemiah and Samuel W.
Barlow, William A. Bartlett, Richard Beals (wife Lucy Beardsley), Richard
S. Bond, Daniel Bowen (d. i860), Peter Boys (1783-1855), Jeremiah Brad-
ley, Cyrus, Edwin, and Ichabod Brainard f 1 776-1855) , Martin Brooks, Isaac
Burson, Chester P., Hiram, and Nelson Calkins. David Perry Calkins, Luther
Chapin, Jonathan C. Church, Daniel Clough, John Dalton (1800-1887) and
wife Ellen, Edmund Dickenson, I.azarus W. Ellis, John Evans, James F.
Flanders, Walter Flansburg. Daniel G. Foster, Abraham Fryer, John and
Stephen P. Fuller, Daniel Gates, Levi Gloyd, Marcellus B. Goff (1808-1884),
Jasper Griggs, Benjamin F. and Henry Hart, Edwin A. and William Hol-
linshead, Edward B. Hollister, Isaac C. Howe (1793-1887), Dr. Hender-
son Hunt, John James, Asa G., Milo, and Samuel C. Kelsey, Daniel E.
La Bar, James H. Mansfield, Hilas Meacham, Lewis H. Miller. Tames Mof-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. _> ^ I

fatt, John Murray, Edward Norris, Alvin B. and Chauncey Parsons, George
Passage, Webster Pease, Ira C. and Ransom Perry, Truman Pierce (1787-
j 8(1(1 1. Thomas Potter, Joseph Rector, James Richardson (1781-1846), Peter
Robinson, John I. Scrafford, John B. Shepard, Erastus Stoddard, Israel
Stowell, Philo S. Sykes, Aaron H. Taggart, Hiram Terry, Rev. Henry Top-
ping, Ira and Samuel Utter, Jeremiah Philbrook Ward, Eleazar Gaylord War-
ren, Thomas Wells, Lewis H. Willis, James Wilson, John Yost.

Ichabod Brainard (1776-1855) married a second wife, Mary (born
1779)> daughter of John Cleveland and Eunice Cutler. Cyrus was their
son, as was probably Edwin, who married Mary A., daughter of William
and Ann Phoenix.

Isaac Burson (1810-1881) was son of James Burson and Deborah
Stroud, and was born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania. He was a brother
of Mrs. William Hollinshead. He lived unmarried, and died at Elkhorn,
March 5, 1881. His burial was delayed for some days by the memorable
snow blockade of that year. He bought land in section 4, Delavan, and
sections 20, 33, Sugar Creek.

Chester Porter Calkins (1818-1890) married Catharine, daughter of
Abraham Sperbeck. He was buried at East Delavan.

Jonathan C. Church (1811-1870) married Dorcas, daughter of Thomas
James and Dorcas Perry.

Rev. James F. Flanders married Ann Elizabeth Porter, June 4, 1839.
It is not shown where this marriage took place, but it was within the larger
town of Elkhorn.

Daniel Oilman Foster (1802), son of Daniel Foster and Al.m Davis,
a native of New Hampshire, married Caroline, daughter of Daniel Brainard ;
came from Perry, New York, in 1838 and bought land in sections 7, 21.

Stephen P. Fuller married Man. daughter of Nehemiah Barlow and
Orinda Steele. His sister. Loraine P.. Fuller, was Doctor Hunt's firsl wife.

Daniel Stroud Hollinshead (1812-1869), son of James Hollinshead and
Sarah Stroud, married Rachel Sherrod (1807-1853)- Edwin Augustus and
William were his brothers. The former bought land in section 34, Sugar
Creek.

Edward Brigham Hollister (1823-1801), son of Seth L. Hollister and
Catharine Brigham, married Harriet, daughter of Francis Eaton.

Milo and Samuel C. Kelsey were sons of Samuel Kelsey and Elizabeth
Carver, of Sherburne, New York. Sarah Ann. their sister, was wife of
Colonel Phoenix. Asa G. Kelsey's relationship may have been that of brother

252 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

or of cousin. Milo was the first lawyer at Delavan. Samuel C. was a sur-
veyor, teacher and architect. He married Caroline M., daughter of Colonel
Betts.

Daniel Edwin La Bar (1789-1839) married Hannah (1793-1856),
daughter of Samuel Rees and Rachel Stroud (1774-1854). He came in
1839 to sections 6. 7. His son, Samuel Rees La Bar (1820-1896). came in
the same year. His wife was Harriet Nuel, daughter of Rev. Henry Topping
and Nuel Van Doren.

Ira C. Perry bought land in section 31. April 5, 1843, he married Ann
Briggs.

Truman Pierce (1787-1866) bought in section 31. His wife, Lucy, was
born in 1793. Two of his sons-in-law were Kirtland G. Wright and Calvin
Carrington. He and his mother, Mary (1755-1852), were buried at East
Delavan.

Joseph Rector (1806-1869) with wife. Alary Ann McDougal ( 1S09-
1875), settled in section 34, but a few years later moved into Walworth.

John Bisby Shepard (1803-1875) was a son of Pelatiah Shepard and
Elizabeth Thompson, of Fulton county, New York. He married Rachel
(1806-1872), daughter of Benjamin Willis and Bridget Cole, and had five
children. Of these, Sabra Amelia was wife of Reuben H. Bristol, Mary
Selina was Mrs. Edward Colman, and Linus Delavan married Clarissa Zu-
lemma, daughter of Adna Sawyer and Serena Norton Viles (widow of Ben-
jamin Home).

Israel Stowell (1812-1876), native of New Hampshire, married Mary
M., daughter of Truman Jones and Elizabeth Kinne. He came to the village
in 1838, and it is told that he built the first framed house, opened the first
tavern, and placed a stagg-coach on the route between Delavan and Chicago.
A year before his death he married a second time.

Aaron Hardin Taggart (1816-1874) bought land in section 21, but be-
came one of the earliest business men of Delavan. He married, in 1846,
Martha (1826-1905), daughter of Henry Phoenix and Ann Jennings. They
had seven children.

Ira ('.. John (born 1825* and Samuel Utter 1 1807-1898) were sons of
Abraham Utter and Marinda Beardsley, of Washington county. New York.
John married Louisa Amanda, daughter of Winsor Lapham. Samuel came
in 1843 with his second wife, Harriet A. Winston (1823-1906).

Lewis Henry Willis (1817-1886). son of William Willis and Elizabeth

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 253

Hoyt, came from Sparta, New York, to Delavan in 1840, to section 23. His
first wife, Mary M., was daughter of Orsamus Bowers. In 1872 he married
Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Adriance. of Scipio, New York.

Chauncey D. Woodford (1827-1891) was son of Austin (1785-1866)
and Roxana (1793-1856).. He married Sarah Fenton 1 1828-1864), daugh-
ter of Moses Ball and Lucinda Holland. He was the first wagon-maker and
blacksmith at East Delavan corners.

About 1843 Truman Pierce, Samuel Utter, Kirtland G. Wright and
Calvin Carrington, farmers living near the intersection of the highway be-
tween Delavan and Lake Geneva, with the north and south road dividing
section 25 from section 26, chose that point as one convenient for a store,
repair shops, and whatever else might develop there. In no long time a
school house and church followed. The store has always had a good local
trade and its business lias generally been in good hands. The other buildings
were displaced by larger and better ones, and a convenient town hall was
added to the group. A butter factory, in operation for several years past,
was burned in June, 191 1. It has been rebuilt with hollow cement blocks.
Its monthly receipt of milk was about one hundred and twenty-five thousand
pounds, and its monthly product of butter about three thousand five hundred
pounds.

A postoffice was established about 1872, a station on the star-route from
Elkhorn to Harvard. The recent institution of rural free delivery service
has divided the postal business of the eastern half of the town of Delavan
between route No. 2, Lake Geneva, and route No. 2, Elkhorn, the village
being served from the Lake Geneva office. In the village are about a dozen
dwellings and fifty inhabitants. Its always prosperous Baptist church, or-
ganized in 1843, has a resident pastor, now Rev. William A. Weyrauch. The
town hall houses a small public library. Nearly a mile and one-half away,
at the northeast corner of section 36, is a little church of the Latter-day
Saints, founded by a few persons who chose not to follow President Young.
Henry Southwick was its spiritual leader for many years. A mile west of
this church, at the corner of section 26, and three-quarters of a mile south of
the village, is the small but sufficient and neatly kept East Delavan cemetery,
where one may read on marble and granite several names of the fathers and
mothers of the township.

The official lists of Delavan town (and city 1 an- slightly imperfect,
though not discontinuous.

254

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

CHAIRMEN OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

William Ayres Bartlett 1842

Dr. Henderson Hunt 1843

William Phoenix 1844-5

Charles Holmes Sturtevant — 1846-7

Samuel Jones _ 1848

Henry Mallorv 1849

Asa Congdon 1850

Stephen Steele Barlow 1851

Dr. Norman L. Gaston 1852

Aaron Hardin Taggart 1853

Joseph L. Mott 1854

Edward P. Conrick 1855-9

Salmon Thomas 1860-1

James Aram 1862-74

Henry George Hollister 1875-97

Thomas F. Williams . —

1898-9, 1906-10

Winsor Sales Dunbar 1900-1

Cyrus H. Serl 1902

Herman A. Briggs x903-5

Bernard Conry 1911-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Alexander H. Allyn 1877-82

James Aram 1850-1, '59-61

Charles Stewart Bailey

1842, '47, '54
Levi Parsons Bailey

1857, '04-5, '73

Henry Barlow 1866-72

Samuel W. Barlow 1853-8

Silas Van Xess Barlow 1876

Peter Boys 1847

Herman A. Briggs 1888-91

Hiram Calkins 1843

Jonathan C. Church 1843

Moses R. Cheever 1859

Daniel Clark 1853

Homer Coleman 1864-5

Asa Congdon 1849

Fred D. Cowles 1900-2

James Dilley 1852

Lemuel Downs 1892-7

Winsor Sales Dunbar 1899

George W. Farrar 1893-7

Edward F. Fiedler iqti-12

Clinton Quincy Fisk 1898

James M. Gaskill 1861-2

William Hollinshead 1845, '74"5

Henry George Hollister 1866-73

Job J. Hollister 1906-9

Milton L. Hollister 1874

William S. Howe l!~v5-'1

Samuel Jones 1847

Phineas Dudley Kendrick_i855, '58

Samuel Rees La Bar 1856-7

Ebenezer Latimer J863

John S. McDougal 1879-91

Henry Mallorv 1846, '63

Hilas Meacham 1862

William M. Mereness 1003-4

George Passage 1844. '46

John Prudames !9°5

William Redford 1877-8

Cyrus H. Serl 1898-1002

John Strong 1903-4

Ira C. Utter 1845

Samuel Utter .1850. '55-6. '60, '62
John M. Walker 1883-7

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Herbert J. Welcher 1906-9 William C. Wirikleman 1905

lewis D. Williams 1911-12 Kirtland G. Wright 1849, '51

Richard Williams 1854

TOWN CLERKS.

Stephen Steele Barlow 1842-3

Cyrus Brainard 1844-5

Hugh Bradt 1846, '50-2

Charles Smith 1847-8

Samuel Carver Kelsey 1849

Enoch Henry Martin Bailey__ 1853-4

George Frank H. Betts 1855

Henry J. Briggs 1856

Charles M. Bradt 1857-8

James S. Dilley 1859

Sardis Brainard 1860-1

Ebenezer K. Barker 1862

Charles E. Griffin 1863, '66-9

Kinner Newcomb Hollister 1864

Hiram Terry Sharp 1865

Tra Pratt Larnard 1870-90

A. Harvey Lowe 1891-7

Henry P. Hare 1898-1900

Orville S. Smith 1901-12

TOWN TREASURERS.

Jasper Griggs 1842-3

Hezekiah Wells 1844

Alfred Stewart 1845, '48

Aaron H. Taggart 1846

Joseph D. Monell, Jr. 1847

William Willard Isham 1849

Philetus S. Carver 1850

William Clark 1851-2

Stephen S. Babcock 1853

William Wallace Bradley 1854-5

Charles Smith 1856-7

George F. H. Betts 1858

Edwin W. Phelps 1859

Benjamin D. White i860

Charles I T. Sanborn r86i

Sardis Brainard 1862

James F. Latimer 1863

Newton McGraw 1864-6

Henry C. Hunt 1867-8

Elijah Matteson Sharp 1869-72

Norman A. Keeler 1873

Frank A. Smith 1874

William B. Mnnsell 1875-6

William TT. Nichols 1877-8

Isaac Young Filzer 1879-80

Dr. George FT. Briggs 1881-2

Henry C. Johnson 1883-97

K'os. S. Smith T1S98

Romain M. Calkins 1890-1004

Wallace C. Austin 1905- 12

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Allen Bennett 76-80. '82-4

Stephen S. Babcock T877-9

Arthur Bowers 1892-4, '97-9

Henry W. Clark 1860-62

Or. Daniel B. Devendorf 1N71

Edward J. Dodd 1887

256

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

George Frederick Flanders 1886-90

Charles E. Griffin 1862-4

David B. Harrington 1886-90

Henry C. Johnson 1890-2

Henry C. Kishner 1891-3

Newton McGraw 1854-74

Silas W. Menzie 1871-82

Wilbur J. Reynolds 1900-03

Alfred Stephens Spooner

1872-6, '92-4

Charles Holmes Sturtevant

1883-7

Abner Van Dyke 1879-83

Ernest L. Yon Suessmilch 1894-8

Henry W. Weed 1893-5

Richard Williams 1859-61. '65-8

Thomas F. Williams

1879-83. '94-1912

Lewis Henry Willis 1861-3, '75-7

Frank A. Winn 1890-2

Philip Stephen Wiswell 1900

Chauncey D. Woodford

1863-75, '87-91

CHAPTER XXIII.

CITY OF DELAVAN.

Colonel Phoenix, his brother, and his cousin, platted their village and
settled in it in 1837, and they had not long to wait for lot buyers and neigh-
bors. The Colonel's early death, and that of his brother, about two years
later, were most regrettable, for their character and practical abilities g.v.-e
them influence and weight; but these events did not arrest progress. The
cousin remained a few more years and left the county before the village
was incorporated.

Among the earlier business men were James Aram, W. Wallace Brad-
ley, Col. Caleb and Edwin Croswell, Nicholas M. Harrington. Joseph D.
Monell. Jr., George Passage, Aaron H. Taggart, Thomas Topping and Heze-
kiah Wells. Rev. Henry Topping came in 1839 to Darien and was induced
to settle at Delavan in 1841, in which year came also Dr. Henderson Hunt.

No village can exist permanently without a blacksmith. In 1840 Alonzo
McGraw came thus to confirm the site of the coming city. \V. Willard
Isham came in 1845 as a wagonsmith, and with Charles H. Sturtevant as
wheelwright and partner, important trade was soon brought l" Delavan.
As the village and neighboring farm lands were settled men came in from
their fields and resumed the mechanical or commercial occupations to which
they had been bred but which they had dropped awhile. One intimate!}- ac-
quainted with men of the first half-century of the county would find rnanj
farmers who had been bred to village occupations, and a few who had seen
human life far more broadly

The grist-mill, built in 1839, passed successively, with continuous im-
provement, to the Croswell-. the Mabies (who rebuilt it in 1853), and to
Amos Phelps. The Delavan flour was of the best in the county markel
When wheat was no longer raised in 01 near the county it was and is yel im-
ported by rail for local grinding.

William Phoenix built his house in 1837 and made it serve for a short
time as a hotel. This was on the bank of the outlet, at the upper end of
Terrace street. Within two or three years he built again, for hotel purpose
only, near the lower end of Walworth avenue, and sold or leased the prem

' (17)

2^8 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ises in 1841 to Israel Stowell. In 1843 Ezekiel Tripp took the house for a
short term. He also sold rights to make or use a patented substitute for
tallow candles or candlesticks, by which some of his customers burned their
fingers badly. Philetus S. Carver followed him, but, becoming sheriff, he
made way in 1845 for one Harkness, from Darien, who in some way ob-
tained a license to sell the strong drink which the Phoenixes had sought to
keep out of Delavan forever. Charles H. Sturtevant built his bar-room
fixtures and was severely censured by his fellow members of the temperance
society for so aiding and abetting the introduction of an abomination. Henry
H. Phoenix and a Mr. Babcock had each a short period as landlord.

In 1846 Horace Duryee, a shoemaker, built a new house, long known
as the Delavan House, or "white hotel." His capital was said to have been
"a black sheepskin and a side of sole-leather." He let his house to Ward
Mallory, who kept a well-ordered hotel for the next six years. Then came
Hagarnan & Southworth, followed by Mr. Eaton. In i860 Chester W.
Phillips became owner and landlord. In 1863 he extended it and raised it
to three stories, and leased it to Mr. Hobbs, after whom came Greenleaf W.
Collins. Edwin M. Strow bought the house in i860 and occupied it till his
death, May 20, 1893. Mrs. Strow continued its business until the great fire
of that year removed an old landmark.

Franklin K. Phoenix built a brick hotel, of three stories, in 1848. His
first tenant was William lloyt. who presently made way for Stowell &
Jones, but returned, to be succeeded by Milo Kelsey, whose tenure was soon
ended by his death. Mrs. Sarah A. Phoenix then conducted the business
until relieved by Ralph Lathrop. in whose time the house fell into some local
disfavor. It was closed for a short time as a hotel and opened as a private
academy. Dates and, perhaps, names are wanting within this and a later
period of quickly following change. Daniel Ostrom kept the house in 1859
and [860, if not one or more years later. In [865 Ward LVfallory bought,
refitted, and occupied it until 1868, when he sold it to Elon Andrus, who
came from Lake Geneva. This proprietorship may have continued for fifteen
years and was followed by Benjamin Bassler, Greenleaf \V. Collins, Mr.
Erchinbeck, Mr. Longley, Mrs. Strow. and possibly others, in uncertain
order. About 1009 this ancient hostelry was converted to other uses, never
again, it is probable, to supply solid comfort and liquid delight to either
traveler or citizen.

On the blackened site of the Delavan House arose in [894 the Hotel
Delavan, built and equipped in one of the styles of that year for Wisconsin
cities of the fourth class — thai is. outwardly hisrh and not unsightly and com-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 259

fortable and convenient in modern ways within. Clarence W. Bartram built
the new house and kept it four or five years, when it passed to John B. De-
laney. and thence severally to William Bowman, of Racine, Mrs. Barrett and
her sons, and lastly to William Bowers of Burlington.

The Mabie Brothers came to Delavan in 1850 and bought farm property
as well as interests in the village, and thereafter wintered their menagerie,
live stock — horses and wild beasts — near the lower end of the lake. Thus,
this became the starting point of each season's tour of the states. As the
Mabies raised and bought grain, turned out good flour and plenty of it, and
made dates for show performances at home, the citizens of the village and
its neighborhood were supplied at lowest market rates w ith these prime needs
of Romans — "bread and circuses" — and the Caesars, had they reigned at
Delavan. could not have done these things better. Other men. whose exper-
ience had been gained in the service of the Mabies. or who were influenced by
the example of their success, set out from time to time with traveling shows,
for one or more seasons each. For twenty years the city and the circus were
associated in the minds of severely-moral editors in the far northern counties,
half of whom mispelled the name of the "wickedest town in Wisconsin." and
none of whom dared to offend rich sinners living north of Winnebago lake.
Delavan circus owners were reputable and useful citizens, and their men.
armed with tent stakes, could hold their own against the midnight assaults of
gangs that thought no deed was so finely heroic as to "clean out" a circus. All
that, for Delavan. has so long ago passed away that one now living must be
well past middle age who last saw a Delavan circus.

Xicholas M. Harrington may have been in [853 the first banker at Dela-
van: but was not. as has been told, the first in the county. That distinction.
such as it was, belonged to Mr. Richardson, who opened the Rank of Geneva
in [848. In his appreciative autobiography, Mr. Harrington mentioned with-
out wearisome dates or other useful details his various private and public
utilities. Since he who knew the affairs of this bank, if bank it was, from
the inside, has left its tale untold, it can be inferred here only that it was most
likely useful to its patrons, and that it closed without great disaster to himself.

Railwav prospects for Delavan brightened in [854 and her liberal aid in
village bonds and individual subscriptions made certain hei earl) connection
with all that part of the world which really moves. Business in real estate
increased at once in anticipation of the first train arrival, and other businesses
joined the forward march. The track layers stopped at Burlington for the
winter of 1^55-6. but resumed work before the frost was out of the ground,
reaching the village about May. For a few months Delavan became a term-

26(3 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

inal station, with a rough shed for engine shelter, while the work was pushed
forward, reaching Beloit in that year. Early in the same hopeful year the
Walworth County Bank was organized, with William C. Allen as president
and William W. Dinsmore as cashier. It was then, or a little later, owned
mostly by W. Augustus Ray and Henry M. Ray, his father. In 1865 the
First National Bank grew out of the older bank, with Otho Bell as president
and \V. Augustus Ray as cashier. Its other principal incorporators were Will-
iam C. Allen, Alanson H. and D. Bennett Barnes, Ira Ford, Sarah P. Kel-
sey, Ebenezer Latimer. Jeremiah Mabie, Lafayette Pitkin, Henry M. Ray,
Charles Thaddeus Smith, Warren VY. Sturtevant. Alfred D. and Salmon
Thomas. In 1880 this bank closed and was succeeded by the banking house
of F. Latimer & Company, with A. Hastings Kendrick as cashier. Mr. Lati-
mer died in 1910, but the bank retained his name until 191 1, when it became
the Wisconsin State Bank. Its capital is $30,000, its deposits about $400,000.
Mr. Kendrick is now president and Charles H. Shulz is cashier.

The Citizens Bank of Delavan began business in March, 1875, with Frank
Leland as president and Charles B. Tallman as cashier. The leading stock-
holders were Otho Bell, James II. Cam]), George Cotton. John DeWolf,
Jamin H. Goodrich, W. Willard Isham, T. Perry James. Henry G. Reichwald,
and Charles S. Teeple. At present its capital is $50,000, its deposits about
$600,000. Both these banks are now in buildings designed for their purpose,
handsome and substantial without, businesslike and suitable within. Both
banks have passed the perils of infancy, and may be regarded as institutions
— things that do noi pass away.

Men of Delavan early enough saw the importance to their village of
local manufacturing, and good workmen found no want of encouragement
even if their capital was but small. Wagon simps, planing mill, foundry.
pump-works, lack factory, shoe factory were among many undertakings
which, each in its turn, was forced, sooner or later, to yield to conditions
imposed by the newer system of factory production that has so effectually
Forced apart the local manufacturer and his home customer. Mr, [sham be-
gan in 1 N-| 5 a shop for blacksmith and general woodwork which soon became
a prosperous wagon and carriage shop. With changing partnerships and
readjustments of the business he persevered for about a quarter century, and
then went into oilier business.

The pump and windmill works began in [861, owned by Trumbuil D,
Thomas, followed by a long list of linns and single owners, the best remem-
bered of whom were Patrick Gormlej and ( (liver G Stowell. This enterprise
continued for twenty or thirty vears to make Delavan known far and wide

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. jl i I

by its works. Tlie tack factor)', not owned by Delavan men, occupied tbe
pump-shop building for a few years and then its machinery and business were
taken elsewhere.

Men of Chicago came in 1003 with the Globe Knitting Works. The
late \V. W. Bradley's successors became managers in 1905, having formed a
company of stockholders, with an investment of $300,000. The works have
been greatly extended and improved. Their production is mostly "sweaters"
of high quality and in many styles and colors. About three hundred persons
are employed steadily, mostly drawn from Delavan and its vicinity. The
effect of such an enterprise on the general prosperity of the city is noticeable.
The present officers of the company are John J. Phoenix, president: William
B. Tyrrell, vice-president: Ithel B. Davies, treasurer; William II. Tyrrell,
treasurer.

THE PRESS.

The newspapers of Delavan began in 1852 with the Walworth County
Journal, by John C. Bunner, with help from open-handed citizens. In 1855
the way was clear for Joseph Baker and William M. Doty, with the Delavan
Messenger, and with liberal help, for the village needed and would have a local
newspaper. In 1857 Mr. Baker and James W. Lawton re-named the paper
Delavan Northron, a name indicating the political sentiment of editors and
patrons. Henry L. Devereux, an old-time printer, bought Mr. Baker's in-
terest and soon sold it to Mr. Lawton. who changed the name in [862 to Pela-
van Republican. P.. G. Wheeler put forth the Patriot in [861, hut it was soon
merged, name and all. in the older concern, which for two or three years
joined the two named and then became again the Republican. Messrs. \. I).
Wright and Andrew J. Woodbury bought the office at Mr. Lawton's death.
in iSji. and a few months Later Mr. Wright was sole owner, lie was an
excellent printer and competent editor. In 1874 he removed to Rockford
and the new owners placed Frank Leland temporarily in editorship. I le
retired in April. 1875. and George B. Tallman appeared as editor and printer.
The owners, then, or soon thereafter, were Charles B. and George B. Tall-
man. D Bennetl Barnes and Cyrus Williams. Another change left the Tail-
mans in full control.

George B. Tallman's local editorship had a half-reckless, off-hand, good
humored quality, unmatched elsewhere in the county, and hi- paper was very
readable whenever his press happened to stand nearh level and the ink to !»•
evenly distributed ; for he was no pressman, though lie was a rapid type-setter.
Weekly, throughout the years, he would stand upright at hi a 1 without

262 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

written copy, talking, laughing, whistling, and set up a column of ''local items"
— crisp, racy, slangy — increasing in length from a half-line to four or five
lines.

Wilbur G. Weeks, a better printer and more careful editor than Tall-
man, bought the office in 1881, improved its equipment and its business, and
made the Republican good property. He sold it in 1908 to A. S. Hearn of
Dodgeville, from whom it passed in October, 1909, to Maurice Morrissey, with
L. F. Malany as business manager.

In 1859 G. W. D. Andrews, then on an informal furlough from service
in the regular army, came to stay the rising tide of Republicanism by printing
a few numbers of the Walworth County Sovereign. This paper's short career
was ended by fire, and its portly editor was afterwards arrested as a deserter.

A boy of Darien, Frank P. Howard, aged about sixteen, owner of a
make-shift press and as much half-worn type as he could lift easily, came
this way in 1898 to publish the Delavan Tribune. The boy had natural
aptitudes which more judiciously guided and encouraged might have made
him a useful man. To begin as master of a calling of which he had learned
no part was to set out by a short but rugged road to failure. But the poor boy
had done something to make a second paper at Delavan, and his foolish ven-
ture led to something better. He died early.

The Delavan Enterprise began in 1878 under ownership of competent
printers and with vigorous editorship, namely, that of Clarence R. and Edgar
W. Conable. of an old county family. Though a Republican paper, the
Enterprise, in 1882. joined the rebellion against Charles G. Williams, who
was in that year defeated at the congressional election. Hiram T. Sharp, a
lawyer and a gentleman, became owner and editor in 1884. He was not a
printer, nor had he been trained to editorship. He could only make the En-
terprise clean and decent, like himself, and keep it so. lie sold it in 1893
to Grant D. Harrington (.son of an old and worthy citizen of Delavan). who
became its editor for the next live years. David B. Harrington, an uncle,
who was a printer and an old-time editor, sometimes contributed to campaign
discussion and showed younger men what editorship was of yore. The younger
Harrington has since said that he can not "point with pride" to anything in
his editorial career. No becomingly modest man wastes time in pointing
backward in his own rough road to the stars. Grant D. Harrington has yet
to disappoint the rcasniiahlc hopes of his friends in any of his undertakings
He was well equipped for every duty of a village newspaper office and he
restored the Enterprise to life and usefulness, made it truly a second paper
at Delavan, and sold it in [898 to Frank \l. Stevens. E. J. Scut bought it

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. _M 13

in 1900. but sold again to Stevens in 1901. In 1902 William A. Dean took
possession and the next year William T. Passage, son of the pioneer merchant,
became a partner and in 1908 sole owner. Judging from outward appear-
ances, the progress of the Enterprise since 1893 nas been steadily forward.
Both offices at Delavan are equipped with power presses and the Republican
is linotyped.

L. and Milton A. Brown, father and son. were successful horse-breeders
and decent men. but were not of the stuff of which editors or printers are
commonly made. They must have believed that Mr. Cleveland was about to
be re-elected to the presidency, for they began their apprenticehood very early
in 1888 by publishing, January 7th. the first number of a second Walworth
County Democrat. This paper was edited and printed, though few or none
can now tell how, for something like a year: but the result of the election did
not encourage further amateur effort in organ-making In all this, however,
was one then very young man's opportunity, and the evolution of a real editor
began in the person of William T. Passage.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

Seventeen men and women formed a Baptist society September 21,
1839. with Rev. Henry Topping as pastor, and in 1841 a church was built of
wood, at cost of about one thousand five hundred dollars, thirty-six by fifty
feet on the ground, with seats for two hundred persons. This was on a lot
given by the Phoenix proprietors, and this desirable site, fronting the west
side of the park is still occupied by the society. \ brick church was built
in 1854 with one-third more floor space at cost of four thousand dollars. This
society, for long the largest of its denomination in the state, and yet the lead
ing one in the county, built its third church in 1880, seventy by one hundred
and twenty-eight feet on the ground. After Mr. Topping, the pastors have
been John H. Dudley 1844, Mead Bailej 1S50, Newell Boughton [853, Albert
Sheldon 1854. Jeremiah D. Cole 1858. John Williams i860. David Burbank
1862. Ethan B. Palmer [864, Joseph 1'".. Johnson [865, Charles T. Km- [868,
David E. Halteman 1869, Charles A. Hobbs 1N84. Wiliam R. Yard io<><).
The long pastorates of Messrs Halteman and 1 lobbs had a parallel in another
church fronting the same park.

St. Andrew'- parish was formed by assembling the somewhat widely
dispersed families of Delavan and adjoining towns in [851. In [853 a little
chapel was lmilt at Fourth and Matthew streel . and the Rev. Fathers <i>n-
way. Francis Prendergast and I'. J. Mallon were - 1 senl for this

264 WALWORTH COl.NTV, WISCONSIN.

pioneer work. About 1859 Father George H. Brennan came as a resident
priest, followed by T. A. Smith in 1861, Henry J. Roche 1863, Lawrence N.
Kenney 1864, Jacob Morris 1866, Richard Dumphy 1869, J. Eugene Allen
1878, Michael J. Tanglier 1881, Joseph G. Smith 1886, John Buckley 1909,
Father Allen was the last who drove through sunshine, cloud, mud and un-
beaten snow to minister to the mission parish of St. Patrick's, at Elkhorn.
While lot values were relatively quite low the parish bought at Walworth
avenue and Seventh street, and in 1895 one °f me finest churches in the
county was dedicated. A well-chosen cemetery lot was acquired at an early
opportunity, and many of the dead of Elkhorn and other towns were buried
there. This ground joins Spring Grove cemetery, with no barrier between.
The present valuation of all the parish property, which includes a fine house
for the priest, is about seventy-five thousand dollars. The parish is in ex-
cellent condition for its work.

The Congregational society dates its beginning July, 1841. with ten
members. A little church was built at the north side of Maple Park in 1844.
with an outlay of one thousand dollars — then a large sum for an unselfish
purpose. A new church, with brick walls, forty-two by seventv-five feet, was
built in 1856 at cost of five thousand dollars. This has since been extended,
modernized and improved. Rev. Amnon Gaston began his triple service.
here, at Elkhorn. and at Sugar Creek in 1841. After him came Frederick H.
Pitkin 1845. Lucius Foote 1847 ( 1798-1887), Joseph Collie 1854. William E.
Davidson [896, Sedgwick Porter Wilder 1898 (1847-1905), Howard W.
Kellogg 1905, Thistle V Williams 10,09. Mr. Collie's long service is note-
worthy.

Christ Church parish was formed in July. 1844, with Nehemiah Barlow
and Hezekiah Well- as wardens, Caleb Croswell, B. J. Newberry. Joseph
Rector, Dr. Shepard Sherwood, Salmon Thomas as vestrymen. A small
house at the south side of the park answered the passing need until 1877.
when work began anew on the parish lot at Walworth avenue and Fifth
street. In [879 this building was dedicated and ha-- since been extended ami
improved and a rectory added, making the total estate worth about twenty-
five thousand dollars. The line of rectors began with Rev. Stephen Mel high
1844, who wa- called to Madison in 1845 and returned in 184c; — the interim
filled by Rev. Mr. Bartlett. Then came Gerrit E. Peters [852, Joseph Adderly,
[bseph II. Nichols, Albert Scott Nicholson 1861. Gardiner M. Skinner [862,
George W. Mean 1865, Fortune C. Brown 1870. Edward R. Sweetland 187(1,
Joel 1 'lark [879, Charles Holmes 1880, Charles L. Mallory [891, lames B.
VTcCullough 1901, Edward S. Barkdull [902, John White moo. Mark- 11.
Milne IQIO.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 265

Troy circuit, Methodist Episcopal, was formed in 1841 and included
Eagle, Troy. Lagrange, Sugar Creek. Darien and Delavan. Except Rev.
.Messrs. Leonard F. Moulthrop and Henry Whitehead, named in 1841, and
Hiram Allen in 1845-6, the workers in this then difficult field, for the first
ten years, are not indicated by the record of credentials filed at the office of
the clerk of the circuit court, though there were probably others than these
three. Reuben Richardson Wood (1819-1906), ordained in 1842, came to
Delavan as resident pastor in 1850, doubtless with assignment to duty at
Darien. In 1853 Enos Stevens and J. H. Hopeton supplied a short vacancv
filled in that year by Elisha Page, after whom John Tibbals 1854, Hiram I 1.
Hersey (1812-1884) in 1856, Thomas White 1858, Russell P. Lawton 1859,
Cyrus Scammon i860, James B. Cooper 1801, A. C. Manwell 1803, G. W.
Delamatyr 1867. Reuben B. Curtis 1869. Stephen Smith 1870, Edward S.
McChesney 1871, Alonzo Mansfield Bullock 1872. A. C. Higgins 1874, Oliri
Curtis 1875, Henry Faville 1876, Edward G. Updike 1878, John Scott Davis
1881, William B. Robinson 1883. Samuel C. Thomas (1810-1894) in 1884,
William II. Summers 1886, Frederick C. Brayton 1888, George Veritv 1889
(died), Walter 1). Cole 1890, Jeremiah H. Hicks 1893, Stephen A. Olin 1894,
Richard K. Manaton 1898, George Vater 1900, Andrew Porter 1902. Sidney
A. Sheard 1903, George M. White 1904, Rodman W. Bosworth 1906, William
Hooton 1909. Messrs Wood, Faville, and Updike passed to the Congrega-
tional pulpit — the last-named in 1880.

EDUCATIONAL.

Dr. Joseph R. Bradway opened a private school in 1842 and taught until
the house was burned in 1845. E. D. Barber continued this school in the
Haptist church. A common school was opened in 1843 in Terrace street. A
large and well-contoured lot was soon set apart for permanent use, and from
1852 forward the present public school house has been built by successive ad-
ditions, until it has become a large and sightly building, fully equipped for
its purpose. It faces Wisconsin street and the park and looks westward to-
ward Main street. A little house had been built at the lower corner ol" the
ground and is yet remembered as the ''red school house." The earliest teach-
ers were Milo Kelse) and Enoch II. M. Bailey, as nearly as can now be- learned.
After them, and before the opening of the high school were Daniel B. Maxson,
William Hutchins, and Mr. Baker about 1855. The larger and better Ordet
of things began with Augustus Jackman Cheney in [858 and continued by
Warren D. Parker [861, Thomas Chrowder Chamberlain 1805. L. S.

266 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Sweezy 1867, R. W. Lang 1869, Melvin Grigsby about 1871, Elias Dewey
1873 to 1887, George L. Collie 1887, H. J. Bowell 1889, H. A. Adrian 1890,
J. H. Hutchinson 1892, Charles W. Rittenberg 1893, Ithe] B. Davies 1903,
Henry A. Melcher 1906. There is some confusion of dates as to the service
of Mr. Grigsby and Mr. Dewey. This school employs sixteen teachers.

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

It is not probable that Delavan was for sixty years wholly destitute of
other than private libraries, though nothing is told of them previous to 1899.
In that year the Delavan Library and Literary Association began the forma-
tion of a public library for the use of which the trifling fee of one dollar
yearly was imposed. James Aram, who died in 1897, bequeathed fifteen thou-
sand dollars to be used in providing a suitable lot and building for a free library
and to this added five thousand dollars as an endowment fund. This bequest
was to become effective at the death of his wife, Mrs. Susan C. ( Rood) Aram,
which took place in 1905. She confirmed this legacy and the city accepted
it and assumed the duty of making it perpetually operative. Alexander H.
Allyn added five thousand dollars to the library fund and the citizens con-
tributed a like sum. A most desirable lot was chosen at Walworth avenue
and Fourth street, and a building worthy of the city and the givers of the
fund was dedicated July 8, 1908. Its cost was twenty-two thousand eight
hundred dollars. It is of stone, pressed brick, and is tile-roofed. Its situ-
ation, just without the business district, is conveniently central, and affords a
minimum exposure to fires from adjacent property.

The city's yearly appropriation is one thousand seven hundred and fifty
dollars. The library opened with two thousand three hundred volumes, of
which six hundred and eighty-six were received from the library of 1899. At
present the number of volumes is about four thousand. In its first year the
circulation of books reached about twenty thousand volumes, and this rate
has not since varied materially. The first and only president of the board
of library directors is Mr. Allyn. Miss Laura F. Angell, too, has kept her
post as librarian from the opening in 1908.

WATER WORKS.

Several springs were early known and were used for supplying men and
beasts with clear, cool water. In 1892 it was found practicable to improve
them and make them available for the whole city's use. Pumps, engine, tank
and distributing main'- were supplied, municipal bonds to the amount of forty

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 2&J

thousand dollars being issued for this purpose. The source of this water
seems exhaustless and its wholesome quality has been tested by generations
of men.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The old fire company at once prepared itself for highest efficiency. At
present there are two hose companies and two hook and ladder companies, all
well equipped and trained for their work. The several chiefs of the tire de-
partment have been James Davidson 1894, Andrew J. Pramer 1895, Frank
M. Stevens 1897, William T. Passage 1899. The first officers under the newer
order w ere D. Bennett Barnes, foreman, with A. W. Pierce and George Fred
Heminway as assistants; David T. Gifford, engineer, with Newton O.
Francisco as assistant ; Henry Gormley, hose captain, with George H. Sturte-
vant and W. H. Decker as assistants; Charles J. Walton, secretarv; Levi J.
Xichols, treasurer. A fire company must have existed as long ago as 1861,
for the late John Baptist Bossi (1831-1911) was for thirty-three years its
treasurer.

DELAVAN GUARDS.

Sixty-one young men were organized April 26, 1880, as the Delavan
Guards, and the company was assigned to the First Regiment of the Wiscon-
sin National Guard, under Col. William B. Britton. of Janesville. Its first
officers were Fred B. Goodrich captain, Charles T. Isham first lieutenant.
Menson Yedder second lieutenant. The next captain was Horace 1.. Clark,
and the third and last was Richard J. Wilson. Governor Rusk called this,
with several other companies, into service at Milwaukee, in 1886, to pre-
serve the peace and dignity of the state when these were threatened by the
rioters of that year. The duty assigned to the company was thai of guarding
railway and manufacturers' property against lawless attack. The company's
prompt obedience to call and soldierly conduct on duty were duly recognized
at Madison, Milwaukee, and at home. Since 1889 no report has been sent to
the adjutant-general, and at or nearly that date the company must have !>een
dissolved.

CITIFS OF THE HI \l>.

The growth of the village soon overtook and surrounded it- first burying
place, near the north end of Third street. Here wvw buried the bodies of
Colonel Phoenix and of his brother and brother's wife, and one may read
there a few other nine familiar names, though most of the bodies have been
removed. It is not here known when Spring Grov 1 netery was laid out,

268 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

but it was not long before or after i860. The place chosen is on high ground,
naturally separated by a narrow valley from the homes of the living, and one
side overlooks the spread of waters locally called Lake Como. One may find
there a few graves of persons who had lived at Darien, Elkhorn, Richmond.
Sugar Creek, and Walworth; for this was for long a finer burial ground than
any in adjacent towns. Its contour and its readily drained soil has made it
practicable to build several family vaults. A mausoleum was built at the
gateway in 1911-12, containing one hundred and fifty crypts. Its materials
are Bedford stone, marble, cement, and steel, and these so designed and
wrought as to make the structure likely to defy the tooth of time for millen-
niads to come. The cost was about forty thousand dollars.

By 191 1 the conviction at Delavan was that she had outgrown the me-
diaeval passenger house at the railway station, and appeal to the state's rail-
wav commission was so far effective that in the winter of 191 1 -12 a new
house was built, across the track from the old one, with long and broad
platforms of cement, and in most ways worthier of Delavan and more cred-
itable to the railway management. It is not imposing, but it is convenient,
comfortable, and clean, and less a cave of gloom than the old building. The
street approaches are macadamized.

As at first platted the village was a small quadrangle east of the creek, to
which Walworth avenue descends not too abruptly. Village growth was
limited northwardly by the valley of the creek and the high-banked shore of
Como, and hence began eastward and southward, on a broad and easily
drained area. Then it crossed the valley, which at the avenue is not very
wide, to the more quickly-rising westward ascent, at the top of which a few
pleasant suburban blocks lie in front of the School for the Deaf, which looks
southward. Further growth carried the city eastward on the Elkhorn road
and southward across the railway tracks. Between east and smith seems the
likeliest direction for further expansion.

It has not been judged needful to mention specifically the various so-
cieties for the Furtherance of religion, morality, and culture of the liner arts,
and the many affiliated societies; nor to describe parks, public halls. Masonic
temple, and many another evidence of public spirit and enlightened taste. All
these and more in coming time may be presumed from even such inadequate
sketch as is here made of a community possessed oi the sinew-- ol action and
animated by the forward spirit id" the ages, past, present, and to come.
Delavan will at some time have its own history, compiled by one or more of
its well trusted citizens and in just proportion from the invaluable personal
knowledge of survivors of the sub-pioneer period.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

269

The village having been incorporated in 1855 an election of village
officers, April 29, 1856. resulted in choice of Leonard E. Downie as president,
William C. Allen, James Aram. YY. Willard Isham, Edmund F. Mabie,
Joseph Monell, Jr., and Trumbull D. Thomas as trustees, James Lewis clerk,
Xewton McGraw treasurer. Nicholas M. Harrington and Ebenezer I^atimer
assessors, Nicholas Thome marshal. From causes now not assignable the
official lists of village and city, as shown here, are slightly defective. From
known causes they are liable to be found slightly inaccurate. They have been
derived from the older county history, from newspaper files at Delavan and
Elkhorn and from records in the county clerk's office.

VILLAGE MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD.

Ebenezer Latimer

1870. '78-9, '82, '86-8, 90, '93

Xewton McGraw 1871-2

George Cotton l&73> '75-77

Elisha Matteson Sharp i§74

James Aram 1880-1

Alexander Hamilton Allyn 1883-4

Charles H. Topping 1885

Stepben Sly Babcock 1889

Taylor L. Flanders , 1891

Ansel Hastings Kendrick 1892

William Avery Cochrane 1894

Jamin II. Goodrich ^95

Arthur Mowers 1896

CITY MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD.

FIRST WARD.

Edward F. Welch 1897

Perry Rockwell Jackson 1898-9

1 harles W. Irish 1900-05

Daniel Edwin La Bar 1906

Herman A. Briggs 1907-8

James E. Dinsmore_j 1909-10

Fred L. Rogers 1911

Fred I). Cowles dm-'

SECOND WARD.

Arthur Bowers 1897-1904

William il. Stewart [905-7, '10-12

Ambrose B. Hare i9oN<iw

1 II [RD WARD

Alexander Hamilton Allyn-1897-1912

PRESIDENTS OF rill-; VILLAGE.

Leonard E. Downie 1856

Alanson Hamilton Barnes 1857

George Cotton i<x5^

Chauncey Betts 1859, '64

James Aram 1860/69

Stephen Sly Babcock /iSf, 1-2. '66, '-2

Ebenezei Latimer [863, '69-71

(harles Holmes Sturtevant 1865

1 harles E. < Iriffin [867

Alphonso ' .. Kellam 1868

Newton Mx< .raw [873

William Willard Isham 1X74

270 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Orlando Crosby 1875, '78 Nathaniel Wing Hoag 1882, '84-5

Dr. James B. Heminway, Ansel Hastings Kendrick 1891-3

1876-7, '80, '83, '87 William Avery Cochrane 1894

Dr. Friedr. Ludw. Von Suessmilch, Jamin H. Goodrich 1895

1879, '87-9 Capt. Albert E. Smith 1896

Henry George Hollister 1881, '86

MAYORS OF THE CITY.

Edward F. Williams elected 1897 Ambrose E Hare 1904

Alexander H. Allyn 1898 Newton O. Francisco 1906

Albert F. Smith 1899 Daniel Edwin LaBar,

1908, 1910, 1912

Until 1902 mayors were elected for one year; since that date for two
years. The village became a city in 1897 by a general statute.

VILLAGE CLERKS.

James Lewis 1856

Joseph Baker 1857

J. P.. Webb 1858

P. II. Conklin J859

Charles E. Griffin 1862

Richard M. Williams 1865-75

Fred E. Latimer 1876

Ansel Hastings Kendrick 1877-83

Edward F. Williams 1884-5

Burt Webster 1886-7

A. Harvey Lowe 1888-9

Hobart W. Sturtevant 1893-4

Charles J. Sumner ^895

William T. Passage 1896

Record wanting for i860, 1861, 1863, 1864, 1890-92.

CITY CLERKS.

Warren D. Hollister 1897

Grant Dean Harrington 1898-9

Kenneth L. Hollister 1900, '06-9

Ubert S. Parish 1903-4

Ray Powers 1910-11

There is here some uncertainty as to 1901, 1902. 1905. In 1899 Frank
M Stevens was acting clerk.

VILLAGE TREASURERS.

Newton McGraw 1856-7 '64-6 Edwin W. Phelps 1859

GeorgeM.Hew.es 1858 Benjamin D. White i860

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 2J 1

Harry C. Johnson 1861, '83-96 Elisha Matteson Sharp 1869-72

Sardis Brainard 1862 Frank A. Smith 1874

Isaac Young Fitzer 1879-80 William B. Munsell 1875-6

Dr. George H. Briggs 1881-2 William H. Nichols __i877-8

Edward H. Chandler 1863 Charles W. Holmes 1888

Henry C. Hunt 1867-8

Except for Mr. Holmes's term, in 1888, Harry C. Johnson will have been
treasurer for village and city from 1883 to 1914. As a citizen of Delavan
remarked. '"There is no use in anybody's tryin to run agin him.'* The name
of the treasurer for 1873 is not found.

A postoffice was established in 1837. at first to receive semi-weekly mails
from Racine. It is now an office of the second class, with city carriers, and
having five dependent free delivery rural routes. Postmasters: William
Phoenix 1837. Cyrus Brainard 1845, William C. Allen 1846, Cyrus Brainard
1847. Dr. Norman L. Gaston 1849, Nicholas M. Harrington 1853, George
Cotton 1854. James H. Mansfield 1854 (at first as substitute for Mr. Cot-
ton), Charles Smith 1861. Martin Mulville 1870, Henry C. Hunt 1886,
Hiram Terry Sharp 1890, John Passage 1894, Mrs. Adele E. Barnes 1898,
Edward Morrissey 1906. Mr. Mulville. as a soldier of the Tenth Infantry,
lost his left arm at Chickamauga. Mr. Hunt (called Captain Hunt from hav-
ing been master of a steamer on Delavan lake) lost his left leg at Peachtree
Creek, as a soldier of the Twenty-second Infantry. Mr. Passage served in a
Californian cavalry regiment, but the state census report of 1895 shows him
a second lieutenant of Second Massachusetts Infantry. Both statements may
be true.

POPULATION OF THE VILLAGE AND CITY.

i860, 1.543: 1870. 1,688; 1880, 1,798: 1890. 2,038: 1900, 2,244; 1910,
2,450. Bv wards, in 1910: First ward. 778; second ward. 756: third ward,
916.

CHAPTER XXIV

TOWN OF EAST TROY.

The town of Troy, as established in 1838, included two government
townships. It was divided March 21, 1843, an(l lts eastern half, town 4
north, range 18 east, became East Troy. The town of Mukwonago lies next
north and the town of Waterford is next east. The slightly uneven surface
of this town is generally about eight hundred and twenty-five feet above sea-
level. Honey creek comes into East Troy at section 18, crosses sections 29,
28, 21, 22, 23, 24, leaves the county to return to the southeast corner of sec-
tion 36, and drains the eastern part of Spring Prairie. A branch comes nut
of section 5 of Spring Prairie, winds across sections 32, 33, 28, 27, 26 and
ends its course in section 2^. Potter's lake, sections to, 11, with connected
ponds in sections 13, 14, discharge their little surplus into Honey creek at
section 24.

The group of lakes now named Beulah lies in sections 4. 5, 8. <). 16, 17. 18.
The outlet of these lakes finds its way through Mukwonago to Fox river.
Lake Beulah station, Wisconsin Central Railway, in section 12. is a bit more
than three miles from the namesake lakes, eighty-five miles from Chicago,
and thirty-live miles (by rail) from Milwaukee. These lakes have long been
known to local campers, boaters, fishers, and swimmers, — the latter favored
by the irregular shore lines. At Hately's Hay (or Brooks Cove) on the upper
lake, in section 17, the bottom drops away rapidly to the depth of sixty-
seven feet within a lew rods of shore, and for more than a quarter-mile
toward the Opposite shore the water is sixty or more feet deep. At other
points on the lower lakes bottom is found at forty to fifty-four feet depth. A
considerable part of the whole area, however, is but ten feet deep. The little
companion lake, named Ainu or East Troy, about a half-mile eastward, in
section id. is lint scant seventeen feet deep. A long, irregular island of
about thirty-five acres in area is owned and lias been improved and supplied
with convenient buildings by the 1 Tnivcrsity of St. Louis. About two hun-
dred and fifty priests and students, escaping tin- discomforts of the city, find
here a quiet and healthful summer vacation. There are also other non-resi-
dent owners of lakeside property.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 2J$

The land area of the town is 20,995 acres, the village not included. The
valuation in 1910 was $1,590,700 — average value $75.7(1 per acre. The crop
acreage for 1910 was: Barley. -?jj ; corn. 3,279; ha\ field. [,802; oats, 2,386;
potatoes. 109: rye. 214; wheat. 94. The assessed valuation of town and vil-
lage was 4.77 per cent, of the valuation for the whole county. The federal
census from [850 to 1900 inclusive was. taken for town and village together:
1850. [,318; i860, 1.717: E870, 1.431: [880, 1.407: [890, [,406; [900,
1,513. In 1910 the poppulation of the town alone was 925.

FIRST SETTLERS.

The tirst actual settler in East Troy, Mr. Roberts, had sold a recently
made claim in Troy when he came, in the spring of 1836, to the north bank
of Honey creek, in section 29. near the site of the present village, and was
soon joined by Asa Wood. They built a cabin and worked about a year
to assemble materials for a saw-mill. Then Jacob Burgit came that way.
bought their rights, and built the null, in another year he began to produce
mill-stuff for framed houses in the village and elsewhere. Mr. Blood passed
over to the town of Sugar (reek, and Mr. Roberts passed from the annals
of the town and the county. In that first year of East Troy came also
Cyrus Cass to section 2 1 . Daniel 1'. Griffin to section 20, Jacob Haller to
section 35. Allen Harrington to section 21. Lyman llill to section 3. Austin
Mc( racken to the village site 1 and in 1839 was licensed to keep a tavern),
Oliver Rathburn to section 2. The next year brought Gorham Hunker.
Jacob Burgit. Dr. William M. Gorham, Gaylord Graves, Benjamin and Elias
H. Jennings, John A. Larkin, Henry Powers, Dr James Tripp, lames W.
Vail, William Weed and Benjamin Whitcomb.

Not all who came in the first few years remained long enough to leave
distincl trace in record or clear impression in memory. Lucius Mien, the
I "liatin brother-. Stephen field. Wilder M . Howard, Martin Pollard and fohn
F. I'otter were among the men of 1838; Seth Beckwith and S. Buel Edwards
were of those of [839. Among notable arrivals were those of Dr, Daniel
Allen. Capt. George Fox and Sewall Smith. Among the departures were
that of Mary A 1 Spoor), wife of Lucius Mien. November is. 1838, for
a better world; and that of Doctor Tripp for his new village of Whitewater.
He built a saw-mill in [838 at the Beulah outlet, and soon found finer-.

Patentees, not above named, of land within the town were: Thomas
Albiston, Robert Uigier, lames w. Bartholf, limn Bear, Alexander Brush

fi8)

274 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Beardsley, Nelson Beckwith, John Beers, Harvey Birchard, Hiram Brewster,
Homer and Seymour Brooks. William Brownley, L. Warren Burgess, John
Cameron, John Chadwick, Sherod Chapman, Isaac Drake, Joseph H. and
William P. Edwards. Chauncey Eggleston, Henry Moore Filley, James and
John Fraser, Jacob Funk, Joseph Gillard, John Hardy, William Haynes,
Jeremiah Haynes Heath, Simon Heath, Seth Williams Higgins. John
Hollenbeck, Elliott Hulbert, Isom Ingalls, John P. Johnson, James Keeler,
Erastus M. Kellogg, Robert Keyes, Ignatz Kuenzle, Frederick Kyburz,
Charles Levanway. Patrick McGee, Darius J. McPherson, James B. Martin,
Urban D. Meacham, Warren D. Meeker, Joseph Stephen Morey, Benjamin
Newcomb, Philip Wheeler Nichols, Elijah Norton, Michael O'Regan, William
Perry, Albert L. Pierce, John Randall. George Alex'r Ray. William Richard-
son, Burrill Rood. John Schwartz. Israel Rufus Scott, George Smith, John
Syng Spoor, John Sprague, Charles Taylor, Robert Black Tedford, Daniel
Thompson, Gordon Manwaring Vinal, David Whiteman, Jonah Wicker.
Ambrose Wilkes. John Bernhardt Wilmer, Erastus Benjamin Wright.

Besides these the census of 1842 names, as heads of families: Brooks
Bowman, Albert Breens, William Charm. Stillman Dewey, Hersey Estes,
Delanson and Reuben Griffin, Lyman Harvey, Robert Hotchkiss, Roderick
Kellogg, Samuel Kyburz, James S. Marcy, William Mead, Orrin Moffatt,
Hiram Perry, Stillman Pollard, William Porter, Sarah Rose. Abel Sperry.
Sylvanus Spoor, William Trumbull. Isaac Webber, Abel Ward Wright.

Robert Augier (1785-1862) bad wife Abigail (1786-1802) and left
descendants of his own and other names.

Seth Beckwith came early, sold in 1842 to Abel Sperry, and passed
northward. Nol a near relative of Nelson.

|obn Beers 1 [803-1885), a native of Pennsylvania, came to section 24
with wife, Mary ("rites | [820-1892).

Homer and Seymour Brooks were sons of David and wife Catharine
Simpson, of Ovid, Xew York. Homer, born in [819. is yet living in section
17. near the Beulah lake-group. In 1840 he married Almira, daughter of
Jacob Burgit and Mary Gardner. Seymour Brooks 1 [82] 18112) married
Sus-in i [826-1898), daughter of Peter Bulman. His farm was in section ;.
near the foot of the lakes. Both oi these men were carlv and active in the im-
provemenl of live stock, anil their work praised them.

Cyrus Cass 1 [812-92) married Elizabeth B. Thomas 1 1825 [899). His
farm, an almost lordlv domain, lay both sides of Honey creek, sections 21, 28.
( >f his children, Clarence W. died in service in the Third Cavalry, and Edwin
I nomas is a lawver at Whitewater.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 2/5

Joseph H. Edwards (1781-1853) and wife, Abigail Buel (1 790-1867),
came about 1840 to section 15. Their son, Simon Buel ( 1815-1893), was
born in Broome county. New York; married, first, Elizabeth Ann (1818-
1881), daughter of Isaac I". Wheeler, in 1838: moved to Whitewater in
1878. where he married again. He was a good tanner and a worker in
and for the Count) Agricultural Society.

Chauncey Eggleston (1795-1848) was born in Connecticut. His wife,
Chloe. was a daughter of Jonathan Coe. Their daughter, Charlotte Coe
Eggleston. was born in 1827 and died in 1897.

Capt. George Fox ( 1 701- 1864) was a descendant of that John Fox
whose tremendous work, in two or three folio volumes, entitled "Acts and
Monuments of the Church." by powerful condensation became "Fox's Book
of Martyrs." and was well read by eight or ten generations of pious men and
women. Two daughters of Captain Fox were each in succession wife of
Hon. John F. Potter.

James Fraser ( 1787- 1876) and wife Elizabeth (1782-1867) came from
one of the Orkneys, and bought land in section 26. Of their children,
Alexander. Charles and John were long active in town affairs, and Margaret
became Mrs. Orlando Jennings.

Doctor Gorham came from Milwaukee, lived a few years at East Troy,
and returned to the city.

Jacob Haller I 1809-1894), a native of canton of Aargau. Switzerland,
came to America in 1833. and to section 35 of this town in 1838. His wife
was Elizabeth I-".. 1 [813-1894). A daughter was wife of Hon. Frank Fraser.

Jeremiah Haynes Heath, with Simon Heath, came to section 36. He
married Hannah F McDuffie in [842.

Wilder Mack Howard (1821-1910), son of Joseph and Rosanna, was
born at Andover, Vermont. He was apprenticed to John A. Larkin, a shoe-
maker and an early settler. His first wife. Electa L., daughter of Timothy
and Sally Howard, died in 1878. I lis second wife was Elizabeth fountain.
He was a soldier of Company F. First Heavy Artillery

Rev. Erastus Martin Kellogg (born 1815), a descendant in lit'tli gen-
eration from Deacon Samuel Kellogg ami Sarah Merrill, was apparently a
non-resident investor. Roderick, hi- father'- third cousin, was horn in
170'' ami married Sally Taylor. Of two sons ami -i\ daughters, none are
known to have remained in the county.

Frederick Kyburz (1809-1892) came from Switzerland. Hi- wife.
Louisa (born 1822). was bom in Hanover. Daniel Kyburz, born in 1777
and living in i860, was probably his father and Mr-. Jacob Haller as prob-
ably hi- sister. This family lived in section 14.

276

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Martin Pollard ( 1813-1895), son of Joseph Pollard and Martha Martin.
married July 9, 1840, Rachel (1810-1895). daughter of William Powers
and Susan Cooper, and settled in section 2. Rachel died March 29th and
Martin followed April 1st. One funeral service committed them to the burial
ground at Mukwonago.

The early settlers included several of the most capable and successful
farmers and stock breeders of the county and the movement for organizing
a county agricultural society began with men of East Troy and their relatives
and neighbors of Troy. While the trade with Milwaukee was overland and
sometimes difficult and tedious, the town's position gave an advantage, by
a few blessed miles, over men of other towns. When placed between two
railway lines, with little direct advantage from either, the East Trojans sat
not on their plow-beams sadly, but made the best of their not wholly unhappy
situation until the Wisconsin Central Railway Company made a station at
Beulah and gave them a direct way to Chicago. This line passes from Honey
Creek by sections 25, 24, 13, 12, 1, 2, leaving the town near Mukwonago,
about six miles of its tracks within the town of East Troy. The electric
line from Milwaukee passes by way of Mukwonago across sections 2, 3. 10.
9, 16, 20 to East Troy village.

The town records have been quite generally in competent hands and are
accessible.

CHAIRMEN OF TOWN BOARD.

( laylord ( rraves 1843

Sewall Smith 1844

Gorham Bunker 1845. 53~4

Austin Carver 1846, '56-7

(laylord Craves 1847, '41)

Joel Pound 1848

Henry B. Clark 1850-2, '58

John Fox Totter 1855

William Burgit 1859-63, '"j^,

•77-80, '82
Edwin Maker 1864

Mender () Babcock --1865-6,

"68-9, '72

Dr. Caleb Sly Blanchard 1867

Joseph W. Church 1870

Alexander Kraser 1871. '73-4, '76

I larold I I. Rogers _ 1881, '95

Augusl Wilmer 1883-8

Frank L. Fraser 1889-94, '96-7

Lawrence Clanc) 1898-9

Charles \. Mulaney 1900-6

William Clancy 1907-9

William 1 leers 191 0-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

1 leni \ \dams 1863

I <lw in Baker 1801-2

James W. Bartholf 1846. '48

Jacob C. Bayer 1896

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN,

277

William Beers 1808-9

Darius G. Billings ^57

Homer Brooks 1874. '82

James S. Brooks 1898-9, 1905-6

Seymour Brooks 1871

George Bunker 1852

Gorham Bunker 1843-4, '57-8

William Burgit 1849. '53> 55

Christopher Page Farley Chafin
1875-8. -8o-i. '83-5

Frank' G. Chafin 1886

John P. Chafin [887-S

Luther Chamberlain 1866

Joseph W. Church 1871

.A T atthew Coleman 1 849

James M. Crosswaite 19 10-12

Adam C. Deist 1892-5

Stillman Dewey 1843

Henry Dickerman 1897

Alexander Dowman 1865

Loren J. Fdwards 1851.

Simon Buel Fdwards 1846-7. "54

Stephen Field 1843

Stephen I-'. Field 1860-2

Alexander Fraser 1863. '68-70

Charles Fraser 1 903

Frank I,. Fraser 1886

John Fraser 1859

Jacob Funk 1850

David Holmes 181 k i

Johannes M. Hunter 1877-8]

Washington Sidney Keats 1891

Jared L. Knapp 1855. '64

Stephen Knapp 1847

Louis H. Krosch 1898-1902

William Mcintosh 1852-4, '~2

Urban Duncan Meacham 1845

Charles S. Miller__ 1875-6. '83-5. "87

Benjamin F. Mitchell 1908-9

Charles A. Mulanev 1886-7

John Xott 1889. '94

Daniel W. Patterson 1872

Wright Patterson 1856

Drake II. Phillips __iNo-

Robert Porter 1890, '92-3

Joel Pound 1847

Nathan P. Randall 1851

George Alexander Ray 1850

Arthur Rogers 1905-6

Charles Schader 1 904

Henry Shields 1 890-1. '95

James M. Stillwell 1859

Enos H. Stone i860 7

John W. Stoney_. 1868-70

Frank A. Swoboda 1910-12

Hiram A. Taylor 1882

Emery Thayer 1845

Jesse Tombleson 1858. '65

David Van Zandt 1851

FJmer Watrous 190 1-2

John Weldon 1903-4

Abel Ward Wright [844

TOWN CLERKS.

Sew all Smith T843- '45

A lender O. Babcock 1844.

•46. '48, 60

Edward II. Ball 1847

Wilder Mack Howard 1849, '55

George II. Smith 1856

Gregon Bentley 1851, '53-4.

'56, '58

Augustus C. Brady 1852

Hiram J, Cowles 1857

278

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Newton King 1859

Joseph W. Church 1861

Henry B. Clark 1863-4

Sidney A. Tullar 1865-7

Washington Sidney Keats

1886-84, '94-7
William Goodrich Keats 1885. '92

Simeon K. Craves '893

Charles H. Zinn 1898-1900

Charles F. Hunter 1901-02, '04

C. Elmer Himebauch 1903

John Uhrlettig 1905-6

Charles E. Altenberg 1907-8

Joseph Henry Heimbauch—1909-12

TOWN TREASURERS.

Jacob Burgit 1843-5. 48

Henry B. Clark 184(1. '49

Joseph Edwards 1847

Seymour Brooks 1850

George Edwards 1851

Emery Thayer 1852

Lucius S. Moody T853~4

Thomas Burgit 1855

Thomas Russell 185'!, '61

Joseph W. Church 1857

James Palmer 1858

Pitt M. Clark T859

Matthew Coleman i860

Ceorge Bentley 1862

Simpson Dartt 1863

William Goodrich Keats__i864,

'69. '73-4

Charles M. Millard 1865

John W. Stoney 1866

Harvey Ambler 1867. '70

George H. Smith 1871-2, 'j^,

Washington Sidney Keats 1876

William H. Meadows 1877

James Monaghan 1878-93

Robert M. Lacy 1894, '96-7

Harry Dickerrnan 1895

Thomas W. O'Connor 1898-1900

Vrthur Dickerrnan 1901

Richard Brownlee, JY. 1902-6

Daniel Speight 1907-0

John Speight 1910-12

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

. Mender O. Babcock [861-5

Sc\ mour Brooks 1860-0,

'78-84, '87-9

Thomas M Burns [896-7

James Child 1866-7

1 .aw rcnce Clancy 1 888-9

James ML Crosswait 1007-8

William M. Daniels 1898-9

Charles Fraser 1873-81, '84 6

Frank 1.. Fraser 1881-3. '93

Simeon EC. Drives 1886

Edwin K. Dicks 1897

Washington S. Keats .1866, '68-84

Louis II. Kxosch [89]

James D. Merrill 1867-9

William Miller 1 8=;i)-7}

Riley V Spencer [859

Aha Slelibms 1NS7

Elisha Stillman [860-4

Enos II. Stone 18(16-72

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

-7"

Sidney B. Tullar 1860. '62, David P. Webster 1872-8

'64-6, '71-96 Perry Welch 1896-7, 1906-7

John Uhrlettig 1900-' — John J. White [864

There are five school districts wholly within the town, a joint district
with Troy and one with Waterford. The postoffice at Lake Beulah, of the

fourth class, has two rural delivery routes.

VILLAGE OF EAST TROY.

Jacob Burgit and Austin McCracken laid out their village in 1847. on
each side of the territorial road from Milwaukee to Janesville, making Main
street of that part of the highway lying within village limits. Running from
its eastern beginning nearly southwest by westerly (making an angle of
$8y20 with the meridian line), this street makes an angle of 1570 at its
Church street crossing and leaves the western limit at an angle of 8y2° with
an east and west line. This one irregularity lends a slightly metropolitan
aspect to the village plat, the other streets lying in the direction of section
lines. The site was well chosen, affording short drainage lines, and the
soil permitting dry cellars of any desired depth. Lots were sold on easiest
terms to buyers, and as there were already a few dwellings and stores, the
village had a healthy and hopeful infancy.

In the first period of railway building one line from the lake to the river
parsed by ten miles northward and another about as far southward, and the
Milwaukee & Beloit Company, in 1857. brought but delusive hope to villagers.
Several years later a line from Chicago crossed the township five miles east-
ward, and the branch line from Elkhorn to Eagle is nearly as far westward.
East Troy for more than forty years lay in a rail-less area. The village
worked, hoped, waited, and respected itself, and at last rejoined the long
lost world in 1907 by way of an electric line to Milwaukee. hi spite -1
this long want of railway connection the village was always fair in the
eyes of visitors, and its quickened prosperity has added something to its
earlier attractions.

William Burgit built a grist-mill in 1S44. near the village. In [848 he
sold it to George M. Cousins, Peter A. Cramer and Gideon Garrett. The
next year Mr. Cousins left tin- firm and the mill was sold hack to Mr. Burgit.
from whom it passed in [853 to !K-in\ I:. Evans. I d vard II. Ball and [ohn
W. Denison bought it at a sheriff's -ale in [862, in I sol 1 il in 1863 to Byron
Brown. William I) Smith bought it in f866, Jonas IL ami William II. Fox

280 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

in 1869, Charles F. Zartrow in 1870, Charles A. Schmidt in 1876. No
further change of ownership is found in record. The mill is yet in operation
for local custom.

CHURCHES.

Ten memhers constituted a Baptist society, Octoher 5, 1842. These
were Elvira, Irene and William Duncan, Mrs. Elizaheth Ann (Wheeler)
Edwards, Gaylord and Nancy Graves, Horace Smith. Eliza Sperry. Gilbert
and Mary Waters. The line of pastors was Aha Burgess 1842, James
Delaney 1845. Milo B. Tremain. James Squier, George W. Gates, Peter
Conrad. Orra Martin ("temporary). Amos Weaver i860. Daniel Dye 1861,
E. L. Scofield 1805. C. J. B. Jackson 1868. James Delaney 1869, W. A.
Rupert [879-82, Wilbur W. Conner 1883. David P Phillips 1886. There
were intervals, short and long', during which the pulpit was supplied from
neighboring churches, or was vacant. Mr. Phillips died July 5, 1886, and
hut occasional service was held until Rev. David L. Holbrook came on April
4. [898, and with that day closed the record of this once strong church, so
reduced by deaths and removals. Soon after this the building became a hall
for the Modern Woodmen. In 1905 the remaining memhers received formal
letters of dismissal.

Before 1 848 Rev. Thomas Morrissey and others of the Catholic Faith
came from Burlington, Lake Geneva, and Waterford to hold service at
private houses. In that year Vicar-General Kundig ministered similarly, and
after him Rev. Matthias Gernbauer. In 1854 a church was built at a cost of
twelve hundred dollars. In 1855 Rev. Sebastian Seif became, for a few
months, the first resident priest of St. Peter's. After him was Michael
Haider 1855, Thomas Keenan 1857, James Stehle [859. Lawrence N. Kenne)
r86o, George I.. Willard 1864. fohn Casey [866, !■".. A. Craves [868, 11. F.
Pairbank [869, Thomas Bergen 1870. James Fitzgibbon [876, J. Eugene
Mini 1N81, Hugo Victor 1884. John II. Keller 1887. John T. O'Lean [893,
Charles Schmid [896, John Joseph Weinhoff in the same year and until now.
Of these, the dates of birth and death are shown for Father Bergen 1844-79.
Fitzgibbon [827-97, Haider [820-85, Keenan [829-80, Kcnncv 7836-70.
Kundig [805-79, Willard [836-80. In 1870 a substantial church was built
at eost id" sixteen thousand dollars, and a school house in [889 at cost of
four thousand dollars. The somewhat variable membership is now about
one hundred twenty families. St. Peter's cemetery, laid out at a well-chosen
point in section 17. nearly two miles from the village, was for main- years
the resting place of the Catholic dead id" other towns, even as far a\\a\ as
Elkhorn.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 281

Mrs. Mary (Gardner) Burgit, Elizabeth Chafin, Stillman and Caroline
Dewey, Amasa, Arabv. and Clarissa A. Hotchkiss, William Trumbull, James
W. and Rebecca A. Vail, William and Elizabeth Weed met at Mr. Yail's,
June 22. 1839. to form a Presbyterian society. (Within two years Mr.
Hotchkiss died and Miss Clarissa had become Mrs. Trumbull.) A church
was built in 1849. '" [855 the society became Congregational, and in 1856
began to build a new church. This work was suspended from 1N57 to 1871
and finished in 1872. Its clergy list is: Lemuel Hall 1839, David A.
Sherman 184L Cyrus E. Rosenkrans 1845. Charles Morgan 1852, Avelyn
Sedgwick 1858, Miles Doolittle 1859. Charles Morgan 1X60. Hanford Fowle
1X74. Asher W. Curtis 1X7N, Josiah Beardsley iK8i . Augustus J. Hayner
[888, George Mackey Whyte 1895, Thomas W. Harbour 1897. S. Wilbur
Bloom 1 901. Joseph Herbert 1002. Walter C. Graf 1904, Albert E. Pauly
(unordained) 190S. Isaac P>. Tracy 1910. A parsonage is part of the church
property.

In 1874 fifteen families organized as St. John's Evangelical Lutheran
society. In 1881 it was reorganized as St. Paul's and the society bought the
old Congregational building. L'ntil 1894 the pulpit was supplied from the
church at Elkhorn. In that year Rev. Gustav Schmidt became resident pastor,
and was yet there in February, 1912. In 1903 a brick church was built at
cost of eight thousand dollars, and a parsonage has been supplied.

Early in 1838 Rev. Salmon Stebbins held the quarterly meeting for the
Aztalan mission at Daniel P. Griffin's house and there organized the Methodist
society of East Troy, with the Griffin families. Benjamin Jennings. Mrs.
Austin McCracken, John S. and Mariette (Bivins) Spoor as members. Mrs.
Rebecca A. Vail and Mrs. Elizabeth Weed. Presbyterians, joined temporarily.
A log house served for a meeting place until early in 1840 when a framed
building took its place and for the next ten years was used more or less h\
other societies as well.

The several pastors have been in nearly the follow Jul; order: Samuel
Pillshury 1839, Jesse TIalstead. James P. Flanders, James McKean, 1 >.
Worthington. Leonard F. Moulthrop, William Hanson, Henry Whitehead.
Nathaniel Swift, M. L. Read. John J. Gallup. J. Bean, \I. Butler, Jonathan
M. Snow. Joseph C. Dana. William M. Osborn, Harrison V. Train. William
F. Delap, Hiram H. Hersey, S. Watts. Russell P. Lawton, John G. Pingree,
Thomas Wilcox. Thomas ('. Wilson, Rufus Cooley [864, Isaac Seniles [867,
W. W. Painter i860. Lafayette F. Cole 1873, Thomas Peep, Samuel Rey-
nolds, J. D. Wilson, A. Porter, Wallace J. Olmstead [880, Samuel C. Thomas
1681, RossiterC. Parsons [882, Robert Davidson [884, Thomas Potter [886,

282 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

William Moyle 1890. John Albert Collinge 1895, John M. Woodward 1901,
William Dawson 1903, Alpheus W. Triggs 1908, Amos L. Tucker 1910.

Mrs. Austin McCracken and Artemisia McLeod, her sister, Mrs. Rebecca
A. Vail, and other pious women began their Sunday school work in 1838,
with John S. Spoor as superintendent. Until the formation of church societies
this work was non-sectarian.

Mrs. Vail opened a boarding school for girls at her house, in 1839,
joining religious to secular instructions. She was excellently qualified for
this work and she is said to have drawn pupils from as far away as Milwaukee.
She was also a pioneer teacher at Geneva.

Louisa Augier (who in 1842 became Mrs. Charles Taylor) began as a
public school teacher in 1839, for some years in the chapel building. A
schoolhouse was built in 1846, and about 1854 a new one took its place.
This, with extensions of house and grounds, is wrorthy of the village. The
value of the school property, including four acres of ground, may be about
fifteen thousand dollars. This school has for many years done good high
school work, and it now employs seven teachers.

In 1839 S. Buel Edwards built his blacksmith shop opposite a corner of
the park, so well framed and so large that with a little outward improvement
and much inner alteration and adjustment it is now a sightly and convenient
town hall and clerk's office, with an occasionally useful calaboose in its rear.

Oak Ridge, a scant mile from the village, became in 1876 the care of
an organized cemetery association. It is well laid out and kept in order, and
has become the resting place of Hon. John F. Potter and most of his family,
and of many another early settler. St. Peter's lies little more than a half-mile
away.

NEWSPAPERS.

Francis 1). Craig began in August, 1N70. to publish the East Troy
Gazette, sold it about a year later, bought it again in 1S81 and discontinued
it about 1882. He also published monthly the American Merino in the
interest of sheep breeders of East Troy, Caldwell's Prairie, and adjacent
towns of three counties. In [885 and 1886 Wilbur ( \. Weeks published
experimentally an Easl Tro) edition of the Delavan Republican, named the
Star, with Simeon i\. Graves and Washington S. Keats in turn as local editors.
In [893 Samuel K. \dams published the East Tray \'c;cs and sold it in [896
to Oscar R. Kurzrok, who has made it permanent. I lis equipment, which
includes ;i power-presS) is modern and good, and his newspaper and his job
work prove him a real printer. Politically the Nezvs is independent, but is not
a "common scold."

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 283

VILLAGE ORGANIZATION.

At a special election, May 26, 1900, by a vote of one hundred and five to
fifty-three, the village decided to organize its government agreeable to the
general statutes. Officers were chosen June 23d : Trustees, Richard Brown-
lee, Alva Lumsden, Owen H. Marshall. Anthony Noblet, Charles \V. Smith,
Oscar F. Winne ; marshal, Edwin R. Hicks; street commissioner, Nathan J.
Randolph ; health officer. Dr. Orlo S. Canright.

Presidents: August Wilmer 1900-3. Lawrence Clancy 1904-5, Thomas
W. O'Connor 1906-9, Paul Schwartz 1910-12.

Clerks: Oscar R. Kurzrok 1900, Fred H. Coburn 1901-3. Leonard E.
Rice 1904-7, Washington S. Keats 1908-11, Oscar R. Kurzrok 1912.

Treasurers: Leonard E. Rice 1900-1, Edward Rohleder 1902-6, Sey-
mour E. Marshall 1907, Walter C. Dickerman 1908-10, John Weldon 1 < > 1 1 ,
Henry Gaskell 19 12.

Assessors: William G. Keats 1900-1, Nathan J. Randolph 1902-12.

Members of county board of supervisors : Washington S. Keats 1900,
Adam C. Deist 1901-2, Lawrence Clancy 1903. Charles H. Zinn 1904-7.
Lawrence Clancy 1908-12.

POSTOFFICE.

It is told that the first postoftice in the township was established in 1839,
at the house of Henry Powers, in section 3, with John F. Potter as postmaster.
In 1S41 the office was transferred to Sewall Smith"s store, at the village.
About 1844 it was discontinued for a short time and restored, still under
Air. Smith. Edward H. Ball was appointed in 1848. John D. Hawes [853,
Thomas Russell about 1854, Mr. Smith again in 1861. Henry B. Clark [866,
Joseph W. Church i860. Perry O. Griste in the same year, Rudolph Haber
nicht 1894, Mr. Griste [898, Edwin R. Hicks 1902, Benjamin F. Schwartz
[911. October 1, njir. this postoffice was passed from the fourth to the
third class, and the postmaster's -alary became eleven hundred dollars.

PUBLIC HOUSES.

Austin McCracken built his 1<>" house in [836 and made it serviceable
as an inn. Emery Thayer bought the place in [842 and in [845 built a house
of two stories on the same site, and this is yet a pari of the Easl Troy I louse
Other owners have been Timothy Mower 1855, Loren J. Edwards [856, S.
Buel Edwards [862, Orson B. Morse [864, Henr) B. I lark- [868. In [872

284 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Clark's son-in-law, Harold H. Rogers, became his partner and at his
death, in 1875. Mr. Rogers was his successor. Later proprietors have been
Oscar B. Rogers. J. Frank Brooks, and E. Louis Brooks, who now sits at the
receipt of custom. Besides these are remembered, with very uncertain dates,
as tenants if not owners, Austin Wright, Seymour Brooks, William Hare.
Joseph H. Edwards, Alansori Beckwith, Charles W. Smith, and James F.
Jude. Clark & Rogers bought an old church and joined it to the hotel.
Thus, the East Troy House is a two-fold relic of the village infancy.

Samuel Bradley built a cobble-stone house of three stories, between
1846 and [849, named it the Buena Vista House, and occupied it for a few
years. This property has changed ownership several times. Among its
owners and occupants have been Daniel J. Kees about i860, Richard Hotton.
lames H. Hall. Wright J. Larkin, and Messrs. Primmer. Justin and Churchill
severally. It is now no lunger used as a public house.

BUSINESS ITEMS.

Sewall Smith built a store and displayed a stock of goods in 1841. Austin
Wright began competition in 1842. and within a short time Cyril L. Oatman
and ex-Sheriff Mallory. from Geneva, combined these two enterprises. Other
early general dealers distinctly known were Alonzo Piatt (once of Elkhorn),
Henry 11. Austin with John 1). Dorrance. and Joseph R. Stone with variable
partnerships, as Peter S. Markham, Hiram J. Cowles, and Joseph H. Hurlbut.
Later dealers have been Jonathan Bailey. E. K. Barker, Adam C. Deist, Perry
O. Criste. Wilder M. Howard, George and William Meadows, Charles W.
Smith, llobart A. Tullar, August and Bernhardt Wilmer.

Ilenn II. Austin, |uhn P. Chafin, William T. Donaldson, Alexander and
Frank L. Fraser, Perry 0. Griste, Walter C. Hatch. Harold H. Rogers,
Charles W. and George II. Smith organized the State Bank of East Troy,
November 10. [892, and began business on the following New Year's day,
with Rogers as president, Griste vice-president, Chafin cashier. Mr. Rogers
died March 23, [897, and in December Mr. Griste became president and
George Meadows vice-president. Edward B. Rohleder was then chosen
assistant cashier. In September, H|ii. Mr. Griste retired from the bank
and Mr. Chafin became president. Mr. Rohleder vice-president (and assistant
cashier), ami Henry E. Henry, from Kew askum. cashier. The capital of this
bank is thirty thousand dollars.

October 25, t')i 1, the stockholders of the farmers' and Merchants' State
Rank chose directors and officers: lames S. Brooks, John Brophy, lames

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN". 285

and John B. Crosswaite, Albert Jude, James F. Jude (president), Dr. Timothy
J. O'Leary (vice-president), .Matthew J. Powers (cashier), Frank J. Rice,
Charles Taft, and Valentine Zimmerman, and named Leonard Martin as
assistant cashier. In February, 1912, workmen were laying the deep concrete
foundation walls of a new building for this bank.

Friday. December 13, 1907, the villagers saw the arrival from and
return to Milwaukee of electric cars, and themselves restored to easy and
frequent connection with that greater world which their parents and grand-
parents had left seventy years before.

A village system of water-works began in 1908 to afford reasonable
protection from fires, and bonds were issued to the amount of thirteen thou-
sand five hundred dollars. A well was bored six hundred ninety-one feet in
depth, reaching water enough for present use, at the least; and pumping
works with steel tower and tank provided. The water rises in the well within
about twenty-one feet of the surface. The drill passed through ninety-two
feet of drift, three feet of limestone, and thirty-six feet into St. Peter's sand-
stone. In 1 910 the population was 673.

CHAPTER XXV.

CITY OF ELK HORN".

John Starr Rockwell was in 1836 a clerk in the government's newly
established land office at Milwaukee. He learned there, officially and extra-
officially, something of use to himself and to his brother Le Grand, then in
his twenty -fifth year, who had come from Butternuts, Xew York, with a
fair amount of means, to look well about him for a suitable village site. The
brothers, with Horace Coleman, formed a partnership for the settlement of
a county seat. In February, 1837, Le Grand and Air. Coleman left Milwaukee,
but not in quest of mill-site, lakeside, or other special gift of nature to man.
They knew by common report that good land could be found in nearly every
section of southeastern Wisconsin, and the immediate object of their search
was a township corner-stake. Though as yet unnamed and unorganized.
Walworth count)- was already more than a bare possibility as to its position,
form, and dimensions; for, men of many political and speculative devices
gathered at Milwaukee in the earliest existence of the territory of Wisconsin.

These two speculative geometers found the embryo county's centre of
gravity in a bit of bog, at the meeting-point of four townships. Then they
returned for materials, tools, and supplies for settlement. Mr. Coleman's
faith in the enterprise grew lukewarm and he withdrew from it. and soon
appeared at Spring Prairie. Mr. Rockwell formed another partnership quite
readily, and on February -'7th was at the pivotal stake again, lie came for
himself and brother; Milo Edwin Bradley for his father. Daniel Edwin;
Albert Ogden for Lewis John Higby, who afterward bought in section g of
Richmond. \t Spring Prairie they induced Hollis Latham, who had lieen
there a few weeks, to go with them The company pre-empted four quarter-
sections and built a cabin in the * ieneva quarter. Mr. Latham chose his home
in the same quarter, while Rockwell and Ogden made theirs in the Delavan
quarter. The company yielded its claim to the Sugar Greek quarter in [839,
when the county commissioners selected a quarter-section for the county's
buildings,

It was thought that until it should be needed for county-seal and metro-
politan use- the company's square mile, as a greal dairy-farm, would soon bring
fair returns for the money, work, and hope invested. In this these men were

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 28/

too far-sighted by forty years; but their city is now at the centre of one of
the leading dairying counties of the state, and is a shipping-point for a much
larger area than the company's square mile. In May a framed house was built
of Geneva-sawn oak, eighteen feet by thirty feet, one and one-half stories
high. During court terms this became a boarding house, but not until Mi-
Latham had married Daniel E. Bradley's daughter. Mrs. Lemira Lewis. The
settlement of the proposed county-seat was in a special way confirmed at the
new house by the birth of Le Grand Latham. January 4. 1839. But the young
city had not been childless. Mrs. Latham had a daughter of her first
marriage, Elizabeth Ann Lewis ( 1 828-1888). who in 1848 married Phineas
C. (1824-1887). son of Andrew Gilbert and Calmy Butler. Henry, youngest
of the large family of Daniel E. Bradley and Betsey Sturges, was a year or
two older than his niece. Milo E. Bradley and wife Nancy had seven children,
though not all of them as yet born. This family soon settled in section 1 of
Geneva, and some years later moved to La Crosse county.

Colonel Phoenix, crossing the prairie southeast of the Rockwell settle-
ment, had found a pair of antlers which he hung on a tree to mark a point
in his trail between Spring Prairie and Delavan. This slight circumstance
soon named the prairie, the village, and the northwestern quarter of the
county. This extension of the name sometimes makes it difficult or impossible
to determine whether persons named in other than land records were or were
not of the village.

In 1838 Sheldon Walling (1705-1875) and wife, Anna Peets (1798-
[875), came from western Xew York to section 7 of Geneva. The next
year Mr. Walling, having become sheriff, moved into the village, where he
and his sons Fred and George went into retail business. The father was a
tanner. In 1839 Edward Elderkin and Horatio S. Winsor came to practice
law. Elderkin bought a farm in the south half of the Geneva section, hi
1840 Moses Bartlett, William Coulson, John- Hall, Henry II. Hartson.
Hudson Van Brunt, and George Watson came, bul nol all of them to leave
of themselves a clear memory. In 1841 Richard Beals 1 17N1 1S551 and
son Isaac F. ( 1814-1891 l, Geoi ■•■ Gale, Phineas M. Johnson, Levi Lee. Zenas
Ogden: in 1842, Booth B. Davis and James O. Eaton: in 1843 Adelaide C
Beardslev. Dexter Dewing and son Geprge, Sanford and William ( ). Garfield,
William E Gregory, Charles N. Meigs Capt. George and Dr. George II.
Young, were among the arrivals. Some of these men owned land in adjoining
towns. Others of the earlier villagers were Philo Baird, Curtis Bellows, Lewis
S. Bemis. Reuben R. Brown, Alexander S. Brown, Zophar Chittenden,
Russell Crandall, lohn Cromlev, Anthonv Delap, Eli K. Frost, John Gillespie,

288 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Peter Colder, Xoah Harriman, David Hartson, Horace N. Hay, Dr. Samuel
W. Henderson, Edwin Hodges, George Humphrey, Samuel Mallory, John
Matheson, Job O. Matteson, Orrin Maxham, Lot Mayo and sons Andrew
and Samuel, Urban D. Meacham, Alonzo Piatt, Davis Reed, Wyman Spooner,
William L. Stowe, Levi Thomas, Samuel and James L. Tubbs, Dr. Eleazar
and Francis A. Utter, Lucius Wilmot, Edward Winne.

Lewis Shepard Bemis (1819-1890), sun of Allen Bemis and Edna
Shepard. came from Niagara county. Xew York, with wife Olivia ( 1825-
1904). daughter of Dexter Dewing. About 1850 he became landlord of the
Exchange Hotel, and after 1857 went into like business at Milwaukee.

Reuben R. Brown was for some years master of the Masonic lodge and
was an instructor in the work of the lodge.

Zophar Chittenden (1823-1894) came from Ohio, a carpenter and joiner,
and built several of the better houses of the time, in the village and for
prosperous farmers. He left after 1857 and died at Kalamazoo.

John Cromley ( 1 822-1899) was a master shoemaker. He made the
overland trip to California and return, and his general usefulness and com-
radelike quality shown in the expedition and at the mines were gratefully
appreciated by his companions. At home, too, he was one of the truest and
kindest of men.

Anthony Delap ( [813-1896) was a blacksmith, with other capabilities.
He built a good house, which be sold to Levi Thomas and then passed over
to East Delavan neighborhood.

James O. Eaton married January 1, [843, Mary Miranda Dwinnell, a
sister of the pioneer-preacher-chronicler of Lafayette. He opened one of the
earliest general stores in the village.

Sanford Garfield ( [793-1872), son of Solomon, Jr.. was a cousin of
President Garfield's father, lie married Clarissa Oakley (1795-1883). He
was a shoemaker, and came here from Otsego by way of Chautauqua county.

William Oakley Garfield 1 [819-1888) was born in Vermont; learned
his lather's calling — shoe-making and came with him in 1842. [lis wife,
Fidelia ( 1822-11)10 ). was a daughter of Dexter Dewing.

William E. Gregory came with more than average means, bought a
farm in the Lafayette quarter, and died soon afterward. His son, William
Eliot Gregory, about [857 went to Galveston, where he was for several
years a successful business man. with some railway interests. Mis occasional
return was welcomed by old friends. I Ms younger son, \s.qih. remained here
till his death, about [875.

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. j8<")

Xoah Harriman (1805-1903), born in Vermont, bought a farm nearb)
in Lafavette, and preached as a licensed exhorter. His wife was Lucinda
Davis (1797- 1 891).

Horace Noble Hay was for a few years Otis Preston's partner in retail
business. Air. Preston mentioned him as one who gave much attention to
his dress and personal appearance. He owned a farm in Lafayette. In
1852 he started for California, and died of yellow fever, at sea, on his way
out. His wife was Margaret Fuller.

Dr. Samuel Wirt Henderson (1817-1857). son of Dr. John M. Hender-
son's first wife. Rebecca, daughter of Samuel Wirt, was born at Willoughby,
Ohio. He married Rebecca, daughter of Nathan Hicks. He was accounted
a skillful physician and surgeon A jump from a wagon to hard ground
resulted in inflammation of the bowels and in death after a week of pain. He
understood his case from the first.

John Matheson (1820-1895), son of John and Jessie, was born in one
of the joint counties of Ross and Cromarty, Scotland ; apprenticed to a tailor
at Inverness; came to Lafayette in 1840; opened a shop and store at Elkhorn;
married Loretta (1827-1903), daughter of Rev. Luther Lee.

William Lyman Stow e I 1821-1891 ) was born at Stowe. northeastern
Ohio. He married Lavina. daughter of Philip and Mary Mink, of Walworth,
in 1851. He was a cabinet-maker and house-joiner.

Samuel Tubbs (died in 1861) and wife. Polly Frost (1785- 1875), were
natives of Connecticut who settled at Augusta, New York, and lived a short
time at Chagrin Falls, Ohio. A son. Isaac P., died at Elkhorn in 1859, aged
fifty. A daughter. Martha, wife of Nicholas George Bowers, and two
daughters were successively wives of Lot Mayo. Mrs. Tubbs was nearl)
related to Alvah J. and Eli K. Frost.

Edward Winne ( [815-1886) was son of a rich man of Albany, and
was at once a business man (in lumber and grain) at Elkhorn and a farmer
of section 4. Geneva. The hard times of 1X57 sent him to northeastern Iowa.
He died at Bozeman, Montana. ' His wife, Lydia Maria Chapman, was
married November 6, 1844; died at Waverly, Iowa, in [892. Mr. Winne's
father left to him his hooks, and for many years these constituted the large 1
private library at Elkhorn.

Having chosen his villagi te settled on it. and named it from Colonel
Phoenix's trail-mark, and a vote of the county in [838 (confirmed by leg
lative act) having made it the county-seat. Mr. Rockwell's next great care
was to lav out a few streets ahout the park and set < >ff tin I blocks

(19)

2QO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

into home lots. As at first platted the village was wholly on the county's
quarter-section. Edward Xorris, the county surveyor, laid out the streets,
blocks and lots, and Mr. Rockwell was appointed county agent for sale of
lots. There were five parallel streets, running northward and southward.
Beginning with East street, on the section line, the others are Washington,
Wisconsin, Broad and Church. Beginning near the intersecting section line,
the streets running from east to west are named Park (then called South),
Walworth, Court, Jefferson, and North. Court, Wisconsin, Walworth, and
Church streets bound the park, which overlies or cuts in twain Broad street.
All these and the newer streets are four rods wide, except Walworth and
Broad, which are six rods wide. These two streets were designed for business
uses, but a hotel built at Wisconsin and Walworth streets diverted business
from Broad street. No alleys were considered in the original plat nor in the
several additions.

Rockwell's first addition enlarged the village by a narrow tier of blocks
eastward, and by a row of blocks southward, to Rockwell street. After 1854,
when coming railways filled men's minds by day with hopes and their dreams
by night with visions of cities rising like exhalations, bringing wealth in
front-foot values to each lucky lot owner, Colonel Elderkin laid out his addi-
tion southeastwardly and gave Jackson, Wright and Frank streets to the vil-
lage map. Arm ild's addition, eastward, was laid out by the heirs of Giles
Thompson Arnold of Victor, New York, who had bought a quarter section and
had soon afterward died. Levi Lee's addition and the smaller Edwin Hodges
addition, westward, lay within the area of village growth. Booth B. Davis'
addition, northward, gave a few more streets and avenues, and grew some-
what more slowly into valuable lots. The rather premature Squire Stanford
and Heman II. Harrison additions lie northwestward and are but thinly
settled, and much like' them, except as to Walworth street, is the farther
westward Devendorf, Mallory and Spencer addition. Dr. Devendorf was of
Delavan. Samuel Mallory was a substantial and reputable citizen, but not a
real-estate "boomer." David I'. Spencer became too well known to bankers
and depositors in three states, lie was at Elkhorn less than two years.
Finally, there were the abortive Centralia and Byzantium additions, the first
far to eastward, the other across the railway, southward. Both were the
unsubstantial creations id" Otis Preston's restless mind

A village straggling into four sections, in as mam towns, soon found
it inconvenient to divide its little squad of voters among four polling-places
on election days and its yearly accounts with the county government equally
troublesome at the record offices. A legislative act of February 27, 1S40.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 291

relieved this situation by creating a new town from section 1 of Delavan,
section 6 of Geneva, section 31 of Lafayette, and section 36 of Elkhorn.
As the new town received the name of its village, the older Elkhorn became
Sugar Creek. In 1856 the village was chartered and its limits made co-
extensive with those of the town, the whole constituting also one school
district. In 1897 a general law made Elkhorn a city of the fourth class,
its population being then above fifteen hundred and below ten thousand.
With tin- last change disappeared the time-honored April town meeting,
which regulated the corporate revenue and outlay by viva voce vote of electors
present at the hour appointed; and with it went the Jul}- school meeting,
which in similar purely democratic way disposed yearly of the affairs of the
village considered as a school district. The change of four villages of tins
county to cities has brought more power to the local administrations, broader
and more efficient systems of public improvements, and, of course, greater
cost to taxpayers.

The city of Elkhorn lies above sea-level, at the railway station 996 feet,
at the court-house 1,031 feet, at points in the farthest northwest quarter
1,038 feet. It was for long supposed and said that it is on the highest
ground in the county, which is nearly true, but not so nearly as to warrant
the slight misstatement. Sharon and Walworth villages are nearly as high
and the Yerkes Observatory is on ground higher by twelve feet. The
point in the short high ridge of section 19, Geneva, is about one hundred feet
higher than any part of Elkhorn. The rise from the station northward to
Park street is of nearly uniform slope. The greater part of the city is built
on practically level ground. The surface of the town was mostly of black-
prairie mould, a spade-thrust deep, which gave rise to a harmless sarcasm;
in effect, that sixteen fine cornfields weie spoiled to make a needless city.
The gravel next below is so mixed and underlaid with clay as to make the
natural surface drainage worse than that of any city or village of the county,
excepting Walworth. But it has become practicable, after many years. In
secure dry cellars for new buildings. Good sewers are possible whenever
the citizens are able and willing to bear their cost, as there is a lair descent
southward to Jackson's creek. A once considerable pond or marsh in the
northeastern quarter has so far shrunk as to leave but twenty-five acres,
at the northern line, slightly under water.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

Religion and secular education came hand in hand. A Methodist society
was formed about 1841, and before the end of that year the Episcopal society

_■(,_• WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

began its long pioneer period. The Congregationalists organized in 1843,
the Baptists in 1852, the Catholics in E&48, the Evangelican Lutherans in
1870, the Universalists built a church in 1874. the Lutherans of the Ohio
synod separated in 1898 and built a church. In 1856 the Methodists built
a large church of brick, which was burned in [859. They rebuilt of wood,
afterward encased with brick, and have continued to improve their home
within and without, and they first bought and then built a parsonage. St.
John's, Episcopal, was built about 1855, of wood, extended in 1858, re-built
of brick during the rectorship of Mr. Pullen — having first built a rectory.
Extensions and improvements succeeded, and an organ, altar, baptismal font,
and stained windows have given the church some distinction in appearance.
In 1858 the Congregational am! Wesleyans jointly built a church, which in
1882 gave way to a suitable brick building, creditable to the liberality and
good taste of its owners. (The Wesleyans long ago retired from the part-
nership, and have been absorbed by other societies). A parsonage was soon
added to the Congregational property. Like their Methodist, Episcopal, and
Baptist brethren, they own a dining-hall on the fair ground. The Baptist
church, built in 1853 of wood, roomy and comfortable, was pulled away in
1885 and a brick church took its place. This was largely rebuilt in 1897 and
made a thin,? of beauty. In Kn'7 it was so far injured by tire that it was
built anew, and new seems likely to meet all needs for a generation to come.
The Catholics had for several year- held fortnightly service in a mission
chapel. In [880 they built St. Patrick's church of brick on a fine lot
prudently acquired at a favorable opportunity some years previously, and

upied it until too;, when it was pulled down and built anew with en-
largement and improvement \ good house for the priest was built soon
after the firsl building was finished. There is much in the story of this
ciety's early struggles and of the things it has accomplished without noise
to move tin- mind to sympath) and admiration. The older Lutheran church
was built, of wood, in 1 88 | on the site of a house built for a select school.
It odern village style, and i- both sightly and comfortable. In the

pastorate of Rev. Carl II. \.uerswald, 18.18, the membi divided and the

eders buill a brick church in the same block. The Univ. rsalisl society
■ inactive ome years. Christian Scientists use part

of the otherwise empty church.

The present church buildings are becoming to a not wealthy little city,

1 the societies arc mostly full of the vitality which supports Christian

ation and it- appropriate work. The several slow, painful steps in

the earlier >\\ mosl , 1 church societies are

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. _'<j.i

naturally and rightly memorable to the surviving toilers, and incidents of
these patient struggles are yet told. Such trials of body and spirit are part
of the common experience of newly planted and for long but slowly-increas-
ing communities and institutions. Each congregation still knows and feels
the disproportion of its means to its great aims ; but Episcopal rectors no
longer swim swollen streams and labor through not less formidable mud
to meet communicants in a pioneer's little dwelling, nor do gray-haired
Catholic priests plow or plunge through otherwise unbroken road from
Delavan to Elkhorn to hold fortnightly service in a chapel little more sightly
or comfortable than a barn.

The story of schools has points of resemblance to that of churches;
but the great difference is that churches are built and maintained by the
voluntary sacrifices of the few, while the schools quickly become the care of
the body politic and are upheld by taxation which exempts no man for his
unwillingness. The rise of neither institution is by sudden flight. Each
moves always forward, through difficulty and delaying circumstances, by
uneven steps, toward its always far-ahead object. Private schools at Elk-
horn, taught by Lydia Carr, Mary S. Brewster, Adelaide B. Beardsley,
Colonel Elderkin, and others whose names are lost to local memory, were
followed in 1840 by a public school. Its house was built on a lot reserved
for its purpose from the county's quarter section. It was twenty feet square,
and afterward remembered as the "old oak school-house." In 1850 a larger
house was built on the same lot, of native brick, two-storied, without outer
ornament, substantial, homely, and comfortable. This house was not
neglected by prudent school boards, for it was occasionally painted as to
its wood-work and its rooms, vestibule and stairway, whitewashed yearly
as to ceilings and walls. Its construction admitted such extensions and
alterations as to make it a neat old-fashioned dwelling for Doctor Reynolds,
and after him Belden Weed. Ex-Sheriff Derthick now lives where soldiers,
civil officers, business and professional men, and other merely useful and
excellent citizens, many of whom are yet living between Michigan shore and
Pacific coast, learned the three R's and something besides, and laid broad
bases for their maturer lives.

A new school house was built in 1X57, in Arnold's addition, fronting
Jackson street, and at the head of Walworth street. It was adapted to the
needs of four grades. Its ample ground has now a fine growth of shade
trees. A two-storied addition was built in 1882 and burned with the whole
structure in 1886. For a year the departments divided themselves among
nearly a dozen temporary refuges. The new building with furnishing cost

294

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

twenty-five thousand dollars. Increase in the number of pupils and depart-
ments, arising from the admission of pupils from other towns, made another
building needful. This was supplied, at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars,
in 1906, by a separate house for the sole use of the high school, built a few
feet from the older house. Both are steam-heated and electric-lighted. The
total value of ground, buildings, and equipment is about seventy-five thousand
dollars. Nominally a high school for some years, a resolution of the school
meeting of July. 1876, made this institution really so by directing a slight re-
arrangement of study-courses and other compliances with the rules of the
state superintendent's office, where the subsequent work of the school has
been acceptable.

A full list of teachers cannot now be shown, for such record as was
made was cared for but shabbily by often-changing clerks. It is learned from
records and somewhat uncertain memory that there were Levi Jackson, Mary
S. Brewster, and Lydia Carr in 1841 ; Emeline McCracken in 1842; Adelaide
C. Beardsley 1844; Eli K. Frost and Helen Mar Cowdery 1849; Alvah J.
Frost 1850; William P. Frost about that year. Miss Brewster became Mrs.
Edward Pentland, Miss McCracken was married to Edwin Wallis Meacham,
ami Miss Cowdery to Darius Ionian.

After these the record is rather less broken: James 15. Tower.* Benja-
min C. Rogers* and wife, and Selinda J. Gardner in 1851: William C.
Dustin,* Mrs. Flora M. l'ratt. Harriet Leonard in 1852; M. W. Carroll.*
Pamela A. Darling, Mary Louisa and Sarah F. Patton in 1853; Matthew
Waldenmeyer,* Julia Stevens, Mi-ses Morrill and Swain in 1854; J. C.
Plumb,* Stephen Sibley,* Henry D. L. Webster,* Sarah J. Allen. Ellen
I'.canlsley in 1855; George M. Dewey,* Robert M. McKee,* J. J. M. Angier,*
feanette Henderson, Mr-. Laura Young Plumb, Mr-. Jane E. Utlcy in
1856; '). Sherman Cook,* Emily IX Carpenter, Harriet Marion Perkins,
Nellie Young in [857; Orlando M. Laker. Helen Chamberlin, Susan M.

Golder, Eliza G Irich, Melvina Vienna Hawk- in [858; Everett Chamber-

lin.* Minnie Hubbard, Sarah Ponsford, A. I. Wheeler in [859; Zeruiah
Adkins, Elvira Chapman. Aristine Curtis, Philena Tuttle, Flavius Josephus
Harrington in [860; Emerson Peet* in [861 ; \. M. Case,* T. X. Wells.*
Helen E Selden in 1862; Charles W. Cutler.1 Lydia Malvina Aldrich, M.
C. Bennett, Mary Holley in [863. Asterisks 'lenote principals. Some of
these teacher- were more than once employed. Mr. Plumb stayed long
enough to marrj Laura Young, who remained after lie left the school. Mr.
Sibley was a son of John Sibley, of Bloomfield. Mr. McKee married Mrs.
fjtle) Miss Henderson became Mr-. Chipman V Holley; Miss Perkins,

WALWORTH COUNTYj WISCONSIN. _'<)5

Mrs. Frank Leland; Miss Hawks, Mrs. Horace L. Arnold; Miss Aldrich,
Mrs. Dyar L. Cowdery; Miss Allen, Mrs. Alanson H. Barnes. Messrs.
Chamberlin, Cutler and Harrington were soldiers of the Civil war.

Loss of record prevents further enumeration of subordinate teachers,
but the succession of principals from 1864 to 1912 is fully known: Mr.
Cutler in 1864, William Elden 1865, Augustus J. Cheney 1866. In Sep-
tember, 1867. the school was reorganized with four grades and began its
work with Mr. Cutler at its head, Charles N. Bell 1869 (his term com-
pleted by Orvie G. Taylor), W. A. Delamater 1871. Edward H. Sprague
1873. David H. Flett 1877, Adelbert I. Sherman 1879, Howard L. Smith
1881. F. G. Young 1883, Dexter D. Mayne 1884. Robert Fayette Skiff 1889,
John T. Edwards 1890, Charles D. Kipp 1894, Thomas J. Jones 1900, John
Dixon 1907 to 1912. Messrs. Bell, Flett, H. L. Smith, and Sprague became
lawyers. Mr. Baker has for many years been treasurer of the Merriam
Company, publishers of "Webster's Dictionary." At the opening of the
public library he gave to it a copy of that work. Messrs. Mayne, Edwards,
and Jones were called to higher or wider usefulness in their profession.

In 1856 Edwin. Hodges built at Park and Church streets for the use
of a select school. The teacher list was not long, and Lorenzo Dow Hand,
Harriet M. Perkins. Everett Chamberlin, J. F. Mack, and Anna Friend are
most easily remembered. In 1858 Robert M. McKee opened a school for
one year, in Preston's Centralia block.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Business at Elkhorn began in 1838 at Mr. Rockwell's store, and by 1842
Booth B. Davis and James O. Eaton came, each to add to increasing trade
the enlivening element of competition. John Matheson came about that time
from Inverness, and advertised himself as a fashionable tailor. By [850
his brother, Finley Matheson. advertised a stock of hats and caps and also
first-rate port wine and brandy for medicine only. He had but lately come
from Demerara and therefore knew how to buy medicinal liquors and wines.
Reuben Harriman was making and dealing in boots and shoes. Walling &
Son advertised harness-maker's goods and carriage trimmer's works. Ed
ward Elderkin, George Gale. Urban D. Meacham, and VVyman Spooner
were resident lawyers. Samuel \V. Henderson and George II. Young were
the home physicians. Levi Lee had Elkhorn brick in any quantity and of
excellent quality for sale. At the end of bis term as sheriff, in 185 1, Otis
Preston went into general retail business with Horace X. Hay as partner,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

and later with Benjamin F. Pope. He remained in a steadily decreasing
business until his death, in 1890, and hoped to the end for himself and

Elkhorn.

There were other men in business before the dawn of the railway period,
but changes were frequent then as later and dates are uncertain. Among
these were George Bulkley and Edwin Hodges, each of whom had various
speculative enterprises in hand. Mr. Hodges was generally prudent and
Mr. Bulkley was sometimes less prudent. The business career of each closed .
in total failure.

BANKS AND BANKERS.

From earliest years there were money-lenders and petty brokers. The
demand for money was pressing and constant. Two to three per cent
monthly was readily obtained, even when the security offered was the best
that the time and place admitted. The products of Wisconsin as yet brought
insufficient money from eastern cities, and a currency that would pass within
the state was thought much better than none. The statute permitted the
creation of banks of issue, and the notes of these local conveniences were
based upon rather than secured by deposit of depreciated bonds of other
states, as Tennessee, Missouri, and California. A few of these banks, no
doubt, were of the "wild-cat" variety from their beginning. Most of them
became so, in effect, when such test as that of 1857 was applied.

An advertisement in the Elkhorn Independent, in 1855, called for some
man having knowledge and experience as a hanker to come and help. David
I). Spencer, of Ilion, Xew York, heard and answered the Macedonian cry.
and in the next year the Bank of Elkhorn, with capital of twenty-five thou-
sand dollars, was organized with Mr. Rockwell as president and the wise
man from the East as cashier. One of the pleasantest, mosl winning fellows
was Spencer; but a year of his partnership was enough for Mr. Rockwell.
who was one of the sanesl and safest of business men. He retired and with
his brothers and brother-in-law formed a private banking house. Dr. Jesse
1 \lilU followed him in the presidenc} of Spencer's bank. The Doctor was
one of the best of men, bu1 singularly simple-minded in business affairs of
more weight than those of a village retailer. This he had shown as a state
. and showed again, after several years, in an autobiographical sketch
asked of him for inclusion with Mr. Dwinnell's projected county history.
Such a man would be a bank presidenl very much to Mr. Spencer's mind.
Within little more than a month from ibis change, and while the monetary
panic of thai year was yet but a da\ or two old, the bank was closed — by

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN _'0~

Spencer's neglect to unlock the front door — without the demand at its counter
of a dollar by depositor or note-holder. Within a day or two more, at the
demand of directors and stockholders, the cashier unlocked the door and,
opening the old-fashioned Herrick safe, he pulled a drawer and showed
thirty-one big copper cents and coolly told his employers that there was the
entire coin asset of their bank. His last act as cashier had been to receive
as a special deposit, from a widow of Spring Prairie, six hundred dollars
in gold. He made such restitution as his small interest in local real-estate
enabled, and was permitted to go forth to gain further experience in Georgia,
in Grundy county. Tllinois, and at Chicago, and then lived a few wears, self-
exiled to Europe, as a philosophical observer of fiscal systems abroad.

Doctor Mills was followed in the presidency by John Alexander Pierce
in 1858 and J. Lyman Edwards in 1861, and George Bulkley became cashier.
Early in 1865 Messrs. Edwards and Bulkley, with William H. Conger, Amos
Fellows. Osborn Hand and Robert T. Seymour, constituted the directorate
of the First National Bank of Elkhorn, into which concern the old bank
was merged with some changes in ownership. Tn the fall of 1869 it was
found that in the cashier's private speculation he had made the bank liable
for his loss: for he had used its credit in a manner forbidden by federal
law and by the customs of scrupulous and careful bankers. Mr. Bulkley,
whose business ability had been estimated rather extravagantlv, may have
Urn judged even more harshly than he deserved. It might seem that he
was much the great loser, for he lost his own money and other property.
his friends, and his family. For nearly a quarter-century he had been an
appreciable force in local business and in town affairs. He faced the
situation squarely until all possible adjustments had been made, and then
went to Kansas; but it was too late to begin at bottom and build himself
anew. One true friend, his sister Amanda, remained to his end. She had
small means for her own support, but was resourceful and resolute, and she
placed her abilities at the service of the family which had cast him off, and
then went for a time to Kansas to make a home for him and to give such
aid and comfort as a capable and faithful woman might.

Mr. Conger became cashier until his death in 1895, when he was
followed by Fred W. Isham. The latter's resignation in 191 1 served to
promote Henry D. L. Adkins. who began as a boy, under his grandfather's
wise instruction, to serve a long apprenticehood in the business of banking.
Mr. Conger was son of a prosperous farmer of Dutchess county, and was
well bred to farm work though he did not permanently harden his hands.
His education was but rudimentary and neither that nor his habit of life

j,,}< WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

had fitted him for the daily routine of banker's business. He was twice
imposed upon by clumsy forgeries, both of which were detected and punished.
But in 1869 he was a man for an emergency. Men knew him as a man of
undoubted integrity, having a high sense of personal and commercial honor,
a man of courage to face disaster, a fair judge of real-estate values and
having a wide personal acquaintance within the circle of his business; and
he had a large interest in the bank. He was just-minded in most matters,
public-spirited, of equable temper, and an excellent neighbor. Besides, he
wisely leaned on Henry Adkins, who served long and well as bookkeeper
and teller, as to the conduct of the bank's business. He found the bank
marly moribund and left it sound and full of promise of great length of
years. Its deposits now amount to six hundred thousand dollars.

In 1885 William J. Bray and Edmund J. Hooper came from Palmyra,
bought and fitted a building, and opened a banking house, under the state
laws The next year they admitted to their partnership Winsor S. Dunbar,
John G. Flack, Asa Foster, George Hutton, Robert J. and Thomas E. Lean,
John Oslock. and Frederick Winters, and formally organized as the State
Bank of Elkhorn, its capital twenty-five thousand dollars. In 1899 Thomas
J. Sleep became president. In 1909 Mr. Hooper, who from the first had
been cashier, retired from the bank and Miss Amanda Winters, assistant
cashier, served in his stead. In 1910 Mr. Hooper came again into the bank
as president with Laurel W. Swan as cashier. There are now twenty-seven
stockholders. The deposits amount to nearly four hundred thousand dollars.

BRICK AND TILE MAKING.

Local brick-yards were everywhere wanted, though their product might
be narrowly limited as to quantity and far behind the once famous Mil-
waukeean article in color and quality. The roads were laid out rather than
made, and for half n\ the year nearly impassible for heav) carriage. There
were indications of brick-clay in the western side of the village, much of
which material was on Levi Lee's domain. 11 is numerous enterprises called
for something brick-shaped, and he therefore opened a pit along the line of
Jefferson street. Some men have said that his clay was of fair quality for
its purpose, but as to this there has been -cme doubting, for the product of
raried from rather hard to the softness of crayon. Men whose
reverence for Mr. Lee could nol be called idolatrj were used to say that
at each firing he would count and la) oul a fixed number of rails or sticks
Oi 1 iod, and when these were burned the bricks were baked. lie sold

all he buriied or dried, and his brick- helped to build the village.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 2<)<)

When railway prospects hastened the village growth, and men began
to add each morning another dollar to yesterday's front-foot price of their
real estate, it was found that more bricks were needed. Nathan Sexton, who
had come to a farm west of the village, found it worth while to lease a
bit of Albert Ogden's land along Walworth street, two long blocks south-
ward from Lee's works. The clay was of better quality, and Mr. Sexton
knew how to make brick. Baird & Ogden (the latter a brother of the
pioneer) worked this yard for a year or two each side of 1856. Mr. Sexton
resumed the work with George Burpee as a partner. The latter continued
this industry until his death in 1876, after which followed a period of
inaction.

Edward H. Sprague took the old yard in hand in 1886, and calling his
brother, George B. Sprague, from Lancaster, they began a systematic pro-
duction of bricks and drain tiles by providing coal-burning furnaces, engine,
pug-mills, engine-house, and sheds, and with all these went and still goes
Mr. Sprague's personal supervision. Of late the demand for home-made
bricks has become visibly less than formerly, but that for drain-tiles is likely
to be for some years actiye.

Edwin Daniels owned or had invented a quick process of leather-making
by the use of terra japonica. In 1S57 William Walker, a harness-maker,
built a tannery, with six vats, in East street, between Court and Walworth.
The Walker & Daniels leather (mostly sole-leather) found for a season a fair
home market. Men who wore it found that whenever it was wet through
it stained through stockings and gave their feet a beautiful deep Mongolian
complexion. The tannery had not come to stay, and in a few more years
the building was moved around the next southward corner to serve tem-
porarily as a chapel. Its latest use to mankind was as a shop where William
Allen Barnes wrought with brain and hand on his models for improved corn-
harvesters and propellers for ocean-navigation ; and then it was burned in
1902.

George Watson, in 1852, built the brick shop at Court and Washington
streets and made wagons and buggies. About 1855 he gave place to Josiah
W. Gaylord and Isaac Stoner, respectively wheelwright and blacksmith and
both good workmen. The all-ruining and far-dispersing panic period dis-
solved the firm and reduced Edward McDonald, its successor, and the shop
to repair work, chiefly, until 1870. Nelson Hanson then resumed wagon-
making with Frederick Opitz at first as his blacksmith and then as his
partner. This firm, too, passed away and a blacksmithy remains. Nearly
contemporary with the brick shop was the white shop at Walworth and

300 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Washington streets, built by Edward Winne, who worked at nothing but
attempted .several other enterprises, none of which returned his investment.
He employed wrights, smiths, painters, and trimmers until the business had
lived out its short lite. In 1857 Bernard Malachi Madden and William Van
Gasbeck, woodworkers, George Clary and Henry J. Shaver, smiths, and
Dexter Witter, trimmer and painter, formed the Elkhorn Carriage Company.
They were good workmen. Madden one of the best in the state, and they
deserved the success which their time denied them.

In 1851 Joel A. Daniels and Moses Hemenway, both of Winnebago
county, Illinois, bought about an acre of Colonel Elderkin's land, nearly
opposite the fair-ground and on the margin of the broad, shallow pond —
now dry enough for corn fields. They built and equipped a steam grist-mill.
but their capital was small and their flour not of highest quality. The
property changed ownership more than once, and the mill was most of the
time idle, until i860, when Mr. Hodges leased and refitted it. George W.
Ellis came as miller and in no long time as temporary owner. His was the
last attempt to make Hour by steam power.

I). Mansfield Stearns built and equipped a wind-mill, near the northern
end of Wisconsin street in 1870. The breezes were found too unsteady and
lawless for profitable use as mill power. After him came Nathaniel Pitkin,
"a gentleman, sir. and a scholar, sir; you see, sir." He ground feed for
two or three years, after which Charles Beetow had a term at the hopper.
Then the wheel was blown away and the building was left to the tooth of
time.

About t866 Osmer C. Chase, Nathaniel Carswell, and Clarence E.
Remer refitted the steam mill building for cheese-making. The business was
continued by Carswell & Wiswell, and in i88j b) George X. Wiswell. Late
in [883 the building was burned, leaving only its stone foundation and its
stout brick walls. On these Waller A. West began in January, 18S4. to re-
establish a slowly, steadily growing enterprise. In March he was ready for
business, and with John H. Harris the firm of Harris & West began a
prosperous career. In [900 Miner >\ Thompson took the old works, and
Harris & West in [904 began their works near the railway station, and these
have since been greatlj extended. The building was designed and equipped
Eor latest and best methods of making Elgin butter ami plain and fancy
cheeses. Their little eh- have reached the Mohawk valley, and other

11 are not barred againsl them. The latest extension, for condensing
milk, is nearly ready for its work. This factory is one of nine now owned
by John II and George I'.. Harris, George D. Puffer (of Waukesha), and

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 3OI

Walter A. West, incorporated as the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company.
The estimated value of the works at Elkhorn is one hundred thousand dollars

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

About two dozen persons, of fourteen families, met in December, 1852,
at the court house and organized a Baptist society, choosing Rev. Thomas
Bright as pastor. He lived on his farm, about a mile from the park, within
the town of Geneva, a circumstance which often enabled him to be useful
in emergencies, long after his pastorate ended. George W. Gates came in
1856, Thomas Brande 1858, John H. Dudley, Joseph E. Johnson 1866, Levi
Parmly, Francis M. lams 1869, Arthur L. Wilkinson 1870, Ferdinand D.
Stone 1873, George A. Creissey 1874, Sylvester E. Sweet 1879, Henry A.
Buzzell 1885, J. Russell Baldwin 1892, Charles Carey Willett 1896, Henry
Clay Miller 1901, Warren Hastings McLeod 1903, J. Hector Miller 1906,
Charles A. Hemenway 1908.

For several years the Catholics of Elkhorn and its vicinity seemed a
nearly negligible element of local religious life, but good grain was sown
early and in 1848 Rev. Francis Prendergast came from the mission at
Delavan to hold services at Michael Fahey's. Services were held occasionally
at the court-house. The parish was poor but steadfast, and the general
increase of population from 1854 to 1857 brought gain in numbers to this
as to the other churches. About 1861 a lot was bought at Walworth and
East streets, and a disused tannery building was moved from a half-block
away and fitted decently for temporary use. Thereafter until Rev. John
William Yahev came in 1878 as a resident priest, the clergy of St. Andrew's
came fortnightly from Delavan to minister at the altar of St. Patrick's.
Another and in most ways more desirahle lot had been bought, at Walworth
and Church streets, on . which two large churches have successively been
built, the first one having been used twenty years. In 1886 Rev. Michael
Luby came for one year's service, and in 1887 Rev. James Nicholas closed
for the present the list of resident priests of St. Patrick's.

Rev. Amnon Gaston, then of Delavan, organized the Congregational
society at Capt. George Young's hotel, in 1843. ami gave it part of his
time as pastor. David Pinkerton came in T844. Samuel E. Miner 1847,
Jedidiah D. Stevens 1852, Lyman Huggins Johnson 1857. John Babson Linn
Soule i860, Stephen .D. Peet 1865, Calvin Carlton Adams 1 [813-1906) in
1867, Alba Levi Parsons Loomis i8f>8, Peter S. Yan Nest (1813-1893) in
1872. Joel Gleason Sabin (1821-1897) in 1874. Ilanford Fowle 1878,

y)2 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Newton Barrett 1881, Samuel Fay Stratton 11X37-1883) in 1883. George
Francis Hunter (1855-1891) in 1884, Charles H. Fraser 1886, David R
Anderson 1890, George Cavanah Lochridge ( 1845-1903) in 1893, Frederick
M. Hubbell 1900, Jesse F. Taintor 1904, Almon O. Stevens 1905.

To found the Episcopal parish of St. John in the Wilderness was in
1841 the work of Revs. James Lloyd Breck, William Adams, a son-in-law
of the bishop, and John Henry Hobart. all named often by the older mem-
bers, though the last named is nowhere found in parish or public record. He
was a son of the bishop of his name, and it is known that he was in 1865
rector of Grace church. Baltimore. Tt is likely that he was of Bishop
Kemper's staff of serviceable young mission workers, sent where and when
occasion needed. For many years rectors at Delavan supplied Elkhorn's
frequent need. The succession of rectors as shown by parish books was
John McNamara in 1848 and again in 1858. William S. Ludlum 1851. Gerrit
E. Peters 1X53. Henry M. Thompson 1856, Joseph H. Nichols 18 — . Joseph
C. Passmore 1861, ('. T. Seibt, Alexander F. W. Falk, Charles N. Spalding,
George W. Dean 1 these five last named were professors at Racine College,
holding Sunday service between 1861 and 1S71), George W. Harrod 1872,
Edward Huntington Rudd [873, Charles Melvin Pullen [875, Henry Hughes
[881, Charles Holmes (from Delavan) 1882, Luke Paul Holmes 1888,
William B. Thorn [892, Edward A. Bazett- Jones, 1894, Charles N. Spald-
ing [896, John Welling Areson 1898, Philip Henry Linley 1901, Arthur J.
Wescott [904, Elijah Hedding Edson [906, Alan Grant Wilson 1910, Free-
man Philip O. Reed 101 c. Hates indicate beginning of each rectorship. ^.s
in the other churches, the pastor was not always followed immediately by his
successor.

An Evangelical Lutheran society was formed in 1870 with Rev. Heinrich
P. Duborg as nonresident pastor. Rev. Johannes |. Meier, who came about
[875, brought his family in 1870, and was succeedad by Wilhelm Buehring
in [879, Johannes Dejung 1882, Timotheus J. Saner. 1886, Carl H. Auerswald
[893, Christian Gevers 1898 to the present time. Before the end of Mr.
Auerswald's pastorate a division of the society occurred, and a new church
was built in 1898. Its resident pastors have been Hugo Stubenvoll 1898,
Karl ( ). Salzmann [901, Heinrich Cull 1902. Carl Hammer 1905. Since
1007 the church service lias been supplied by Herman Lindemann and
August Kohlhoff, of Burlington.

In [852 the Methodist Episcopal society began its roll of resident clergy
with the name of Joseph C, 1 'ana. .after whom John Tibbals 1853. D. B.
Vnderson [854, Levi Lee [855, Russell P. I.aw'ton 1856, Stephen Smith

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 3O3

1858, Thomas White 1859, Horace B. Crandall i860, John G. Pingree 1862,
Andrew J. Mead 1864, Joseph T. Woodhead 1866, David Deal 1868,
William R. Jones 1870, Samuel Lugg 1872, John L. Hewitt 1873, John D.
Cole 1874. Wesley Lattin 1875, Thomas T. Howard 1876, Samuel C.
Thomas 1877, Norvall Joseph Aplin 1879, Hiram G. Sedgwick 1881, John
Schneider 1883, Payson W. Peterson 1885, John V. Trenery 1887, William H.
Summers 1889, John W. Olmstead 1891, Elvanlo C. Potter 1893, William
Wesley Woodside 1890, Mark A. Drew 1898, Sidney A. Sheard 1900, J.
Thomas Murrish 1902, Jason L. Sizer 1907, Thomas Austin 191 1.

Of clergymen remembered as church-builders were Messrs. Barrett,
Barry, Bright, Buzzell, Dejung, Luke P. Holmes. Johnson, Lee, Nicholas,
Peters, Pullen, Vahey, Willet. Mr. Johnson had been bred to the use of
hawk and trowel and he plastered every yard of the ceilings and walls of
the church built in [858, having Bro. Osborn Hand to carry mortar. A
few years later he left the state, the pulpit, and his young family. Messrs.
Pullen and L. P. Holmes worked on church and rectory with hands well
hardened to the use of saw, plane, hammer, and the ruder tools of labor.
Fathers Vahey and Nicholas were practical architects, and Mr. Willett de-
vised and supervised the extensive alterations of his church. Mr. Lee made
the brick for the church of 1856. Mr. Dejung was also a bee-keeper, and
often sat with book and pipe among his swarms. Mr. Barry had been state
superintendent of schools and also chaplain of the Fourth Wisconsin In-
fantry. While in military service he said or wrote that he had been preaching
universal salvation for many years, but was at last convinced that hell was
just then a military necessity. Messrs. David R. Anderson, Crandall,
Cressey. Lochridge, Stratton, Sweet, and Vahey also served in the Civil war.
Mr. Sedgwick was an amateur telescope-maker, and owned a portable ob-
servatory, from which might be seen the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. He
had been a telegrapher, and was serviceable in 1882 as a "scab" operator
during a strike of telegraphers. Henry DeLancey Webster, Universalist,
wrote lyrics for his namesake's music. Prof. J. P. Webster was not his
relative, but he had W. Lyman Stowe and Mrs. Levi Lee among his cousins.

NEWSPAPERS.

George Gale, with Francis Asbury Utter, a printer from Towanda,
Pennsylvania, began business June 2, 1845, on the upper floor of the Booth
R. Davis (brick) store, with a half-medium press and a few pounds of
type. The arrival of a newspaper press was delayed for five months, lint

-n | WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

the office began work at once. Its first job was to print blank forms for the
circuit clerk's use. Mr. Gale set about printing the first of several editions
of his book of legal forms which was finished in the following April. Friday,
August 8, 1845, the Western Star rose above the near eastern tree-tops, the
first newspaper in the county. Seven numbers were printed with new type
on good paper about the size of a quarter-sheet auction bill. A larger press
was needed and in November Mr. Gale bought of Hon. John Wentworth
("Long John") the old "pioneer press" on which the Chicago Democrat had
first been printed. The Star was then enlarged to "a wide twenty-column
folio." Mr. Gale had no mind in indulge in editorship as a pastime or as a
means to raise himself to "chairs or seats of civil power." He had advanced
the monev and had seen the enterprise fairly in motion, toward success, when
he sold his interest, in April, 1846, to his partner's father, Dr. Eleazar R.
Utter, who assumed the editorship. A few years later Charles Utter, another
son, became owner, the father remaining as editor. The paper, politically.
was for Free Soil. About 1854 Charles seems to have retired and his father
and brother, having become administration Democrats, changed the name of
the paper to Walworth County Reporter. The week after the election of
1856 they sold their office equipment to Densmore & Hotchkiss and in the
next spring removed to Trempealeau county.

In some way under Mr. Rockwell's patronage or by his inducement
Edwin A. Cooley came in 1SS4 and for two years, more or less, published
the Walworth County Democrat, and then went away into the mysterious
North or Northwest. Mr. Rockwell, the Drs. Henderson, Lot Mayo, and
Judge Cowdery were of that "old guard" of their party which was as
unchangeable as the laws of the universe.

In June, 1853, Edgar J. and Alonzo L. Farnum, from a farm in

leva, put forth the first number of the Elkhorn Independent, which soon

passed into James Densmore's ownership. He was a ready writer, but not

a printer, lie made the paper Republican, and kept its columns free from

the personalities so much Frank Titer's editorial stock in trade. He took

John Hotchkiss, the Reporter's Foreman, into partnership about 1855. In

the spring "t" [857 Irl. in. 1 & Utter came with their little office equipment

im Geneva and Hotchkiss, Leland & Utter having bought the Densmore

interest, became owners and editors <>t" the Walworth County Independent.

Utter n 1858 and in February, [861, S Fillmore Bennett came from

nook in Lake county, [llinois, and added himself :i- partner and editor.

end of the 1 nil war Mr. and Mrs. I. eland were owners and

mtinued in be until July, 1 S74. John 1). Devor emu

WALWORTH OirXTV. WISCONSIN. 305

a dailv paper at Galesburg. Illinois, to ownership and editorship at Elkhorn.
He was a clear, vigorous writer and a businesslike manager, neither courting
nor finding great personal popularity ; but he gave the paper some weight
among Wisconsin newspapers. In December, 1877, he sold the office to
James Wiley Sankey, from Holden, Missouri. Mrs. Dora Jemima (Peck)
Sankey undertook the triple labor of editing the paper, caring for her baby,
and nursing her dying husband. In December, 1878, Mr. Sankey died and
in January, 1879. Mortimer T. Park, from the normal school at Oshkosh,
and his cousin, Curtis R. Treat, a young printer from Clinton, took posses-
sion of a revised and improved Independent. In July, Mr. Park became its
single owner. In January, 1882, he admitted to partnership his excellent
foreman, Eugene Kenney, and in April of that year Major Shepard S.
Rockwood bought and edited the paper for one year, when Park & Kenney
resumed ownership. In 1899 Francis H. Eames was added to the firm.
In 1902 Mr. Kenney retired; and in 1904 Mr. Park retired, making way for
the present firm of Eames & Snyder. The press has aforetime been likened
to a lever which moves the world. The Independent's press, pen, and shears
have raised three editors and a foreman to places in public service : Mr.
Leland to a seat in the Assembly in 1873 and to the consulate at Hamilton,
Ontario; Mr. Cowdery to the county clerkship; Mr. Park to the assistant's
desk in the office of the secretary of state (at Madison), 1882 to 1890, and
to superintendency of the state's school at Sparta and Mr. Snyder to the
postmastership at Elkhorn. While Mr. Park was at Madison a series of
substitute editors performed his work at the home desk. Of these Mr.
Dewing, mid-84 to the end of '88, was the fittest and most acceptable. Del.
C. Huntoon, a semi-Bohemian from the Detroit press-gang, served until Mr.
Park's return, in 1891. He was a pleasant fellow, fairly versed in Michigan
politics, a client of Senator Palmer of that state, and an ex-inspector of
consular agencies in Ontario, where he became a brother-in-law of Rev.
Charles 11. Frazer, who was a clergyman, in turn, of three denominations:
Baptist, Congregational, Episcopal.

It may be noted that at some time after the Civil war Mr. Leland oc-
casionally used a thin device for dividing the Delavan paper's patronage in
the southwestern towns. This was to print part of his edition as the Darien
News, differing from his paper at Elkhorn only in its heading and in a
column of matter, local to that village, supplied by Orvellus 11. Gilbert.
About 1X70 he tried this ingenious plan at Lake Geneva. He thus hastened
the event that he tried to forestall, the establishment of a paper permanently
(20)

306

WALWORTH COUXTV. WISCONSIN.

at that city. His successors had better business judgment, and in 1892 Park
& Kenney's better taste restored the name of Elkhorn Independent.

Local chroniclers have incorrectly included among Elkhorn newspapers
the Conservator, of which one pamphlet number was published in 1857, and
the Live Man. which broke out irregularly between 1864 and 1868. Both
of these were planned and edited by Otis Preston and reflected bis extrava-
gant faith in the creative power of advertising. Both were printed at the
office of the Independent and might have been regarded as special editions
of that paper, the Conservator to advertise village lots at Elkhorn to all the
nations of the earth, the Live Man to advertise Elkhorn dealers to all the
buyers of the county.

With the business panic of 1873 came Isaac B. Bickford from Ogle
county, Illinois, to supply the political cave of Adullam with a county
"organ." He brought a slender stock of type-metal, but no press. October
18, 1873, and for twenty weeks thereafter, the IVahvorth County Liberal was
printed on the Independent's press. Eight weeks later, when Bickford ap-
pealed to the county committee for the sinews of war, that body decided
to buy the little he could sell, and to install Beckwitb & Kennev in his stead.
Editorially, the paper had been composed of, say, seven parts Bickford,
seventeen parts Spooner, and seventy-six parts Preston. Hence, it seemed
as if the Live Man hail been called back. Preston's peculiar oratory,
reduced to paper and ink, lost the wizardry of his vehement delivery and
neither convinced nor entranced but sometimes puzzled his readers. Gov-
ernor Spooner gave the paper the little distinction it ever earned. His
privately spoken criticism of the new editorship was caustic, kindly, and not
unprofitable. In the following summer Henry H. Tubbs was added to the
firm. But for two somewhat memorable events the later history of this
paper is not in itself interesting.

One of these was its exposure of some rather excessive severities of
discipline at the State School for the Deaf. Phis was on information derived
From three of the teachers The published statements, which made more
fluttering within the school and at three newspaper offices of the county than
elsewhere, were investigated, and a very judiciously prepared report of the
state board of charity and reform soon restored public confidence in the
school, though nobodj was specifically blamed. The principal resigned at
the close of the school year; but, excepting Rev. Thomas Clithero, who pre-
ferred the pulpit to the school room, all the teachers kept their places. The
principal was a gentleman, with a dyspeptic's temper, eminent in his pro-
fession, and he was quickly called to further usefulness in an Eastern
institution.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 307

The other event was the total destruction of the Liberal office building,
uninsured, with all its contents, also uninsured, by a fire which broke out
almost as suddenly as if by explosion, at nearly midnight of July 2, 1875.
James R. Browne, of Racine, had owned the building and Messrs Perry G.
Harrington, Albert Ogden, Stephen G. West, and Samuel A. White owned
the hand-press on which the paper had been printed. The publishers ac-
quitted themselves of carelessness and the property of spontaneous com-
bustion. Kenney went to the Independent office as its foreman and in time
became its part owner. Tubbs returned to compass, transit and level. The
fire had left nothing but the name of the paper and the editor's memory of
its subscription-list. Changing the name to Elkhorn Liberal and making the
paper Democratic, the Beckwiths printed twenty-five numbers, the last one
dated January 7. 1876. From its beginning this paper had derived half of
it- support from Republican patrons, one more proof of the kindly, tolerant
spirit of the people of Walworth.

An incident in the Liberal's business was a contract, for six months,
with Rev. George Willis Cooke, then of Sharon, to print his Liberal Worker
bi-monthly. Its purpose was to promote a provisional union or alliance of
several shades of unorthodox religion or philosophy. Some of the ablest
preachers of two states contributed their freshest sermons, and the quality
of its editorship may be inferred from the fact that the Houghton Mifflin
Company afterward employed Mr. Cooke as editor and critical annotator of
their new editions of Emerson's and Browning's works, and of other modern
classics.

Several members of the Prohibitionist county organization found it
expedient to encourage the establishment of a newspaper in its interest. A
stock company was formed, a printing office equipped, and April 17, 1891,
Charles E. Badger, a good job printer, put forth the first number of the
Walworth County Blade. In the fall of 1896 Henry H. Tubbs, a practical
printer and a stockholder, took upon himself the duties and difficulties of the
office, and afterward acquired its ownership. In a few of his several absences
from home (in railway work as a civil engineer) the office was leased
temporarily, and on other such occasions Mrs. Helen M. A. Tubbs managed
its business and editorship. Late in 1905 the Blade was discontinued and the
office was sold to a short-lived management which changed its name to
Tribune and made it a semi-stalwart Republican paper. Returning in 1906
to the Tubbs ownership, its material was sold and sent out of the countv.
Hi- war'- experience with the Liberal hail foreshown Mr. Tubbs
clearly that the Blade could live only by his personal labor and continuous

508 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

self-sacrifice; and his single-minded, whole-hearted belief in the justice of
the cause thus espoused was the one source of his tenacity of purpose. It
may well be doubted if another person in the county would have carried the
paper half way through its sixteenth volume. Mr. and Mrs. Tubbs closed
their business without debt or shadow of dishonor, and their almost heroic
resoluteness, with their personal qualities, enabled them to keep old friend-
ships and to gain the respect of men who were politically antagonistic. Mr.
Tubbs once received the compliment of a congressional nomination by his
party.

Town and village affairs had been administered from 1846 to 1892 by a
board of three supervisors, and from 1857 under a special charter. An
election was held May 3, 1892. under a general law of 1887, for a village
president and a board of six trustees. Harley C. Norris was president until
he became mayor. The twenty-one citizens who served as trustees were
Otto Arp 1894-5, George W. Bentley 1896, George B. Cain 1896, Augustus
F. Desing 1893, Charles Dunlap 1893-7, Egbert Francis 1892-3, S. Clayton
Goff 1892-6, John Hare 1897, Fred W. Isham 1894-5, John Keeffe 1893,
LeGrand Latham 1892, John Morrissey, of Church street, 1892-3, Herman
Nappe 1896, Thomas H. O'Brien 1892. William O'Brien 1897, John J.
Slattery 1897, Thomas E. Slattery 1892. George B. Sprague 1894-6, DeWitt
Stanford 1897, August Voss 1894-5, Philip S. Wiswell 1897.

Hon. Joseph F Lyon discovered or remembered, in [897, that chapter
326, laws of 1889, had made Elkhorn, as well as many villages, a city of
tin' fourth class, whereupon an election for city officers was held May 3,
1897, and three days later Governor Scofield's proclamation completed the
efflorescence from the village bud to the perfect flower of the city. The
first board of aldermen was: First ward, Augustus F. Desing, William
O'Brien; second ward, Samuel I'.reese, Jr., Charles C. Gaylord ; third ward,
F. Maxwell Porter, DeWitt Stanford. The new order began June 1, 1897.

Chairman oi the village board during the period of count] commissioner
government: William 11. Conger [862, '68-9; Horatio S. Winsor 1863, '66;
Edwin I lodges 1864-5, ()7-

Ml MBERS 01 t.u \n BOARD FOR VILLAGE.

Urban Duncan Meacham__. 1 Horatio Sales Winsor 1851

rge Gale 1847-8 LeGrand Rockwell 1852-3

Dr. Eleazer R. 1 ttei 1849 Otis Preston 1854-5. '59

George Henrj Young 1850 Alvah I. Frost 1856

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN:

309

Dr. Jesse Carr Mills 1857

John Flavel Brett 1858

Edwin Hodges 1860-1

Christopher Wiswell T870-1, '80

Wyman Spooner 1872

Ely Bruce Dewing 1873-6

Lucius Allen 1877. '81

Osmer C. Chase 1878

Dr. William Henry Hurlbut__ 1879

William James Stratton 1882-4

George Washington Wylie 1885

John Matheson 1886^9

Edward Harvey Sprague 1890

Harley Cornelius Xorris [891-2

George Matheson 1893

Abraham Cranston Norton__ 1894-5
John Harrison Harris 1896

COUNTY MEMBERS FOR CITY.

First Ward — John II. Hani-. [897-8; Edmund J. Hooper, [899-1907,
1910: James Matheson. 1908-9, 1911 ; Arthur ( r. ( Iroesbeck 1912.

Second Ward — Joseph F. Lyon. [897; George E. Pierce, [898, ojoo:
Walter E. Lauderdale. 1899; S. Clayton Goff, [901-4; Henry De L Adkins,
[905-8; L'harle- II. Nott, 1 909-1 1 ; Walter A. West, [912.

Third Ward — Dr. George H. Young, 1897-8. 1904: Thomas E. Slattery,
[899-1901, 1906; Edward H. Sprague. [902-3, 1905: Hiram X. Stubbs,
10117-8: Charles Freligh, [909; Henry De L. Adkins, 1910-12.

Mayors: Harley C. Xorris. 1897, 1902; John Dunphy (elected). [898;
DeWitt Stanford. [898; Dr. George H. Young, [899, [906; Dr. William II.
Hurlbut, [900; George Edmund Pierce. 1901; Jay Wright Page. [904; S.
Clayton Goff, [908, [910; Herbert Eugene Hartwell, 1912. Mayor-elect
Dunphy declined service and Mr. Stanford, as president of the council, acted
for the year. The first five elections were for one-year terms. Tn 1902 and
since the official term has been two years. Messrs. Dunphy, Page and
Young are Democrats. A health officer, city clerk, street commissioner, weed
commissioner, marshal, six school commissioners and nine library directors
are appointed by the mayor with consent of the council.

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Lester Allen 1862-3, '66

Lucius Allen 1874

Alonzo Angel 185 1

Delos Brett 1857

George Bulkley 1864-5, '67

Hiram Shubael Bunker 1869

Nelson Catlin 187 1

William I lenry Conger [860 1

Augustus F. Desing 1890-1

Ely Bruce Dewing 1X70

\mov Eastman 1859

Julius Lyman Edwards 1868

Edward Elderkin 1858-9

Dr. Chester F. EHsworth___ 1875-6

3io

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Egbert Francis 1892

William Oakley Garfield— 1849, 53,

'55-6

Sidney Clayton Goff 1891-2

Daniel Parmelee Handy 1852

John Hare-— -1879

Robert Harkness 1867

Rufus Dudley Harriman__i878, '84

Horace Noble Hay 1846, '49

John \V. Hayes 1881

Robert Holley 1858

Benjamin Blodgett Humphrey. 1863

George Humphrey 1848

Fred Willard [sham 1886-8

David R. Johnson 1866

Mollis Latham 1872, '-", '80,

'82, '84.
fames Henry Lauderdale — 1 871, '75

Wilson David Lyon 1883

Lot Mayo 1848/53

Thomas W. Miller 1852

John Morrissey 1!5°5

Harley Cornelius Norris 1886-9

John Ashe Norris 1869

1847, "50

.1846, '55-6

Albert Ogden

Zenas < )gden

John Adams Perry 1879

Dwight Preston 1883

Harley Flavel Smith 1854, '60-2

Israel Smith 1870

DeWitt Stanford 1877-8

Squire Stanford- 1857, '68, '72-3, '82

Cyrus Cortland Stowe 1850-1

William James Stratton_i88o-i, 90

Charles Wales 1885

Walter Aaron West 1889

Horatio Sales Winsor — 1854. '64-5

Christopher Wiswell 1873-4. '76

Dr. George Henry Young 1847

CLERKS OF VILLAGE AND CITY.

Edward Elderkin [846

Edward Winne 1847

[ h Samuel Wirt Henderson [848

Eli Kimball Frost 1849

William Harrison Pettit 1850

Alvah J. Frost 1851-3

Myron Edwin Dewing 1854-5

1 harli I laniel Handy [856

I lcnr\ Bradle) [857 8, 60 2, '65 6,

'69 72

I liarles Lyon 1859

irts C Ste> ens 1863

I 1 . ! 1 1\ \dkins [86 1

eph S. f. Eaton 1867

John K. Burbank 1868

Oj en [873, '76, '80 1

Edward Marshall Latham. 1 874-5,

'82-3

1 liarles James Stratton 1884

Sidney Clayton Goff 1885

John Dunphy 1886-7

( lharles Cor I raylord 1888-9

Jay Forrest Lyon 1890-5

Henry De Lafayette \dkins_ 1896-8

Will Bartle Lyon 1899

foseph Hayden Webster 1900

George B. Sprague 1901

Will E. 1 >unbai 1902

William Opitz 1904

Harlej C. Norris 1908

Philip Sheridan Stewart 1912

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

TREASURERS.

Edwin Hodges 1846

Alexander S. Brown 1847

Amplias Chamberlin 1848

George Bachelder (app. ) 1848

Henry Hobart Hartson_'49-5i, 53,

'53

Hollis Latham 1852

Myron Edwin Dewing 1854-5

David R. Johnson 1856

John L. Holley 1857

Zebina Houghton J859

Alexander Stevens 1 860-1

Phineas C. Gilbert 1862-7

Joseph S. J. Eaton 1868-9

Waldo W. Hartwell 1870-1

Dvar Lamotte Cowderv li

■72-3

John Cromlev T874-J

Charles Lyon 1878-9

Harley C. Norris 1880-4

Samuel Mitchell 1885-6

Charles Frank Graff 1887

Orland Carswell 1888-9

Silas Rockwell Holden 1890-1

Arthur Tripp Waterbury 1892

LeGrand Latham 1893

George Henry Farrar 1894

George A. Burpee 1895-6

W. Christopher Nuoffer 1897-8

George B. Sprague. 1899- 1900, '02-3

Francis Maxwell Porter

1901. '04-07

Philip Sheridan Stewart 1908- 11

Will Slattery 19 12

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Levi E. Allen 1888-9

Lucius Allen 1880-1

William Bell 1866-7

Henry Bradley 1861-74

William Worth Byington 1880-1

Arthur Clohisy 1897-1912

Horatio Seymour Dunlap 1881

Stephen R. Edgerton 1896-7

James Ervin Fuller 1888-1912

Robert Holley 18605

John Peter Ingalls 1889-91

Hollis Latham 1859-63, '77-8

Levi Lee 1867-8

Of the justices for this, as for other
each year, between 1846 and 1859, none

Joseph Foster Lyon

'79-80, '82-3, '85-98, 1901-2

Samuel Lytle 1905-8

John Matheson 1884-5

Lot Mayo 1859-60

Samuel Mitchell 1893-6

John Adams Perry 1870-84

William Harrison Pettit 1860-4

Harley Flavel Smith 1N71 </

George 1!. Sprague J892-3

Charles Wales 1884-7, '9I_4

Curtis I lusted W'insor 1870-1

George Edw in Wood 1007-12

George Washington Wylie__ 1895-6

towns, two of whom were chosen in
filed credentials at the circuit clerk's

rj2 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

office. Hence, the officers-elect who qualified within that period are only
determinable in part and that from a great mass of loose papers.

In fifteen years, 1897 to 1911, inclusive, the citizens named have served
as aldermen: First ward — Aug. F. Desing. Charles Dunlap. William E.
Clough, George Kinne, Nathaniel Carswell. Herbert E. Hartwell, Timothy
Calahan, Dr. James M. Marsh. Fdw'd Morrissey, Fred'k Winter. W. Chr.
Yin il'fer : sccmid ward — Sam'1 Breese. Ch. C. Gaylonl. Abr. C. Norton. Geo.
W. Wylie, Walter A. West. Geo. H. Farrar, Albert J. Reed. John Keeffe,
Edw'd P. Ellsworth, J. Matt. Xiessen. Henry J. Noblet, John H. Lauderdale.
Michael Slattery, Michael Fay; third ward — F. Max Porter, DeWitt Stan-
ford, Herbert E. Hartwell. John Morrissey, Aha J. Rlanchard, Ch. Pieplow,
Rudolph H. Hoffman, John 11. Snyder, Jr., Thos. Keeffe. Fred'k J. Smith.
Win. Morrissey.

Postmasters for Elkhorn have been LeGrand 1\ ckwell, 1838; Edwin
rlo ges, [849: Lot Mayo, 1853; Henry Bradley, 1861 ; Wilson D. Lyon,
1886: Henry Bradley, 1890; Albert C. Beckwith, 1894; Thomas William
Morefield, [898; John 11. Snyder. Jr., tqii. In July. 1874. the office was
placed in the third class, but important changes in postage rate- reduced it in
July, [875, to the fourth class. It became a third class office in July. [882,
and a second-class office in [907. In 1908 a ten-year contract of the depart-
ment with Edward IT. Sprague removed it to its present place, at Walworth
and Broad streets. This office is the center of seven free deliver) routes.
which so operated as to discontinue the postoffkes at Cowers, Fayetteville.
Jacobsville, Lauderdale, Millard and Tibbets, and to divide with Lake Geneva
routes the business of Como and East Delavan.

PUBLIC I IN I I IKS.

For man) years it was generally felt that the village would be nearly help-
less in case of any considerable fire. \.bout [892 a rather loosely presented
proposition 1-. provide one or more public wells was rejected at a special elec-
tion In [894 the village board, acting on its own judgment, employed F. M.
Gray, of Milwaukee, to drill at the fool of Broad street, near the railway

n. This work was finished earl) in [895, an exhaustless supply of pure
been found at 1.050 feet. Passing through the drill the drill
mel Cincinnati shale ai 225 feet, Trenton limestone at 412 feet, Si Peter's
sandstone at 665 feet, Magnesian limestone at 700 feet, Potsdam sandstone at
950 feet, red sandstone at [,025 feet, and thence in that stratum 25 feel to the
bottom of the boring. Watei rose to a point 147 feet below the surface.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 313

At a special election, June 4, [895, it was decided by two-thirds of the
voters to issue honds to the amount of eighteen thousand dollars for construc-
tion and equipment of a system of water works. N. F. Reichert, of Racine,
began July gth the work of building power house and stand pipe, and of laving
street mains. All this led to reorganization of old firemen's companies, and
President Norris named Clarence N. Byington, George B. Cain, Aug. F.
Desing. Will G. Fowlston, S. Clayton Goff. Herbert E. Hartwell, David
Lowrv, Will P>. Lyon. Alonzo C. and Vernon H. McKinstry, Will E. Magill,
John Morrissey, John and Will Morrissey, W. Chr. Nuoffer, Will O'Brien,
Jr., Albert J. Reed. John Russell. Frank H. Stafford, with instruction to form
a hose company. This body was increased later to fifty men. and then divided
into two hose companies and a hook and ladder company. The chiefs of the
fire department, since [897, have been Will B. I. von, F. Maxwell Porter,
George O. Kellogg, Will Morrissey, Will E. Magill, Fred B. Magill, George
E. Burpee, George II. Farrar, Michael Morrissey, and, at present. Will E.
Magill again This department quickly became efficient for service, and also
for competitive drilling at various points in the state. The Magills have won
personal distinction on these latter occasions.

In 1898 it was determined at another special election to light the streets
with electric lamps, under city ownership of the system. Bonds were issued
to the amount of ten thousand dollars. Both these and the water bonds were
taken at home and at a small premium. In 1907 the council created an electric
light and water commission of five members for management of these public
utilities, the mayor and one alderman with three citizens not of the council.
The first and only appointed members were John 11. Harris. Jay W. Page and
Charles Pieplow.

A public library was among the good things of which Judge Gale and
other men of 184O had dreamed. A few wretched attempts were made, from
time to time for a half century, to create such an institution. In lanuarv.
[900, Edward II. Sprague, then about to improve bis lots at Walworth and
Broad streets, called a meeting at his public hall in order to disclose his
matured plan for a practically fire-proof building which should serve, among
other uses, for an "opera house" and a library room. On petition of a large
majority of citizens the city council passed an ordinance to establish such a
library and contracted with Mi'. Sprague for the use of a specially prepared
second floor in part of his building for a term of lifts years.

Charles Edward Sprague (1871-1892), the namesake of this library,
was eldest son of the owner of the building, lie was his father's confidential
friend, and the two had day-dreamed together of plans for making such an

3*4

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

institution at Elkhorn practicable. Mr. Sprague contributed about one hun-
dred volumes, of his own selection and of permanent value. Besides these and
seven hundred volumes from the government's printing office, the library was
opened September 2, 1901, with, say two hundred and fifty books acceptable
to general readers, and bought by public subscription. A few weeks later
Presidenl Dewing, of the directory, in behalf of himself and Miss Melvina,
his sister, gave six hundred and fifty volumes from the private collection of
their brother. Myron E. Dewing. These are shelved together as the "Dewing
Collection," and are still a most valuable part, as to their contents, of nearly
four thousand volumes now in possession. Mrs. Elizabeth Dixon Dewing has
since added about fifty volumes to the original collection. A few years ago
the "public documents" were turned over to the County Historical Society.

This library was instituted under statutory sanction. In 1900 Mayor
Hurlbut appointed a board of directors: Mrs. Anna W. M. Flack, Mrs.
Carrie E. Medbery, Alonzo C. McKinstry, for one year; Miss Jesse L.
Sprague, Jay F. I. yon. Albert C. Beckwith. for two years; Ely B. Dewing.
Jay W. Page, John II. Harris, for three years; Miss Sprague, Beckwith and
Page are still members; Mrs. Elizabeth Stanton Forbes. Fred W. Isham, Dr.
Edward FCinne have been members; and Miss M. Medora Hurlbut. Mrs.
Catharine Monahan Porter, Orland Carswell, Will E. Dunbar, Grant D. Har-
rington and Charles H. Nott are of the present board. The presidents have
been Dewing, Page, I. yon and Harrington. The librarian was Mae Irene
Ferris, and is Edna Lorene Derthick.

A chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution was instituted in
1010. with Margarel Medora Hurlbut as regent. She was succeeded in ign
by Mrs Ruth Eliza (Wales) [sham. There are fourteen members, and many
eligibles live within the chapter jurisdiction.

In the infancy of the village a little burial ground was set off in Wiscon-
sin street, near North street. This was soon abandoned and a new ccmc-
terv was badly laid out at the eastern end of Court street. This, too. has been
vacated and its area added to the fair ground, In 1 S74 a few really public-
spirited citizens moved to far better purpose. The ground was bought, near
the western end of Jefferson street, and was named Hazel Ridge. William
M. R French, landscape architect, of Chicago, made the plan, which nature.
time, and human ran have beautified. Its present area is about thirty-four

The firsl board of trustees was composed of Orland Carswell. William
II. 1 onger, David R. Johnson, William Thomas Jones. Jacob Ketchpaw,

II. Lauderdale, Wilson D. Lyon, Squire Stanford and Stephen G.
West. The several presidents of this board have been West. Ketchpaw. Lau-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN'. 315

derdale, Conger, Lucius Allen and Carswell. Superintendents: Jones, Henry
D. L. Adkins and Harley C. Xorris. Secretaries: Johnson, Dyar L. Cow-
den-, S. Clayton Goff. Treasurers : Conger, Jones, Lyon and Adkins.

The population of Elkhorn in 1850 was 42 ; at later census : i860, 1,081 ;
1870. 1.205; :88o. 1. 122; 1890, 1,447; 1900, 1,731; 1910, 1,707.

CHAPTER XXVI.

TOWN OF GENEVA.

At the first legislative naming of the towns of Walworth the southeastern
quarter of the county took its name from the lake which Mr. Brink had re-
christened in 1835, and from the village which began its growth the next
year. I le disliked such uncouthness as "Big Foot," and his ear was untrained
to the Algonquin euphony of Gee-zihig-waw-gid-dug-gah-bess ; but he found
in the scene about him some reminder of Seneca lake, with Geneva at its foot.
Since the lake before him was so much smaller than the village-bordered
eastern water, one name might serve very well for the lake that always had
been and the village about to be. He chose very well, since he might have
chosen so much worse. He might have given his own name to the lake, and
he had warrant of familiar examples for some such polysyllabic majesty as
" Megapi idopolis."

The towns of Bloomfield, Hudson and Linn were set off by one legisla-
tive act, human 23, [844, each for its home rule, leaving the name Geneva
to town 2 north, of range 17 east. Nearly three hundred acre- of sections 35,
56 lie beneath the bay-like foot of Geneva lake, and nearly a thousand acre-
are (or have been) covered by Duck lake (which Thomas McKaig new-
named "(.Minn"). In [846 the newer town of Elkhorn took away section 6,
\s a small offset to all this subtraction, the city of Lake 1 leneva includes about
1, e acres of section 3] of Lyons, and is likely enough to take part of section
1 of Linn at no very distant time. The outlet of the larger lake, called White
river, quickh leaves Geneva to cross Lyons and join the Fox at Burlington.
The outlet of Luck lake is a branch of White river, which it meets in section 20
of Lyons, having left section 26 and crossed sections 23, J| of Geneva and
section mi of Lyons. Luck lake is about three miles long and its average
width is more than a half mile. It was much wider within the memorj ot
man. but much of its marsh) border is now mown Jackson's creek in section
;. near the Lafayette line, drams sections ro, 9, 8, 17. 7 and flows south of
I horn to Delavan lake. fish are caught near its mouth, and cattle drink
ng its threadlike course. The surface of the town, excepting the basin of
Dick lake and the rather broad valley of its outlet, is generalh high prairie
and opening, with some knobbineSS near the northeastern corner, the south-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 317

western sections, between the lakes, and about the city. The highest point in
the county is near the northwestern corner of section 19, one thousand one
hundred and forty-nine feet above sea level, which slopes easily to the lower
levels adjacent. Several years ago the geodetic surveyors made this point a
signal station.

The northern and central sections — much the greater part of the town
—are among the most fertile of the county and were settled early by compe-
tent and prosperous farmers, stock raisers and dairymen. The somewhat
rougher sections were once heavily wooded, but are now cleared and culti-
vated. The county poor farm spreads over nearly two-thirds of section 4. In
section 24 are a church, town hall, and store, for a few years a cheese factory
(its business now transferred), a postoffice from 1896 until discontinued by
the establishment of a rural delivery route from Lake Geneva. This incipient
village is still named Como. John Chase's cheese factory, in section 10, in
active operation for many years, has been absorbed by the Wisconsin Butter
and Cheese Company. About 1837 Christopher Payne built a dam and saw
mill at Duck lake outlet and sold it to George W. Trimble, his son-in-law, who
sold it to Dr. Oliver S. Tiffany. With the coming of pine lumber the mill fell
into disuse, decay and forgottenness. In 1858 a rloocl carried away the relics
and the dam, lowering the lake and laying bare many acres of marsh meadow.
The forlorn looking cuts and dumps of the old Wisconsin Central Railway
Company are yet to be seen, yet a little more strongly marked than the Indian
mounds. Their course was across sections 36, 25, 26, 23, 14. 1 r. 10, 9, 8, 5
to the Elkhorn line. In 1-911-12 agents or operators were buying or in other
way acquiring a few real or shadowy rights of way along this line for a
proposed electric railway from Lake Geneva to Whitewater. New hope has
been raised, and though nothing substantial is assured, old and new hope may
soon end in fruition.

The whole area of improved land in 1910 was 1 9,413 acres, valued at
$1,584,500; average value per acre. $81.62. Acreages of principal crops,
1910, were: Barley. 093; corn, 3,073; hay field, 2,947 '• ";lts- -MS1 '■ orchard.
[38; potatoes, 104: rye. 54; timber, 2,425; wheat, 82, Returns of live stock
were: 3,064 cattle. $79,100; 686 hogs $6,900; 759 horses, $62,000; 59]
sheep. $2,000. Valuation of town. 3.596 per cent, of thai of whole county.

Population of town (including village, in [850 and [860); [850, 1.557;
[860, 2.272: 1X70. 1.030: [880,930; [890, [,073; [900, i.i'ii: [910, 1.142.

Patents issued from the land office in the following named persons are
recorded at the county seat: Alanson ('lark Well, section 2^,; Harrison
Augier, 1. 12: William Werill. 17: John S. Bacon, 2: Lewis Baldwin, 29;

Jl8 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

[ohn Barr, Sr., 10, 15; Hiram Beals, 30; Anson Bell, 11; James Alexander
Bell, 4; Joseph Bennett, 14; Daniel S. Benton, 3, 9, 10; Charles Boyle, 12, 13;
Daniel Edwin Bradley. 7: Milo Edwin Bradley, 1; Deodat Brewster, 1; Ar-
thur Bronson, 34; Charles P. Brown. 29; John Brown, 33; Amos and Hiram
Cahoon, 1 1 : Amos Cary, 35; George and Simon Williams Clark, 35; George
Coburn, [9; Louis Leander Cook, 4; Seth Cowles, 9, 15; Lewis Curtis, 28;
Charles Dickerman, 18; Samuel Dunbar, 7: John Dunlap, 10, n; Baronet V.
Eckerson, 30; Ephraim P. S. Enos, 20; John Evans, 32; Andrew Ferguson,
26; John Powell black and Thomas Flack, 3 ; Richard Baker Flack, 9; George
Gale, 3; Ludwig Giese, 32; Samuel Gott, 24: Elihu Gray. 9; Alvah Grow, 3;
Daniel I'annelee Handy, 30; Noah Harriman, 14; Edmund Storrs Harvey,
13, 18: John Haskins, 26; Alonzo Herrick, 9; Jacob Herrick, 21; William
I). Ilolbrook, 31 ; Mason A. llollister. 32; Harvey Houghton, 30; John Hut-
ton. 19; Seth W. Kelley, 10; Jacob Kenel. 2.1; George Lamberson, 4; James
Lewis, 13: Thomas McKaig, 25; Gurdon Saltonstall Murdock. 18; Joseph
Musgrave, 21; Cyril Leach Oatman; Zenas Ogden. 1, 21; Jasper William
Peat, 7; Anthony Peck, 10: Jason Peck. 9; John R. Peck. 2; William Pent-
land, 7; Eveline H. Porter, 1 ; Langdon Cheves Porter, u ; Newton Rand, 27:
Alanson C. Reed, 23; Leland M. Rhodes, 15; Brittain Ross. 15; Morris Ross,
1 |. 15; William Pangburn Ross, 22; William Rounds. 19; Nehemiah Rouse,
10; Adam Martin Russell, 17; Robert Emmett Russell. 24: Daniel Ryan. 34:
John Carpenter Schuyler, 25; Hiram Spencer, 19; Oliver P. Standish, 10:
Edward Stevens, 13: Sanford Wait. 12; Greenleaf Ste\ens Warren, 3: Rob-
ert Wells Warren, 4. ^,2, 35; Joseph Webb. 8; George Weller. 35; Barton
Brenton Wilkinson, 13: Israel, Sr.. and Royal Joy Williams, 31: Silas
Wright. 23.

William Averill married Eliza Monahan, March 2, 1N44.

fohn Barr 1 [792 [860), son of Allen, came From Scotland with wife
Barbara Black, lie died in Linn, to which town he had removed.

Hiram Beals 1 [809 [880) was son of Daniel Beals (bom 1767) and
Hannah Wheat 1 horn 1770), and grandson of Richard Beals; came in 1843
from Cummington, Massachusetts, to section 30, Geneva, with wife Rebecca
1 iris; (1812 [883), daughter of William and Rebecca \xtel. who were
cousins

Charles Boyle (died [869) married, second. Marjory Brown, October
24. [841.

Deodal Brewster I C789 t88i l, a native of Connecticut ; wife named Lois
1872); had several descendants in North Geneva.

\nio-, Cahoon 1 [789 [860) ; married Mary Williams 1 [796 [874

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 319

George Coburn (1810-1897) married Charity (1S07-1897), daughter of
John and Margaret Reichard, both of Livingston county, New York. He
lived for long across the town-line road in section 24, Delavau, and died at
Elkhorn.

Samuel Dunbar (1806-1872) came from Belfast in 1833 to New York;
to Geneva 1839; married, first, Elizabeth Thompson 1 [809-1852); second,
Mrs. Mary (McDougall) Streeter. His family seems to have become per-
manent in the countv.

John Dunlap (1796-1879) was son of Robert, a soldier of the Revolu-
tion, and Mary Letts. He married, first, Cynthia Kinne, who was mother of
his children; second, Hannah, daughter of Samuel Armstrong and Mary
Gregg.

Ephraim P. S. Enos died March 20, i860, leaving wife Polly, daughter
of Melzer Dinsmore.

Daniel P. Handy's will was dated March 4, 1868, and proved June 25,
same year. He married successively Maria and Lydia Wheat Beals. daugh-
ters of Hiram Beals and Hannah Wheat. Lydia W. died in 1868.

Noah Harriman (1805- 1903) married Lucinda Davis in 1826, — both of
Vermont. He lived for several years in Lafayette and died at Elkhorn. He
was a farmer and a licensed exhorter of the Methodist church.

Edmund S. Harvey (1819-1899) was son of Thankful, daughter of
Bethuel Robinson, of Willington, Connecticut. He came to Geneva in 1840
and permitted himself to forget his father's, step- father's and half-sister's
names. His first wife, Nancy A. Fowle, married July 11, 1841, was his chil-
dren's mother.

John Haskins 1 '1811-1887) married Olivia X. (Vose), widow of John
Seymour. John Vose Seymour, of Lake Geneva, was her son. John and
James Haskins bought and improved the water power in section 25, and be-
came residents of the village.

Moses S. Herrick died in 1872. [lis wife was Julia Ann. daughter of
Jacob Herrick and Roxana Bradley.

Mason A. Hollister (born 1S1S1. son of John, son of Elisha (as told),
married Matilda (born 1834). daughter of John Dalton.

William Pentland died in 1845. He left sons who were long known as
farmers of the northern part of the town.

Langdon C. Porter married Eunice Wright, March 13. 1844.

William I'. Ross (1812-1887), son of Morris, married Polly Maria.
daughter of Jacob Herrick. Their son. Washington (burn [845), was a
soldier of the Civil war.

320 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Nehemiah Rouse (1803-1874), son of Anthony, married Maria, daugh-
ter of Henry Plate. She died in 1875. One of their eight children was Han-
nah, wife of Ethan B. Farnum.

Hiram Spencer (1799-1878), son of Noah, came in 1845. His wife,
Lois (1804-1883), was daughter of Nathaniel Moseley and Charlotte Dewey.
This family had several local connections by marriage.

Edward Stevens (1813-1893) had wife Adeline (1808-1885). A son,
.Martin E. (born 1840), was a soldier of the Twenty-second Infantry. A
daughter, Emma, was born in 1843.

Many of the early settlers of Geneva, like those of other towns, had large
familias, and a minute division of land was avoided by westward emigration.
Thus it not seldom happens that they are represented, if at all, at the old
homes by the children of daughters. In the sub-pioneer period, too, there
appeared many whose names, once heard daily, are already becoming but mem-
ories. Among these disappearing- names are Baggs. Bagnell, Case, Chase,
Clap]), (iates, Goodspeed, Hand, Howe, Jackson, Lytle, Phelps, Potter. Vin-
cent and Wales. Some of the old families, however, are yet to be found in the
villages and the adjacent towns.

In summer automobile tourists from Chicago and the farthest east find
one of their principal routes through Bloomfield into Geneva and thence by
Elkhorn, Sugar Creek, Lagrange and Whitewater to the sub-polar regions. — ■
literally tearing up the miles and flinging them behind in long-hovering clouds
of dust.- tn men of the Civil war a reminder of the march of armies. In their
wildest battle-inspired dreams neither Big Foot nor Christopher Payne ever
saw an endless procession of invincible "shovers" taking each his imperial
right of way across counties ami states. Bui the prophet .Valium may have
foreseen the age of gasoline ami rubber-tired chariots.

At the lir^t two elections the original town of Geneva, as yet undivided,
was twche miles square. In 1N44 the four towns chose each its own local
■ ifficers, its chain nan being als, > a member of the count) board of supen isors.
The return to commissioner government [862-1870 — relieved the chairmen
i>f lli.it period from dut) as board members.

\1 EM BERS OF COUNTY BOARD U*D CHAIRMEN.

[ohn M. Capron _ - 1 S4 _> lharles Moorhouse Goodsell 1849

rhomas Hovi [843 David Williams [851-2

[ohn V Farnum 1844-7. '53 [oseph Gates 1854

Simeon William Spafard [848, '50 Charles W. Smith [855 6, 58

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Alonzo Potter ^57

Dr. Alexander S. Palmer__i859-'6i

Osborn Hand „ 1862

Samuel Henry Stafford 1863, 'yy

Shepard O. Raymond 1864

Cyril Leach Oatman 1865-6, '70

Charles Dunlap 1867-9, '72-6

James Simmons 1871

Charles Palmitier 1878

William H. Hammersley 1879-85

Henry S. Bull 1886-7

Washington Ross 1888-9

Daniel D. Fairchild 1890-1, '95

Henry J. Xoblet 1892

William Edmund Dunbar 1893-4

William Dwight Wales 1896-99

William Penn Dunlap 1900-4

William Thomas Taylor 1905

Robert J. Lean 1906

C. Monroe Gates 1907-1 1

Charles Wurth 1912

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Harvey E. Allen 1863'

Charles Minton Baker 1870

Joel Barber 1868

Frank I'. Brewster 1894

Ira Brown 1852

William Worth Byington.1867. '72-4

Amos Cahoon i845-'8, '54

Alvah Chandler 1845-8

Arriestus D. Colton 1862

Martins Dyar Cowdery 1873-''

Ebenezer Dayton 1843

A. Pierre Deignan 1895

Christopher F. Deignan

1888-90, '98-1912

James J. Dewey 1866

William Edmund Dunbar 1886-7

Charles Dunlap 1863-6, '71. '~~~8.

> niel D. Fairchild 1881-85

Ethan I'.. Farnum 1857. '60

T'llm Allen Farnum 1845

Gideon E. S. Fellows 1861

Andrew I erguson .__i85r>7

LI n Gray (-'lack 1889

Richard llaker Lack 185]

(21)

Ethan Lamphere Gilbert 1882-5

James Gray 1852

Joseph Griffin 1855

William II Hammersley 1875-8

Jared I land 1859-60

Jesse Hand 1842

James Haskins 1844. '50

John Haskins 1851, '53

Apollos Hastings 1858

Alexander Henry 190V'1

Jacob Herrick 1844, '49

Jason A. Herrick 1880

Levi Jackson 1854, '69-71

Robert J. Lean [896-1900

Thomas McDonald 1891 -<i|

William K. May 1842

Laac Moorhouse 1892

ILnn J. Noblet 1893, '95

Cyril 1.. Oatman 1864

Edward Pentland 1879-80

Ellery Channing Petrie [907-12

Cyrus King Phelps r888

Alonzo Potter . 1856

Ed \\ a n 1 Qti igley 1&65

William II. Reynolds ioor-4

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Harrison Rich J859

Michael Rouse 1881. '87

William Rouse 1890-1

Sylvester Curtis Sanford 1853

Albert !•'.. Smith 1867-8

Harvey S. Stafford 1872

Samuel Henry Stafford 1861. '79

Oliver P. Standish 1862

Edward Stevens ^49

Charles Wales t^SS- '58-9

Festas A. Williams 1888. '96-7

James <i. Williams 1850

rows CLERKS.

Lyman Redington 1842

Lewis Curtis 1843

James Simmons ^44

Erasmus Darwin Richardson

.1845-6, '50

Simeon Williams Spafard 1847-8

Thomas McKaig 1849

Dr. Clarkson Miller 1851-2

I'.tni. Blodgett Humphrey.. 1853-4
Simeon Gardner 185^

Jonathan T. Abel! 1856-66

John A. Smith 1867-8

Charles Edwin Buell 1869-71

William II. Hammersley 1872-3

John Bell Simmons 1874-85

A. Pierre Deignan 1886-7

Lewis Ceorge Foster 18SS

William Dwight Wales 1889-qT

Frank Abbott 18Q2-8. 1900-12

\lbert Dinsmore t S< j< 1

TOWN* TREASURER.

Charles Minton Laker [842-3

Foster V. Howe 1844-6

Lewis Curtis i S47

Andrew Ferguson 184.x

John Marsh 1849-50

Joseph Gates 1851

Simeon Williams Spafard 1852-3

Linus Emerick 1854

Linn Andrus 1^55. '~,j

Thomas Baker Cra\ ._i856, '74^85

William I. Valentine [858-60

George M. Barber 1861-63

Ralph T. Moody 1864

William H. Lee 1865-6. '69

Schuyler S. Hanna 1867

William Alexander 1868

Sylvester Curtis Sanford. 1X70-1

John Burton '872-3

Arthur G Palmer [886-7

Albert Dinsmore 1888-94

William II. Howe '895-9

Samuel James Dunbar 1 900-6

John McLean 1907-12

JUSTICES OF THE PI \« I .

han T Vbell [86 1 ~

Thomas Vshe 1904 5

Charles Minton Laker 1871

Warren Beckwith r859-6o, "75-80

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Francis A. Buckbee 1877-86

Henry S. Bull 1874-7, '80-1

James F. Campbell-- 1888-91. 1904-5

Nelson B. Campbell 1908-11

Martins Dyar Cowdery 1872-4

Frank J. Dalrymple

1 896- 1 903, 'oA- 12

\. Pierre Deignan 1886

Alliert Dinsmore 1900-1

Charles Dunlap 1866-7, 71

Daniel D. Fairchild 1889-90

Bezaleel W. Farnum 1861

Floyd E. dray 1891 -5

Thomas Baker Gray 1861-4

Tared Hand 1864-5

Joseph Spencer Hand 1886

George D. Johnson__'95-i902, '05-8

Thomas F. Johnson 1885-6

Matthew E. Lee 1887-8

Bernard McGuire 1894, '97-1900

Cyril Leach Oatman-_ 1859-60. '63-6
Washington Ross ___ 1878-9. '82-88

Michael Rouse 1865-8

Stephen Bemis Van Buskirk_i 870-1

James N. Webster 1892-7

Collins M. Williams 1900-2

Mr Abell's service as justice began in 1851 and continued nearly without
interval until his death. February 8, 1867.

CHAPTER XXVII.

CITY OF LAKE GENEVA.

Solomon Juneau, in May, 1836, had told Charles A. Noyes, just arrived
from Chicago, of golden possibilities lying between the lake and Rock river,
and especially of the mill section at Geneva lake. He said that Hodgson and
Brink had left two of their men to make such improvements as were needful
to secure their claim to the whole section, and that as soon as their surveying
contract should be finished they were going there to improve the water power
and to build a town. The prospects looked fair to Mr. Noyes and with his
cousin, Orrin Hatch Coe, he again left Chicago, reaching the disputed claim
about May 21st, after much wandering in five counties. He found there
three log houses, all occupied. One of these, just within the town of Linn,
was Thomas Hovey's; one, southeast of the outlet, was occupied by Hodgson
and Brink's men : and one, across the outlet, by Christopher Payne.

Ostrander and Henry explained that they had been to Milwaukee for
provisions ami had overstayed by three weeks for a "little spree with the buys."
Returning, they had found that Payne and Mosher had been a fortnight in
possession, within which time they had built their cabin, and that they were
indisposed to heed an informal notice to quit. Payne some time afterward
admitted that he had seen Brink's claim marks, but thought them somebody's
tomfoolery. Noyes and Coe bought a quarter interest in the whole claim
for five hundred dollars, of Ostrander and Henry, who acted as agents and
in their own behalf as co-claimants. Hodgson ratified the sale, though he
could ii"i for some weeks return in treat or fight with Payne. Noyes having
advised compromise, t<> which Payne was not averse, he staked out a race
as a first step in mill building. In the following night, without consulting
Noyes, Messrs. Ostrander and Henry tore out Payne's framework for a dam
across the outlet. The next day Coe went eastward for money and Noyes
soon set out for a millwright at Milwaukee. They had previously cut and
hauled logs fur two houses, and Noyes enjoined his men not to overstep the
ii-i 1I1 nid south quarter line temporarily dividing the rival claimants. At
his 1. om Milwaukee he found his caution had been disregarded and

one house was finished.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 325

Payne, too, had been away and had brought from Belvidere James Van
Slyke and wife. He moved this family by night into the new house, as the
Noyes party learned next morning from the smoking chimney. A half-
dozen men rushed into the cabin before Payne could take his gun, marched
him to his own house which they demolished, performed a ring dance around
him. and banished him with threats to drown him if he should come back.
He and Van Slyke went away, leaving Mrs. Van Slyke to their enemies,
who made her as comfortable as they could. Two or three days later the
first white native of Walworth county was born. Noyes learned all this on
his return with the millwright. He says: "Ostrander and Henry were wild
with glee in relating to me the heroic exploit of driving off the old man
Payne. I deprecated it, and told them an arbitration of the settlers ought
to be the first resort (there being no legal authority), and further, I told
them they need not flatter themselves they were rid of Payne. If physical
force was to decide the contest he would acquire it if possible, and that ere
long. I dampened their glee and incurred their displeasure by denouncing
their conduct."

A week later Payne came with two wagon-loads of warriors and drove
toward the new house. Noyes, with a hickory cane and a half-dozen com-
rades, placed themselves on guard at the door. As an equal number of the
enemy came up Xoyes spoke and said : "Gentlemen, you come with as much
noise and gusto as though you had some important project in view."

"Yes."' says Schoonover, one of Payne's champion fighters, "we've come
to drive out a d — d lot of land pirates, and reinstate Uncle Payne as the only
rightful proprietor to this mill section. We have brought tools necessary to
put up a mill and settle the country around the lake, and if force is required
we are ready."

To this Noyes answered that he did not believe they would begin fight-
ing without first knowing all the facts. These he set forth from his point
of view, reminded them that there were other claimants al>out the bay whose
rights must be protected according to settler's rules, and said that if they
should choose to remain on Payne's disputed quarter-section he would not
interfere until Hodgson should arrive. But they must not meddle with the
rest of the section nor with individual claims.

Schoonover asked who Noyes called himself, to show so much authority;
said tint soft words would not win; that he believed the} were land pirates and
had no just claims there: that the next day hi- party would begin to build
a mill and settle the country; that they would paj no attention whatever to
the rights pretended. Payne, with other- who had been in the rear, came
forward, and tin- Noyes manuscripl runs a little way thus:

526 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

"Schoonover says, 'Uncle Payne, what will you put in the house?"

"1 told him that Van Slvke. if he thought himself worthy, could enter;
hut none other of their party.

" 'Just as I expected,' says Schoonover, 'we have got to fight and we
may as well begin. Just form a circle, call in any two of your men at a time,
and if I get tired before I whip you all, friend Gilbert will spell me."

"This started Sam Brittain's Saxon ( for he was English). He steps
forward and says: T> — n you! threaten of whipping us all? Will you try
me first?'

"1 jumped between with my shillelah and said: 'Hold on boys! Better
sleep one night over it before shedding blood, for that won't end it." Payne
called Schoonover back, had a short chat with him, and began to unload and
arrange for night quarters on the greensward. Van Slvke walked demurely
into the cabin, and we left, to ponder on the morrow."'

The next day the Payne party, having looked about, traced claim lines,
and consulted, went after dinner to cut logs on the quarter west of the Payne
claim, and began to haul them to the site of his house. By night they had
them piled nine logs high and ready for the plates. Xoyes then told them
that they had been cutting logs on Eggleston's claim, that he had gone to
.Milwaukee for provisions, and that they could see evidence of his ownership.
Schoonover and Gilbert, scarred bullies from the Kishwaukee. "told me to
go to h — -, to protect ourselves if we could, for they intended next day to put
up five or si\ house bodies on the other side of the outlet; and it' we would
help them they would treat, tor they had a bit of rum."

Noyes walked awa\ quietly and Payne's men thought themselves mas-
ter- nu.it inn. \ I'ter their supper they entertained themselves by
whooping, yelling, drumming on empty barrels, firing small anus, and they
kept up these senseless noises all night. In the morning Mr. Winchester, who
had come with his wife ami child from Milwaukee, asked Noyes if he had
-l.pi "Not much, but l'\e dreamed some good." "Let us have it." "Well,
when they come over to put on their plates let us go down and cut up their
bailding." Said Winchester, "That's my hand. Mayn't I be captain?" As a
mi I 'a\ ne's men crossed the outlet Captain Winchester marched toward
them at the head of ten men with shouldered axc-

"When within -ix Feel of Payne, Winchester made a bound, -lapped one

hand on his righl shoulder, and gave two or three -hakes, and it wa- no

maiden's grip, I as-ure you, for said Winchester, although his weight did

ceed one hundred tifn pounds, had more strength of muscle, especially

■'id arm. than anyone I ever knew. Payne turned hi- head to speak.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. $2J

Winchester, with the other fist drawn, says: 'No* a word, or I go through
you like a streak of lightning. You yelled enough last night.' At that,
Pavne attempted to put his right hand in his pocket, which Winchester pre-
vented. Thus far none of Payne's party had moved from the plate. Win-
chester now says, 'Boys, demolish that building." Tom Spriggs and self,
who stood next to Winchester, sprang up with the rest; hut no sooner up
than Schoonover and Gilbert circled around toward us. We jumped down
and met them with drawn axes. Says Schoonover: "What! use axes to
fight?" I told him I despised the idea of striking such scoundrels with my
fist, and that axes were quite as humane as pistols and muskets with which
they had tried to frighten us."

Payne here called Schoonover aside for further conference while Win-
chester's axemen chopped down the house. Schoonover came back smiling,
admitted that the boys were pretty good soldiers, but he now believed more
than ever that Payne was in the right. He said he had advanced five hun-
dred dollars on a contract to pay nine hundred dollars for one-ninth interest
in the claim, and Gilbert and others had contracted similarly. He further
said: "I'll tell you what we are going to do. We find you are too many
for us, and we, or most of us, are going to mount our horses and put out
for help. I can raise forty men on the North Kishuaukee and Payne at least
thirty on the South, and in a week we shall be back with seventy men, armed
as the law directs, and then you can fight as you please."

To this answered Noyes: "Go! you can't scare up five more such
scoundrels as yourself in all Illinois; and as for advancing five hundred dol-
lars, 1 don't believe you are worth five hundred cents."

Whereat Schoonover: "You are too many for a rough and tumble, but
if I can have a fair fight, with no interfering, I'll pledge myself to whip
your crowd."

Brittain stepped forward, saying. "A fair fight is my hand. Now pitch
in."

Schoonover pitched in, but was quickly pitched out with a pair of black-
ened eyes and a bloody nose. Brittain stumbled and Schoonover fell upon
him "with a thumb for each eye;" but. baffled here, he tried to bite off Brit-
tain's nose. Sprigg here interfered and asked if this was fair fighting.
Schoonover ran for an axe and Sprigg met him with another one. Here
this Homeric battle ended with a few more "winged words." Payne long
afterward told Noyes that his men had at first intended to take their firearms
with them, but changed that notion. He had forgotten to pocket his own
derringer. lie said he was glad tlu-rc were no such weapons at hand. r\~r

528 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

there would have been corpses at Geneva that day. The Kishwaukeeans re-
tired with threats to come again, and Noyes resumed work on his race and
mill- framing.

Three weeks after the battle a new party came 'from Chicago by way
of Marengo. While the late contention was in progress Mosher and Van
Slyke had slipped away and. representing themselves as sole claimants at
Lake Geneva, had tried to induce Lewis B. Goodsell, George L. Campbell
and Andrew Ferguson to buy their rights, which they offered at a low rating.
Goodsell had known Van Slyke at Cooperstown, and did not fully trust him;
but he risked and lost four hundred dollars. Mosher then went out into
the vastness of Illinois, and Walworth knew him no more. Payne heard of
this sale and, as he was unable to renew war. he went to Chicago and thus
Goodsell learned some useful truth. Hodgson, too, was sent for, and came
from Waukesha. He first offered to sell to Noyes and Coe a half-interest
in the mill section, if Ostrander and Henry would sell their shares; but these
men saw some larger advantage in holding them. Hodgson then offered to
give his quarter-interest if his past expenses were paid. But Noyes had now
some larger plans. The Goodsell party had found R. Wells Warren at St.
Charles and had taken him into their partnership, and to these men Hodgson
sold his own and Brink's rights — without the latter's knowledge or approval.
Payment of two thousand dollars left the Goodsell-Warren party in posses-
sion and the settlement of Lake Geneva went peaceably forward unto this
day.

Mr. Xoyes could write of himself and his affairs from his own knowl-
edge, but may have been somewhat at fault as to the negotiations between
Hodgson and the newcomers. There arc other accounts of this business and
its attendant incidents, and it is probable that Mr. Simmons has written with
substantial correctness. The history of a land title, however, is of less pres-
ent interest than that of the rise of a city.

Mr. Warren was a practical and competent business man, and his co-
partners were nol merely speculators. The race was finished and a sawmill
began work in March, [837. In [838 Charles M. Goodsell was given a lease
of water power for four years, without charge, and he built a grist mill,
which began t" grind in October. Mr. Warren bought this mill and worked
it until [848, when lie built a larger one. There was another water power,
with a fall of twelve feet, in section -'5. within the present city limits, first
imed, it is said, by P. O. Sprague, but was soon in possession of Sidney
who sold in 1S42 to James and John ! laskins. These men built a saw-
mill the nest year. In 1875 the Crawford Reaper Company for a few vears

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 329

found larger use for this power, and then it became again the property of
John Haskins.

In 1837 the seven owners of section 36, namely, R. Wells Warren,
Greenleaf S. Warren. Dr. Philip Maxwell, Col. James Maxwell, Lewis B.
Goodsell, Andrew Ferguson and George L. Campbell, employed Thomas Mc-
Kaig to survey and plat the village of Geneva. This work was finished and
recorded in May, 1840. Two blocks were reserved for parks, one for a
cemetery, and also ground for churches and school. The base line of this
survey was that part of the highway from Kenosha to Beloit lying within the
village limits, and was named Main street. Other early villagers named were
Charles M. Baker, Henry Carter, William Casporus, W. Densmore Chapin,
George Clark, Arnestus D. Colton, Dudley Wesley Cook, Experience Esta-
brook, Benjamin E. Gill, Joseph Griffin. Thomas \\". Hill, Thomas Hovey,
Thomas McKaig. Dr. James McNish, Russell H. Mallory, Charles A. Xoyes,
Cyril L. Oatman, Amos Pond, Samuel Ross, Ransom A. Sheldon, Simeon
W. Spafard, Horace Starkey, Dr. Oliver S. Tiffany, Cornelius P., Philander
K. and William II. Van Yelzer, Asahel ]'. and Jonathan Ward, Thomas D.
Warren. Lucian Wright. Several of these men owned land in other towns
and some of them lived in these towns.

TAVERNS AND HOTELS.

R. Wells Warren's first log house was earth-floored and was heated by
a fireplace at one end, which, for several months, had no chimney but a hole
in the roof. Being also a hotel, it was furnished with a long bench and four
bedsteads. The latter were each of oak rails naturally supported at one end
by thrusting between the logs of the cabin wall, and artificially at the other
end by a single stake with cross-head. The bedding was of wild grass. In
1837 Mr. Warren built a real hotel, at Main and Centre streets, near the old
house, and January 8, 1838, entertained one hundred ninety guests, mostly
dancers, from near and far, from whom he collected about seven hundred
dollars — for in that golden age there were no bad accounts. \biel Manning
and Albert A. Thompson occupied this house, the Geneva Hotel, in 1843.
Apollos W. Hastings bought it in 1844 and in 1848 rented it to Harrison
Rich. Harvey E. Allen bought and occupied the h"use in 1851, and sold it
to Sabra Delaware in 1856. In 1859 Asa W. Fair bought it at a bankrupt
sale and sold it to Lansing D. Hale and others. In [858 Nelson Pitkin came
from Kenosha, took the house 1 probably as tenant 1. and named it Commer-
cial Hotel. He was a little, bewigged, old-fashioned Connecticut innkeeper

33°

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

who may have been in his flay, then long past, a militia officer, and must have
been a relative of several distinguished namesakes. He had seen better days,
and he showed what landlord manners were in 1820. But to sit at his table
was to know something of Barmecide feasts; for the times were very hard,
he was poor and a stranger, and the other hotel had most of the public favor.
Philo B. Baird was landlord in i860, but it is not learned whether this was
for one year or for five years. In 1806 John Christian was tenant. In 1869
the house became a boarding house for the Geneva Seminary for a term of
two years. In 1872 B. K. Cowles leased the house and named it St. Denis.
The latest proprietor, as here remembered, was George W. Ransford, from
about [875. In [895 the house was pulled down and its site is yet bare.

Greenleaf S. Warren built the Lake House at Main and Broad streets,
in 1837, and was its landlord. His brother, Thomas D. Warren, and his
brother-in-law, Arnestus D. Colton, each about 1845, succeeded, and in 1846
Mr. (niton rented it for two years to Harrison Rich, but returned as land-
lord and remained until about 1862. when he sold it to Peter Van Slyck.
Samuel H. Stafford bought and occupied it in 18(4 with John S. Griffin, his
brother-in-law, as partner in business. The house had been extended from
time to time, and Mr. Stafford made further improvements. Other landlords
were Edwin Woodman. W. G. Barrett, George W. Ransford, Orlando Leon-
ard Blakesley and his brother William, and Aaron L. Yanderpool. About
1892 the house was further altered and improved and was new-named Staf-
ford House. At some time since it l>ecame the Hotel Florence. Its old oak
franu- has been time-tested, but its end may be near, for there is much talk of
building in the present century's style.

David T. Whiting built a wholly new hotel by the lakeside, at the foot
of Broad street, in 1873, and named it for himself. It was planned to
nurt the wants of summer visitors to the already famous lake. It was four

1 high, built of v\ 1 in the somewhat omatr style of that period. It

had competent managers, and it- business for several years justified the cost
of its building and furnishing forty thousand dollars or more, it is said.
It was burned to the ground in July. [894, and the lots on which it stood
ed to new ownership.

The Union House, opened in 1870 by Benjamin Fish, in Broad street,
near the railway, and kept by John Kohn in 1NS1. is mentioned 1>\ Mr. Cutler,
but not by Mr. Simmons \ store was moved From Main street and joined
to this house, which in [892 became the Garrison House, and about 1804 'fie

1 Denison. Outwardl) it is a homely gambrel-roofed house, but its
management within makes all needful amend-. This house, like the Hotel
- likeh to be rebuilt in n< >t mam years more

wai.worth county, Wisconsin 33 1

EARLY BUSINESS MEN.

Charles M. Goodsell built a grist mill in 1838 and worked it for nearly
four Years, on liberal terms given by the proprietors of the village as to use
of the water power, and custom came to him from afar — even from the Lake
Michigan shore and Rock river valley. But he steadfastly refused to grind for
distillers' use About 1842 R. Wells Warren bought the mill and worked it till
1848. when he built a new and improved one. In 1854-5 lie sold this property to
the brothers, Joseph W.. Henry and Rees Case, after whom came James Will-
iams. Mr. Cogswell and Shepard O. Raymond successively as part owners.
In 1859 Harvey E. Allen built the "Red Mill." which in 1866 was sold to
the Geneva Manufacturing Company, and for two years became a woolen
mill. It was later refitted for grinding oatmeal. There is still a busy feed
mill near one of these old sites, built substantially of brick. In' or tor Judson
G. Sherman.

Mr. Simmons, in his "Annals," mentioned other manufacturing enter-
prises— among them the Crawford reaper works in 1875. Most of these
began with reasonable hope of success and some of them flourished for a few
years, bringing to the village increase of population and general trade, and
some of that good remains. But the conditions which now for long have
brought the smaller factories throughout the country quite generally to
naught have been felt here. If water power is of yet further use to man as,
no doubt, it is. that at Lake Geneva will not forever flow uselessly, or but
for minor uses, on its tortuous way to the gulf.

Among the earlier business and professional men and mechanics were:

William Alexander ( [801-1885), the first ami for long the only cooper,
came in 1839. He died at the village.

The .Alien brothers, Harvey E., Seymour and William II., wagon-
makers and blacksmiths, came in 1845. Harvey E. died in 1804. Their
relationship to other Aliens is not learned.

Joel Barber, sun of Solon and Hannah, born 1828 in St. Lawrence
county. Xew York, married Julia L. and Carrie M. Marsh, cousins; came in
[848; carpenter, stavemaker, millwright and millowner; twice president of
the village.

John Beamsley I (803-1897), shoemaker and dealer, came in [843. He
married Mary Jane, daughter of Philander K. Van Velzer, July \. 185N.

John Brink (1810-1904), surveyor and earliest claimant of the water-
power section, died at Crystal Lake, Illinois.

John M.. Newton, Seth M. and William II. Capron's names are found

332 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

in earliest real estate records. One or more of them were of the firm of
Capron, Wheeler & Whipple, coming as general dealers in 1839, and soon
afterward building a distillery, which was but one year in operation.

William Casporus, a carpenter, came in 1S37 and was killed the next
year by falling with a broken scaffold while building his house at Main and
Mad i -on streets.

Henry B. Conant ( (825-1903) came in 1846 as a building contractor,
and partner with Cyrus W. Maynard. his brother-indaw, who came a year
earlier. In judgment and skill they were among the foremost in the county.

Dudley W. Cook, wagonmaker, came from Cooperstown about 1837, in
which year his son, the first white boy, was born and died in the village. He
went to California in 1849 and died there.

Jotham W. Curtis, blacksmith, burned Mr. Payne's house at Duck Lake,
about 1839, destroying a just then valuable set of carpenter's tools, axes, etc.
Mr. Payne and his men caught him, forced him into confession and banished
him.

Lewis Curtis ( 1813-1904) was bom in Chenango county; came in 1840
and bought John Dunlap's store. In the same year he married Mary Eliza-
beth (1822-1868), daughter of Hiram Humphrey and Mary (Blodgett)
Foster, lie was the earliest drug dealer at the village, and continued in
general trade for many years, ten of which he was postmaster.

James J. Dewej 1 [8] 1-1898), a native of St. Lawrence county, opened
a bat store in 1845, and soon became Mr. Ferguson's partner. He was post-
master in the Taylor-Fillmore administrations. His first wife was Eliza
Ann Bates (1815-1838), of Cooperstown; his second wife was Selina A.
Merriam I 1 827-1870).

Anthom I)obb-. -hoemaker, came in 1S44. About ten year- later he
was \ illage president.

John Dunlap (died [879) was son of Robert (born 17571. a soldier of
the Revolution, and grandson of John ( 1718-1813), a native of county
Tyrone. Ireland, and immigrant. The younger John was a half brother of
Asenath, wife of Thomas McKaig. In [839 lie began in business at the vil-
lage, but sold to Lewis Curtis.

Cornwell Esmond came about [837 and built his blacksmith shop at
Broad and Geneva streets, now the site of the Episcopal church.

Benjamin E. Gill ( r8i 1 1888), mason and plasterer, came in 1837. He
was an early village president, lie went to California in 1850, and lived to
irn.

Jo-cph Griffin came from Cooperstown in 1842, and was the first judge

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN-. 333

of probate. As he had Charles M. Baker always within call he served very
creditably, and made a comfortable living from office fees, and from the
produce of his farm in section 30 of Lyons.

Lansing Duane Hale (181 8- 1883). son of Samuel Hale and Sarah AbelL
came from Owego in 1843 and was in retail trade for twenty-two years.
His first wife was Rebecca Ellis (1823-1846); second wife, Jane Elizabeth
1 1S301902 ), daughter of Sweet Allen and Jemima Spicer. His brother, Otis
K. Hale 1 1825- 1902), began in trade in 1853. His wife was Ann L., daughter
of John Beeden and Serena Garrison.

Thomas J. Hanna (1809-1900) came in 1845 as a cabinetmaker, and
prospered at his business. Mrs. Hanna was a pioneer in the millinery trade.

John Haskins (1811-1887) with his brother James came in 1842, and
built a sawmill at the lower water power. In 185 5- 1863 they were in the
hardware trade. Thereafter they were active in all the greater local enter-
prises. John's wife was Olivia (Vose), widow of John Seymour. She was
born 1829, died 1876.

Dr. Stephen Ingham ( 1778- 1875) was born at Richmond, Massachu-
setts, and in 1803 married Huldah Ambler (born 1787). He came to Geneva
in 1 84 1. He owned a farm in section 12, Linn.

Dr. Alexander Law sun 1 1S15-1871) was born in Perthshire, Scotland;
was graduated at the University of Glasgow; came to Philadelphia in 1837;
to Geneva in 1849, where he practiced as a botanic physician.

Daniel Locke (1820-1897), son of James and Lydia, was born in
Cheshire county, New Hampshire ; married, first, Clarissa Wright, of Otsego
county; came to Geneva as a gunsmith in 1X43: married Elizabeth Booth,
at Springfield, in 1867.

Russell II. Mallary (or Mallory?), born in 1803 at Middletown, Ver-
mont, came from Beardstown. Illinois, in 1838; became sheriff in 1841 ; went
into business at East Troy with Mr. Oatman in 1843; returned to Geneva and
died in March, 1852. In 1838 Mallary & Oatman brought from Illinois the
first drove of hogs, of a breed, the continuance of which the agricultural
society has never encouraged by offer of premium. These brutes, shifting
for themselves under the oak trees, never became even streakily fat, and
when wanted were hunted and shot like other wild game. Calista E. (1809-
1878), daughter of Eli Oatman and Mary Symonds, was Mr. Mallory's wife.

Philip D. Marshall came from Milwaukee in 1843 and brought with him
the "Ariel," the first of the Geneva lake fleet. It had masts, spars and sails,
but its surest motive power was a pole. It carried twenty or more passengers,
and, having previously crossed Lake Michigan, the trip to Fontana and

334

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Williams Hay did not overtask it. Captain Marshal built and rented a store.
but for himself preferred a shanty, where he sold apples and cider. He was
also a shaver of shingles.

Dr. Ansel D. Merritt came in 1844, but moved about 1852 to Wood-
stock. He died in 1878.

Gurdon Montague MS19-1890), born at Wetherslield. Connecticut,
came from Trenton, New York, by way of .Milwaukee, in 1845. ^e was
known throughout the county as a competent millwright. His wife was
M. Maria Post ( [823-1866).

Bradford T. Paine 1 1819-1903), shoemaker, came in 1843. Of his
workmen George S. Nethercut and Bruce Frederick are ranembered. His
wife was Ellen C. I.oveland I 1S19-1903).

Logan McCoy Ross, blacksmith, in 1843 made his shop in Payne's cabin.
across the race (southeastward).

Richard D. Short in T848 began the first regular business as proprietor
of a livery stable.

Timothy C. Smith and X. S. Donaldson came in 1844 as dealers in dry
good- and groceries.

Simeon W. Spafard ( [812-1880), son of Abraham Spafard (Nathan 5,
Thomas 4. Thomas 3, Samuel _». John 1) and Sarah Williams, came about
[838 and in [842 opened a tinshop and stove store- He married Charlotte L.
Sharpe in 1845, and bis sisters. Elizabeth W. and Alma O.. were wives of
Erasmus I). Richardson. Mr. Simmons also mentions him as a brother-in-
law of William I\. May. In 1854 he was assemblyman, lie died at Omaha.

Samuel II. Stafford 1 [811-1889), a native of Saratoga, son of Henry
and Poll) 1 Cay), came from Kenosha in [848 and with Mr. Dewev engaged
in general trade. In 1N64 be wen! into other business.

Horace Starkcx. carpenter and millwright, came in [839. He bought
a farm in Walworth in 1807 and died there about leu years later.

Philander K. Van Velzer 1 [611-1862)3 -on of William Henry, an earlv
settler of I yons, came in 1837 to the village and for some time made bricks
on hi- lot near the railway anil between Dodge and Wisconsin streets. His
wife was Prudence (1.81.2-18,70), daughter of llendrick Matteson. His
brother, < oraelrus P. 1 [813-1903), also came early. He died at Delavan.

\-aliel P. Ward, carpenter, wa- an earl) -comer. He built the Imu-c
>i 1 ow lied bj Richard I ). Short.

\ndrew Jack-on Weatherwax 1 [817-189S) wa- born in ( Mvans county,
\'ew York : came to Darien in 1N45; to Geneva in 1S40 as the first resident
tailor. In 1S01 he and his son, Monroe J. W'eatherw a\. enlisted 111 the

tli Infantry-Cavalry. His wife was Irene Preston (1820-1900).

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN-. 335

Lucian Wright came in 1836; owned land north of Duck Lake, where
he built a kiln and made lime of the best quality. He moved away a few
years later.

Other men, who had some larger part in building this community, or
of whom more is known, have been or will be mentioned elsewhere.

Charles M. Goodsell came in [838 to build and operate a grist mill, but not
for that only. He at once began to revive the temporarily suspended religious
interest of the little community, organizing a Sunday school and. co-operating
with other good men and women, preparing the way for formation of reli-
gious societies.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

Rev. Phipps W. Lake, an early settler of Walworth, organized the Bap-
tist society in 1840 at the home of Charles M. Baker, a Presbyterian, but
not too much narrowed by his creed. Between 1844 and 1847 a church
was built at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars, and was rebuilt in 1868 at fur-
ther cost of seventeen hundred dollars. Though for some years fairly pros-
perous, the society was relatively poorer than at Delavan, Elkhorn and East
Troy. At a business meeting April 5, 1907. it was suggested that it was
better to build a new church than to repair the old one, and the pastor was
asked to call another meeting. Ten days later it was determined, without
dissent, to build, and a committee was directed to canvass for subscriptions.
In two weeks two thousand three hundred dollars had been pledged; but this,
with a legacy of nearly one thousand dollars from Mrs. H. H. Hawks, was
not enough. Appeal to the state convention at last brought five thousand
dollars from the Judson A. Roundy Inquest. The society was encouraged
to new effort and in 1910 a fine new church was built in modern style at a cost
of fifteen thousand dollars, and dedicated January 13, 191 1. In its corner-
stone were deposited, among other things, a carefully prepared historical ac-
count of the society and a list of its pastors. Both of these papers were the
work of Mrs. Amelia (Beardsley) Arnold who, as a child, had known Mr.
Lake well and in her later life most or all of his successors.

Phipps Waldo Lake came in 1840. and for a short time in 1N45; I'eter
Conrad, 1844; Joel W. Fish, December. 1N45. and in 1885; Caleb Blood,
1852; P. H. Parks. 1855; Xoah Barrel!. 1857, and in 1863: Samuel Jones,
1858: Thomas Bright, 1859; Elijah M. Nye, [865; Rodney Gilbert, 1867;
Enoch P. Dye, 1869; John D. Pulis, 1872; James Buchanan, 1874; J. E.
Roberts, 1876; James Edminster, 1 S 7 7 ; Joshua I-'., \mbrose, 18K0; Levi D.
Temple, 1882; William Mekee, [884; Charles li. Lade. [886; John H. Hig-
by, 1888; Robert Gray, 1893; James I'. Whyte, [896; Peter Clark Wright,

„g WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

1897 and 1901 ; !ohn A. Monk, 1900; Emory L. Cole, 1902; James A. Lar-
son, 1904; Rov H. Barrett, 1905; George Gladstone Laughlin, 1908. Elder
Barrell, born in 1794, died in 1875 ; his wife was Ann E. Pierce (1804-1865).
Both were buried at Lake Geneva. Elder Lake ( 1789-1866) and wife, Re-
becca Beardsley (1792-1884), were buried at Walworth.

As early as 1842 Rev. Thomas Morrissey came from Milwaukee period-
ically to minister to Catholic families about Lake Geneva. Vicar-general
Kundig organized the parish of St. Francis de Sales in 1847, and its members
have since built two or three churches. The last is a well-built and well-fur-
nished building, near the east end of Main street, a well-chosen site. It was
built within the period of Father Reilly's pastorate, at a cost of eighteen
thousand dollars. Its fine organ was the gift of Patrick J. Healy, of Chicago.
A suitable rectory, a convenient hall for social and other entertainments and
a cemetery are included in the now valuable church property.

The first resident priest was Patrick McKernan, 1847, after' whom were
P. L Pander, [849; Franz Fusseder, [850; P. J. Mallon, 1854: H. P. Ken-
ney, George H. Brennan, 1856; James Stehle. 1857 and 1862; Henry J.
Roche, 1861: Edward O'Connor, 1863; F. O'Farrell, [867 (died); A. L.
David. [867; James F. Kinsella, [867; Benedict J. Smeddinck, 1868; Eugene
M. McGinnity, 1872: John J. Kinsella, 1873; Nicholas M. Zirnmer, 1874;
Michael Wenker, about 1883; Eugene Reilly, 1884: Bernard Joseph Burke,
1908. Parish records and other sources of information show some disagree-
ments and uncertainties as to initials, order of succession and dates; but the
foregoing list is nearly full and correct. Rev. Martin Kundig, whose early
labors in this as in many another county are memorable, was born in the
Swiss canton of Schwytz, November 19, 1805; came to Cincinnati in [828,
where he was ordained; in [833 to Detroit, whence he came, in 1842, to Mil-
waukee, and in [844 became, under Rt. Rev. John Martin llenni. vicar-gen-
eral of the diocese. He died March 6, 1879.

\ society of Presbyterians and Congregationalists was formed in 1839
and built its church, the first Presbyterian, of oak lumber in 1841 al a cost
of five hundred dollars. A new church, on the same lot, was begun in [851
and finished in two years, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars.
Beginning with thirteen members, the society's increase was mostly Congre-
gationalism and in [883 Formallj changed its name to First Congregational
church. The societ) laid the cornerstone of its third church July 24. 1897,
dedii tted tlic finished building January 10. [898. This church property
valued at twenty-five thousand dollars. Pastors: Lemuel Hall, 1839;
I eonard Rogei [841; G R. French, [843; Homer H. Benson. 1844: Ed-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. $37

ward Goddard Miner, 1855 and 1867; Charles Morgan, 1857; William S.
Mather, i860; Peter S. Van Nest, 1861 ; Richard Brockway Bull, 1875;
George Cady, 1893; William Jay Cady, 1893; Cyrus A. Osborne, 1897; John
W. Wilson, 1902 to 1912. Mr. Bull was born in 1820, died 1888; Mr. Hall,
1795-1868; Mr. Van Nest, 1813-1893.

Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper came as early as 1844 to administer com-
munion to a few persons, and from time to time sent mission workers to this
field. In 1850 the Episcopal parish of the Holy Communion was organized,
and in 1857 the society bought the disused Presbyterian church and occupied
it until it could build a chapel on its own ground at Geneva and Broad
streets. In 1880 the cornerstone of a permanent building was laid and in
1883 the new church was consecrated. Its material is glacier-borne boulders
of various granites, hewn to architectural fitness, and its cost, with organ and
other furnishings, was more than twenty thousand dollars. Its resident rec-
tors have been John McNamara, 1850 and 1856; William S. Ludlum, 1852;
Gerrit E. Peters, 1853; William H. Studley, 1854; John H. Gasman, 1859;
William Dafter, 1861 ; George N. James, 1864; John Henry Babcock, 1866;
William C. Armstrong, 1867; Robert B. Wolseley, 1874; Richard Thomas
Kerfoot, 1876; William Wirt Raymond, 1887; Isaac Newton Marks, 1892;
Herbert Chessall Boissier, 1907.

Rev. Carl F. Goldammer organized an Evangelical Lutheran society in
1879 and dedicated its church May 4, 1884. His successors have been:
August'F. Graebner, [885; Ileinrich Gieschen, 1887; Ernst F. Schubert,
Bernhardt Albert Oehlert. 1899; Herman A. Fleischer. 1904. A new church
was built in 1891-2 and the old one then became a parish schoolhouse. These
buildings, with a parsonage, and lots, in Walworth street near Crawford street,
are valued at six thousand dollars. The society now includes about sevent)
families.

Mr. Schubert with twelve families separated from this society in 1899
and built a new church and parsonage at Park Row and Warren street. This
church has basement story fitted for its use as a parish schoolhouse. The
property is valued at five thousand dollars. Mr. Schubert's further stay was
short, and he was followed in the same year by E. A. Kurtz, in 1902, by
Peter Christian Boysen, in [906 by Ernst Junghans In [909 Mr. I'.nvsen
returned and also ministers to the church at Genoa function.

A class of six or seven persons met in 1837 to form a Methodist Epis-
copal society. A church with parsonage was built in 1855-6 on lots at Madi-
son and Wisconsin streets, facing the park, at a cost of two thousand dollars.
(22)

338 WALWORTH COUNTVT, WISCONSIN.

These lots had been set apart for this purpose by the proprietors of the vil-
lage. In the meantime service was held in a primitive school house. The
society began to build again in 1877, at Cook and Geneva streets, also facing
the park. It was finished and dedicated in 1884, and with parsonage its cost
was about thirteen thousand dollars. The names of pastors, as nearly as can
now be shown, were Samuel Pillsbury, 1838; Jesse Halstead, 1839; James
McKean, 1839; David Worthington, 1841 ; -Jewett ar|d Decker, in 1842;
Jonathan M. Snow, 1843; John Crummer, 1845: Joseph C. Parks, 1846;
Joseph M. Walker, 1847; Robert Blackburn, 1848: R. Dudgeon, 1850; Au-
rora Callender, 1851 ; O. F. Comfort, 1852; Aaron Griswold, 1853; Joseph
Anderson, 1855; Hiram H. Hersey. [857; David Hall, 1858: L. Salisbury,
1859; David W. Couch, 1861 : William Averill, 1862; Stephen Smith, 1863;
Rossiter C. Parsons, 1865; Norvall J. Aplin. 1867; Henry Colman. [869
and 1885: Samuel E. Willing, 1873; John D. Cole, 1874; John L. Hewitt,
1875; Albert A. Hoskins. 1876; Thomas Clithero, 1878; Charles E. Gold-
thorp. 1880; Matthew Evans. 1882; Thomas W. North. 1888; John Jay Gar-
vin, 1893; William W. Stevens, 1898; Rodman W. Bosworth, 1899; Thomas
DeWitt Peake, 1900; Sherman P. Young and Webster Millar. 1902; Charles
Marcus Starkweather, 1904; Frank Cuthbert Richardson, 1909.

SCHOOLS.

Mrs. Rebecca A. Vail taught a private school in 1837 at a room over
Mr. Ferguson's store. About the next year a public school house was built,
and Mary S. Brewster for the summer term and Dr. John Stacy for the
winter term were first teachers. In 1849 a larger house was ready, and its
two department teachers were Horatio B. Coe and Charles B. Smith. A
wing was added in 1854. A new house was built in 1867 at a cost of eighteen
thousand dollars, including its furnishings. This was in Wisconsin street,
looking southward upon the park, as designed at the village platting. It was
burned December 25, 1903, and in the next year rebuilt of pressed red brick
and in plain good taste. Mr. Simmons did not note the beginning of the
high school, but it may have been about 1865, practically, if not formally.
In 1895 it was placed temporarily in the seminary building, which the city
had bought. After the lire of 11)03 a separate building was placed beside that
for the grades, of like materials and in like plainly imposing style of archi-
tecture. Sixteen teachers are employed in these schools, the head of which
is called city superintendent. The jurisdiction of this officer, independent of
the count) superintendency, includes two other schools.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. ' 339

As a school district Lake Geneva reaches into the westward sections be-
tween the lakes. That part beyond the corporate limits has for long been
known as the "woods district," though there is now nothing sylvan in the
surroundings or in school management. A brick house was built in 1886,
replacing an old one, on the road to Delavan, in the edge of section 33. Its
present teacher, A. Pierre Deignan, was as a child an early resident of the
city or its vicinity, and has been well tried in this and other public service.
A new house was built in the third ward in 1888, and is under the city
superintendency.

In 1858 O. Sherman Cook opened a select school. Early in 1859 Se-
linda J. Gardner was at its head. She was a daughter of Elijah R. Gardner
and Rebecca Powers, and in 1885, as widow of Dr. H. Hitchcock, of Chicago,
she was married to Rev. Franklin W. Fisk. In autumn Anna Wealthy Moody
came and continued this school until March, 1863. Her quality and success
as a teacher suggested another enterprise, and in 1864 a stock company built
the Lake Geneva Seminary, east of the outlet, at a cost of seven thousand
dollars. This property was sold in 1869 to Mrs. Julia A. Warner, under
whose management the school, which was chartered in 1871, continued for
several years. For boarding non-resident pupils the old Geneva Hotel was
rented for two years, and in 1873 a boarding house, of brick, was built near
the school. The exact year, later than 1885, in which the seminary was
closed is not shown ; but the property was used occasionally thereafter for
select schools. In 1895 it was sold to the city. After its use as a high school
it was condemned as unsafe or unsanitary, and all these buildings were pulled
away. Of the ample ground an attractive lakeside park has been made.

Among Mrs. Warner's assistants are remembered Miss Mary, daughter
of George Allen, of Linn, and Miss Kate Headley, daughter of Rev. Alvah
Lilly, of Whitewater. One of Mr. Cook's enterprises was a normal music
school, in 1879, which for a few years called pupils from other towns and
states.

The principals of the public school, as far as learned, were : Elias ( ?)
Dewey, 1855; Dr. Andrew J. Rodman, 1856; O. Sherman Cook, 1858; Rich-
ard D. Carmichael, 1859; II. \Y. Allen, 1861 ; Horatio B. Coe, [862;
Orville T. Bright, 1863; Osmore R. Smith, 1864; Warren D. Parker, 1867;
W. H. Wynn, 1869; John E. Burton, 1870; J. R. (or D.) Cole, 1873; An-
drew J. Wood, 1874; Walter Allen, 1877; Edward O. Fiske, 1881 ; E. S.
Ray, 1883; Joseph H. Gould, 1884-91; A. F. Bartlett, 1892; John Foster,
1899; Harry W. Snow, 1902; Edmund Decatur Denison, 1007;
Jay Mitchell Beck, 191 1. With city government principals became superin-

340 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

tendents. Mr. Carmichael enlisted early in 1861 in Company F, Fourth In-
fantry, and died at DeSoto Point, Louisiana, opposite Vicksburg, July 8,
1862.

NEWSPAPERS.

In July, 1848, David M. Keeler published the first number of the Wis-
consin Standard, and discontinued it one year later.

Edgar J. Farnum began the Geneva Express in 1854, or earlier; for in
June of that year he with his brother, Alonzo L., began the Independent, at
Elkhorn. Lemuel Franklin Leland (better known as Frank Leland) and
George S. Utter continued the lis press until the spring of 1857, when they, too
passed over to Elkhorn with their little printing equipment. In 1858 Henry
L.Devereaux came to publish the Genevan for eighteen months. In i860
George S. Utter came back and for a year published the Geneva Lake Mirror,
having John T. Wentworth as its editor. About 1871 Mr. Leland divided
his weekly edition, heading it, for his subscribers at and near the lake, Geneva
Independent. To give better color to this device be engaged John E. Burton
as editor of a column or so local to Geneva, which displaced a like space
of Elkhorn gossip. This, of course, was to prevent or delay the appearance
of another real Geneva newspaper; and, of course, it hastened that which
he tried thus to prevent. In April. [872, Air. Utter came back once more
to publish the Lake Geneva Herald. Mr. Burton, then principal of the public
school, Rev. John D. Pulis, of the Baptist church, Rev. Edward G. Miner, of
the Congregational church, were named as editors — but Mr. Burton's asso-
ciates were much like the "side judges'' of the county courts of common pleas
in New York from 1 S_>^ to 1X47. These courts supplied mam men .11
home and in the west with an honorable title, hut the opinions of their Honors
had little influence on the first judges, each of whom was in effect his whole
court. Mr. Burton planned and moved and only he, in that panic period,
could have made the Herald at once and permanently successful at Lake
Geneva. It was as large as any paper in the county, all home-printed and
will printed, and on each page in every week the village, with its current
affairs and its near and distant prospects, were "writ large." The office was
liberally equipped for all the business that was likely to be brought to a vil-
lage printer. Mr. Burton learned his new calling quickly, and in April, 1873,

ne sole owner and editor. Three years later he sold forty-nine one-
hundredths of the establishment to Albert 1). Waterbury, and in 1877 James
Edmund Heg and Mr. Waterbury became equal and only owners. Mr. Heg,
a son of Col. Hans C. Heg, who was killed at Chickamauga, was then recent-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 34 I

ly graduated from Beloit College, and he turned easily to editorship. Mr.
Waterbury retired in 1878 and John E. Nethercut became in 1888 Mr. Heg's
partner, and since 1895 has been the Herald's owner, editor, and printer. This
paper was always Republican and since 1904 has been "stalwart."

Charles H. Burdick and George E. Earley began in 1879 a daily paper,
having its presswork done at Elgin. Within a few weeks Mr. Burdick, as
remaining owner, sold whatever there was to buy to Joseph S. Badger, who
equipped the Lake Geneva Mews as a weekly paper. His brother, Charles E.
Badger, seems to have been associated with him until 1883. These young
men, who were good printers, were sons of Prof. Joseph A. Badger, for some
time principal of Walworth Academy. About 1883 Asa K. Owen replaced
the younger Badger, and in 1885 was left to his own pleasant editorial de-
vices. N. W. Smails in 1895, Walter A. McAfferty in 1899, and the Lake
Geneva Publishing Company since 1905 were the later owners. -One of the
later editors was Frederick Kull, of an old county family. At present Frank
M. Higgins is manager and editor. This paper has always been Republican —
formerly in an independent way and latterly in the way of the progressive
element of the party.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

A Young Men's Committee, formed in November, 1881, became in
June, 1883, a Young Men's Christian Association, which was incorporated in
1888. In October, 1890, Mrs. George Sturges gave to this body, for two
years, the use of her cottage and ground at the oblique meeting of Main and
Lake streets. In 1893 an<^ :^94 the association acquired lots and buildings in
Main street, and afterward established itself in a brick building of its own at
Main and Cook streets, the upper story of which is a large auditorium.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

Mr. Simmons noted that a public reading room was opened in Walker's
block, Main street, December 31, 1877. Its books were supplied chiefly from
private libraries. In 1889 this first public library was transferred to the care
of the Young Men's Christian Association. These five hundred volumes were
materially increased by liberal gifts of summer residents. In the summer of
1894 Mrs. Mary Delafield Sturges gave her house and ground, previously
tenanted by the association, to the city for its use as a library and park. This
was conditional, but it was only required that the city should buy the rest of

342 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

the little block and should vacate so much of Lake street as lay between the
block and the water's edge. This gift was most willingly accepted and the
conditions were fulfilled at once. The inner arrangement of the house was
so changed as to make it convenient for its purpose, until it may be found
practicable to replace it with a fire-proof building of suitable design. The
public library was opened in the same year with 2,300 volumes in hand, and
it now has nearly 5,000 volumes. The circulation of books in the first year
was about 20,000 volumes, and has not since varied widely. Miss Gertrude
T. Noyes, now and for some years past librarian, is a granddaughter of the
young Ulysses of the Brink-Payne war. Both she and her assistant. Miss
Eugenia C. Gillette, are daughters of soldiers of the Civil war.

BANKS.

Erasmus D. Richardson began his private banking business in 1848, and
until his death, in 1892, his bank was regarded as one of the soundest in the
state. It had weathered the storm-and-stress periods of 1857 and 1873, and
his ability and character were not doubted; but, at settlement of his affairs
the concern was found partially insolvent. The First National Bank of Lake
Geneva opened, with capital of fifty thousand dollars, under the presidency
of Frank Leland with John A. Kennedy as cashier. It is now in business
with Levi A. Nichols as president and Josiah Barfield as cashier. The Farm-
ers National Bank was organized in 1900 with Dwight S. Allen as president
and E. D. Richardson (who is not a relative of the pioneer banker) as cashier.
Its present officers are Albert S. Robinson, president; F. E. Wormood, cash-
ier. Its capital is fifty thousand dollars. These banks are quartered in new
and in every way suitable buildings, and so furnished as to suggest at once
security, convenience and business-like elegance.

W \ I ERWORKS AND ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

James E. Heg, Dr. James C. Reynolds and W. H. Wheeler proposed in
January, 1890, to build ami operate a city system of waterworks and electric
lights. The council gave them a franchise for fifteen years, agreeing to pay
yearly two thousand five hundred dollars for the use of water and seventy-
five dollars yearly for each treel light. Needful buildings, engine, well of

thousand two hundred feet depth, and tower were at once provided and
before the end of the year live miles of pipe had been laid, and later exten-
sions have mel the growing demand. In [894 the company procured a lease

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 343

of the water power. In March, 1896, Herbert E. Haskins supplied the stores
and homes with incandescent lights. A new company was formed in 1897,
taking the place of the old one. It is styled the Equitable Electric Light
Company. Its buildings with machinery are on the site of the Warren grist
mill. At present the officers are Charles S. French, president ; James G.
Allen, secretary and treasurer; John S. Allen, manager. These, with Mary
C. Allen, are directors.

FISHING AND NAVIGATION.

The area, depth and clearness of the Genevan water invited navigators
and fishers. Bass, catfish, ciscoes, perch, pickerel, suckers and other kinds
native to the lake, abounded. Since 1874 millions of young fry — bass, salmon,
trout and other game fish — have been added from the state's hatcheries. This
culture has also engaged the attention and interest of public-spirited Chicago
owners of lakeside estate. In 1858 E. F. Brewster brought from Fox river
the steamer ''Atlanta." of twenty tons. It was sixty-five feet long, twelve
feet abeam, and could carry one hundred and fifty persons. Edward
Ouigley launched the "Lady of the Lake,'' a larger boat, in 1873. A yet
larger steamer, the "Lucius Newberry," home-built, was launched in 1875 and
was burned in 1891 as the "City of Lake Geneva." In 1883 three steamers
were sold and two new ones launched. There were then nineteen steamers
afloat. In 1890 six new ones were added, three of which were home-built.
In 19 10 the assessed value of the lake fleet was nearly forty thousand dollars,
and its true value was placed at seventy-five thousand dollars.

CEMETERIES.

The old burying ground was placed well westward from the village plat,
but in time was overtaken and enclosed by the growth of the city. It lies
between Maxwell and Warren streets, with Dodge street southward, and falls
a few rods short of Park Row. It is kept in order, as is most becoming; for
on its shafts and headstones may be read names often mentioned in these
pages, inseparable from local history. It was in its day creditable to the taste
and feeling of Genevans. It had become evident in 1880 that more room was
needed. A new place was chosen, in its area forty acres, on a high knoll north
the city. It i> supplied with water from a deep well on the ground and
from the city waterworks. Lake Geneva cemetery overlooks the city, part
of the lake, and miles of surrounding country. In planning it and in caring
for it nothing that should have been done has been left undone.

344 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

THE LAKE SHORE.

Since the city itself stretches along the greater part of that shore line
which is of the town of Geneva most of the owners of lake front property,
on each side, are of the town of Linn and those at the upper end of the lake
are of Walworth. The city is their principal port of entry, so to say, though
Williams Bay and Fontana are also reached by rail from Chicago. Dr. Philip
Maxwell, then in service as an army surgeon, had invested as early as 1836 in
the claim at the mill section, and soon afterward entered land in sections 15,
26, 27 of Walworth. Leaving the army in 1842, he settled into professional
practice at Chicago, and in 1853 became state treasurer of Illinois. In 1856
he built a large house on his lakeside property at Geneva and brought his
family there as summer residents. This was held at Springfield to disqualify
him as an officer of Illinois, whereupon he became a resident of Geneva until
his death in 1859. It is told that he advised a son-in-law to acquire all the
shore land that could then be secured, assuring him that great profit would
arise therefrom and that, too, in time not long to come. This wise counsel
was not followed, though much of the land might have been bought at twen-
ty-five dollars an acre.

Gurdon Montague sold in 1870 ninety acres lying in section 35, having
a front on the lake near its bay-like end, to Shelton Sturges. of Chicago,
who in the next year built a large house or villa on the wooded slope outside
of the village plat, but in full view from the eastern side of the bay. Julian S.
Rumsey, an ex-mayor of Chicago, built at the eastern end in 1872. These
three examples were well followed and both shores are lined with summer
retreats built for permanence, much more substantially than bungalows, their
grounds improved without needless violence to nature. As seen from mid-
lake the view on either hand is not marred, but its native charm is heightened;
for the least possible has been taken away and much has been added with
taste and judgment. Most of these dwellers by the waterside, perhaps, own
one or more vessels of the lake fleel : and their influence on road-making and
other public improvement has been more or less salutary. The building, im-
proving and service of their houses and grounds employ many local artisans
and laborers, and so contribute to the city's general prosperity. In effect,
these owners, of whom many have been or are of the wealthiest and best
known of Chicago, have made these shores as truly suburban of their city
a- a- insti hi ami Rogers Park.

A p" \ as established in 1K37. its one weekly mail brought from

Racine by way of Franklin (Spring Prairie). Solomon Harvey, of the lat-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 345

ter village, carried the mail in his hat and coat pockets, and often rode his
horse into Geneva with a bag of grain behind him for grinding at Goodsell's
mill. A stage route from Kenosha to Beloit, in 1840, increased the useful-
ness of the postoffice. It is now an office of the second class, and has a city-
carrier system and four rural free delivery routes. Postmasters : Andrew
Ferguson, 1837; James J. Dewey, 1849; Timothy C. Smith, 1853; Lewis
Curtis, 1861; Charles E. Buell, 1871 ; Charles A. Noyes, 1879; William
Brown, 1886: George S. Read, 1890: William J. Cutteridge, 1894; Charles
S. French, 1898; Frank S. Moore, 1906; Henry H. White, 1910. Buell and
Noyes had been soldiers of the Civil war.

Much must be left untold or scarce half-told of this city by the lake.
But this matters little, for there are men and women there who, like Mr.
Simmons, can write in prose or verse and who, like him, might say that
they were a part of that of which they write. The recollections of one per-
son or one person's gathering of many recollections must still leave the story
incomplete. Nor need the past be recalled in all its minor though locally in-
teresting details. Cities are not Aladdin-built, by rubbing rings or lamps.
One who now sees broad, dustless streets, shaded by day and lighted by
night, with all needful evidence besides of past and present intelligence, enter-
prise, and high hopefulness, and who meets men and women who know how
to enjoy the present and to make better the time near at hand, needs not
the minuter record of uneven and often difficult steps by which they have
reached the prosperity and bright prospects of 1912. Lake Geneva has many
as yet unsatisfied wants, but contentment with the present is not the most
conspicuous of American virtues.

VILLAGE AND CITY CHARTERS.

The village of Geneva was chartered in 1844. At its first election Charles
M. Goodsell became president, and with him was a board of trustees, a ma-
jority of whom were temperance men. This they proved by an ordinance
which forbade the sale or gift of liquor after July 2d. Thomas D. Warren
was convicted and fined for having sold the evil prohibited, over the Lake
House bar, on the nation's birthday. He appealed to the territorial district
court, but a change of statute overtook the slow course of the law and at
last the proceeding was dropped; but, as it may be guessed, without loss to
learned counsel. The next legislative session took from the trustees and
gave to the town supervisors the power of granting or withholding licenses,
and Geneva was not again tormented by thirst. For eleven years the village

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

record, if ever regularly made, was lost. Of early presidents Mr. Simmons
remembered only R. Wells Warren, Benjamin E. Gill and Anthony Dobbs.

A new charter was given March 28, 1856, to an enlarged village' of
Geneva, and this was amended in 1867. In 1879 the citizens voted to set
aside their special charter and to incorporate under a general statute for
government of villages. About fifty miles southward is Geneva, Kane coun-
ty, Illinois, and mail was often missent to each of these namesake villages.
To relieve the Wisconsin village from this long endured annoyance its name
was changed in 1882 to Lake Geneva. An act of the Legislature of 1885
enabled the citizens to accept a city charter at an election held March 31,
1886. In 1897 Lake Geneva became a statutory city of the fourth class.

PRESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE.

Erasmus Darwin Richardson 1856

'70-1, 77
Harrison Rich to fill vacancy.

Dr. Alexander S. Palmer 1857-8

James J. Dewey 1859

Shepard O. Raymond 1860-1

Moses Seymour 1862

Joel Barber 1863, '68

Jonathan H. Ford 1864

Edward Quigley 1865

Ethan Lamphere Gilbert 1866

Joel C. Walter 1867

Timothy Clark Smith 1869

Samuel Henry Stafford 1872, '79

Dr. Benoni O. Reynolds 1874-6,

'80-2

Dr. George E. Catlin 1878

Maurice A. Miner 1883-4

Charles Edwin Buell 1885

VILLAGE CLERKS.

Jonathan T. Abell 1856-66

John A. Smith 1867-8

Erasmus D. Richardson 1869

Stephen Bemis Van Buskirk 1870

1 harles Edwin Buell 1871

ll'iman E. Allen 1872

John E. Burton 1873

Maurice A. Miner 1874, '76-9

["nomas Henry Ferguson 1875

Charles S. French__ 1880-4

Charles Herbert Burdick 1885

VILLAGE TREASURERS.

Thpmas Baker Gray (probably) .1856

Willi. mi Jewett 1857

\\ illiam L, Valentine 1858-61

M Barber 1862-3

Schuyler S. 1 lanna 1864, '66

William 11. Lee 1865, '69

Sylvester Curtis Sanford__i867, '71
William Alexander 1868

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

347

George W. Sturges 1870, '74-8 Charles Edwin Buell 1880-3

John Burton J872-3 Robert Bruce Arnold 1884-5

William H. Hammersley 1879

MAYORS OF LAKE GENEVA.

John Bell Simmons 1886

Charles S. French 1888

William H. Seymour 1892

Wesley Xewton Johnson 1894

Alexander T. Seymour 1895

Frank S. Moore 1898

Edward F. Dunn 1901

Ebenezer Davidson 1902

Horace Greeley Douglass 1908

Frank Augesty 1912

CITY CLERKS.

Charles Herbert Burdick 1886

Charles C. Kestol 1887-8

Charles F. Case 1889-91

William H. Hammersley 1892

Louis B. Warren 1893-4

Benjamin O. Sturges 1895

Charles H. Gardner 1896-1904

Arthur G. Bullock 1905-12

CITY TREASURERS.

Thomas Baker Gray, elected 1886

William L. Valentine 1887-8

Ephraim E. Sanford 1889-90

Ethan L. Gilbert 1891

Reinhold Briegel 1892-3, 1901-3

George P. Wheeler 1894-5

Emery A. Buell 1896-7

Walter A. McAfferty 1898-9

Charles Lawrie 1900

William W. Ross 1904

Andrew E. Williams 1905

Lloyd D. Sampson 1906, 1910

Theron Dallas Stroupe 1908

Andrew Williams 1912

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR VILLAGE AND CITY.

Warren Beckwith 1886-91

William F. Best 1910-11

Lewis G. Brown 1901

Francis A. Buckbee 1881-96,

1902-5

Hugh A. Burdick 1900-1

Samuel S. Case 1881-2

Bezaleel W. Farnum 1865

Arthur M. Kaye 1904-9

James Leonard 1908-11

Cyril Leach Oatman 186 1-2,

'66-9, '72-3

Richard D. Short 1892-7, 1902-3

James Simmons 1873-4

John A. Smith 1867-9

Theron Dallas Stroupe 1905-7

Thomas F. Tolman 1885

Franklin J. Tyrrell 1910

348 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

John Theodore Wentworth Julius L. Wind 1900-1

1863-4, '70-1

It is not unlikely that Abell and Oatman, with, perhaps, a few more
justices named in the town list, were, in fact, chosen for the village, though
the record at the circuit clerk's office does not make it appear so.

POPULATION AND VALUATION.

The village population in 1870 was 998. In 1880 it was 1,969. The
city population in 1890 was 2,297. In ^ 1900 it was 2,585. By wards in
1910: First ward, 948; second ward, 775; third ward, 1,356; total for

city, 3,079.

Valuation of real estate in 1910 was $3,553,000; of personal property,
$752,000. (Nineteen automobiles were returned for the city in 1910, but
their number now owned here and about the county has so increased as to
make such statistic already worthless.)

CHAPTER XXVIII.

TOWN OF LAFAYETTE.

This town, at first included in Spring Prairie, was set off March 21,
1843. It is town 3 north, range 17 east, less section 31, set off in 1846
to form the town of Elkhorn. Beginning on its north line, and following the
direction of the sun, it is bounded by Troy, Spring Prairie, Geneva and
Elkhorn, and Elkhorn and Sugar Creek. Its surface varies between 855
and 1,015 feet above sea-level — the lowest point a creek valley in section
8, its highest near Elkhorn, near section 31. Sugar creek crosses from
west to east a little north of the middle line of the town, and affords a
small amount of mill power, but its several branches are inconsiderable in
volume. In the earlier years it was well wooded with the several varieties
of oak, and at points along the creek with sugar maples from which the
Indian occupants of the/ county hunting ground derived a noteworthy supply
of crudely made sugar. A few fine oak groves remain, and these are in
themselves more than merely fair to look upon. Taking them with the
green levels and the gently rolling fields, in the larger prospects, they make
the town well worth a summer-day drive through it, in any direction, to
see in what kindly mood was Nature when she formed Lafayette. Nature,
however, did not work by town, county, or state lines ; and this town is
but a small segment of the Eden-like Mississippi valley. The older forests
were cut away to build cabins and fences and for the fuel of town and
neighboring village. When the railway was built across the town its de-
mands for ties, timber, and fuel quickened the previously slower spoliation
to the pace of a forest fire. But the town is far from treeless, thanks to the
valuable and carefully conserved later growth.

The town is underlaid, as supposed by geologists, with Niagara lime-
stone for most of its area, and along its western border with Cincinnati
shale. A few borings have reached rock at 800 to 840 feet above sea-
level, which may indicate that the glacial drift is from 55 to 175 feet deep.
The land area is 22,198 acres. The total value, 19 10, was $1,650,300. The
crop acreage was: Barley, 1,188; corn, 3,927; hayfield, 3,124; oats, 2,532;
orchard, 98; potatoes, 99; rye, 150; timber, 1,859; wheat, 102. The as-
sessed valuation of all property was 3.66 per cent of that of all property

jgO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

in the county. The population at each federal census was: 1850, 1,048;
i860, 1,122; 1870, 1,032; 1880, 1,028; 1890, 933; 1900, 924:0910, 894.

Neighboring villages and especially Elkhorn account for a small part
of this loss of population. Elderly farmers retire from active life and
find rest in the village.

Before the establishment of rural free delivery there was a postoffice
at Bowers near the junction of two highways from Spring Prairie to Elkhorn,
east side of section 26. In earlier times this office was a few rods distant
and was named Grove. There was also an office at Fayetteville (which
railway men persistently call "Peck's Station"). The town is now supplied
with its mail mostly from Elkhorn.

Isaiah Hamblin and family led the immigration to Lafayette in June,
1836. He settled on section 25, and built his cabin immediately. He
alsi 1, .bought land in section 13. Within the year Solomon A. Dwinnell,
Elias Hicks, Alpheus Johnson, Charles Chauncey Perrin and Isaac Vant fol-
lowed. Messrs. Dwinnell and Hamblin passed the cold winter of 1836-7
in their new quarters. In the next three years came Nathaniel Bell, William
Bohall, Alexander H. Bunnell, Morris Cain, Harvey M<. Curtiss, George W.
Dwinnell, David S. Elting, Thomas Emerson, Daniel. McDonough and
Samuel Harkness, Riley Harrington, Daniel Hartwell, Charles Heath, Mason
\. I licks. Henry Johnson,, Dr. Jesse C. Mills, Anthony Xoblet, Emery
Singletery, Duer Y. Smith, Sylvester G. Smith. Daniel Kingsley Stearns,
David Tower Vaughn, John Wadsworth. Stephen Gano West and Jesse
Pike West, his son.

Others who entered land at the Milwaukee office were William Allen,
George Franklin Babcock, Asahel Bailey, Rufus Barnes, James Alexander
Bell, Watson Beman, Levi Blossom, Jr.. Franklin Ephraim Booth, Joseph
Bowman, Gershom P. Breed, Edmund Baldwin Cherevoy, Azariah Clapp,
Curtis Clark, James Coleman, James Craig, Sprowell Dean, Reuben M.
Doty, Julius Edwards, Isaac Fuller, William Nicholas Gardner, Clement
Hare, Thomas Harrison, George Hicks, Ethan A. Hitchcock, William
Hodges, Samuel M. and Willard K. Johnson, Sylvanus Langdon, Ambrose
Brown Lockwood, Alexander. Duncan and Murdock Matheson, Peter Nob-
let, George and Charles Paine Osborn, Jared Patrick, Jr., Uriah Payne, Peter
Perry, Robert K. Potter, James Ouiggle, Israel Scott, George and Dewitt
C. Sheldon, Xephaniah Short, five Smiths, named Elbert Herring, Ezekiel
Rrown, Henry, Horace, and Martin, Ebenezer Soule, Lorenzo Stewart, Abel
B. and Elijah B. Terrill, John Trumbull, Charles Wales, Eleazar Wheelock,
Joseph D. Whiteley, William Montague Whitney, George Whitton, Absalom

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 35 1

Williams, Jr., Alexander Wilson, Christopher Wiswell, John Wood, Simon
J. Woodbury, Calvin H., George W., and Robert Wylie, George Young.

The census of 1842 shows a few once well known names as: William
Baumis, Zebulon Bugbee, Israel Hamblin, Jacob Harkness, Solomon Lewis,
Henry Noblet. Theodorus Bailey Northrop, Thomas Pollock, Sherman Mor-
gan Rockwood, Henry H. Sterling, Charles H. Thompson, ancL others who
may have been of either part of old Spring Prairie.

Amasa Allen (1776-1845) and his son Lester (1810-1884) were long
residents in the town. Lester died at Elkhorn.

Truman B. Bartlett (1815-1907) came from Vermont in 1844, with
wife Serena Strong (1823-1890) and settled in Spring Prairie. About 1856
he bought his farm in section 6, Lafayette.

Major Nathaniel Bell (1800-1868) was sheriff from 1845 to 1849.
He came in 1837 with his wife Sarah L. (1809-1847) and bought in sections
12, 25, 36.

Robert Bentley (1800-1854) and wife Maria Burse (1809-1868) came
to section 5, in 1847.

Joseph H. Bishop (1801-1882), son of Levi Bishop and Nancy Hunt,
lived in section 10. His wife was Clarissa R. Balsley.

Alexander Hervey Bunnell (1813-1889), son of Salmon Bunnell and
Lois Leete, of Broome county, New York, came to section 20 in 1837. He
married, first, Mary Dyer in 1839. She died in 1847 and he married in
1848 Harriet N. Dyer (1825-1883). These were daughters of Capt. Charles
Dyer and Mary Galusha, and sisters of Dr. Edward G. Dyer.

Harvey Morse Curtiss (1817-1890), son of Harvey Curtiss and Melinda
Morse, bought in sections 14, 23, in 1840. He married twice: Calcina A.
Smith (1831-1852) and Eliza Almira Smith (1825-1899). They were
daughters of John and Caroline Smith. Mr. Curtiss was one of the best
men in his town.

Julius Derthick (1795-1863) and wife Esther Monroe v( 1790-1879),
daughter of George Monroe and Miss Bennett, came from Portage county,
Ohio, in 1854 to section 25. Their sonsjohn H. and Walter G. are named in
the official lists of the county.

Isaiah Hamblin (1790-1857) was son of Barnabas and wife Daphne,
daughter of William Haynes. (His other ancestors: Sylvanus,4 Elkanah,8
James2 1). He was born in Massachusetts and died in California. His
wife died in Iowa in 1847, before which time he had left his home here to
rejoin the Mormons, beyond the river.

352

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Albert Dyer Harris (1820-1891), son of Dyer Harris and Temperance
Watrous, had earlier ancestors: Ephraim,4 3 Asa,2 James.1 He was born
in Connecticut, married in 1845 Maria, daughter of William Bell and Harriet
Owen, and came in that year to section 36.

Thomas Harrison (1793-1872) had wife Clementina M. (1811-1845).
His land was in section 26.

Anson Hendrix (1793- 1849) and wife Cynthia Niles (1799-1871) left
a son Wellington (1821-1889), whose wife was Abigail Briggs (1822-1895),
and who was long a man of various public usefulness.

Elias Hicks (1800-1885), son of Nathaniel, of Bristol county, Massa-
chusetts, married Eliza Witherspoon in 1822, and came in 1837 to Lafayette.
His second wife was named Amanda. He died at Elkhorn. There have been
several namesake families in the country, some of whom came from Nova
Scotia.

Murdock (1810-1886) and Roderick McKenzie (1825-1898) came
from Scotland in 1842 and in 1846 to northern Lafayette. Murdock married
Jane Lamont (1827-1857); Roderick married Susan, daughter of Thomas
and Susan Pollock. Their sister Barbara was wife of Alexander Matheson.

Winthrop Norton (1800-1863) married Hannah Cranston (1800-1879)
and in 1842 came from Ohio to section 25. Their sons, Abraham C, John
II. and William C, and daughter, Zilpha M. (Mrs. John C. Keyes), were
long active and helpful members of their community. Mr. Norton died in
California.

Uriah Payne, son of the pioneer at Geneva Lake, came about 1842
from Duck Lake, and bought in section 15, but left no distinct mark in the
town history.

Thomas Pollock (1808-1882) and wife Susan Manderson came from
Scotland. They settled near their son-in-law, Roderick McKenzie.

Zephaniah Short (1815 [896) was born in Otsego county; in 1835
married Sally Cockett (1815-1893) ; came to Lafayette, section 27. In their
later years they lived at Elkhorn. Their son George died in service as a
soldier of the, Twenty-eighth Infantry in 1863.

nory Singletery (1798-1891) was born at Sutton, Massachusetts. He
may have been a near relative of Solomon A. Dwinnell, whose mother was
Hannah Singletery. He married, first, Lois Pierce; second, Catharine
Smith (1800-1875). He lived in section 22.

Ezckiel Brown Smith (1809-1882), son of Willard Smith and Amy,
(laughter of Palmer Gardner and Hannah, daughter of Joseph and Mary
Xichols — therefore an aunt of the first-comer to Spring Prairie. Her father-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 353

line was George.1 Nicholas, 2 3 Sylvester,4 Palmer."' Amy". The other Gardner
line was George.' Nicholas,2 3 Sylvester,4 Palmer,5 Sylvester," Palmer,7 of
Spring Prairie. In 1840 Mr. Smith married Sophronia (1812-1885),
daughter of Amasa Allen, at Ellisburg, New York, and came in 1843 to
section 12.

Sylvester Gardner Smith (1796-1878) was a brother of Ezekiel B.
Smith, and was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. He came to sections
11. 12. His first wife was Diana Ward, whose son, Capt. Lindsey J. Smith,
of Troy, was serviceable in war and in peace. His second wife was Mrs.
Charity Pierce.

Daniel Kingsley Stearns was son of Theodore Stearns and Charlotte
Root. He died between 1857 and i860, at his farm in section 21. His
wife, Elizabeth Kellogg, was thus descended in father line: Nicholas,1
Thomas.2 Philip." Martin,4 Joseph,3 Nathaniel,6 7 Moses,8 Whiting.9 Her
mother was Elizabeth ( 1750-1832), daughter of Aaron and Mary Cross.

Isaac Yant (1806-1861) and wife Ann (1809-1888) came to section 12.

David Tower Vaughn (1810-1888), son of Samuel Vaughn and Ruth
Bowker, was born in Vermont; married Rebecca Dinsmore (1813-1876);
came in 1838 to Spring Prairie, bought in section 13 of Lafayette in 1840,
to which he added land in section 18, Spring Prairie, until he owned more
than five hundred acres. His brother. Samuel Cole Vaughn, and brother-
in-law. Isaiah Dike, came also to Spring Prairie in 1837.

Joseph D. Whiteley (born 1799) and wife Mary Jane (1806-1889)
went within a few years (before i860) to Walworth.

George Whitton (or Whiton?) married Jane Hare. He died in 185 1
and ten years later she died.

Absalom Williams (1818-1892), son of Absalom Williams and Fanny
Root, married Melissa Tiffany in 1840. Tn 1844 he came to section 34.
He had sons Emory, Collins M., Frank, George, and Arnold D. From
1853 to 1886 he lived in Spring Prairie, and died at Elkhorn. His wife
(1820-1890) died at Lyons.

Alexander Wilson (1802-1873), section 28. married Abigail (1801-
[887), daughter of George and Abigail Bishop. They came to the town in
1842.

Christopher Wiswell (1811-1883), son of Capt. Henry Wiswell and
Elizabeth Salter, was born at Dalton, Massachusetts, and came from Chen-
ango county in 1N40. first buying in section 5. He married Almira (1817-
[883), daughter of Stephen G. West and Rebecca Pike.
' (23) '

354

\\ ALW0RTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

The Elkhorn and Eagle branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railway crosses sections 4, 5. 8, 18, 19, 31, and has a station in section 8,
named by the company for Jedediah W. Peck.

There are seven school districts in the town, of which district 2 is joint
with Troy, district 4 with Sugar Creek, district 7 with Spring Prairie (the
Bowers schoolhouse). and district 9 with Sugar Creek and Troy.

There is a church in section 10, at the Bishop farm, its service usually
supplied from the Congregational church at East Troy, and near it is a well-
kept burial ground, laid out in 1848. There are also graves at "Westville."'
in section 6, and at the Seymour farm in section 18, laid out in 1844.

CHAIRMEN OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Dr. Jesse Carr Mills 1843

Nathaniel Bell 1844-6, '50-1

Christopher Wiswell 1847, '60-3

Harvey Morse Curtiss-1848, '74> '83

Ralph Patrick 1849

John Bell 1852-3

James Harkness I854"5

Robert Thompson Seymour

[856-7, '66-8

Reuben B. Burroughs 1858-9

Ezekiel Brown Smith 1864-5

Stephen R. Edgerton 1869, '7^

Jedediah William Peck 1870

Calvin II. Wylie 1871-2, '78

Abraham Cranston Norton. -187^.
•84, '87

Joseph Potter 1876, '82

jay P. Wylie 1877

Virgil Cobb 1879-80

Theodorus Northrop 18S1

Delos Harrington 1888, '91

Jay Foster 1889. '90. '1)4

James E. Lauderdale 1892

Bennet F. Ludtke J893, '97

Milo Bingham Ranney 1805-6. '98

George L. Harrington 1899-1901

Charles E. Knapp 1902-6

Frederick Milton Dike 1907-9

William Harmon 1910-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

I. out Mien 1835

Anthony Belk 1905

George Bentley 1879-80

Erwin V III Igood igoy

Uberl Brown 1882, 1902-3

James Child [859, '71-2

Oscai I' I oats T907-9

William II Conger r852-3

George Costello 1911

Harvey Morse Curtiss 1846-7.

'50. '8]

Harvey Ward Curtiss 1891

John Henry Derthick 1873

Julius Derthick i860

Walter George Derthick 1866-7

Frederick Milton Dike 1900-6

WA1. WORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

.1 3 3

Brewster B. Drake 1866, ~jj. '78

Charles E. Ellsworth 1904

William Pierce Ellsworth 1869

George W. Fairchild 1885

Jay Foster 1887-8

Solomon H. Foster 1876

Everett A. Greene 1909, '12

Porter Greene 1856

James Harkness 1910-11

Rut us Dudley Harriman 1874

Albert Dyer Harris 1851

James V. Hempstead 1854

Wellington Hendrix 1863-4, '68

Peter Hinman 1844-5, "47"S

Henry A. Hubbard 1867-8, '80

Hiram Humphrey 1845, 49

Charles E. Ketchpaw 1883

John C. Keyes 1871-2

James E. Lauderdale 1895-6

Louis E. Lauderdale 1912

Bennet F. Ludtke 1891

Donald F. Matheson 1908

Oscar D. Merrick 1889

Nathan W. Mower 1870

Anthony Xoblet 1879

Abraham Cranston Norton 1869

Ralph Patrick 1846, '48

Jedediah William Peck 1865

Frederick Peglow 1899

Alonzo Potter 1870

Geo. Eugene Potter 1890, '92-4, '97

Joseph Potter T859, '75, '77

Patrick Powers 1893-4

Milo B. Ranney 1898

Henry Rieck 1898

Sherman Morgan Rockwood 1843

Charles F. Rohde 1884-6, '92, '97

Sylvester C. Sanford 1861

Robert Thompson Seymour 1873

Ezekiel Brown Smith 1857,

'60-2, '74

Henry Harrison Sterling 1862

August Voss 1881-3, '87

John Wadsworth 1850

William Webb 1884. '86

Nelson West 1865

Stephen Gano West 1851-2, '54

William Montague Whitney. _ 1863-4

Absalom Williams 1853

Alexander Wilson 1843-4

Frederick Winter 1877-8,

'88-90, '95-6

Christopher W'iswell 1856, [858

Frederick Clayton Wiswell-1899-1901

William J. Wood-' 1906

Calvin H. Wylie 1849, 'S7"8

John Perry Wylie 1876

TOWN CLERKS.

Reuben B. Burroughs 1843

Charles Seeley 1844-6

Alva H. Thompson 1847

George G. Sewell 1848-50

Harvey Morse Curtiss 1851-2

Wellington Hendrix 1853

George Washington Wylie. 1854-1860

( alvin H. Wiley— 1861, '65-6, '70, '82

Stephen R. Edgerton 1862-4

Wallace W. Hartwell 1867-9

Xiles Anson Hendrix 1871-3

Milo Bingham Ranney. .!_ 1 874-

80, '83-8
Harvey A. Greene 1881

356

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Leonard Cobb- _ 1889-96, '98, 1901-9 Joseph Robert Potter 1899-1900

George P. Peck 1897, 1910-12

TREASURERS.

Solomon Ashley Dwinnell 1843

Joseph Whitmore 1844

Svlvester Gardner Smith 1845-8

Alexander Hervey Bunnell 1849

Christopher Wiswell 1850

Jedediah William Peck 185 1

Peter Ilinman 1852

X. Howard Briggs 1853

Jacob Wright 1854

William .Montague Whitney-- 1855-6

Reuben I!. Burroughs 1857

William Pierce Ellsworth 1858

Robert S. Hendrix 1859

Stephen Williams i860

George Wright 1861-5, '74-6

Charles W. Concklin 1866

Albert E. Oviatt 1867

Niles Anson Hendrix 1868

Robert B. Webb 1869

Sanford Doane 1870-3

Theodoras Northrop 1877-80

Ezekiel Brown Smith 1881

William H. McArthur 1882-4

William H. Coombe 1885, '91-3

Leonard Cobb 1886-7

Julius M. Ellsworth—. 1888-90,
'98-1907

Clayton E. Mower 1894

Charles E. Ellsworth 1895-6

Frank Harmon l%97

Erwin A. Bloodgood 1908-9

Robert J. Ludtke 1910-12

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Nelson Catlin 1862-3, '65-6

Robert Cheney 1899-1900

James Child 59-60, '62-5,

"68-74, '75-90- '94-9

Oscar P. Coats 1901-2, '06-7

Waller George Derthick__i879, '86-7.

Frederick Milton Dike 1908-9

Stephen R. Fdgcrtoii 1867-74

Richard Baker Mack 1859-62

lay Foster 1887-95

Levi Hare 1872-3

George L. Harrington 1898

Wellington Hendrix 1863-74

Mark Hunt

Willam L. Lane

William II. McArthur.

Clayton P.. Mower

( 'harle- Isaac Peck

Milo B. Ranney

Oscar B. Rogers 1

Henry Schroeder

John Schubert

Ezekiel Brown Smith

Jesse Pike West

Alexander Wilson

Calvin II. W'vlie 1

■ 1805-6
.1866-7
.1880-3
-.1890
.1891-2
.1893-4
879-80
1S8J-7

1 So,, -1
1877-9
..1865
1860-I
885-90

CHAPTER XXIX.

TOWN OF LAGRANGE.

Town 4 north of range 16 east was set off March 21, 1843, from the
town of Elkhorn and named for an estate or country-seat of the hereof three
revolutions, Marquis de Lafayette. It lies next southward from Palmyra,
in Jefferson county; and the city of that name has trade relations and some
personal interests with part of the town on this side of the line. Lagrange
is generally about nine hundred fifty-five feet above sea-level. It is within
the lower loop of the great Kettle moraine, and its numerous pot-like de-
pressions are characteristic of that great glacial deposit. Some of these are
(or have been) miniature lakes. The group of lakes named Lauderdale,
from owners of adjacent land, is in the southeastern corner, section 36,
and from it Honey creek takes its course across the Troy and Spring Prairie
to Fox river. A branch of the Scuppernong flows northward, from section
18, and through sections 7 and 6.

•. The land is generally as fertile as any in the county, and Heart prairie,
in the southwestern quarter, was long regarded as especially so. The
farmers of the town have l>een as far-seeing and prosperous as elsewhere
within county limits. Stock-raising received early attention and effort, and
men of Heart prairie made their corner of the town widely famous for its
improved breed of hogs. For a few years each side of 1880 a few tons
of tobacco were raised, but that crop has since disappeared from the yearly
reports. Heart prairie lies about 965 feet, and the opposite corner of the
town about 943 feet above sea-level. Trenton limestone is found at 720
to 870 feet above the sea.

James Holden made the first lawful claim to land within the town,
a square-mile on Heart prairie, early in 1837. He was soon followed,
within the year, by Amasa Bigelow, James Burt, Gabriel Cornish and sons,
Edwin DeWolf, George Esterly, Volney A. McCraken, True Rand and
Benjamin Swett. 1838 brought Stephen B. Davis, Orison G. Ewing,
Ephraim C. Harlow, William McDougald, Thomas Waterman, John Weld,
Elijah Worthington (with father and brother). Robert G. Esterly and
Marshall Newell came in 1839. Among men of 1840 were Charles P. Ellis,

Jj8 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

James W. Field, Stephen C. Goff, Oliver P. Gunnison, Caleb and Levi
Harris, Enos J. Hazard, Ezekiel Lewis. In 1841 Benjamin F. Fox, John
King, William Lyon, Caleb and Robert K. Morris, John Norcross, Moses
Rand, Samuel Robinson, James H. Sanford. Other early arrivals were
those of Horace and Nathan Adams, John H. Cooper, Hiram Cross, David
S. Elting, Benjamin Fowler, James Lauderdale, John Olds, Isaac C. Phelps.

Entries at the land office, were made by Henry Adkins, Sewell Andrews,
Thomas Astin, William Benjamin Astin. Hugh Barker, Samuel Barr,
Harvey Birchard, Thomas Bray, William Bromley, Walter Clayton, James
Coats, James George Conklin. Richard Day, Julius Edwards, Walter P.
Flanders, Jesse Halsted, John C. Harlow, John Harrison, Charles Heath,
Silas and William Houghton, Herman Jenkins, Lars Johnson, Caleb and
George W. Kendall, Samuel Kershaw, Edmund King, Jacob R. Kling,
Sjur Knudson, Julius H. Lauderdale, Harvey Andrew Lawton, Hugh and
Patrick Lee, Henry C. Leffingwell, George Leland, Ralph Lockwood,
William Lumb, Alexander McDonald, Isaac Magoon, Patrick Mahan,
Edward Malcomb, Corrall Higley Mills, Delos Storms Mfills, Forest W.
.Mills, Richard,. L. Morris, Noyes Darling Niblack, John B. and George W.
Norcross, Benjamin, Halver, Matthias and Oliver Oleson, John Padley, Ole
Peterson, Isaac Severance, Sidney F. Shepard. Isaac I. Sherwood, George
and Maxwell Smith, Peter Spur. James and James P. Stewart, Nelson Z.
Strong, Joshua Taylor, Homer Ward, Francis B. Webster. Iver Wickinson,
John Wilson.

Horace Adams (1801-1863) had first wife Sarah R. (1S02-1849),
second wife Fanny Emerson (born 181 1). He died at Racine.

Nathan Adams (1778-1850) had wife Rachel. (His headstone gives
dates 1 781-1855 — not a solitary instance of difference between stone-cutter
an<! other record-makers.)

Thomas Astin (1822-1907) had wife Elizabeth (1823-1898). He
bought in section 9.

Amasa Bigelow came from Nova Scotia. His first wife was named
Welch. Second wife, Ann, died in 1906.

James Burt's son, born in 1838, was the first native resident of the
town.

Gabriel Cornish (1772-1853) and wife Eliza (1873-1837) came with
sons Anson. Jared, and Nelson, in 1837, to section 15. Anson became a
clergyman.

Hiram Cross (1811-1882) came in [842 to section 25. He was an
[y improver of stock-breed-, and, took premiums at the first county fair.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 359

Stephen B. Davis married Esther Newell April 24, 1842. She was
probably a daughter of Marshall and Esther Newell.

Edwin DeWolf married Elizabeth C. McCracken, February 8, 1843.

David S. Elting was earlier of Lafayette. He married Eliza Manwell,
October 31, 1841.

Ephraim C. Harlow (1806-1899) was son of Levi Harlow and Eliza-
beth Cary. He married Emeline (1811-1891), daughter of Joseph Bigelow,
and lived on section 1, near Little Prairie.

Caleb Harris (1810-1893), son of Jeremiah Harris and Priscilla Cole,
grandson of Anthony Harris, Jr.. was born in Jefferson county, New York.
He married April 11, 1844, Laura Ann Bronson (1822-1904). He came
with a brother, Levi, and brother-in-law, Ellis, in 1842. Wesley Harris
(1795-1884) and wife Esther ( 1789- 1852) are buried at Lagrange; but
relationship, if any, with Caleb is not learned.

Enos J. Hazard (1810-1857) married Celestia Knight, December 10,
1845. (His widow, Julia C, may have been the same person.) In 1848
he was chosen as assemblyman over Augustus C. Kinne and Thomas Water-
man.

Charles Heath (1818-1889) and wife Harriet E. (born 1817) were
parents of Julia M. Y.. late widow of William H. Morrison, who, was long
known in county and state service.

Nathaniel G. Holden (1818-1872) was son of Josiah Holden and
Elizabeth Leland. Elvira J., his wife, was born in 1819. They came in
1842 to Heart prairie.

William Houghton (1802-1889) bought land in sections 14, 22, 23, 26.
His first wife was Orilla E. (' 1809-1853). His widow, Clarissa, was born
in 1818.

George W. Kendall (1799-1887), known as Captain Kendall, was
called in 1839 for service as petit juror in Judge Irwin's court. His house
was for a time a wayside tavern.

Edmund Kin- 1 1819-1901) was born at Pomfret, Vermont. He
came to Whitewater; thence to section 17, Lagrange, where he married
Deborah (1825-1901), daughter of Samuel Loomer and Deborah Eaton;
returned in after years to Whitewater, where he died.

John King (1806-1899), a native of Lancashire, was son of James
King and Elizabeth Brierly. He married Hannah (1808-1887), daugtiter
of John ami Ellen Hilton, and came to New York in [834, ami to Lagrange
in 1 84 1.

360 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Jacob Rensselaer Kling (18 — 1892) was son of Jacob Kling (born
[784) and Dorothy Gasper. He bought in section 1. The family came
from the valley of, the Mohawk. A sister, Catharine, was wife of Silas' B.
Chatfield, of Troy, and this and other relationships were so numerous as
to give a family character to a quarter of that town.

Ezekiel Lewis (died 1858) married Abigail (1795-1878), daughter of
Job and Lydia Harrison, and settled on section 21 in 1840. Their son,
John S. Lewis (born 1S22), is named in.early official lists.

Samuel Loonier ( 1782-1853), son of Jonathan and Eunice, married
Deborah Eaton ( 1789- 1870) and came from Nova Scotia in 1841. Their
children, as far as learned, were Hiram, Samuel X., Timothy, Deborah
(Mrs. Edmund King), and Prudence Sophia (Mrs. Andrew W. Arwood).

Volney Anderson McCracken (born 1803), a cousin of Austin Mc-
Cracken and brother-in-law of Edwin W. Meacham ( perhaps, too, of
Edwin DeWolf), never married. After several years he went to another
county. He was the first clerk of the county, and was captain of the
militia of his town.

Robert Kennedy Morris (1807-1846) and wife Emeline Bird (after-
ward Mrs. Austin) were parents of Azel Bird Morris (1842-1886), a
soldier of the Thirteenth Infantry.

Marshall Newell ( 1803-1870) came about 1840 to section 23. He
died at Whitewater. Esther Newell ( 1782-185 1) was probably his mother.

John Norcross ( [785-1862) and wife Mitty ( 1788-1802) were parents
of George Washington, Joel Butler, and Walter \Y., all early-comers.
(Franklin and Lydia P. lived in the town in i860.) George W. Norcross
married Jane Taylor, July 4, 1845.

John Olds (1787-1869) had wife Polly (1789-1856): lived at or near
Little Prairie.

Isaac C. Phelps (1812-1882) had wife Mary (18 15- 1899).

Moses Rand (1 800-1 881) was born in New Hampshire and died, un-
married, at Racine. True Rand, his brother, died in 1875. His wife was
named Lydia E. A sister, Emily E., was wife of Elijah Worthington.

Samuel Robinson (1804-1872) married Levina (1833-1893). daughter
of William Lyon and Sarah Sanborn, and sister of James Lyon.

James H. Sanford (1816-1882) married Rebecca Johnson (born
1820). He settled in section 32.

Isaac Severance (1796-1875) had wife Lucia (1801-1877). Some
persons of his name and kindred lived at Whitewater.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 361

Joshua Taylor ( 1816-1890) ^son of Joshua and Sarah Butlin, was horn
in Yorkshire; came to Oneida county, New York, in 1839; married Eliza-
beth (1820-1884), daughter of Joseph Garlock, in 1841 ; came to section
15 in 1843. A son and grandson have served as county superintendents of
schools.

John Weld ( 1795-1884), son of Thomas and wife, Laurana Leavens,
was born at Reading, Vermont, where in 1830 he married Wealthy,
daughter of Elisha Bigelow. She died in 1876. Mr. Weld came in 1841
to section 1.

Daniel Williams (1813-1907), son of Joseph and Elizabeth, was born
in Connecticut; in 1838 he married Julia M. Judson (1818-1896) and had
children. Elbert J.. Laura (Mrs. I. Ebenezer Weaver), Daniel Judson, and
Chester B. He came in 185 1 to Sugar Creek; left the state; returned in
1867 to ownership of the flouring mill at Lauderdale lakes ; removed late
in life to Elkhorn, where, after later marriage, he died.

Elijah Worthington (1803-1858) married Emily E. Rand (1806-
1888). He came in 1838 with his father and brother Theodore to section
20. In 1839 he was granted a tavern license, and elections were held at his
house.

In 1839 Amasa Bigelow built a saw-mill at the entrance of Honey creek,
or Mill lake, at the Troy line, and this was followed by a grist-mill, known
as the \\ 'illiams mill and as the Lean mill. It is yet in running order, with
reduced custom. A church was built early at Heart Prairie by the Methodist
society, and a much better building soon followed on the same site. A
union church was built at Lagrange, and, yet later, a summer hotel at the
lakes. A store or two and shops were added to each of these settlements,
but a village grew from none of them. Had the rails been laid on the now
useless grade from Lake Geneva to Whitewater a station, most likely, would
have been made at Heart Prairie, and thence a more or less promising
village. The postoffices at these three places were long of local convenience.
A single star route, between Whitewater and Elkhorn, carried mail for all
of them, tri-weekly from each terminus, — a .long, tiresome, and often dif-
ficult trip for the luckless sub-contractor. Rural delivery routes from White-
water, Palmyra, and Elkhorn now supply daily service to all parts of the
town.

Four school districts are wholly within town limits, and there are five
joint districts; with Palmyra, with Sugar Creek, with Troy, with Sugar
Creek and Troy, and with Whitewater. The buildings and grounds very
fairly meet modern requirements, and show the town's enlightened interest
in the welfare of its youthful population.

362

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

The true valuation of land and improvements for 1910, as computed
by the supervisor of assessments, was $1,410,900. The numbers and values
of personal property were: 2,913 cattle, $61,893; 1,314 hogs, $13,900;
486 horses, $36,500; 150 mules, $11,250; 1,139 sheep, $3,400. There were
320 vehicles, worth $6,400; and three automobiles, valued at $400. Total
valuation of personal property, $1,727,700. The average value of land was
in 1844, $3.28 per acre; in 1910 $64.38 per acre. Acreages of crops:
Apples, 62; barley, 2,033; corn> 3-345; hayfield, 2,598; oats, 2,764; potatoes,
104; rye 606; timber, 2,295; wheat, no.

The federal censuses showed the population: 1850, 1,049; i860, 1,255;
1870, 1,039; 1880, 921; 1890, 844; 1900, 882; 1 9 10, 779.

CHAIRMEN OF TOWN SUPERVISORS.

Edwin DeWolf 1843, '45

Enos J. Hazard 1844, '50

Orison Gray Ewing- 1846

James Lauderdale- .1847-9, '5r>

'53-4. '''9. '7l-3

David S. Elting 1852

Richard Fairchild 1855

Dewitt Clinton Barron 1856-7

Sylvester Hanson 1858-60

Charles Heath 1861

James Holden 1862

George Augustus Ray — 1863-8, '70

William Greening 1874-5, '80, '83-7

Matthew P. Bishop 1876-9, '81-2

James H. Lawton 1888-91

Everett E. Dow 1892-95

John Lee Duffin 1896-1907, '12

Seymour A. Cook 1908-n

Mr. Hanson served the city of Whitewater in like capacity, in after
years. Mr. Bishop had lived earlier in Troy. Mr. Dow was of a Palmyra
family, and was later a member of Assembly.

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Horace Adams 1848

Andrew \\ . Arwood 1889-90

Asmund Asmundson 1896

rhomas Win 1859, '6l> '65

ilt C. Barron 1855

Bird 1056

Squire P. Blomily ^894-5

Edward Bromley 1882, '98

ge 1 1. Bn 'niley-1875-7, "93,
'96, 1901-5

James X. Case 1 85^. '61-2

Sextus A. Case 1881

Samuel N. Case 1882-4

Alfred Cooley 1885-7, '99

Daniel C. Coombe 1909-n

Andrew B. Coonrod 1892

John H. Cooper 1847

Augustus \Y. Dickenson 1862, '80

Edward J. Crane 1876-7

Hiram Cross 1849-50

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

363

Ira E. Doolittle 1878, '80-1

Charles Perkins Ellis. 1845, '55»
'57-60, '68, '74-5

Asmund Emerson 1897, 1907-8

Arthur Ewing 1893-4

Orison Gray Ewing 1844

Harry A. Fowler 1891

William H. Gibbs 1872, '74

William Greening 1873-74

Oliver P. Gunnison 185 1

Caleb Harris 1853-4

Charles Heath 1849-50, '58-

60, '64

James Holden 1852, '56

William Holgerson 1897-1900

William Houghton 1845

Eric Johnson 1884

Willliam W. Johnson 1879

George H. King 1889-90, '95

John King 1863, '66-7

James W. Knight 1863

Andrew Lackey 1900- 1 901

William H. Lawton 1912

C. Edward Lean 1906-8

Thomas E. Lean 1886-7

Ezekiel Lewis 1847

Charles McNaughton, 1891

Duncan McNaughton 1869, '85

John Moyse 1879

Marshall Newell 1843

Charles D. Olds 1912

John Padley 1854

Albert E. Peterson 1909-11

William Phelps 1902-4

Moses Rand 1844

Daniel K. Sanford 1870-1, 'J2>

Harley P. Sanford 1888

James H. Sanford 185 1

Samuel Stewart 1892

E. William Taylor 1906

Frank C. Taylor 1905

Joshua Taylor 1852-3, '69

Thomas Waterman 1857

John Weld 1848

John W. Weld 1870, '^

Ole O. Welkos 1888

Iver Wickinson 1878

John G. Wood 1864-7

Elijah Worthington 1843

Wayne D. Zelie 1868

TOWN CLERKS.

Thomas Waterman 1843-4, '47

Enos J. Hazard 1845, 55

Benjamin Swett 1846, '48-9

Henry Adkins 1850-4

Oliver P. Gunnison 1856

William King 1857, '59

James W. Knight 1858, '62-5

John King i860

Sylvester Hanson 1861

James H. Lawton 1866, '72-8

George W. Alexander 1867

William R. Taylor 1868-71

William Thomas Taylor 1879-85

Everett E. Dow 1886-90

John Lee Duffin 1891-95

Harry \. Fowler 1896-98

Seymour A. Cook 1899-1907

Bert Lawton 1908

John T, Tobin, Jr. 1909-12

364

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

TOWN TREASURER.

Benjamin Swett 1843, '45-6

Charles Perkins Ellis_i844, '47, '51-3

Enos J. Hazard 1848

Oliver P. Gunnison 1849-50

William Bromley 1854

Caleb W. Harris 1855, '65-7. 70-1

William Battell 1856

Thomas Astin 1857

John S. Lewis 1858

Adam Martin 1859-60

Amos Bird 1861

James H. Lawton 1862-4

George Taylor, Jr. 1868

George H. Bromley 1869

Fred W. Blomily 1872-6

William Taylor, Jr. 1877-81

Frank P. Bishop 1882

Robert J. Lean 1883-4

Charles H. Taylor 1885-6, '88-9

Jesse James Rundle 1887

Seymour A. Cook .-1890-1

William C. Wrait 1892

John E. Menzie 1893-4

William Phelps 1895-6

William Lawton 1897-8

Frank Fisher 1899-1900

Will M. Bromley 1901-2

E. Will Taylor 1903-4

Edward Malcomb . 1905-6

Frank J. Garbntt 1907-8

George F. Reddy 1909-10

John R. West 1911-12

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Andrew W. Arwood 1886-7

Zerah T. Baker 1874-6

John W. Blake 1884-6

William Bromley 1904-5. '07-8

Augustus W. Dickenson 1875-8, '80

John Lee Duffin 1894, 1904

Arthur Ewing 1895-7

Cyrus C. Gibbs 1882 5

William Greening 1865-1911

Sylvester Hanson 1S5CH4

James W. Knight 1859-66

Grant H. Lawton 1893-4

Robert J. Lean 1887-90

George F. Lull 1 860-1, '63

Edwin McDougald 190T-2, '07-10

George McDougald- 1886-96, '99-1900
Wm. McDougald_i86i, '64-9, '74.-81

Charles H. Nott 1903

Owen Reddy 1897-8

John Ridge 1873

Charles S. Vedder 1885

The pastors of Heart Prairie have been: J. D. Graham, 1858: Delos
White, 1859; Erastus Sylvester Grunley, i860; J. B. Cooper, 1862, 1875;
Rufus II. Stinchfield, 1865; Theron O. Hollister. 1867; Joseph H. Jenne,
1868; Russell P. Lawton, 1869; J. C. Robbins, 1871 ; John V. Trenery,
[873; Charles R. Chapin, 1874: Martin Van Buren Bristol. 1875: A. J.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 365

Brill. 1877; John Varty, 1S81; William R. Mellott, 1884; Benjamin T.
White, 1885; T. M. Ross, 1887; William E. Morris, 1890; W. G. Cooper,
1892; John H. James, 1899; John C. McClain, 1902; Ambrose C. Jett, 1905;
George N. Lester, 1908.

CHAPTER XXX.

TOWN OF LINN.

Town i north, range 17 east, was set off from Geneva, January 23, 1844.
and was named for Dr. Lewis Field Linn, of Missouri, who from 1833 to his
death, October 3, 1843, was Colonel Benton's colleague in the Federal Senate,
and of whose character and ability the Colonel wrote most appreciatively. It
may be noted that at the naming of the town Doctor Linn's death was yet
fresh in the memory of the territorial Democracy. Next southward lie the
towns of Hebron and Alden, in Illinois. About one-sixth of the town's area
i^ covered by Geneva lake, of which fair body of cold, pure, deep water much
the greater part is in Linn. The area of that part of the town lying north of
the lake is about two and one-half square miles. Thirteen sections of this
town are more or less lake-covered. Of section 7 only Cedar Point, at the
easl side of the entrance to Williams bay, about six acres of high and dry land
are heaved up from the general submergence of that section. The greatest
lake depths are found near tlie line of section 7 of Linn and section 12 of Wal-
worth. Williams bay, an almost rectangular indentation, a scant half-mile
wide, and reaching a large half-mile northward, is wholly in section 6. The
shores of the lake arc high and uneven, were once thickly wooded, and are not
now bare nor in any way unsightly, though architects and landscape makers
have somewhat changed their primitive aspect.

The value of sin ire property is now based on measurement in feet along
its water front. The general effect of shore improvement has been to raise
the average value (in mm) of all the 18,961 acres of Linn to $264.77 Per
ai re Such average acre-value for other towns ranges from $59.43 in Rich-
mond to $140.25 in Delavan. The surface of the town is as variously fair to
li n >k upi 'ii as in the neighbi iring towns. A branch of the Nippersink and several
smaller and nameless streams carry its waste of waters to the Fox, while a
little tribute is paid to the lake. The town was once well wooded, with alter-
nations of prairie, and is mm well cultivated. Several of the must active and
useful members of the ui hut's and dairyman's societies have been and are
men of Linn. Bloom prairie lies partly in this town.

There was no village in the town; but in moi the Chicago, Milwaukee &

Paul Railway Company built its Chicago and Janesville line across sec-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 367

tions 36, 35, 27, 28. 29, 30, making a station named Zenda, in the southeast
quarter of section 28, where a village may grow about its store and creamery
and add its own to some larger history of Linn. At this point is the only
postoffice in the town. At an early time, about 1843, and as late as 1869,
there was a postoffice. named Tirade, near the state line and in section 32, dis-
continued in 1876. \\ "hat suggested such a name is now among those things
unknown that men are fond of calling mysteries. About 1897 an office named
Bissell was established near a cheese factory, in section 32. This was soon
discontinued, and another office named Linton, was placed on the line
of sections 20 and 21 and on the road from Lake Geneva to Fontana. This
office, too, had a short existence.

On a map of the roads a noteworthy feature is the course of the old and
well-made highway from Lake Geneva to Fontana, which follows mostly the
Pottawattomie trail, and makes nine oblique angles and six slight turns before
it reaches the Walworth line, having crossed eight sections from sections 1 to
19. both included. This, of course, avoids the long line of the south shore
highlands and the few low places, and makes a somewhat striking exception
to the more general movements by section lines and right angles. This road
was of early importance to dwellers at each end of the lake as well as to those
along its slightly devious course through a rich and pleasing part of the town.

The crop acreages returned for 1910 were: Barley. 565; corn, 3,475;
hay, 2,128: oats, 1,902: orchard, 56; potatoes. 60; rye. 6; timber. 708: no
wheat shown. Number and value of live stock: 3,068 cattle, $100,600; 975
hogs. $11,700; 818 horses, $64,600: 746 sheep. $2,700. There were five auto-
mobiles, valued at $5,500: 220 other vehicles at $10,000; lake vessels, sail and
steam, valued at $100,000. Total value of personal property, $451,400.

John Powers (1803-1867), a native of Maine, made his claim in section
1 in 1836 and built the first house in Linn the next spring. He married Laura
Stevens (born 1807) at Geneva, January 31. 1841. He died at Lake Geneva.
Other settlers in 1837 were Benjamin Ball, section 34; Allen McBride, sections
31. ^t,: Samuel Ryland, section 31; Israel Williams, section 6. Within the
next few years patents were granted at the land office to Joseph Bailey, Thomas
Baker. John Barr, Sr., Lewis Barrett, Charles Beardsley (1819-1903). John
W. Boyd. Peleg C. and Solomon C. Burdick, Thomas Chrystal. Peter S.
Cooper, George and Peter Crayton, John Cumming, Thomas Davis, Daniel
Downs, James Duncan, Thomas Dyer, John Chesley Ford. Daniel K. Franklin.
Benj. F. Fridley, William Greenman, Francis Hanmore Hale, Seymour N.
Hatch, Lorenzo Hinman. Joel Hopkins. Thomas Hovey, Joseph Fdwin Howe,
William Hubbard, Silas tngalls, James and William Johnson, Lyman Jones,

368 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Michael Keenan, Terence Kennedy, Daniel Lloyd, Jonathan Lockwood, Mah-
lon McBride, Charles McXamara, Dr. James McNish, Samuel Madison, Amos
Makyes, James B. Martin, John Matthews, John Millard. Frederick A. M lin-
den, James Xelson, Benson Pierce, Caleb Preston. Edwin and John Henry
Prime, Lyman Redington, Isaac M. and John Reed, John Reek, William
Orson Roblee, John Conrad Shaver, George Smith, John P. Snell, George
Trimble, Abram Van Orden, Julius Wadsworth, [Marshall Franklin Winters.

Benjamin Ball (1780-1868) had wife Daphne (1790-1873). He was
one of the first county commissioners, a native of Massachusetts, and for a
few years resident in Dupage county, Illinois.

John Barr (1792-1860) married Barbara Black ( 1789- 1883) in Scot-
land and came to America in 1828. About twenty years later he bought land
in sections 10, 15. One of his sons was for some years chairman of the
county board of supervisors.

Charles Beardsley (1819-1903) bad wife Susan A. Copeland (1825-

1903)-

Peleg C. Burdick (1787-1854) and wife Olive (1814-1858) came to
section 21. Solomon Champlin Burdick (1812-1891), perhaps Peleg's son,
came to section 29.

Thomas Chrystal (born 1813) and wife Margaret (born 1807) bought
in sections 20, 25, 28.

Peter S. Cooper (1809-1893) and wife Lovina ( 1829- 1907) were of
section [9.

John Cumming ( 1781-1854) had wife Mary, born 1781. died October
21, [839, and buried in Walworth. He bought in section 9.

Michael Keenan (born 1820) and wife Ann (born 1823) settled in sec-
ti"ii 21, and Daniel Lloyd (born 18181 and wife Mary (born 1825) in sec-
tion 28.

Mien McBride 1 [809-1884) married hatha Collier (born 1814). Both
were natives of < Ihio, and came in 1837 to section 31, and also bought land in
section 33; He was in various official ways useful to his townsmen.

John Millard (1798-1887) and wife Elizabeth (1815-1877) bought in

'■CClli ills |i;, 30.

John Reek (born 1815 1, s,,., ,,1" John Reek and .Mary Garside, a native

of Cheshire, came to the states in [837 and about 1845 to Finn and proved

thai a good carriage maker ma\ be also a good farmer. His wife was Amelia

Bennett. I heir si >ns Joseph and James S. (1850-191 1 ) have been prosper »us

and active men in ti iw n affairs.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 369

Samuel Robinson (born 1811), a native of Massachusetts, came to sec-
tion 14 in 1844 from Chenango county. His first wife was Freelove Thorn-
ton; the second, Mrs. Jane Marshall (born 1807).

John Peter Snell (1796-1852) and wife, Mary Ann Scouton (1798-
1858). came to section 19. He at once took his place among men of property
and of influence in town and county affairs.

Israel Williams (1789-1846), son of Ephraim, of Franklin county, Massa-
chusetts, with his wife, Lavina Joy (1787-1852), came in 1837, at first to
section 18, a little later to section 6, and thus was named for him the bay
which cuts so deeply and squarely into that section. So little of Linn west
of the bay is land that he bought also in section 1 of Walworth, and, too, in
section 24 of that town. His brother, Austin, and son, Moses Daniel Williams,
settled in Walworth. His sons, Israel, Jr., Royal Joy and Festus A., came
with him, and in the same year Henry was born. The exact birth-date is not
told, and it is thus uncertain whether the first-born of Linn was Henry, or a
son of William K. May, or a daughter of Benjamin Ball.

Zenda, the one railway station and postoffice now in the town, is 67.5
miles from Chicago and 31.5 miles from Janesville. Besides from this office,
mail is distributed by rural delivery routes from Lake Geneva and Walworth
and from Hebron, Illinois.

There are two school districts jointly with Bloomfield, one with Wal-
worth, and three are wholly within the town. The school at Zenda has two
departments.

The population of Linn at the decennial census was: 1850, 630; i860,
1,008; 1870, 895; 1880, 823; 1890, 854; 1900, 1.082; 1910, 1,201. This in-
crease in the number of inhabitants for the past twenty years is mostly attrib-
utable to the coming of families from the din and murk of the city Enormous
to the strips of wooded highland along the shores of the lake Beautiful. These
newcomers brought with them wealth and cultivated tastes, whence slopes so
fair in their savage state have been made yet more sightly to unenvying eyes,
and this without needlessly marring primitive comeliness.

CHAIRMEN OF TOWN SUPERVISORS.

Ira Turner 1844 Solomon C Burdick 1849. '57

Tohn William Boyd 1845-6, '73'4 William II. Lewis 1852

Israel Williams 1847 Albert T. Wheeler 1853

John Peter Snell 1848, '50-1 George Allen 1854-5, '63-7

(24)

370

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Allen McBride 1856

Benjamin F. Groesbeck__ 1858-9, '61

James Emery i860, '71-2

James V Benedict 1862

John McKibbin 1868-9

George W. Barr 1870, '91-1902

Amzy Merriam 1875-6

Dwight Sidney Allen 1877-90

John C. Brennan 1903-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Benjamin M. Ball 1873

George W. Barr___ 1864-5, '68-9, '72

George Batschelet 1912

John C. Brennan 1898- 1903

Charles Edwin Buell 1866-7

Ira Buell 1854

Solomon C. Burdick 1848, '54

Thomas Cady 1863-4

Charles Cornue 1858

1 faniel I. Cornue 1845

Jacob I. Cornue 1850-2

Jacob S. Cornue 1858

William lit nmdall 1877

Edward Cullen 1876

James Emery 1856-7. '59

I leorge C. Gardner 1862

John Gavin 1883-90

Benjamin F. Groesbeck J855-7

John \V. Groesbeck 1847

Hobart M. Hatch 1896-7

Seymour N. Hatch 1844

Warren Holmes 1853

John Jndson 1877-82

Vddin Kaye 1868, '72

Addin Philip Kaye 1904, '06-11

William J. Kaye 1878-84

Thomas Ledger 1875-6

Walter E. Ledger 1912

Joseph Leedle T9°5

William H. Lewis ^59

Amzy Merriam. [860-1, '66-7, '69-70

Fordyce B. Merriam 1874

John Murphy 1903-11

Samuel J. Nichols 1865

Byron S. Palmer 1894-5

Henry T. Palmer 1860-1

Samuel T. Powell 1849, '53

John Powers : 1846-7, '50-2

James S. Reek 1885-0,5

Joseph Reek 1875

Samuel Ryland 1844-6, '48

Samuel Smith 1891-3, '96-1902

Ira Turner 1849

John G. Wilson 1863, '70-1

Perry Wilson 1862

Jesse Wright 1855

Samuel B. Wynn 1873-4

TOWN CLERKS.

Israel Williams. Jr 1844-5

Daniel 1. Cornue [846

Henn Bailey 1847-8

John McKiMiin iX.p>"5<>, '5.:. '55-7

Abraham Kaye 1851

( Mis K. Hale 1853

Albert A. Thompson 1854

Alexander II. Button 1858-90

Charles S. Cooper 1891-2

Artemus Alexander 1893-8

Frank Walsh 1899-1912

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

3/i

TOWN TREASURERS..

Benjamin Ball 1844

Israel Williams 1S45

Daniel I. Cornue 1846-50, '58

James A. Benedict 1851

Daniel Downs 1852-3

Nathaniel Grout 1854

Amzy Merriam 1855-7

Perry Wilson 1859

Loretto W. Fuller i860, '65

Ira Turner 1861

Arthur Kaye 1862

Solomon C. Burdick 1863

Samuel J. Nichols 1864

Noah Merriam 1866

N. Robert Colbert 1867

Jonathan Powell 1868-9

R. G. Webster 1870

James Smith 1871

G. Smith Conklin 1872

Alfred Haywood J873

Dwight Sidney Allen 1874, '76

William J. Kaye 1875

Peter Gavin 1877, '82-5

William Towl 1878

George Rowbotham 1879

Artemas Alexander 1880

John Gavin 1881, '99-1909, '12

Frank Walsh 1886-98

George Tappen 1910-11

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Dwight Sidney Allen 1899-1903

George Allen 1866-99

John Raymond Allen 1894-6

Ira Buell 1860-5

Solomon Champlin Burdick — 1861-2

Melvin C. Cornue 1883-4

Patrick Cullen 1859-60

John W. Groesbeck 186 1-2

Silas Ingalls 1896

H. C. Iverson 1887-8

Walter E. Ledger 190J-9

Allen B. McBride 1860-1

Joseph Reek 1870-3

Edmund F. Thacher 1901-2, '05-11

James F. Thacher 189 1-4, '96

L. D. Tracy 1892-1901

Abraham Van Orden 1865-6

James M. Walsh 1906-7

Mahlon P. Weter 1878-81

CHAPTER XXXI.

TOWN OF LYONS.

Town 2 north, range 18 east, was set off from the town of Geneva by
Act of January 23, 1844, and was named Hudson. James C. and Thomas K.
Hudson came in 1846 and William Hudson lived there before i860; but, as
their names are not found in earliest records it is not very probable that they
named their town. It is rather likelier that men of Columbia county, Xew
York, chose thus to remind themselves, of their old home. A few years later
the city of Hudson, in St. Croix county, seemed to have the stronger right to
the name, and in 1865 the name of the older town was changed to Lyons, to
avoid some geographical confusion. The village of Lyonsdale had been
founded, named for ,the early settling Lyon family and, as Lyons, had be-
come a railway station and gave its name to the township.

Burlington and Wheatland lie next eastward, the one in Racine county,
the other in Kenosha county. The outlets of Duck and Geneva lakes meet in
section jo and thence White river winds its wa\ to the box and thus by the
Illinois and the Mississippi to the Gulf. The united river affords a good
water-power at the south side of section 10, and this was improved at an early
time. The lowest lying rock surface, as found in sixteen measurements for
Lyons, is in the southwest quarter of section i. 772 feet above sea level. The
highesl measured point, near the middle of the south line of section 10, east
of the dam, is 944 feet above sea level. Parallel ridges of gravelly soil give
a somewhat rugged appearance to the middle belt of sections from east to
wesl ; but these are owned and profitabrj cultivated now. as seventy years ago.
The two northern tiers of sections are an extension of the fertile fields of
Spring I'rairie.

Allen Perkins ( 1S02-18S2), who had left his claim of 1836 on Turde

creek and returned to Spring Prairie, settled in 1837 near the mill-site in

IO, 15 and disputed with the Lyons the ownership of the water-power.

The Lyons were Thomas ( [766 [847) and wife, Benjamina Valentine,

heir sons. David, Isaac, Thomas and William Fletcher Lyon. The father
and two or three of the sons came in [837 to sections II, 1 5, 22, began to build
then dam in [838, and their saw-mill in 1840. Other settlers of 1837 were
John Brown to section 35, Daniel Campbell to section 4, and James Curran

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 3/$

to section 25. Peter Campbell came in 1838 to section 10. Ebenezer Dayton,
Michael Farley. Thomas Fowlston (1805-1878), Tompkins Matteson, William
Schurman, Sidney Wait and Edward Warren were of the men of 1839.

Among those of 1840 and later years were Daniel Adams, Sebastian
Amend, Stephen Taber Ashley, Sylvester Barnes, Campbell Barrett, Thomas
S. Bartholomew, Harvey Birchard, Harvey Blodgett, Edwin Booth, George
Brennan, Lewis Brown, Lathrop and Thomas B. Bullen, Charles E. Butler,
Zenas B. Burk, Thomas Byrnes (died 1859), Joseph Cahoon, Patrick Carv,
Patrick Carlin. Abner B. and Elias Cole. John Corley, Cyrus F. Cowles,
Chauncey O. Cummings, James Curran, Valentine Dahler (died 1858),
Thomas Delaney (born 1814), Daniel W. Derby, Elijah Dunn, Thomas Dyer,
Cornwell Esmond, Michael Farley (1800-1894), Franklin S. Farnum,
Thomas Fowlston (1805-1878), Damarius, David P. and Raymond Gardner,
Adolph Gega, Lorenz Giese. JosiaTi B. and Russell Thaddeus Gleason, Ben-
jamin Goodwin, Nathaniel W. Gott, Gilbert T. and Joseph Griffin, Alborn
Hall. Harvey, Henry. Jesse, John S. and Nathan B. Hand. Stephen Heffernan,
Thomas W. Hill, Adolph Holcamp, Robert Holley, Bartolomeus Homan.
Stephen Houghton, Theron Humphrey, Harvey H. Ingham (died 1868).
Thomas Ingham. Reuben Irish. Eliphalet Johnson, James Kelley, Enos Kin-
ney (1808-1887), Franz Navier Leity, Jesse Lilly (1785-1852), Jones C.
Locke, Leonard and Zephaniah Lockwood, James B. Martin, Reuben E.
Maynard, Enoch Newton Miner, Enoch Waters Miner, Joel Guild Miner,
Edward Nield. A. Sperry Northrop, William Peers, Patrick Powers, Jona-
than Pratt. Philip Prueck. Jonas and Martin O. Pulver, Pat-
rick Ouigley, Hugh Reed, Valentine Scheller, Stephen Skiff, Charles H.
Smedley, Seneca Smith, Erastus Sparrow. John S. Spoor, John and Loren
Stacy, Nelson Starke, Edward Stevens, Berthier Stork, Jesse L. and Linus
Taylor. Henry H. Terry, Jeremiah Van Ness, Joseph E. and Russell Wait.
Jr., Arnold and Spencer Weeks, Jacob Whitaker. Alonzo C. and Joseph Huge
Wilcox, Edwin Williams.

Edwin Booth (1810-1875) married Martha Turner (1811-1887). Ik-
settled on section 8, and was later and for long one of the active business
men at Springfield.

Zenas Baker Burk (1814-1894), a native of Maine, came in 1842 to sec-
tion 10. He married Mary, daughter of Amos Cahoon. It is not known how
long he served as justice of the peace, owing l<> tin- . 1 i ...in <■ n\ rccuni previous
to 1859, but more than forty years.

Daniel Campbell (1796-1879), son of John, married Mary Nichols
(1805-1872), and came to section 4 in 1839. His son, Wesley John, and

374 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

grandson, Lew is A., have served the town many years as clerk, and the citizens
of the village as business men.

Peter Campbell (1786-1854) was Daniel's brother, both natives of
Clinton county. New York. He married Ann (1802-1883), daughter of
Garret and Catherine Barron, and in 1838 they made their home in section 10.

Cyrus Fellows Cowles (1820-1889) was son of Moses (1785-1848) and
Pamela. He came in 1840 to section 5. He married Louisa (1828-1881),
daughter of Samuel Lytle and Harriet (Campbell) McGee.

Ebenezer Dayton (1810-1885) was son of Abram (1771-1848) and
Levina ( 1 775- t 853 ) . He came from the Genesee valley in 1839 to section 15.
His wife, Emily Malvina (1814-1891), was daughter of Thomas and Tirzah
West. Two sons died in military service.

Ezra B. Fowlston (1820-1S00) was son of Thomas and wife Hannah
Barton. He came from Otsego county to section 3 in 1844. He married
Almira (1827-1906), daughter of Peter and Ann Barron Campbell.

Josiah Burroughs Gleason married Sarah Bacon, November 5, 1840. His
farm was in section 2.

Benjamin Gardner married Clarinda Wait, October 13, 1842.

Adolph Holcamp (1805-1871) and wife Mary Catherine (1817-1898)
came to section 29.

Robert Uolley (born 1791) and Amelia (born 1798) came in 1844 to
section 18. The family removed to Elkhorn about 1856, and later went west-
ward. He was enrolled as an attorney, and was for some years a justice of the
peace.

Thomas K. Hudson ( [807-1891) was born in Utica, New York. With
wife Elizabeth (1812-1889) he came in 1846 to section 10. He had sons in
military service. William Pludson was born 1808, died 1886.

Erastus and Theron Humphrey were first cousins. Erastus ( 1810-1881)
was son of Roswell and wife Ruth Gillet. His first wife was Mary Porter
Wilcox: his second wife was named Wis. Of his children, Rosell Pembroke
Humphrej 1 born [823 ) was long an active citizen. Theron, son of Jonathan,
married Jane A. Barker. The ancestors of Jonathan and Roswell were Mich-
ael1 . Samuel " a, Isaac1.

I liphalel Johnson 1 [781-1855) and wife Margery ( 17^7-1863) came in
[842 to section 17.

Cyrus King 1 [801-1879) and wife Margaretta 1 1806-1880) came early
1- ilit town, [f, a- seems probable, he was a young uncle of Cyrus l\. Phelps,
"f section 1 Gem va, he was son of Israel King and Elizabeth Johnson. His
grave is at Springfield cemetery.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 3/5

Enos Kinney (1818-1887) was son of Luman and wife, Mary Tuttle.
He came in 1844 to section 2. His wife was Nancy Davis.

John Nield (1799-1849) and wife Elizabeth (1791-1865) came in 1844.

A. Sperry Northrop came to section 13 in 1842, and married Catharine
M., daughter of William F. and Catharine Pulver Lyon, December 21, 1843.

Patrick Quigley (1800-1870) married Catharine Chetham (1806-1877)
and came in 1843 to section 23.

Joseph Ellicott (1821-1885), Russell, and Sidney Wait were sons of
Russell Wait and Mercy Booth. Joseph E. married Elvira J. (1822-1899),
daughter of Spencer Weeks. Russell, Jr., married Adeline Herrick (1823-
1902). They went to California, where both died.

Arnold Weeks (1811-1897), son of Levi Weeks and Anna Arnold, was
born in the valley of the Mohawk. In 1832 he married Hannah, daughter of
John Sperbeck and Anna Springstein. In 1842 he came to section 7.

Spencer Weeks (1797-1859) was son of Samuel Weeks and Lydia
Williams. His earlier ancestors were George,1 William,2 John,s William,4
Hezekiah.5 Hence, Spencer was of the seventh generation in America. He
married in 1817 Elvira (1798-1883), daughter of Thomas and Sophia
Dimock. In 1843 he came to Lyons, section 4. where his ten children grew
up to make some mark in the history of the town and county.

VILLAGE OF LYONS.

The settlement at the mill soon gave promise of increase and multipli-
cation, and in 1843 tne postoffice of Lyonsdale was established with Thomas
Lyon, Jr., temporarily in charge. In 1846 William F. Lyon and Martin O.
Pulver equipped the saw-mill or built anew for grinding, and, with succes-
sive improvements added, the mill is yet at work. Its ownership passed to
John Bullen, Frank Holborn, Perez H. Merrick and William W. Vaughan,
Matthias Schenk and Peter Strassen, Strassen's heirs, and to Joseph J.
Heiligenthal. The Lyons flour long had ready sale at home and else-
where, but the general transfer of flour making to the upper Mississippi val-
ley and to the larger cities of the West, has left to this, as to many another
mill, only local grists and feed-grinding — which is still enough to make the
1 1 ms mill good property.

It was known, at least as early as 1855, that the railway from Racine
would pass over the somewhat higher ground northward. Early in 1856 the
track was laid from Burlington to Delavan, and thence to Beloit in the fall.
The new station, on the northern side of section 10. is about two-thirds of

376 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

a mile from the mill. Lyonsdale had not yet become too unwieldly to move,
and its business with its later increase of population gathered about the
station, which a few years later dropped a syllable of its name. The station
is 46.6 miles from Milwaukee and 85.2 miles from Chicago. Like other sta-
tions on this line, it became an important shipping point for grain and live
stock. One item of its business was for a time rather noteworthy, namely,
that of calf-buying for the veal trade — the slaughter of innocents. It was
not long ago told in a daily newspaper that one buyer's shipments
amounted to five hundred calves or carcasses yearly. Of course, these were
of the lower grades of cattle, and were brought to the station in part from
other towns.

The village has about two hundred and fiftv inhabitants, a bank, a hotel,
three churches, a good school house, a convenient town-hall, and the needful
number of stores and shops. Its streets and roads are well kept and its walks
are of concrete. Bridges, in town and village, are substantially built of iron
and cement. The village lies on both sides of the railway, and looks every-
where clean and homelike. The Methodist and Lutheran churches are of a
long familiar style of village architecture, and. are kept in the good order,
outwardly, observable all about the village. The Methodist society, organ-
ized in 1840. built its church in 1857. The Lutheran society was founded
in 1868. The Catholic parish of St. Joseph was formed in 1867 and soon
built a church, which has given place, in 191 o, to a larger and in every way
liner building, of pressed brick, with stained glass windows, and all within
and without in harmony. This parish lias also a cemetery in section 15,
about a mile southward.

Tlie State I'.ank of Lynns was organized in [909. with a capital of ten
thousand dollars, owned by fifty-three stockholders, mostly residents of the
town. Its officers were and are: Edgar A. Weeks, president; John Wagner,
vice-president; Wilbur G. Weeks, cashier; Josephine Host, assistant cashier.
The hank has now a good building of its own. with suitable equipment for
its business.

The village was platted in [868 for twenty-one proprietors: Zenas 1!.
Burk, Mis. \iin Campbell, Sumner Chapin, Ela Cone, Ebenezer Davton,
James I', Frazer, Wi ( '. Goodrich. Nathan lla/en, Joseph ]■'. I lost. Julius
Host, Thomas K, Hudson, [saac B. Merriam, James Moran. Robert Open-
shaw, Joseph T. Pendleton. Charles E. Phinney, John Robilliard. John
Strassen, Peter Strasseni \lma Taylor, Richard B. Winsor, Mrs. Taylor
( \-'u 1N0S1. was wit',- of Jesse L. Taylor, Esq. 1 [793-1881 1.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. T,/J

VILLAGE OF SPRINGFIELD.

The highway from Lake Geneva to East Troy, by way of the village of
Spring Prairie, is crossed by the railway 2.8 miles west of Lyons, on the
south side of section 7. This road was for many years, before and after a
station was made there, an important mail route, and hence a convenient
point for retail trade, grain and wool buying, and lumber-selling. In the mid
seventies considerable shipments of dressed poultry were made, largely to
Boston buyers. Changes in the industries of the county, with consequent
effects on the business of villages, have checked the growth of Springfield,
though it is not yet a wholly deserted village. A fire in 1910 destroyed the
station building. After more than a year of delay it was rebuilt, better than
before, and this with a long line of wide cement platform shows that Spring-
field is yet of some importance to the railway company Amid the discontin-
uances of small postoffices the office at this place remains as one of the fourth
class, indispensable for local and northern service. That part of the road
between the station and Lake Geneva, about three and one-half miles, is a
stage and mail route on which three trips are made daily, from the lake. For
many years Ansel Knowles (died August 19, 1875), of Lake Geneva, made
these trips through sunshine, rain and snow, and became well and favorably
known to thousands of passengers.

The village was platted by Henry T. Fuller in 1855. There was once
a prosperous cheese factor}- there, a hotel, and an Episcopal chapel, the
service of which was supplied in turn by the clerical and lay professors from
DeKoven Hall. Racine College. Among the more easily recalled active busi-
ness men were Edwin Booth, Edwin Moorhouse, and Asa W. Phelps.

Among the few events which disturbed or enlivened the quiet routine of
Lyonese life were two which may warrant a few words here. But it should
be understood that there were and are somewhat varying versions of both
these affairs, namely, the Neiheisel war and the Robins bridge case. Bal-
thazar and Barbara Neiheisel ("both born in 1820) came from Germany to
section 25, and by i860 had eight children. The father learned English but
imperfectly, and his mind had become somewhat unsettled. A traveling
agent had gone that way. about 1859, and would not see that neither himself
nor his goods were welcome there. A quarrel arose, incoherent except for
some pulling, pushing, and striking, and the agent complained to Jesse Tay-
lor, justice of the peace. A warrant for Neiheisel's arrest was given to
Sumner Chapin. who called Ebenezer Dayton. Rathbone R. Fellows, and
Ralph Taylor to help him, and moved in pursuit of his plain duty. Mr.

378 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Neiheisel, who seems to have understood little or nothing of the object of
this invasion, resisted to the extent of firing on the party and wounding Mr.
Fellows. The arrest was made, an examination held, and the poor man was
lodged not in the jail but in the crazy wing of the county house. Rumor
carried all this, enlarged and embellished, to other towns, and for years
thereafter the Neiheisel war was a topic on which men might be as witty as
they could, at the expense of the town, its local court, and its constabulary
force. The state afterward voted a sum of money to compensate Mr. Fel-
lows for his injury in faithful service. Two of the old man's sons, Moritz
and Peter Neiheisel, enlisted in the reorganized First Infantry, one of the
most serviceable regiments of the Civil war. Moritz served three years and
Peter until he was discharged for disability, — a record for the family worth
remembering at Lyons and elsewhere.

In 1873 the circuit court at its February term, after a trial by jury, en-
tered a judgment in favor of Henry Robins against the town of Lyons for
one thousand two hundred dollars damages and one hundred dollars and sev-
enty-two cents costs. Mr. Robins had been hurt by or at a defective bridge
or culvert, and his cause was taken into court by Capt. John A. Smith, of
Lake Geneva, and Ithamar C. Sloan, of Janesville, with Dr. Benoni O. Rey-
nolds as medico-surgical witness. Horatio S. Winsor, of Elkhorn, appeared
for (he town. The result affected the town's vote at assembly district elec-
tions for several years afterward, for Smith and Reynolds were then lead-
ers in district politics. The case seems to have been one in which law was
on one side and equity on the other. The men of Lyons, at least, thought
the injury was much overpaid by the sum awarded the sufferer. The town
builds and maintains many bridges, now all of steel, and a similar court-
cause is not likely to occur again.

There are nine school districts, of which one is a joint district with
Bloomfield, one with Geneva, and one with Geneva and Spring Prairie.
The school at Lyons village has two departments.

The town receives its mail from the offices at Lyons and Springfield, and
by two rural routes from the first-named office.

The county clerk's statistics for 1910 show that there were 22,619 acres
of land in the town. (About five acres of section 31 is included within the

101 ite limits of Lake Geneva, ami thus subtracted from Lyons.) True
value of land Si.;i |.,200, or $66.95 lK'r ;u'ri' The crop-acreage, as returned,
was: Barley, [80; corn, 3,062; hay, -'.757; oats, 3,056: orchard, 104; po-
tatoes, 99; rye, 99; timber, i-7l(l- "heat, 172. Number and value of live
Stock: 3,049 rattle. $70,300: 6o_> hogs, $6,500; 607 horses, $52,300: 1.488

p, $4,500. Seven automobiles were valued at $1,600.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 379

The several federal censuses have shown the population: 1850, 1,189;
i860, 1,338; 1870, 1,312; 1880, 1,312; 1890, 1,328; 1900, 1,298; 1910,
1,261.

It is rarely that two successive censuses give exactly the same figures,
as in 1870 and in 1880. It is quite possible that some small percentage of
error affects all enumerations of population, and many another statistic
statement besides. The villages were not enumerated separately from the
town, but Springfield has about one-half as many inhabitants as Lyons,
with less present tendency to increase.

CHAIRMEN OF TOWN BOARD.

Reuben Rockwell 1844, '48. '54

Lewis Brown 1845

Zenas Baker Burk 1846, '50, '55

Thomas Worden Hill__i847, '49> '56

Charles Leander Gillette 185 1

Hiram B. Read 1852-3, '58-61

Ebenezer Dayton ^57

Ethan B. Farnum 1862, '73-4

Ezra B. Fowlston 1863

Enos Kinney 1864-6

Richard Barney Winsor 1867

Cyrus P. Taylor— =.„_ 1 868-7 L '75

John Brown 1872

William Meadows. 1876-8, '84, '94-5

Joel B. Smith 1882-3

Joseph Holcamp '85-6, '92, 1901-2

Charles Spoor_i887, '93-4, "99-1900

John Greenwood Meadows 1888-90

Thomas Tracy 1891

William E. Farley '09-11

William C. Dodge 1903-4

Frank Scheller 1905-6

Joseph E. Schaefer 1907-8

Fred Batchelet 191 2

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Caspar F. Amborn : 1872

Fred Batchelet 191 1

Joseph Berto 1846

Joseph Brickner 1912

Valentine Brown 1880-1

Zenas Baker Burk 1849, 'S1'2

Wesley John Campbell i868-'7i

Levi Cole 1845

Henry Curran 1885

William C. Dodge 1887-90

Anton Emerling 1868-71. '75

Abner Farnum 1873

Ethan B. Farnum ' 1872

Luther Farnum 1844

William Forbes 1854

Ezra B. Fowlston 1853, '62, '64-5

Reinhard Friese 1901-2

Charles Getha 1900

Charles Leander Gillette 1852

Watson W. Gott 1896-7

Harvey B. Hand ^54

Jesse Hand 1844

Joseph Holcamp 1882-4

Andrew J. I lost 1867

38o

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Erastus Humphrey 1846-7

Roswell Pembroke Humphrey.- 1857
Spencer E. Johnson_'55- '58-60, '62-3

Cyrus W. King 1850

Luman Kinney 1845

Martin W. Kinney 1874

Henry B. Locke 1848

Vernon O. Loomis 1908

August Luedtke 1910-11

George S. Malsch 1903-4, '09

Otto Miller 1912

Edward Moorhouse 1873

David Olp 1877-8

Robert Otto __. 1905

Daniel Pierce 1849

Patrick Powers 1861

Richard Powers 1886

Christian Prasch 1874, '79-81

John Prasch 1866

Philip Prasch 1861

Perry Lewis Purdy 1856, '58-60

Joseph Ouigley 1876-8

Hiram R. Read 1850-1

Frank L. Riggs J893-5

Joseph F. Schaefer 1903-4

Frank Scheller 1898-9

Joel B. Smith 1875

Charles Spoor 1885-6

Dr. John Stacy 1847

Charles Stoehr 1906-7

Cyrus P. Taylor 1866-7

William A. Towslee 1864-5

Thomas Tracy 1882-4

Lester S. Vantine 1853

August Vorpagel 1891

Charles Vorpagel 1896-7

Julius Vorpagel- 1892-5, '98-9, 1901-2

John Wagner 1887-90

Russell Wait 1855-7, '63

G. Vernon Weeks 1876

Lewis Spencer Weeks 1848

Martin W. Weeks 1900

Willard E. Weeks 1905-8. '10

Thomas H. Wilcox 1892

Absalom Williams 1891

TOWN CLERKS.

Lewis Ferris 1844

^mos Kinney 1845

Solomon Champlin Burdick 1846

Zcbina Houghton 1847-8

\\ illiam Penn Lyon 1849

Lathrop Bullen 1850-1

Lorenzo I low Fonda 1852-3

\-a C. Goodrich 1854

Thomas B. Bullen 1855-6

Zenas Baker Burk 1857-7S

Wesley John Campbell iSjq-^o

George Vernon Weeks 1891

William G. Fowlston 1892-3

lewis A. Campbell 1894-1912

.Mr. Lyon became chief justice of the Wisconsin supreme court. Mr.
Burdick was later of Linn, and Mr. Houghton of Elkhorn. The Campbells
were father and son. Mr. Fowlston was a soldier of the war for Cuba Libre,
[898.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

38l

TOWN TREASURERS.

Erastus Humphrey 1844

Isaac Lyon 1845-6, '54, '56

Theron Humphrey 1847-8

George C. Smith 1849

Lewis Ferris 1850-2

William Forbes 1853

Gilbert T. Griffin 1855

Eli K. Pickett 1857

Sumner Chapin 1858-9

Rathbone R. Fellows 1860-7

Joseph E. Host 1868-70

Hiram B. Reed 1871

Charles G. Healy 1872

Joseph T. Pendleton l^>73

Almon D. Goodwin 1874

George S. Holmes 1875

John Hicks 1876-80

Julius S. Host 1881-4

Joseph T. Flanders 1885-7, '92

'95

Horace Cole 1888-90. '93

Henry Erdly 1891

Dwight H. Cole 1894

Eugene Dodge 1896-7

Winthrop G. Weeks 1898

Loyal E. Reed 1899-1900

Frederick Vorpagel 1 901-7, '11

Frank Riggs 1908-10

Jacob J. Verhalen 1912

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Sebastian Amend 1860-1

Frederick Batchelet 1904-11

Abram Booth 1866-7

Edwin Booth 1859-60

James Elverton Brett 1894-1900,

'04-8, '10-12

ZenasBaker Burk 1852-80, '82-95

Wesley John Campbell 1879-90

Stephen C. Chappell 1864-5

Richard Fagan 1874-5

William E. Farley 1885-90

Ethan B. Farnum 1870-1, '74-5

Joseph Taylor Flanders 1895-1901

Emerson Ralph Gibbs 1874-87

Charles G. Healey 1895-6

John Greenleaf Meadows 1903-7

Giles G. Reeve 1893-1910

Joel B. Smith 1878-82

John Syng Spoor 1863-6

Joseph Alfred Strassen 1 903-4

Henry B. Towslee 1880-5

William Underwood 1901

Theodore Weeks 1892-5

Absalom Williams 1891-2

Arnold D. Williams 1897-1900

Henry A. Williams 1902

Charles D. Winsor 1907-11

Rev. Benedict J. Smeddinck (1820-1881), then of the parish of St.
Francis de Sales, Lake Geneva, came in 1868 to organise twelve families of
Lyons as the congregation of St. Joseph, and began at once to build its
church. This was a frame building, thirty-two by forty-eight feet, floor

382 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

dimensions, at an outlay of one thousand seven hundred dollars; and a par-
sonage, ten by twenty-four feet, was built beside it. Father Smeddinck, a
builder of churches, divided his time for four years between the parishes of
Lake Geneva and Lyons. For twelve years from 1872 service was supplied
at Lyons by priests at New Muenster (St. Alphonsus), at Lake Geneva, and
by Capuchin fathers at Milwaukee. Among those from St. Alphonsus were
that well tried soldier of the Cross, Rev. Franz Xavier Pfaller (1831-1892),
and Rev. Leonard Blum. Rev. August Gardthaus was resident priest from
1884 to 1888, after whom came Rev. Charles Drees, under whose direction a
school house was built at cost of seven hundred dollars. Rev. William Lette
came in 1890. staying two years. After a short vacancy service was resumed
by Rev. Cyrus Kufner, who came from Milwaukee on alternate Sundays, be-
ginning in March, 1873. Rev. John Diebold, an eminent scholar and author,
became resident priest from 1894. In his pastorate a new parsonage was
built at cost of one thousand two hundred dollars. Rev. Henry John Korf-
hage served at the altar from 1898 to 1902.

Rev. Frederick J. Hillenbrand was sent here from Kenosha in July, 1903,
and the next year a new school house, its cost three thousand dollars, replaced
the old one. Under direction of two Sisters of the Order of St. Francis,
forty pupils are taught in all the study courses of the eight grades of public
schools and instruction in the German language is given to such as wish it
In 1910 a wholly new church was built at expense of twelve thousand five hun
dred dollars and furnished at nearly one thousand dollars. The parish now
has about fifty families, among which are some of the most substantial of the
township.

In 1856 a mission was established in section 34. a nearly five-mile ride
due southward from the village, and was named St. Kilian's. Its service was
for long supplied by Rev. Carl Josef Franz Schraudenbach and others of New
Muenster, occasionally by priests of Lake Geneva, and for the last quarter-
century by those of Lyons. The parish has about twenty families of Lyons
and Bloomfield. Father Hillenbrand, a well-trained and true servant of the
church, goes to the little chapel in the fields every Sunday, let the weather lie
whal it may.

Tin- Methodist Episcopal society of Lyons was organized early and a
church was built at the village in 1857. The names of the earlier clergy are
not clearly shown, but those of Joseph C. Parks, Aurora Callender, and Joseph
M. Walker, without dates, are followed, with occasional vacancies or uncer-
tainties, by those of John H. Hazeltine. 1858-9; John Edwin Grant, 1861-2;
W. Carver, 1863; G. A. Smith. 1864-5; William Sturges. 1866-7: William

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 383

Averill. 1868; S. M. Merrill. 1869; Andrew J. Mead, 1871 ; Joseph Hayden
Jenne, 1872; Gideon W. Burtch. 1873; Samuel C. Thomas. 1874-6; Rossiter
C. Parsons, 187 — ; Alonzo Mansfield Bullock, 1880; John Howard Brooks,
1881-2; Wilson J. Fisher, 1883-5; George W. White, 1886-7; I. M. Wolver-
ton, 1888-9; William R. Mellott, 1890-1; Robert Davidson, 1892; Mark A.
Drew. 1895-7: Orlando P. Christian, 1898; John J. Lugg, 1899-1900; Edgar
J. Symons, 1901-3; George Kenneth Mclnis, 1905-7; Jeremiah H. Hicks,
1808; David N. Phillips. 1909: Forest H. Woodside, 1910.

POSTMASTERS.

Postmasters at the old village of Lyons were Thomas Lyon, Dr. John
Stacy, William Fletcher Lyon, Lathrop Bullen, Seth P. Hall. After 1856
were Ebenezer Nicodemus White, Hamilton D. Brown, Wesley John Camp-
bell. Giles G. Reeve, Peter Strassen, Jr., 1885, Horace Cole 1889, Andrew P.
Prasch 1893, Joseph A. Strassen 1896, Dwight H. Cole 1897, Thomas H.
Wilcox 1902, Joseph A. Strassen 1909. From 1893 to ner death in 1896
Cecile Aurelia Cole, daughter of Horace and Aurelia Celestine (Pendleton)
Cole, performed the work of the office.

At Springfield the postmasters recalled were Edwin Booth, Ethan B.
Farnum, Edward Moorhouse. Asa K. Phelps, Harry C. Olp, John Abbott.

CHAPTER XXXII.

TOWN OF RICHMOND.

Town 3 north, range 15 east, was at first included in largest Elkhorn.
At an extra session of the territorial Legislature by an act dated August 18,
1840, this town was made a part of Whitewater. Five months later, Janu-
ary 12, 1841, it was set off as the town of Richmond. Among the first-comers
to the town were Thomas and T. Perry James and Robert Sherman, from
Richmond, Washington county, Rhode Island, and their influence, just then,
was sufficient to place another Richmond in the field of American geography.

Glacial action left the town of uneven surface, but not more so than other
towns. The high ground of eastern Whitewater is continued through north-
eastern Richmond and thence irregularly southeastward to the state line in
Bloomfield ; but it nowhere becomes hills. A large part of Rock Prairie, its
elevation eight hundred and ninety-four feet above sea-level, lies in the south-
western part of the town. Turtle lake, its greatest length about one mile and
average width about one-third of a mile, lies at the meeting of sections 11,
12, 13, 14. There are small glacial lakes, or large pot-holes, one each in sec-
tions 4, 9, 10. Turtle creek, the only noticeable stream in the town, flows
from its lake southwardly with double curvature to Delavan. where it turns
west ward and with another sigmoid flexure crosses Darien and thence to the
Rock. In its course through Richmond it crosses sections 14, 23, 26, 35. 36.
It is bordered by a large marsh, now about to be reclaimed.

There was an incipient village, with postoffice. at the southwest corner
of Whitewater, where a town-line road meets a county-line road. It was
named I tier's Corner, and its church was and is on the Richmond side of the
two highways. There is a church, a well-kept cemetery, a store, and a post-
office — named Richmond, at a meeting of roads in section 17 — but as vet no
village there. Not a mile of railway, either steam or electric, touches the
town, but the roads to Delavan and Whitewater are excellent, and Richmond
trade 1- of appreciable value to both of those cities, — and by deliverv routes
>m each it receives mail.

rhere arc eighl school districts, one jointly with Sugar Creek and one
with Whitewater. The Interests of public education here as in the other
town- have been influenced and directed b) men and women who know

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 385

well the true foundation of an American community. .Manual work, busi-
ness, and religious organization are indispensable; but the American child
receives its first and lasting impulse toward fellow-citizenship in the school
room and on the school play ground.

Morris F. Hawes left Michigan in 1837 and coming by way of Chicago
and the valley of Rock River reached section 1, August 1st, and thus began
the civilization of Richmond. He also bought in section 3. In the same year
Perkins S. Childs came to section 17, Thomas James to section 34. Andrew
and Arthur Stewart to section t,^- The next year brought Joseph Compton
and Charles Hamilton to section 5, George E. James to section 33, T. Perry
James to section 34, Ira Sanborn (1805-) and Cyrenus Wilcox to section 5,
and John Teetshorn to section 6.

William Campbell. Joseph and James Gorham Humphrey, Isaac and
Stephen Keech, Simeon W. Newbury, Joseph Prentice, and Anderson Whit-
ing came in 1839, settling on sections 5, 6, 7, 18.

In 1840 and thereafter; among the advance guard were Gilbert S. Able-
man. John Almy (1791), Varnum Arnold, John Arvedson (1798-), John
Balfour. Albert Barton, Elijah Belding. Harrison Bishop (in 1844), Silas
Bishop, John Allison Bowen. Joseph and William Bowman, Andrew and
Richard Bradt. James Cameron (1803-1879), William Carpenter. David A.
Christie, John Clague (1802-1886). Charles Claxton, Robert M. Cockrell,
David and James Compton, Asa Congdon (died 1850), Warren Congdon,
James Connelly (1817-). James Cotter, Daniel Cross (1794-1878) and wife
Mercy, Christopher J. Dockstader, Freeman Emerson, Morris Ensign, Solo-
mon Finch (1809-1882), Jones Gage ( 1 789- 1 868 ) , Emery and Irving Gage,
Jared Hall (1813-), Joseph Hall (1802-1878), William Hatton, Henry C.
Hemenway. Henry Hess (1817-), Lewis J. Higby, Seth Hill (1781-1858),
Kinner Hollister, Elisha Hulce, Jasper and Norman Humphrey. Fenton and
William Hurd. Joseph E. Irish, Amos Ives (1823-1896). Horace James. Alvah
B. and Peter Johnson, Lyman Jones, Horace B. Kinne, John I. angle v ( 1818-
1865 ). John Langworthy, John Lester, five Loomers, Abram < '•. Low ( [818-),
Henry McCart (died 1847), James McKay, Thomas M. Martin, James Mat-
thew-. Andrew Mills. Edward Mitchell (1809 (890), James Moflfatt, Ambrose,
Robert 1 [810-1869), and Sylvester Moore. Charles J. and John C. Morgan,
Elisha Newell, George Osborne, Joshua Parish. William Patterson (1806-
[875), George W\. Lemuel and Zebulon Paul. John ami Richard Pemberton,
Oliver Perkins (1800-), Harvey Prentiss ( 1821-), Benjamin, John and
Nathan Rand, Edwin M. Rice. James Robinson (1814-), .Alexander Rowley,
(25)

386 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

James Sanford, George, Joseph, Oliver H.. and Peter Smith, Henry Grover
Smith (1810), Nathaniel C. Smith (1796-1878), Isaac Spicer. Samuel Stew-
art. Rial H. Thomas, Russell Thurber. Jr., Silas J. Weaver, Alden, Daniel
Tennev, Joseph R.. and William Wilkins — four brothers, or, father and three
sons.

Elijah Belding, also named among settlers of Darien, married, April 18,
[839, Mary, daughter of Thomas James and Dorcas Perry.

Perkins Silver Childs (1811-1848) left widow Lydia A. (1818-1874).
David Christie (1812-1893) married Jane Stewart (1822-1896). Joseph
Compton (1808-1895) married Lucina (1806-1868), a sister of Kinner
Hollister.

Charles Claxton (1817-1902), son of John Claxton and Mary Turner,
married in 1837 at London, Mary Ann (1813-1884), daughter of Benjamin
and Martha Quinton. They came in 1845 to section 9. He left a widow
named Laura A. He had two daughters : Mary Ann. wife of Robert Knilans,
and Martha M., wife of Josephus Borst.

Warren Congdon (1820-) came from Rhode Island to section 26. He
married, August 20. 1845, Mary Ann Kenyon. In i860 they were of Delavan
village.

Christopher J. Dockstader (1810-1901) married Eliza Ann Nelson

(1814-).

Lewis John Higby was in 1837 for a short time a partner with the Rock-
wells in the settlement of Elkhorn. He bought land in section 5, Richmond,
but he may never have left Milwaukee.

Kinner Hollister ( 1783- 1850) was sun of Isaac Hollister and Catharine
Newcomb. In 1805 he married Mary, daughter of Lemuel Winchell. Two
^Mii-,. Cyrenus Newcomb and Lemuel, came to Darien.

James Gorham Humphrey (1806 i860) married Adeline Barber. He
was grandson of Ebenezer Humphrey and Lucy Robhins, and son of Joseph
(1782-1864) and wife Hannah Kims. Joseph died at Whitewater.

\lv.ih Beecher Johnson and Lyman Jones were settlers in Darien.

Henjamin, Jonathan and Stephen, with Samuel Loonier of Lagrange,
were brothers. Joseph Henry Loonier was son of Benjamin and Eunice.
Leonard Loon km- married his uncle Jonathan's daughter Asenath. He was a
son of Stephen. AH these were horn in Nova Scotia, and came early to
Wisconsin,

John Rand 1 [819 [898) was son of Benjamin and Sarah. He married
1I1 S . daughter of Benjamin and Eunice Loorner.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 38/

Isaac Spicer i 1815-1888) married, August 3, 1846. Mary Alice, daughter
of Samuel Loonier.

Rial H. Thomas (1821-1904) married Mary ( 1823-1898), daughter of
Josiah Jackson and Anna Case. He afterward bought a farm in section 8,
Sugar Creek, near Millard.

Silas J. Weaver ( 1S07-1864) and wife Sarah Jackson (1809- 1865) came
to section 24. He left sons, themselves now old citizens.

The Nova Scotian settlers in the northwestern quarter of the count)'
formed a somewhat noteworthy group. They were all of New England or-
igin, and all born in or near Cornwallis. They chose good farms and made
them profitable : they were very much intermarried and their other alliances
have related them widely: and their sons and grandsons were not wanting in
time of war. Their best known family names are Bigelow, Ells, Loomer,
Newcomb, Rand and Weaver. The late Simon Newcomb, one of the most
eminent of modern astronomers, was of Nova Scotian birth, and must have
had kindred of some not remote degree of cousinship in the county.

In 1755 about seven thousand French inhabitants about the basin of
Minas, near the head of the bay of Fundy. were deported and their homes
made public domain. In 1760 and for a few years thereafter men and fami-
lies to the number of about three thousand six hundred left Connecticut and
eastern Long Island to make the depeopled province an English-speaking and
Protestant colony ; and thus Grand Pre and its neighborhood became Corn-
wallis, Horton, and Aylesford, in the county of Kings. The land-hungry
grandchildren of these pioneers began within fifty years their westward move-
ment, by way of New Brunswick and New England, and their trail now long
ago reached the Pacific coast, where it turned northward and southward,
toward Alaska and Mexican California. Evangeline Land never, as far as
known, became the home of the Tory exiles of the closing years of the Amer-
ican Revolution, many of whom went without their families to Halifax or its
vicinity and some of whom returned twenty or more years later.

A Methodist society was formed at Utter's Corner in 1852, of which little
is now known. Another society was formed at Richmond centre about 1854.
It- church was built in 1872. About that time, or earlier, its pastor was Ira
S. Eldredge, after whom, with some omissions, perhaps, were Charles [•"..
Goldthorp in 1875; Thomas Potter, 1878; David O. Sanborn, 1883; William
Thomas Millar. 1884: Robert Davidson, [890; Thomas H. Garvin, 1891;
Alfred Pomfret, 1892; John Carson Lang, 1895; William Dawson, 1898;
Isaac Johnson, 1899; John Milton Judy. [901, It is not unlikely that the
pastors at Heart Prairie supplied some of the vacancies.

388

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Richmond contains 22.538 acres of land, valued at $1,339,600. Average
value. $59.43 per acre. The crrop acreage for 1910 was: Barley, 2,999; corn
3.399; hay, 2,770; oats, 1,669; orchard. 57; potatoes, 76; rye, 25: timber,
2,424; wheat. 59. Of live stock were -2.2JT, cattle. $59,100; 1,300 hogs,
$13,000; 463 horses, $35,900; 390 sheep, $1,200.

At the several federal censuses the population of the town was: 1850,
744; i860, 1,016; 1870. 1,017; 1880. 882; 1890, 799; 1900, 770; 1910, 685.
There is a noticeable Richmond element in the population of the city of Dela-
van, as well as in the western states.

There are six school districts wholly within the town, a joint district with
Sugar Creek, and one with Whitewater.

The first election was held April 5, 1842. at the house of Perkins Silver
Childs, which then did duty as a tavern, and town officers were chosen.

CHAIRMEN OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

John Teetshom 1842- '47

Thomas James 1843-4

James Cotter 1845-6

John A. Bowen 1848

Anderson Whiting 1849-50, '56-9

Jacob M. Fish 1851-2

Joseph E. Irish 1853

Joseph Langworthy TK54

Edwin Mortimer Rice 1855

Elisha Hulce ._i86i, '63, '68-9

William Patterson 1862

George Brown 1864-5, 7°

John M. Evans 1866-7

Benjamin I'.. Freeman 1871-2

\\ illiam Allen Knilans 1873-4

'70. '78-81

Andrew J. Stewart 1882

Amos Ives 1883-4

Stephen H. Smith, Jr. 1885

Frank .Mitchell 1886-7

William H. Stewart 1889-90

John Piper 1891-2

Austin R. Langley !893-5

Henry H. Calkins 1896-7

John W. Delaney 1898-1901

Cyrus II. Taylor 1902-4

IU iny Byrne 1905, '08

Rober! J. Harris -906-7

Edgar M. Davis 1909-10

William L. Teetshorn 1911-12

\SSO< [ATI SUP] RVISORS.

Varnum Arnold 1861. '64-5, '67

John M. Balfour 1849

I homas Bingham 1871

Richard Booker 1878

I 11 ■ Irotz J909

George Brown 1860, '68-9

Joseph II. Brown 1866

William Henry Calkins 1895

David A. Christie 1S51

Andrew Clark 1855

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

389

Benjamin Clark 1870-1

John D. Clark 1910

Bernard Conry 1901

Julius H. Converse 1874

James Cotter 1848

Edgar M. Davis T9°5-7

Christopher J. Dockstader 1852

Byron Dunbar 1889

Solomon Finch 1858-9, '63

Benjamin B. Freeman 1873

Frank A. Gage 1898

Irving H. Gage 1900

Luther Hadley 1888-9

Joseph Hall 1847

Robert J. Harris 1902-4

Frederick Harrison 1893-4

Morris Fant Hawes 1844

James Hennessy 1874

Emory C. Holbrook 1890-1

John Holbrook 1864

Manly Holbrook 1856-7

Elisha Hulce 1849. '53-4

Stillman A. Hulce 1892-3

Joseph Humphrey 1842-4

Joseph E. Irish 1850

Amos Ives 1878-80

George E. James x857

Thomas Perry James__i847, '53, '81

Thomas O. Johnson 1895-6, 1900

Orrin Keech 1911-12

George G. Keith 1909

James G. Kestol 1877, '79

Horace B. Kinne 1845

Horatio N. Lawrence 1858 g

Cornelius Low ^56

Chester Lyman 1853

Duncan McFarland 1908

George McFarland 1872-3, '83

William Mack 1869

Ammett E. Mason 1862

Frank Mitchell 1886

Joseph C. Mitchell 1882, '99

Robert Moore 1851

Sylvester Moore 1848

Albert H. Morse 1862, '65-6

Charles M. Morse 1894

Oliver H. Oleson 1890,

1905-7, 'io-n

Oliver Oslock 1881

William Patterson 1842-3

John Pemberton 1862-3, '&7

Emil Pinnow 1901

John Piper 1887-8

Lewis Saxe 1876

Cyrus H. Searles 1884-5

Joseph Smith 1875

Oliver H. Smith 1854-5

Sidney L. Smith 1870

Stephen H. Smith 1850, '60-1

Julius Steenson 1875

Arthur Stewart 1845-6

James M. Stewart 1896-7

William H. Stewart 1885-6

Henry A. Stone 1868, '82

August Stork 1902-4, '08, '12

George Sturtevant 1872

Cyrus H. Taylor 1887

William R. Taylor 1876-7. '79

Horatio X. Teetshorn 1846

Louis Teetshorn 1880, '84

William L. Teetshorn ^99

Rial II. Thomas 1891-2

Fugene Webber 1897-8

39°

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

TOWN CLERKS.

Wi Congdon 1842-4

John A. Bowen 1845-6

Jacob M. Fish 1847-8

John Langley 1849, '60-2

William Fish 1850, '52-3

Stephen H. Smith 185 1, '57

Erastus Porter 1854-5

Benjamin H. Stark 1856

John M. Evans '58-9, '63-4, '68-71

Andrew Stewart 1865-6

Benjamin Clark 1867

Frank Mitchell 1872-4, '84-5

Stephen H. Smith, Jr 1875, '~j~,

'79, '82

Joseph Mitchell 1876

Robert Knilans 1878, '80-1, '83

Ambrose B. Hare 1886-8

George Myron Holbrook 1889-1912

TOWN TREASURERS.

Perkins Silver Childs 1842-3

James Cotter 1844, '51-2

Robert Moore 1845-6

Simeon W. Newberry 1847

Curtis Bellows 1848

Edwin Mortimer Rice 1849

William Fish 1850

George E. lames 1853

John M. Clark 1854

1 ..urge Brown 1855

Abram G. Low [856

Albert 11. Morse 1S57. '62

John Pemberton 1858-9

Henry O. Crumb [860 1

Arthur Bowers T863

Joseph Smith iNi.|

J. H.Jones [865

Henry V Stone 1866

Elisha E. Sholes 1867

Sidney I.. Smith 1868

Benjamin Clark [869

Julius I). Spickerman 1870, '77

Calvin Graham Sperr) 1871, '74-5
Robert Knilans [872 ;

George Newberry 1876

Austin R. Langley 1878, '80

S. Markham Calkins '879

Ole Peterson 1881-2

Irving A. Gage 1883-4

Byron Dunbar 1885

William Henry Calkins 1886

George Myron Holbrook 1887

Frank A. Gage 1888

Charles Knilans 1889-1900

Stillman A. Hulce 1890

Andrew P. Peterson 1891

Chauncey H. Lawrence 1892

John H. Campbell 1893-4

Raymond W. Pemberton 1895

William J. Delanev 1896

1 dgar M. Davis 1897

Andrew Williamson 1898

Cornelius Shanahan 1899

Bert Keith 1901

Harry II. Osborne 1902

Minor Knilans [903

Frederick Goodger 1504

George Crumb 1905

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN'.

39 1

Charles Staller 1906

George Goodger 1907-8

Frank Kemmett I9°9

William Stork 1910

Alfred Thompson 191 1

H. M. Anderson 1912

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Andrew Amble 1890-4

George Brown 1862-5

Alenzo W. Chapman 1872-3

George Cheesebro 1875-6

John D. Clark 1905-8

Charles Claxton 1860-3,

•71-4, '76-87, '89

James Conley 1872-3, '83-4

William Dasson 1899-1900

Albert B. Gage_ 1885-8, 91-2. '97-1912

Chauncey D. Gage 1886-97

Roswell H. Gage l&77

Arthur Gransee 1907-8

Joseph Hall 1859-62

James Harder 1 874-5

Edgar A. Holbrook 1898-9

Amos Ives 1884-5

Thomas O. Johnson 1903-4

Joseph B. Kestol 1897-8

Charles H. Lawrence '893-5

Henry D. Locke- 1877-9, "82-3> '88-91

Silas B. Lowe 1875-6

Julius Dewitt Spickerman_i88o, '82-3

Andrew J. Stewart 1893-4, '96-7

Ray W. Taylor 1898, 1904

Orrin L. West 1865-70

CHAPTER XXXIII.

TOWN OF SHAROX.

Town i north, range 15 east, was set off from older Delavan, March 21,
1S43, and was named from the town of Sharon in Schoharie county, Xew
York. Next westward is Clinton, Rock county, and southward are Chemung
and Leroy, in Illinois. As a whole the town is one of the highest above sea-
level in the county, hut with noticeable difference between highest and lowest
ground. Small branches of Turtle creek drain the northern and western sides
of the town, and the Piskasaw comes into section 24 from Walworth, runs
across sections 25 and 36 to find its way across McHenry and Boone counties
to the Rock. Two small mill-powers were once afforded by the south branch
of the Turtle, in sections <> ami 7. Generally, the town compares favorably
with the finest towns of the county as to the fertility of its soil. Its timber
supply, mostly burr oak, was never great, though locally useful.

The land area of Sharon is 22,498 acres. Crop acreages for 1910 were:
Barley, 2,679; beets, 20; corn, 4,561 ; hay. 3.384; oats, 2,281 : orchard. 70; po-
tatoes, 116; rye, 58; timber, 962; wheat, 71. Returns and value of live stock:
3,560 cattle, $89,000: 1,555 hogs, $16,800; 942 horses, $65,900; 2 mules,
$200; 500 sheep, $1,500. Value of land with improvements $2,108,600 or
$93.72 per acre; of village property S720.200.

Population of the town, at the several federal enumerations: 1850. 1,169;
1 Si 11 1, [,68] ; 1870, 1,865; 1880, 1.956; 1890, 1. 160: 1900. 1,127; i()io. 1,050.

John Reader came late in [836 to section 2~ and broke ground in the
spring of [837. In the fall he brought, his wife and child from the east, but
settled "ii section [8 of Walworth. Other early comers were Myron Aucham-
paugh to section to; James E. Bell, 31 ; David J. Best, 17; John Billings. 9;
Dearborn Blake, 28: Henry A. and Isaac R. Case. 14: Augustus Conder, 26;
John Kirby, 33 ; Gideon Langdon, 13 ; Darius B. Mason, 13 ; James McConkey,
1 : !■".. ( '. L. Reynolds, 36; Man \lonzo Southard, 2^: John H. Topping, 2;
Win. I). Van Xostrand. 33; Michael Van Winter. 17: William Van Wormer.

31- *

Buyers at the land office were Pliny Allen, sections 6, 3 1 ; William P. Al-
len. 30; John Auchampaugh, 9; James Haines, 3,2; Valentine Bassert, 27;
Ralph Bentley, 35; Harvey Birchard, 27: James Boorman, 12. 13; Philander

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 393

Brainanl. 30; Joseph Carey, 6, 22; William Case, 12. 14: Cyrus Chapman, 31 ;
George and Philip Clapper, 7. 18; George Cline, 15; Stephen A. Corey, 19;
James Cox, 8; Henry Amirous Darrow, 5; Ira Davis, 32; Edmund Daws, 1,
12; Peter Daws, 1 ; Henry Dennis, 31 ; Giilbert L. Douglass, 34; Charles G.
Everts, 9: Cyrus Farnsworth, 4; Thomas Featherstone, 24; Walter Flans-
burg. 13; David D. W. France. 8, 9; John France, 29; Isaac Freer, 34; Aaron
Gile. 30; Elijah Gile. 20: Andrew J. Hanna, 3; Fulton Harvey, 36; John
Brooks Hastings. 4: Henry S. Hawver, 35; James Herron. Jr., 29; Manning
R. Hoard, 26; Erastus Park Jones, 3; Peter Kolb. 15: William Kitely, 9;
David W. Larkin, 20; Zebulon Taylor Lee, 28; Hugh Long, 3, 14; Elisha
McCollister. 32; John Malley, 24: Albin Matteson, 24; John J. Mereness, 3;
Philip Merrill, 19; Theron Miner, 5, 6, 7; Robert Kennedy Morris, 26, 2~. 28;
Martin O'Connor, 6: Lemuel Ormsby, 8; Eli and William Pramer, 19; David
Colwell' Reed, 36: Alvah Salisbury, 36; Dewitt C. Seaver, 9; Lyman H.
Seaver, 28; Luther Schult, 36; Horace G. Smith. 36; Jedidiah Smith, iq:
Nelson Story. 25; James W. Suidter. 27: Luke Taylor, 3: George Treat. 36;
Gardner Udell, 36; Martin Wan Alstyne, 34. 35; John V. Walker. 10; Nor-
man Spencer Way, 5; Lewis Weeks, 23; John and Michael Weiss, iy\ Wil-
liam H. Wells, n; Cyrus L. Wilcox. 34; David Wilcox, 23, 30; John Wil-
liams. 28; Marvin Wilson, 24: George Winter, 17; Robert Young, 13; Adam
Zimpaugh, 1 1 .

Pliny Allen (1788-1868), one of five brothers who founded Allen
Grove, was not nearer than cousin, if related at all, to William P. Allen, who
was son of John Allen, of Jefferson county, New York.

James Earle Bell married Chloe Electa Van Nostrand, June 6, 1 84 1 .

Dearborn Blake married Esther Van Ostrom, January 8, [843.

James Cox married, December 11, 1858, Minerva, daughter of Alfred
Miles and Thankful Norton.

Ira Davis (1805-1893) married Elizabeth A. Stevens (1820-1896).

Henry Dennis ( 1813-1897) married Margaret Smith ( 1820-1898).

Cyrus Farnsworth (1807-1895) was burned in his son's, Joseph M.
Farnsworth's, house in Darien.

Thomas Featherstone (1816-1863) married Catherine Pramer. Novem-
ber 3. 1844. and lived in Walworth, where he died.

Walter P. Flansburg (1816-1887) had wife Catharine (1819-1896).

William France (1808-1882) came in T843 to South Grove with his wife,
Elizabeth Kent.

James Herron (1792-1876) married Hannah Whitney (1791-1874).
Both were of Washington county, New York.

394 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Manning R. Hoard (1818-1897), son of Manning and Prudentia, came
from Allegany county, New York, in 1843 with David E., his brother. Man-
ning R. married, November 30, 1845, Lydia Ann (1826-1898), daughter of
Philip Burton and Nancy Quackenbush.

Peter Kolb (1809-1857) married Margaret (1822-1897), daughter of
Friederich and Marie Bauer.

Albin Matteson (born 1813) married, first, Philena Stockwell; second,
on Christmas day, 1845, Sarah, widow of Warren Matteson.

John Reader (1803- 1878) came in 1824 to the States from Headcorn,
Kent, England, with his wife Elizabeth Featherstone (1803-1868) ; late in
1836 to section 2y, Sharon; a year later to section 18, Walworth; in 1864
to Delavan. He was a member of the Baptist society of Walworth and was
known by his title of deacon.

James W. Suidter (1824-1872) was born at Middlebrook, New Jersey.
His parents, Franz Xavier (1783-1867) and Antoinette (1785-1866), were
born in Bavaria. His wife was Teresa Conder (1827-1911).

George Treat (1818-1882) was son of Oren Treat and Nancy Thomp-
son. His older ancestors were Thomas0, Timothy5, Richard4, Thomas:\
Richard- '. He married Sarah C, daughter of Thomas and Lucinda Fos-
ter. I lis brothers, Julius Allen and Thomas Nelson, and their cousin, Dr.
Charles Ralph Treat, were also long of Sharon and, excepting T. Nelson,
were buried there.

Martin Van Alstyne (1809-1884) and Rebecca Kline (1811-1879) were
apparently among the last who were buried at the old cemetery, within the
village.

Michael Weiss died August 12, 1880; George Winters, September 7,
1881 ; Adam Zimpaugh, May 27, 1867.

Michael Van Winters began business at Sharon Corners, in sections 13,
i.|. J. Jones built a tavern, and in 1843 Isaac Case became postmaster. The
office was afterward named Elton, and was at last merged in the rural deliv-
ery system its mail supplied from Sharon.

S<>uih Grove, too, at sections 17. 20, for a time aimed at commercial su-
premacy, without definite limit to its ambition. David J. Best built a store
and began service as postmaster in [845. A church was built and a cemetery
was laid muI \\ lien the line of railway from Chicago was determined through
us 34, 33, 32, jo. 30 tin' growth of these rival cities was checked by the
foundation of a new village at the station in section 33.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 395

ALLEN GROVE.

Pliny and Sidney Allen came from Rochester, New York, in 1844, and
having reached the western border of the county in their search for a favor-
able site on which to build a village of their own, they bought more than one
thousand acres' of land, mostly in sections 1 of Clinton, 6 of Sharon, and 31
of Darien, on the high ground west of the south branch of Turtle creek. In
May, 1845, they came again with their brothers, Harvey and Philip, Jr.,
bringing also their families and three or four more, unrelated mechanics,
sixty-five in all. They lodged at Darien the aged father and their sister and
others not hardened to the work of chopping and building, quickly made ready
their cabins, and Allen's Grove at once became a village. In July Philip
Allen, Sr., died. In August a religious society was formed. The next year
brought the eldest brother, Asa Keyes Allen, his son, Dr. Joseph C. Allen,
and son-in-law, Ezra P. Teale, all from Ypsilanti. These two younger men
built a store and stocked it with general goods to the amount of six thousand
dollars. In that year Preston H. Allen was born, but it is not told who were
his parents, whether he was a son or a grandson of one of the brothers; and
in that year Preston W. Smith married Frances Schofield. Mary Wallingford
taught the rudiments in a room over the store. In 1847 a public school house
was built.

The village was formally platted in [852, with Clinton street, its northern
u'mit. lying along the Darien line. With the coming of the railway from
Racine, in 1856, Sidney Allen platted his addition on the Darien side. The
railway buildings were for some time at the foot of the hill (which rises
quickly westward and southward), near the creek. The grade westward was
found inconvenient for heavy freight trains, and after some years the station
w'as removed nearly a mile westward, several rods beyond the county line.
This did not of itself destroy the village prosperity, but it transferred the
railway men's inconvenience to local passengers and shippers. As first sur-
veyed, the Chicago & Northwestern company's line from Harvard to
Janesville lay through or near Allen Grove; but. as it is told, the right of way
through the large Allen domain was thought too costly. It is somewhat doubt-
ful it" that alone changed the route, for Clinton is on the natural nearly straight
line from Harvard, through Sharon village, to Janesville. and on the whole
the loss to Allen Grove has been a slight gain to travelers.

An academy was built in 1850, but link- is now recalled of its story. Mr.
Parks was the first principal and the last was Melzer Montague, who in 1870
became county superintendent of schools and the academy became a public

396 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

sch' ml of two grades. In 1909 a new building of white brick, at cost of three
thousand dollars, replaced the old one.

The village as platted shows eighteen streets. Milwaukee street is a part
of one of the territorial roads from Lake Michigan to Beloit. Union Park is
a pi etty square of three acres. The village site was well chosen and the Aliens
were not very illiberal proprietors, but their advantage in 1845 was l°st m
1856 by the growth of Darien, 4.2 miles eastward, and of Clinton, 4.5 miles
westward. As it was, a hotel, a few stores and shops, a mill, an academy,
two churches, and a few hundred inhabitants made Allen Grove fair to look
upon. It is not now a deserted village, and it has yet a postofnee at one of its
two stores. This office was established in 1846. with Philip Allen as post-
master. He has been followed by Aaron Budlong, Dr. John Dickson, Ezra P.
Teale, Mrs. Eliza Wilkins, Edward D. Hall, and the latter's widow, Mrs. Har-
riet A. ( Burns) Hall.

Samuel B. Morse, with the help of Charles W. Morse, his father, of
Kennebec county. Maine, built a steam sawmill at an early date and sold it in
1856 to Pier J. Anderson, who built a dam and equipped the mill for grind-
ing. After some years of local usefulness it passed to successive owners, the
records of whose several transfers fill considerable space. The mill's busi-
ness, the mill itself, and the dam disappeared in turn.

In [875 a freshet washed away the railway bridge and some rods of
embankment, carrying along a few freight ears across the lower fields. Parts
of this wreck are vet lo be seen, nearlv two miles down the stream.

Robert Pearson (or. by another account. Joseph Tierce) built a saw-
mill on the same creek, about two miles above, in section 7. Jesse Pramer
made it a grist mill, which has long ago ended its work.

A few of the colonists met at Pliny Allen's house in 184; and formed a
Congregational society. Rev. Samuel Hopkins Thompson preached occa-
sionally— out of doors in warm, dry weather. He came again as pastor in
1864-5. A church was built in 1852. As nearly as learned of the pastors.
the first was Calvin Waterbury in 1849. The few later ones named were
Benjamin Folts, 1853-4; Cornelius White. [859; Ebenezer Putney Salmon.
r86o-4; Albert M. Case, [876; Luther Clapp, 1878-8!. No later record is
shown by the Year Book of the denomination. The church was probably
supplied at limes from Sharon and other places. The building was sold some
years ago to the Modern Woodmen and was finally pulled down.

Rev. Hiram II. Kersey 1 [812 [884) ministered for a few years to the
then ■small group of Methodists, and in 1858 organized them as a societv.
Their church was built in [859, in which year Alexander 1 [all was their pastor.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 39/

after whom were Thomas White in i860; William Averill, 1862; Cyrus
Scammon, 1863; Rodman W. Bosworth. 1864; David Oliver Jones, 1868;
Joseph Hayden Jenne. 1869; Asahel Moore, 1871 ; William H. Window
(1814-1886) 1873; Thomas C. Wilson, 1875; William Darwin Ames, 1878;
Thomas Potter, 1881 ; Edward H. Lugg, 1882; William R. Mellott, 1885;
John W. Olmstead, 1886; Benjamin T. White, 1891 ; Frederick B. Sherwin,
1895; George W. Pratt, 1897; Isaac Johnson, 1898; Richard H. Jones,
1899; Thomas Sharpe, 1902; Samuel Lugg, 1904; Henry H. Kafer, 1905;
Wilmer Evans Coffman, 1906; Charles J. R. Bulley, 190 — ; Robert H. Simp-
son, 191 1. Jerome F. Tubbs was assigned in 1882. but did not come. Mr.
Lugg stayed but a half year. Air. Window was buried at Allen Grove. Local
recollections as to dates vary slightly from each other and from conference
reports. Memory, no doubt, has sometimes confused a temporary supply
with a regular assignment.

The only resident lawyer mentioned was the senior Archibald Wood-
ard, who wras also active in other business ways. The local court was not
always idle, and the hall of justice not seldom re-bellowed from its ceilings
and walls the thunders of eminent counsel from Delavan and less known
towns.

The official list for the town of Sharon is nearly complete — supervisors
for 1865 and 1866 not shown. In a few instances, here as in other towns, the
person elected did not serve, and the person who, as understood, performed
the duty, is named instead.

CHAIRMEN OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Henry Smith Young 1843 Walter Stocking 1864

Edward P. Conrick 1844-5 John Mereness 1867, '70

Pliny Allen 1846-8, '55 Julius Allen Treat 1872, '75-9, '82

David Wilcox 1849, '58 Wilson R. Herron 1873-4, '80-1

Darius B. Mason 1850 Jeremiah Daniels 1883-5, 89

Dr. John Dickson 1851 Robert Pearson 1886-7

Samuel Wood Voorhees J852-3 Jonas B. Wise 1888, '90-3, '97

Henry Dennis 1854, '68 Samuel P. Ballard 1894-6

George Mansfield 1856-7 Harry II. Foot 1898-1904

Favette P. Arnold 1859-63. Edward \. Peters 1905-12

'65-6, '69, '71

39«

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN-

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Charles Adams 1888

Charles Allen 1862-3

Fayette P. Arnold 1854

Benjamin F. Avers 1911-12

I (earborn Blake 1843

John S. Burrows 1851

Jay G. Callender 1855

Joseph ( onley 1 870-1

Jeremiah Daniels -1867, '79-82

I fenry I >ennis 1853. '67

George D'ensmore 1857-8

Langdon J. Filkins 1847-9

Harry H. Foot 1896-7

Nathan (hie 186]

Marcellus B. Goff 1850

David F. Hoard 1849. '57

Manning R. Hoard 1868

Edward lluher 1912

Morris Isaacs 1880-1, '85

Eugene Kitely [904

Philip Kline 1896, '99

Martin Luther [886

George Mansfield 1852. '63 |

I mi- \. Matteson km i

Garrett Mereness 1872, '79

John Mereness 1850

Derick V. Milmine 1854

Carlostian B. Miner 1861

James H. Miner 1900-3

Joseph H. Osmond 1 905-7

Edward A. Peters 1897-1904

Christian Pramer 1845

William F. Randall 1905-10

E. C. L. Reynolds 1846

Alvah Salisbury 1847

Jacob Shager 1888

Charles A. Sikes 1885

George Sikes 1869, 'j^-S

Walter Stocking 1856, '59, '62

Jared H. Topping T875"7

Josiah Topping 1846

David Tuft 1908-10

Frank Wan Horn 1898

Henry Van Horn 1851

Samuel Wood Voorhees 1856, '70-1

David Wilcox 1844-5. '48. 53

George Winters 1843-4, 5--

'69. '73-4. :?S

Jonas B. Wise 1895

William Wolcott 1887

Archibald Woodard, Jr. 1886-7

Justin Wright.1855, '58-9, '64, "68. '72

rOWN CLERKS.

I - tat \ .ni \\ erl So erson 18 1.3

David Larkin 1844-5

Luke O. I.add 1846

William P, Mien 1847-52,

'55-7. '6o- 1 . '63 4, '66 79

|.i\ G. Callender '^53-4

John Goodland iS;N 9, '62

Orla W. Doolittle 1865

Samuel P. Ballard 1880-7. '89

I harles I. Ripley 1888', '90-5

Clayton !•'.. Rogers 1896

William 11. Pellington 1897

Barton W. Hall 1898-1903

George Heman Mereness 1904-12

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

399

TOWN TREASURERS.

John H. Topping 1843-4. '46-7

Walter Flansburg 1845

Alonzo McGraw * 1848-9

David E. Hoard 1850-1

John Mereness l&S2-?>

James W. Suidter 1854-5

Philo G. Spencer 1856

Michael Ivnaub : 1857

Joseph Stam 1S58

Benjamin F. LeValley 1859

Samuel C. Saunders 1 860-1

Garrett Mereness 1862

John Goodland 1863-4

William V. Clymer __, 1865

William Humphrey 1866-7

Jacob Staley 1868-9

Charles A. Bronson 1 870-1

George Pramer 1872

Horace B. Howell 1873-4

Dr. Charles Ralph Treat 1875

Albert L. Mason 1876

Cassius F. Arnold 1877-8

W. Edgar Mereness r879

William S. Hamlin 1880-1

Amasa D. Truax 1882

John Rogers 1883-4

William Knaub 1885

Henry F. Truax 1886

Derick V. Milmine 1887

Burgett Banner 1888

Henry Wolfram 1889

Jesse S. Weaver 1890

John C. Mereness 1891

David McDonald 1892. '94

Charles H. Burton ^93

Clayton E. Rogers 1895

Edward A. Wolcott 1896, '98

Frederick Horick 1897

Edward Roth 1 890

Calvin M. Budlong 1900

Rufus Cooley 1901, '09

Joseph Engelhardt 1902

George W. Markell 1903-8, '10-12

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

William V. Allen. 1 860-1, '64-5. "67-85

Salmon G. Arnold 1861-2

Oliver R. Bailey 1907-8

Herman C. Beardsley 1901

Noyes E. Bennett 1863-6, '70-2

A. Taylor Bloclgett 1909-10

George R. Borst 1904-7

Calvin M. Budlong 1897-1900

Miks Chaffee 1867-9

George M. Cory 1896

Dr. John Dickson 1868-9, 72~5

Howland Fish 187' > > ^

John Goodland 1857-8, '62-3

William S. Hamlin 1889-94.

'96-7, '99-1900, '02-1 1

William Humphrey '82-3,

'85-6. '98-1902

Wallace [ngalls 1884

Martin Kelhofer 1908-11

1 llysses Grant Kitely 1902-3

Albert ( '. I .rP»arron___'75, '87-8, '90-5

Benj. F. Le Valley 1889-96, 1901-11

Allien L. .Mason 1860-3

Dariu- B. Mason (2d) 1888-91

400 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Dr. David G. Morris 1870-73 Julius Allen Treat 1865-6

Livingston E. Parker 1901-2 Clayton H. Underbill 1895-6

Edward II. Perring 1897-8 William H. Winters 1894-5

Ra\ L. Rumsey 1902 Williams S. Winters 1899

Mm. hi Schellenger 1883-4. 'S<-- Archibald Woodard, Sr. 1866-7

Warren A. Stanbro 1884-5 Archibald Woodard. Jr. 1876-7, '79-86

Frank S. Stupfell 1899-1901

(Bailey, Blodgett, Hamlin. Humphrey, Parker and Stupfell were jus-
tices tor the village).

A school house was built in section _'. and occupied in 1841. Besides
the schools at Allen Grove and Sharon, the town has six district schools,
and there are two joint districts: No. 4. with Darien and Walworth, and
No. 13. with Clinton.

VILLAGE OF SHARON.

Alan A. Southard ami William D. Van Nostrand came to the centre of
section 33 as early as 1 S4 _• . but not to found a city. In 1855 the Chicago &
Northwestern Railway Company's surveyors laid its line from Harvard to
Janesville through this section, and fixed the locus of its station seventy-one
mile- from Chicago. Robert Campbell, a man of Oshkosh, bought forty
acres and platted the village. The rails were laid to Janesville in 1856. In the
-aim' year George Milmine built a store and in 1857 Seymour Rice built a
hotel. In 1S5S a postoffice was established, with John Hodgson among the
mail sacks. William 1'. Allen relieved him in 1801 and gave way to Wilson
R. I lerrou in 1 86S. Edward Bilyea followed, then Mr. Herron again,
Frank L. Menu about [893, Clayton II. Underhill about 1897, Frank C.
Densmore from 1005 till now. This office has two free delivery routes,
which suppl) the greater part of the town, a small part of Illinois and a
smaller part of Rock county. Harry II. Bidwell, first railway station agent.
died December 13. [859. Dr. Reuben Willson was the earliest resident phv-
sician.

About [848 .1 school house was built within the later village limits.
Additional provision was made as needed, and house and grounds are now
valued at twentj five thousand dollars. The high school began in [878, with
\V. V Germain as principal Rev. lame- G. Schaefer bad moved the men of
Sharon, m [866, to active interest in advanced education. In 1S07 the Sharon
Vadeim was built and was opened in December with nearly one hundred
pupils, under direction of Mr. Schaefer and Prof. E. S. Chadwick, of

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 401

Beloit. This school closed in 1878, after an active and useful career, and
the high school soon resumed this temporarily suspended work. The public
school house was burned in 1880, rebuilt in 1884 and extended about 1908.
Its total value, with broad grounds, is about twenty-five thousand dollars.
Nine teachers are now employed.

In connection with his academical work Mr. Schaefer began in June,
1868, to publish the Sharon Mirror. At the end of 1869 he sold it to C. C.
Hanford, from whom it passed in January, 1871, to Samuel P. Ballard. It
was discontinued in September following. Before the end of that year
George F. Brigham, a man in many ways useful to his fellow citizens, began
to edit and print the Gazette, which he discontinued in September, 1873. In
that month J. C. Keeney began anew with the Inquirer. He was a native of
Connecticut and a thorough printer. Most of his work was done by himself
and a young son, Clarence. In September, 1876, Clarence R. Conable bought
the office and in 1878 moved it to Delavan. After three weeks interval, in
August, 1878, James H. Phelps and George F. Ziegaus put forth the Re-
porter. In 1890 the firm was Phelps & Howell: in 1892 George F. Ziegaus;
in 1906 Ziegaus & Son; in 1908 Fred C. Fessenden ; and is now the Reporter
Publishing Company. This paper is independent politically. Its predeces-
sors were generally Republican.

Very Rev. Martin Kundig established St. Catherine's mission in 1846.
Its services were supplied for more than sixty years by priests of other par-
ishes— notably for twenty years or more from the church at Elkhorn. A
chapel was built in 1896, and a church in 1910. Father Hermes came as-
resident priest, for a few weeks, in 19 10. and after him Rev. Thomas Pierce
in 1911.

Nineteen members constituted the Congregational society in 1868, and
a church was built in that year. Rev. James G. Schaefer, with a \cw others
of the Lutheran church, were among the organizers of this society. The pas-
tors, as nearly as known, have been Isaac Barker, 1870; Albert A. Young,
1871 ; Albert M. Case, 1875; Thomas A. Wadsworth, 1878; Luther Clapp,
1879; John Mitchell Strong, 1882; John Harris. 1884: Arthur McCalla
Thome, 1885; John Scholfield, 1887; John Sabin, 1890; Daniel R. Grover,
1891 : William Millard, 1893; Frederick M. Hubbell, 1895; Carl D. Thomp-
son, 1896; Thomas Kent, 1900; Robert J. Locke, 1902; H. Samuel Fritsch,
1904. The society became too weak in number to continue long after 1904,
and in nil 1 their building was sold for conversion to other use.

(26)

402 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Rev. ( ieorge F. Brigham. then a layman, assembled a little group of
Episcopalians and acted as their reader. The first full service was in 1868
by Rev. William E. Wright, then of Janesville. Before building their chapel,
in [879-80, the members met at a dance hall, at the railway station. — at
which Mr. Brigham was for many years agent, — and at the Lutheran
church. Mr. Brigham received deacon's orders June 11. 1876, and May 27,
i'i"-'. he was fully ordained as a priest, and is still in the service of the
chinch, though full of years. From the beginning he has kept a minute
account of parish affairs, and his well-stored memory preserves some un-
written record of many other things that might otherwise be lost to such as
find interest in the men and events of nearly a half century. He was born in
(830, and might be regarded fairly as Sharon's "grand old man."

\ number of residents of the town met at Martin Van Alstyne's house.
September i~. [845, to organize the First Evangelic Lutheran church of
Sharon. Its name was chosen, its synodical connection fixed upon, and offi-
cers elected. Its first yearly meeting was held at the same place. September
28, [846, Rev. Marcus \V. Empie presiding. He read his commission from
the Lutheran board of missions of the Franckean synod, and was received as
pastor. At a special meeting, October 9. 1841). it was resolved to build a
chapel which should he opened freely for the use of other orthodox denom-
ination-. It was further determined to accept Mr. Van Alstyne's gift of two
.Hies of land and to build thereon at the line between sections 34 and 35,
about eighty-five rods from the state line and a little more than one and one-
half miles from the present village. The chapel was ready for its use in
[850. Between [856 and 186] it was moved to the village and remodeled,
and has since been kept in excellent repair. Before 1866 its service was not
continuous. It- pastors have been Mr. Empie, [845-1852; Rufus Smith. Jr..
[856-186] : Henry L. Dox, 1863. Continuity began with James (i. Schaefer,
t866; 1. cander ford. [868; Mr. Hammond, [875; Dr. David Harold Snow-
den, [878; Jacob W. Thomas. 1NS1; J. 11. Weber, [887; I. J. Delo, [889;
Luther I.. Lipe, 1891 : Leander Ford (again), 1897; William J. Spire. 1902;
rhomas B. Hersch, [904; William F. Harnett. [906-1912. This is an Eng-
lish-speaking congregation.

\ German-speaking Evangelic Lutheran society was formed about
[897, and its ehurch was built in 1003. Its pastor list and dates of service
are but partly known: 11. R, Roehr, Mr. Schert, Gerhardt F. Kuehnert.
las B. Hersch, 1005: Herman V Steege, [906; George F. Hack. [907;
B ii' '\\ in charge. Each of these churches has its comfort-

parsonage.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 403

A Methodist Episcopal society was constituted in 1843 at South Grove
and was for some time supplied by circuit riders. In 1856 it built a church
at Sharon village and has since improved it and provided a good parsonage.
Its clergy list begins with Hiram H. Hersey about 1856, after whom Thomas
White. 1857; Stephen Smith.. 1800; Andrew J. Mead. 1861 ; William Page
Stowe. 1863: Daniel C. Adams. 1865: A. C. Manwell, 1866; Clark Skinner.
1868; William H. Sampson, 1869; Xorvall J. Aplin, 1871 ; J. C. Robbins,
1873: Daniel Brown. 1S74; A. J. Brill, 1875; A. A. Reed. 1877; Samuel C.
Thomas. 1879: Samuel Reynolds, 1880: Charles B. Wilcox, 1881 ; Andrew
J. Benjamin, 1883; Joseph Anderson, 1884; Frank A. Pease, 1885; Stephen
A. Olin. 1888: Payson W. Peterson, 1891 ; William A. Peterson, 1893;
Elvardo C. Potter, 1896; Sabin Halsey, 1898: William Clark. 1899: J.
Thomas Murrish, 1902; Andrew Porter, 1903; George W. White, 1906-12.
It may be seen that a few of these performed duty at Allen Grove.

Joseph M. Yates and Howland Fish began business as private bankers
in 1874, with capital of ten thousand dollars. A few years later Mr. Fish
gave place to George C. Mansfield, and yet later Mr. Yates and Mr. Mans-
field became respectively president and cashier of the Sharon State Bank, and
are still in these positions. This bank's capital has become twenty-five thou-
sand dollars and its deposits are nearly three hundred thousand dollars. A
steam grist mill was built in 1875 '3>' James Ashley, with the help of liberally
subscribing citizens. It was large enough for local needs, having four runs
of mill stones. John Ladd bought a half interest in 1879, the other half in-
terest owned since 1878 by Mrs. Mary A. Slocum. This mill has long been
disused.

The village found good water for public and private use at depth of
six hundred and ten feet. Since 1905 the streets, stores, and homes have
been lighted from gasoline works. Cement with sand and gravel is in gen-
eral use for public walks, as in all the cities and villages of the county.

The first cemetery is now well within the village, and has long been
disused and is mostly vacated. A wild growth of tree, shrub, vine and weed
now makes it difficult to explore their tangled thickets in quest of the few
old headstones still remaining. Apparently, a quarter century is sufficient
for nature to hide he fore she wholly erases the signs "I" human effort to care
becomingly for the dead. A newer and well designed and cared-for cemetery
lies on high ground, a mile northward. The liberality of citizens, singly and
in societies, has provided a cemented walk, four feci in width, for the whole
distance. In this work the women of the church societies took the lead and
bore the greater share of its cost. This ground has at least one distinctive

404 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

feature, in that it is unshaded by tree, shrub, or flower. Nothing but its
monuments obstructs the lawn-mower and sickle of the care-takers. This
last home is now well peopled, and there one may read the names of many
of the fathers and mothers who left the eastern world to plant in fairest
wastes till then unplowed.

Young men of the town or village have gone forth to find larger use-
fulness elsewhere. Among these was Capt. John T. Fish, who began a
lawyer's practice at the village and ended it in the higher ranks of his pro-
fession at Chicago. His son. Frank M. Fish, a native of the village, went
to Racine and became judge of this circuit. John Goodland is at Appleton
and is judge of the seventh circuit. Scott Ladd, a son of John and Sarah
Ladd, is a judge of the supreme court of Iowa. (Another judge of that
.court is or was Charles Bishop, son of Matthew P. Bishop, of Lagrange).

By a statute of 1883 the village became, in 1892, entitled to its own rep-
resentative in the county board of supervisors. Under a later general statute
Sharon became one of the four incorporated villages of the county.

Members of county board: John \V. Brownson, 1892-6; John G.
Skeels, 1897; Samuel P. Ballard, [898-1900, 1902-1906, 1908; Jonas B.
\\ be, 1901, 1907, 1912: Wesle) C. Lilley, 1909-11.

Presidents of the village: Dr. David Gardiner Morris. 1900'; Heman
Allen. Him ; \ndre\v A. Lyman, [902; C. Fred W. Ruehlman, 1903-6, 1909-
10; John Byrne, 1907: John 1. Morgan, [908, 191 1 : Wesley C. Lilley, 1912.

Village clerks: William II Pellington, 1900: Edward H. Perring, 1901 ;
William S. Hamlin. 1902-6, 1908-10; Daniel C. Ward, [967; G. Augustus
Finn, 1911-12.

\ illage treasurers: Andrew Gallup, 1900; Christian Sund, 1901 ; Jacob
Newman, [902, [905-6; Charles II. Burton, 1903 ; Charles W. Searles, 1904;
William |. Markcll. 1907; Fred I.. Ryder, [908; James Welch, 1909; DeFor-

est I l\ dr. Htlo-I J,

Principals of tin- high school: \Y. A. Germain, 1878; James Ellis.

[880; John (i. Skeels, [882; I.. S. Smith, [885; John G. Skeels. [886; G. W.

[893; John 1; Skeels, [895; <i. M. Sheldon. [897; E. T. Towne,

[899; W. B. Collin-. 1001: J, II. Stauff, 1003; B D, Richardson. 1907-13.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

TOWN OF SPRING PRAIRIE.

At the division of the county into five towns, January 2, 1838, the two
townships, each numbered 3 north, lying in ranges 17 and 18 east, were in-
cluded in the town of Spring Prairie, and were so joined until March 21,
1843. when the westernmost town was set off as Lafayette. The name was
suggested to Mrs. Abigail A. ( Whitmore) Heminway by the natural features
of the southern half of the town — the springs being in sections 19 and 20 and
discharging themselves into Spring brook, a branch of Sugar creek. Roches-
ter and Burlington lie eastward.

First settlers found about three-fourths of the township more or less
wooded — forests and openings. Spring prairie, in the southwestern part,
and Gardners prairie, in the southeastern quarter, have each from fifteen
hundred to two thousand acres of natural garden. A smaller meadow, a half
section or more in area, lies near Honey Creek, in the northeast. Sugar
creek enters at section 7, crosses a little south of east and meets Honey creek
near the county line at the southeast corner of section 13. The latter comes
out of East Troy and runs nearly due southward through sections 1. 12 and
13. Spring brook, entering at section 19, meets Sugar creek near the town
center. Marsh creek begins in section 10. and by way of section 1 1 reaches
Honey creek in section 12. White river winds a few miles in section 36 and
escapes into Racine county by way of the southeast corner of section 25.
The southern sections are drained by small southward-flowing branches of
the White. These larger streams were in earlier days made useful for driving
saw-mills and grist-mills. For a few miles along Sugar creek, on each side,
the ground rises to parallel ridges which give the highway from Spring
Prairie village to East Troy almost a down-eastern ruggedness of profile
Limestone crops out in some of the valleys, more noticeably in sections 16
and 36. though quarries have been worked but superficially and for local use.
This is presumptively of the Niagara formation. Elevations above sea-level,
at ten points of observation, vary between ju<< and 979 feet — the lowest in
sections 36. the highest in section 5. The average height in sections 7 and 8
is 918 feet.

406 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN

In 1910 the land area was returned as 23,007 acres, valued at $1,754.-
900, or $76.27 per acre. Since the entire acreage of a township, land and
water included, is 23,040 acres, it may be judged that the streams and ponds
arc now at their lowest, or. that there is a slight clerical or printers error in
the returns. Crop acreages were: Barley, 795: corn. 3,803; hay, 3,177;
oats, -'.407: potatoes, [26; rye. 168; timl>er, 3.177: wheat, 270. There were
3,459 cattle, valued at 892,900; 886 hogs. $10,300; 905 horses, $63,400; 3.783
sheep, $12,900.

Population: 1N50. 1.418; [860, 1.311; 1870. 1,209; 1880. 1,107; ^8go,
[,155; [900, 1,120; [910, 1,007. The difference between the first and the
latest of these enumerations tells again the story of other towns, a tale in two
parts — the one of busy mills and of small local shops supporting a few me-
chanics at "iicc hopeful village sites, and of sons who stayed at home to help
the fathers on the farms: the other of the re-distribution of local trade by the
coming of railways, of farms worked by machinery, and of the attraction of
great cities and of the farther west.

I 'aimer Gardner came April 15. [836, to section 25, and two days later
began to build. In May he planted and sowed, and in autumn gathered.
Solomon Harvey, Dr. Ansel \. Ileminway. and David Pratt came in that
year to section 30. In May, too. William J. Bentley and Isaac Chase came
to sections 28. 20. and Daniel Salisbury to section 29. Frederick T. Hunt
came to work for Mr. Gardner. Gilman Haines Hoyt reached section 1 in
July, and with him came Reuben Clark. Rufus Billings came in October to
section 23, Benjamin and Benj. C. Pearce to section 36.

Of the men of 1837 wen- ( hester Baker and sons, Edwin, Francis, sec-
tion 10, and Purke, George and John Hell. 23; labesh T. Clement, mill-
wright; Horace Coleman', 20. 30; William Darwin Grain. j~ : Isaiah Dike,
27 ■, 34; William II. Dunning, 34; John Fgerton Hopkins. 1; Benjamin
Hoyt, 1 : Avery Hoyt, 2; lames McNay, 12: Roderick Merrick. 20, 29; Ansel
Salisbury, 34; Perrin Smith and wife Abigail. 28, 33; Oliver Van Yalin,

lei C Vaughn, 20, Mr. Hopkins married Joanna, daughter of Benja-

! lo\t and sister of Avery A. and ( iilman II. Hoyl

Men of [838 were Harrj Ambler, 4: John Bacon, 28; John Camp
Booth, 26; Richard Chenery, 26; Corbin ('lark. S; Josiah Burroughs Glea-
son, 34; Samuel P. Jones, 31; Josiah P. Fan-maid, 12: John Martin. 24:
Thomas VV. Miller, 29, 32; Abel Neff, 25, 34; George Henry I 'aimer. 12:
Josiah 1 I. Puffer, 27; Louis Schmidter, 4; Erastus O. Vaughn, 11 ; Jeremiah
Walker. 17; D.miel Wbituiore. 17; Dwight Whitmore, 27; Israel Williams,
tg.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 407

Men of 1S39: Dr. Daniel Allen, 6; George W. Arms, 26; James Baker, 5 ;
Marcus Reynolds Britten, 15; Samuel Brittain, 11 ; Kimball Easterbrook, 22;
George Hatter, 4; Thomas Hill, 31 ; John Mather, 5; Samuel Neff, 35; Alex-
ander Porter, 5, 8; Silas Salisbury, 34; Selah Whitman, 1.

In 1840: Zebulon Bugbee. John Densmore, 18; Louis Kearns, 18; Jona-
than Leach, 31 ; Rev. Orra Martin, 23; James Mather, 5, 8.

In 1841 : William Berry and son Mellen, 12; Charles Bowman, 6; Lans-
ing D. Lewis, 15; Franklin J. Patton. 22; Benjamin L. Reed, 22.

Besides these, the dates of whose coming are fixed, the following named
men bought land of the government : Harvey Bacon in section 33 ; Luke
Billings, 23; Robert Brierly, 8; Arthur Brown, 19; Tyler M. Coles, 17;
Joseph Dame, 21; Elijah Delap, 34; John Flitcroft, 5; Benjamin Haight,
11, 12; James Harkness, 18; George Healey, 4; Abiram Holbrook, 2; Ben-
jamin Jones, George Kaiser, 7; George Kneeland, 17; William Lay, 21;
Francis McKennan, 36; Austin L. Merrick, 21; James Monahan, 10; Jona-
than Neff, 35; Benjamin Pearce, 6; Benj. Carpenter Pearce, 36; Lemuel
Rugg, 7,^; William Maxwell Sherrard, 30, 31; Lemuel Rood Smith, 25;
John Sweeney, 7; Amory Townshend, 2; William Brice Wade, 12; Bern-
hardt Weigert, 3; Joseph D. Whiteley, 4, 9; Joseph Whitmore, 18.

Dr. Daniel Allen (1787-1859) came from Hamburg, New York, with
his wife, Olive English (1782-1864), to section 31, East Troy, in 1838, and
to the next town. His son, Lucius, became a man of county affairs, and a
daughter, Lucinda. was married first to John Mayhew and second to John
Young.

John Bacon (1785-1865) was born at Kinderhook and came here from
Angelica. New York. His wife was Sarah Perry.

Robert Brierley died in 1864.

Marcus R. Britten (4815-1890) was born at Amsterdam. New York.
His wife was Caroline Klock (1815-1898). He was a Baptist deacon and
opposed Freemasonry.

Samuel Brittain (T810-1890) was born in Lincolnshire and came to the
States in 1N34. In 1836 he was at Geneva and took a two-handed part in
the battle with Payne's man. Schoonover. His wife was Elizabeth (1814-
[893), daughter of Benjamin Hoyt and Susan Hayes.

Reuben Clark married Maria Wan Yalin. September 3. [837. She was
a daughter of Daniel Van Valin.

l-'iah Hike (1802-1882) came from Vermont. Ili> wife was Mary
(181 1. daughter of Samuel Vaughn and Ruth Bowker.

408 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Benjamin Haight died in 1866. His first wife was Alma Beach. Genealo-
gists find Haight and Hoyt descended from the same remote ancestors, but
there was no known kinship between Mr. Haight and the Hoyts at Honey
Creek.

James Harkness (1776-1861) had wife Mary (1783-1851), daughter
of Joseph W'hitmore and Hannah Call.

George Healey ( 1810-1884) had wife Hannah (1808-1885). Both
w ere of English birth.

Dr. Ansel Asa Heminway (1805-1895) was born in Erie county, Penn-
sylvania, and died at Eugene City, Oregon. He had studied medicine, and
his service was early and for long in local demand. He was postmaster
1838-1845. His wife, Abigail A. ( 1814-1906), was a daughter of Joseph
and Hannah Whitmore.

John F. Hopkins died in 1867. His wife was Joanna (1813-1899).
daughter of Benjamin and Susan Hoyt.

Benjamin Hoyt 1 1778-1860) was son of Joseph Hoyt and Abigail.
daughter of Samuel and Mary Flanders. Older father ancestors were 1,
John; 2, Thomas; 3. Benjamin; 4, Enoch. In 1807 he married Susan Hayes,
who died in 1862. leaving seven children. Of these, not before named here.
Simon Batchelder Hoyt (1811-1861) married Elizabeth D. Cady, at Honey
Creek. Benjamin Hoyt, Jr. (born 1829), married, first, Sarah Robinson:
second, Alvira Kellev. The elder Hoyt was born in Deerfield, New Hamp-
shire: his children were born at Cabot, Vermont. From their third Ameri-
can ancestors. Benjamin Hoyt and Hannah Pillsburg, were also descended
tin- Hoyl 1 if Allen Grove.

Gilman H. Hoyl 1 born 1808) married Elizabeth Heath in 1831). Their
son. Clinton D. Hoyt (born 1842), was a sergeant of Company ( '. Twenty-
third Infantry.

\\erv A. Hoyl 1 1824-1906) married, in 1847. Caroline M. Hoyt (1828-
[897), hi- cousin Tristram C. Hoyt's daughter. Her grandfather was
Enoch, son of Joseph and Abigail, Mr. Hoyt was one of the farmer- whose
intelligence and enterprise made of Spring Prairie a segment of the garden

den.

Samuel P. Jenks (1809-1889). a native of Onondaga county, married
Pamela | [808 [892), daughter of Dan Phelps and Elizabeth, daughter of
Israel King and Elizabeth Johnson.

1.. Kaiser 1 [810-90) was horn in Bavaria; came to the States
in 1827: married, in [830, Margarel 11810-1897). daughter of John A.

••it ior Taupert). She. too, was a Bavarian.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 4O9

Thomas W. Miller (1788- 1863) and wife Mary (1788- 1855) were
parents of Mrs. Samuel Pratt.

George Henry Palmer (1804-1873) married Sarah Langmaid.

Alexander Porter (1803-1866) was born in Galloway (an old provin-
cial name for the counties of Kirkcudbright and Wigton, in southwestern
Scotland). His wife Isabella (1813-1886) was a native of county Roscom-
mon. Ireland.

David Pratt (1803-1877) was born in Massachusetts and died at Clay-
ton. Iowa. Samuel Pratt was his brother and a sister of Solomon Harvey
was his wife.

Josiah Osgood Puffer (1814-1895) was born in western Massachu-
setts. He was son of Samuel Puffer, second husband of Eunice, daughter
of Capt. Josiah Osgood and Jane Byington. Her earlier ancestors were 1,
John; 2. Stephen: 3, Hooker; 4, David. Eunice's first husband, Samuel Os-
good, was her second cousin. Mr. Puffer's first wife was Hannah M. Whit-
more (died 1862) ; his second wife was her sister, Mrs. Mary Hatch, who
died in 1897.

Louis Schmidter (1811-1881) is sometimes written in records "Smith-
ers ." His wife was named Amelia.

Erastus Otis Vaughn (1808-1880) was not related in known degree to
the others of his name at Spring Prairie. His wife (born 1819. married
1837) was Olive, daughter of Benjamin and Susan Hoyt.

Samuel Cole Vaughn O802-1868) was a son of Samuel Vaughn and
Ruth Bowker, the latter a daughter of Luke Bowker and Joanna Dunbar.
His wife was Sarah Hart Mills Vose, daughter of Thomas Vickery Vose and
Sarah Little, granddaughter of Samuel Vose and Phoebe Vickery, great-
granddaughter of Robert and Abigail Vose. Mrs. Vaughn's mother was
daughter of Joseph Little and Hannah Tngalls.

Daniel Whitmore ( 1K17-1909), son of Joseph W'hitmore and Hannah
Call and grandson of Daniel Whitmore. was born in Essex county, New
York. His wife was Mary E. Nobles (1817-1896) Joseph ("1821-1898),
his brother, married Sarah, daughter of Sims Edgerton and Harriet Bene-
dict.

Rev. Benjamin C. Pearce built a frame house in 1836 and moved into
it before the end of the year; but, for yet some time to come less pretentious
dwellings met the first needs of newcomers. The rapid improvement of
water-powers soon relieved a great part of the heavy burdens of building and
of subsistence. Israel Williams built a mill forty-five by fifty feet, two-
storied, with eighteen-foot overshot wheel and two runs of stones, at the

410 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

springs in section 19. To this he added a distillery with capacity of about
two barrels — a little more than he needed for household consumption. Sam-
uel C. Vaughn built a saw mill in 1843 on Spring brook, at the northeast corner
of section 20. John Martin 1 the judge) built a saw mill in 1846 on Sugar
creek, which in time became a grist mill.

Village settlement began early and hopefully at Honey Creek in section
1. Spring Prairie in sections 29 and 30. Vienna in section 18, and Voree in
the northeastern corner of section 36.

Honey Creek, on the stream so named, lies partly in Racine county,
in which part is the Wisconsin Central Railway's station. The village has
three stores, a church, and a cemetery. Among remembered pastors of the
union church were George H. Hubbard, George E. Moore, and Frederick
T. Bohl. The postoffice has two free delivery routes. The school is of two
grades, and its district is partly of Rochester.

Vienna, on Sugar creek, was at first called Martinsburg, from the re-
lated Martin families who settled near that point. Judge Martin's saw mill
gave place to a good grist mill, which in 1853 became the property of Ed-
wan! /aim, who improved it greatly and for several years made his flour
locally famous. His sons, Cornelius and Victor, continued the business for a
few years. The mill was disused and then burned. Winslow Page Storms
built the Vienna House in 1848 and used it for many years as a tavern and a
store, and as a postoffice. It long ago became a private dwelling; for men go
to Spring Prairie to buy, to Burlington for prescriptions, and each to his own
door or gate for mail. A little burial ground lies a bit more than a half mile
southwest of the village, on the way to Spring Prairie and to Burlington.
Little mure than tradition now remains of Vienna and its past and prospec-
tive greatness.

Voree was the creation of Jesse James Strang, who came in 1844 from
Nam i><> and began to build a city and temple. It is not told whether he
Found the name for bis holy city in the Book of Mormon, or whether it was

lied to him in another way. He assembled about three hundred disciples,
and small, of whom he was ruler, chief priest, and prophet. He ap-
pointed a da) and hour, and September 13. 1N45. lie found his credentials
directlj beneath a large tree, on the edge of a high bank of White river, in
the form of three gold-colored plates on which bad been scratched mathe-
1 and astronomical symbols. These he interpreted as a revelation and
a heaven] nission. Eighteen more plates were found later. Laban

Piatt, Van.,, Smith, lame- M Van Nostrand, Jared B. Whelan and Edward
Whitcomb witnessed these revelations. He printed a new -paper, for which

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 4 I I

he wrote long "poems": but he did not finish his temple. In 1847 he flitted
with his disciples to Beaver Island, in Mackinaw strait, and in 1856 his body
was brought for burial after a conflict with a federal marshal's force. He had
a few relatives in the town of Spring Prairie and this, with the natural
advantages of rich land and good water power, may have determined the
place of the city so short-lived, of which but a few fading memories are left.

Doctor Heminway built early in 1837, in section 30, at a meeting of
half-section lines, one of the largest log taverns in the territory, two stories
high. He made it in many ways useful, for he opened it for religious ser-
vice, for other public meetings, for a store and postoffice, and for a township
polling place. This edifice determined the site of Spring Prairie village. In
the fall of that year Horace Coleman and J. Crawford placed a stock of goods
in a corner of the Heminway House. Samuel Pratt and Erasmus D. Smith
built a store in 1S44. Doctor Heminway rebuilt his house of brick in 1845.
This house was sold in 1847 to William H. Rogers, in 1848 to Nathan A.
Howes, in 1854 to Franklin Walbridge, in 1857 to Capt. Ezra F. Weed, its
last landlord. It became a stately private dwelling.

Stephen Bull and Thomas Gage built a store across the road eastward
and they were followed by a half-forgotten line of successors, each of whom,
in his turn, was usually postmaster. The store was extended and a wing
added for its hardware department. It was burned in January, 1894, and
its business and its higher function passed to a new store at another corner,
to which place went the postoffice.

Men of the second and later generations had made of the old hard-
ware wing a smoking room and a kind of academic grove where each person
was a "professor of things in general" and a receptive pupil. Their unend-
ing debates of all that ever was, is, and yet might be were not all profitless.
There was much general and special intelligence, wit, racy humor, and
harmless freedom of speech at these convocations. These wordy commotions
were in no way enlivened artificially, for no man there could remember when
drink that rages was sold at the village. Not a few of these men were called
hence to the seats of the mighty at Madison and at Elkhorn, and each of
these owed this later greatness to the quickening of faculties and sharpening
of wits among the nail-kegs, garden tools, and grindstones. Their fathers
had disagreed sturdily in matters of church discipline and town polity, and
Otis Preston had observed that no man who did not hate somebody was
qualified for citizenship at the village. This «;h far otherwise with their
heirs and successors, and the great unifying influence was the blue haze of
the hardware wing. Men gathered at other stores in other villages to hear

41 _' WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN

and discuss news and as it were to strike fire out of dull substances; but
berries are not alike on every bush. The perpetual session at the store was
the peculiar institution of Spring Prairie, unlike that which was most nearly
like it.

Franklin postoffice was established in 1838 with weekly mails to Racine
and lanesville. The name must have been changed within that year, for
Spring Prairie and not Franklin competed with Delavan, Elkhorn and Geneva
at the choice of a county seat. As far as known the succession of postmas-
ters with uncertain dates, has been: Ansel Asa Heminway, 1838; Erasmus

Darwin Smith, 1845; Frank Hall, Stephen Bull, Moses Kinney, 1857;

Graham. Martin V. Pratt. 1861: Clifford A. Pratt, George D. Puffer. Will-
iam J. Knight, Leroy Williston Merrick, about 1804: William H. Shaver.
Mrs. Martha M. Shaver.

Josiah O. Puffer made and sold shoes as early as 1839. Jacob Kohler
brought Parisian styles of men's clothing in 1843. ar>d Otis Preston brought
still later styles, from White Pigeon, in 1846. Earliest named village smiths
were Henry Elliott, 1840; Nathaniel H. Carswell, 1843: Harrison Arm-
strong. [845. After these were Orman Livingston, Stephen Coats, Edson
Merrill, James A'. Hemstead, and in 1865 Henry J. Shaver ( 1832-1912). In
[846 and until 184N Mr. Armstrong's skill and Israel Williams's money were
joined for the production of serviceable home-made plows and henceforward
the village blacksmith was known to the world and to the muses of lyric and
satiric verse as "Uncle Hat, the Plow -maker." Between 1850 and 1855 Mr.
Lobdell made small beer and found for it a nearly county-wide sale. This
business passed for a short time to Brewster B. Drake. About 1S74 Cyril R.
Aldrieh began to buy. dress and ship poultry to Boston and other places.
Ileiii\ I ). Barnes became his partner, and later the firm was made up of Mr.
Barnes, Fdward C. Hubbard and George D. Puffer. Their shipments reached
fifty t"ii- each winter. For a few years either way from 1880 Orris Pratt
made vinegar for domestic and foreign consumption.

In May, [841, steps were taken to organize the Baptist church of Spring
Prairie and Burlington. Among the clergy who attended these preliminary

ings wire Richard Griffingi Phipps W. Lake. Orra Martin. Benjamin
e, Henry Topping and A. B. Winchell. The Burlingtonians withdrew
in (843 to form a society at home. The church at Spring Prairie was built-
in [846 by William Johnson .and James Harrington and extended as needed
1 't unknown elsewhere ami in other denominations have so weak-

1 tron Hi it the village that since r88l few or no pastors

have been regularly assigned to il service. Dates of the following pastorates

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 4I3

are not definitely known, but their order is nearly as shown : William R.
Manning, 1841 ; Roswell Cheney, 1844; Spencer Carr, 1851 ; Rice R. Whit-
tier, Cantine Garrison, Jacob Bailey, A. F. Randall, Thomas Bright, Edward
L. Harris, A. Latham, John H. Dudley. Levi Parmly, J. C. Jackson, J. H.
Estey, Charles William Palmer. James F. Merriam, Franklin Kidder, George
M. Daniels, A. Freeman, J. S. Forward, about 1880. There seems to have
been occasional supply from the pulpits at Burlington and Elkhorn. Elder
Ebenezer Harrington, whom Mr. Dwinnell describes as an earnest, eccentric
man. had begun in November, 1839, to prepare the way for this society.

Congregationalists met in 1840, and among them was Mr. Dwinnell.
They acted jointly with members at Burlington for two years. Rev. Cyrus
Xichols ministered at first to this mission. A society was fully organized
February 8. 1852, by Rev. Samuel E. Miner. In i860 the Congregational
and Methodist societies built a union church, with seats for about three
hundred persons. Its building mechanics were Scott & Nims. This church,
too, has been discontinued, in effect, since 1881. Its pastors were Christo-
pher C. Cadwell, 1853: Jedidiah D. Stevens, 1854-5; Avelyn Sedgwick,
1861-2: P. C. Pettibone (from Burlington), 1863; E. D. Keevil, 1864-5;
Sidney K. Barteau, 1866, and Charles Morgan.

In 1837 Jesse Halstead and Samuel Pillsbury traveled and preached in
a circuit lying in four counties and having eleven infant Methodist societies.
These were at Big Foot. Burlington, Caldwell's Prairie, East Troy. Fort
Atkinson. Geneva. Hudson, Janesville, Rochester, Spring Prairie and White-
water. David Worthington preached in 1840. From that date to i860 little
is told. Since the latter date the yearly assignments of pastors have usually
been to Lyons and Spring Prairie together. The parsonage is at Lyons. There
is a German Methodist church in section 2.

Israel Williams sold one acre in the southwest corner of section 30. in
^42, where Nathaniel Bell laid out and named Hickory Grove cemetery. Its
area has been increased and improved, and it is one of the finest rural burial
grounds in the county. Its first tenant was the wife of William Baumis.

Juliette, daughter of Col. Perez Merrick, taught school in 1837 and 1838
at the Heminway House. In the spring of 1839 a school house, enclosed with
rough oak boards, was built at the corners, and Mary S. Brewster taught there.
In the same year Mrs. Coleman (no longer Miss Merrick) taught near
Gardner's prairie. There are now six districts in the town, and besides there
are two which are joint districts with parts of Racine county and one with
part of Lafayette. At the village the house now in use was built in 1864. The
partial list of teachers, with nearly correct dates as to the earlier named is:

414

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

Leander F. Frisby, 1847-8; William Wilcox, 1848-9; Mr. Paine, 1849-50;
Frederick O. Thorp, about 1851; George W. Burchard, 1853-4; Almerin
Gillette. 1854-5; Frank Hall, 1855-6: Frank Patten. 1856-7; Benjamin F.
Skiff, 1857-8; O. F. Avery. 1858-9; Frank Hall. 1859 to '61; Daniel Pratt,
[865-6; Orren T. Williams, 1866-7: Mary L. Edwards. Amanda Herkimer,
Fred W. Isham, Rhoda Locke, May Merrick. Anna M. Greene. Alice Mo-
loney, Patrick McCabe, Florence Shove, Edmund B. Gray. Frank Tyrrell,
Harriet Allen. Bell Derthick. Mr. Frisby became attorney-general. Mr.
Thorp served as state senator from West Bend. Mr. Burchard has been
known in state affairs. Mr. Williams is now a judge of the Milwaukee
circuit court. Miss Edwards became Mrs. James G. Kestol. of Whitewater.
Miss Greene has since visited all quarters of the globe. Colonel Gray com-
manded the Twenty-eighth Infantry in the Civil war. Miss Shove practices
usterppathy at Chicago. Mr. Isham became county superintendent. Lorenzo
D. Harvey, afterward state superintendent, once taught a select school here.

MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Dr. Jesse Carr Mills [842

Benjamin L. Pierce 1843

Austin Leonard Merrick 1844.

47- '52

Lansing D. Lewis 1845

Roderick Merrick 1846. '49

Ephraim Foote 1848. '50

Thomas Gage 1851, '53-5

James McNay 1856

Ji mathan Leach ^57

Daniel Salisbury 1858-9

William R. Berry i860

Winslow Page Storms 186]

Lucius Mien 1863, '68

\Ihht Chamberlain 1864-7

Mark Harmon Foote [869

William II. Udrich [870, '96-7

Martin V. Pratt 1871

Alma Montgomery Aldrich __i872-7.

'83-4
Edward Decatur Page 1878-80.

'89-90, '93-5

Orris Pratt 1881-2

Leroy Williston Merrick 1885-6

William H. Hubbard 1887-8

Barnis B. Ruse 189]

Albert D. Whitmore [892

Victor Zahn 1898

< li.irles F. Aldrich 1899-T900

William P. Meinzer 1901

Horace Cocroft 1902

Frederick Hemstreet T903-5

William G. Bartholf 1906-7

Joseph TT. Brierly [908 1 2

< ICIATE SUPERVISORS.

Alma M. Aldrich 1871

I Rounds Aldrich 1883-4

William II. Aldrich

---1854-5
'69. '93-5

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN .

41;

Lucius Allen 1861-2

Charles H. Babcock 1892

Perlee Baker 1864, '66-7

William G. Bartholf 1863-5

George Bayer 1880, '85-6

Mellen Berry 1863

Henry D. Barnes 1872-4

J. L. Brierly 1896

John Brierly 1898

Joseph H. Brierly 1906-7

Daniel P. Carpenter 1847

Abner Chamberlain 1863

Reuben Clark 1842

Horace Cocroft 1901

William D. Crain 1846, '59

Lewis G. Dame 1881

Edward W. Dwight 1852

Sims Edgerton 1851

Mark Harmon Foote 1864

John C. Gaylord 1855

Charles P. Greene 1875-6

William Greiner 1889-90

Frederick Hemstreet 1902

John E. Hopkins 1844

Alfred Hubbard 1856-7

Charles I. Hubbard 188 1-2

Ogden T. Hubbard 1865

William H. Hubbard 1878-80,

'85-6, 1906-7

Frank C. Humbert 1908- 11

Avery Atkins Hoyt i860, '65-6,

'70, -jz-t

Durward C. Ingham 1899- 1900

Stephen Jones 1858

Charles N. Kingman 1853

John A. Kneip 1882

Josiah P. Langmaid 1846, '48

Jonathan Leach 1848. '56

George W. Lee 1889-90

Archibald C. Loomis 1901-2

James McKay 1854

Leonard G. Marck i9°3

Milton M. Mayhew 1887-8

William P. Meinzer 1891, '93

Perez Merrick 185 1

Roderick Merrick 1843

Henry J. Noll 1894-7. 1908- 1 1

Frank H. Patten 1900

Frederick Perkins 1859-61

William Porter T887-8

Charles H. Potter _ 1883-4

Woodruff Potter 1863. '75-6

Orris Pratt 1867-8

John Rigg 1809

Reuben J. Royce 1840

Ansel Salisbury 1843. '45

Daniel Salisbury 1862

Louis Schmidter_i850, '68-9, '71, '~~

Lemuel Rood Smith ^47. '40

Winslow Page Storms 1858

Daniel F. Thompson 1878-9

Henry Vanderpool l&57

Samuel Cole Vaughn 1852

William W. Vaughn 1892, 1904-5

George Walworth 1850

Stephen Gano West (Sr.) 1842

Absalom Williams 1870. '74

Israel Williams 1845

Victor Zahn 1891

John H. Zick 1897-8

TOWN CLERKS.

Daniel Salisbury 1842 Erasmus Darwin Smith 1845-6,

Josiah Osgood Puffer. .1843-4. '57-8 '48-9, '51

416

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Palmer Gardner 1847

Stephen Bull 1850, '55-6

Thomas M. Hobbs 1852

Wellington Hendrix 1853-4

Winslow Page Storms 1857-60

Benjamin F. Vaughn 1861-77

James Nipe 1878-80

Leroy W. Merrick__i88i-2, '98, T900
Frank E. Anderson 1883-9

Henry Schwartz 1890

Charles H. Potter 1891, '94-5

William Kingston 1892-3

Bert Bartholf 1896-7

George F. Bayer ^99

William Fraser 1901-4, '07

Bert Childs Whitmore 1905-6

Charles F. Aldrich 1008-12

TOWN TREASURERS.

Austin Leonard Merrick 1842

Rufus M. Billings 1843

Perez Merrick 1844, '48

Orrin Elmer 1845-6

Charles Martin 1847, '56- "6l

Winslow P. Storms 1849, '57, "76

Stephen Jones 1850

James Utter 1851

William D. Grain 1852

George Healey 1853

Nathan Smith, Jr. 1854

James McNay 1855

Dr. Hilton W. Boyce 1858

Benjamin llnvt. Jr. 1859. '<>|

\\ [ruff Potter i860, "62

John Bacon [863

Martin V. Pratt 1865-6, '68

Ephraim Perkins 1867

Otis B, Houghton 1869

George H. Kinne 1870

Giles G. Reeve 1871-2

Clifford A. Pratt 1873-5

George D. Puffer I&77

Leroy W. Merrick 1878-9, 1907

James A. Mcintosh 1880, '82-4

Vernon H. Raleigh 1881

Cornelius Zahn 1885-6

Charles T. Hubbard 1887-9

Walter E. Babcock 1890-1

'99-1900, '08-11

Edward Carpenter ITubbard 1892

George P. Remier J893"5

Frank C. Humbert 1896-7

Alvin F. Clark 1898

William H. Hubbard 1901-3

Henry J. Noll 1904-6

Ralph Todd Wiswell [912

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Lucius Mien [859 62

Francis E. Anderson [882 9

Walter E. Babcock 1898- mi 1

\/rl Barry 1859-65

John Ellis Bartholf [865-84

Brierly .11901-1 1

Aimer Chamberlain 1860-2

Frederick Ilemstreet 1909-IO

\\er\ Ukins Hoyt___ 1867-8, '70 81

Benjamin F. Iloyt 1857

Francis McKenna 1905. '07-11

Leroy W. Merrick— 1892-3. '95-1901,

'06-7

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 417

James A. Mcintosh 1891-8 Oscar Smith Sheffield 1870-3

Ezra Miller 1881-2, '84-6 Orlando Stetson 1891-4

Josiah Osgood Puffer. 1860-9, '74-91 Benjamin F. Vaughn 1867-76

Henry Schwartz 1881-8

(27)

CHAPTER XXXV.

TOWN OF SUGAR CREEK.

Township 3 north of range 16 east retained the name of Elkhorn after
Lagrange, Richmond, and Whitewater were set off and new-named, and
until a new town of Elkhorn was created February 2, 1846. The larger
town, after thus losing section 36, was so called from its principal water
course, the name of which translates the Pottawattomie compound, Sis-po-
quet-sepee. From some immemorial time the numerous sugar-maple trees
along the valley of the creek had been tapped and the Indians had practiced
at least . me art of white men's civilization — that of sap-boiling. The creek
rises near the west line of the town, in section 19, crosses eastwardly to the
southeast corner of section 13, turns nearly northward, and leaves the town
by section [2. Holden's lake. Otter lake. Silver, and a few pot-holes make
up nearly the rest of the drainage and reservoir system of the town. The
ancient valley of the creek is wide, and for many years more or less marshy;
bul most of it is now usefully occupied. \s a whole, the town is well drained
and* contain- several of the finest farms of the county. Among the higher
points above sea-level, as officially shown, are those in sections 4. 5, q, 23,
respectively 031. 045. 918 and 890 feet.

The only actual settler in [836 was John Davis, who built a cabin near
Silver lake in sections [3, 14. passe. 1 the cold winter there, ami a vear later
sold his claim to Asa P>lood and went away.

Men of [837: Daniel F. Bigelow, section 21 ; James Bigelow, 17. 20:
Asa Blood, 1 1 : William Bowman, 9, 15: John l'yrd, 6, 7: Milton Charles, 4;
Nelson Crosby, 31; Perry G. Harrington, 15. 22: James Holden, 5; George
W. Kendall, to; Jonathan Loomer, 7: Samuel Nelson Loomer, [8; Stephen
I -hut. 17; Henry McCart, 8; Caleb Miller. 11; John Rand, 8; Salmon
Salisbury. 24; Jeduthun Spooner, 14. 23; Freeborn Welch. 3, to; Joseph

Welch. II . 14. 2T,.

Joseph Barker, section 10; fohn S. Boyd, 11: Lewis Crosby, 31 ; Julius

irds, _>. to; Augustus C. ECinne, 7; Alanson and James Martin, 9, and

Charles Rand — . same in [838; James \\\ Field, 8; Caleb and William Ken-

dall, 10. in [839; Henry Adkins, 11: Dr. Harmon Gray, 8; Benjamin Rand,

t8; John Fish, William II. Hyatt, Russell Thurber, Samuel II. Tibbetts, it.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 4IO,

and Nelson Weaver. iS. in 1840. Other settlers, within the next five vears,
were James Varnum Holden, 14; George Ketchpaw. 23; Horace B. Kinne,
Jesse R. Kinne. 7: John A. Pierce, 9. 16; Jonathan Parks. 23; Wyman
Spooner. Jr., 14; James and John Strong, 23 ; Hiram Taylor, Hulcy Welch. 22.

Other men bought government land : John Adams Baird, Chauncey and
Chester Baird, all in section 35 ; Francis and Joseph Lewis Barker. 4 ; Curtis
Bellows. 35; Harvey Birchard, 17. 20, 36; George W. Blanchard, 10; Asa
Blood, Jr.. 14; Isaac Burton. 4, 20, 33: William Carr, 2; Azariah Clapp, 4;
Adolphus Colburn, 26; William Colton, 23; Nelson Tibbetts Corey, 6; Shel-
don Raymond Crosby, 30, 31, 32; Lucien B. Devendorf. 31; John Henry
Ellsworth. 22: Isaac Flitcroft. 26; William A. Flitcroft, 28; Henrv Foot.
19; William O. Garfield. 26; Charles Nicholas Hagner, 1; Olney Harring-
ton. 32: Francis William Haw ley, 25; Edwin Aug. Hollinshead. 34; Hiram
Humphrey. 12; Elias Kinne, 7: Martin L. Ladd. 21; James Leach, 23, 24;
George Leland. 5; Benjamin McVicker, 28: Ward Mallory, 30; John Mar-
tin, 28: Benjamin Minshall, 28; Silas Minshall, 21: William Sullivan
Nichols. 5. 8; John Olson. 20: William Parrish, [8; John Saunders. 22;
Orley Shaw, 29: Reuben Smith, 2^,; Jedidiah Sprague, 34; Alexander M.
Sturges. 13: James N. Sturtevant. 29; Jacob Tostenson, 20. 21 ; Loren Ward,
28; Joseph Webb. 35; Ransom Wells. 29; Jesse Pike West. 12; Jeremiah
Wilcox, 12; George Wilson. 13; Charles Wolcott. 23.

John A. Baird's widow died at Trempealeau in 1865, aged seventy-five
years.

Joseph Barker 1 1781-1857) and wife Lucinda had nine children, of
whom eight came to Sugar Creek. Joseph Lewis married Phoebe T. Roberta
April 2, 1846. Timothy Putnam (1818-1878) married Elvira Shumway
1 1 827-1886). James B. (1823-1898) married his cousin Almeda ( 1824-
1901). daughter of Hugh Barker. Francis ( 1821-1875 ) married Mrs. Maria
Baldwin. Russell married Sophia Baker. Adeline (1811-1892) was wife
of Booth B. Davis, of Elkhorn ; Mary L., wife of Hiram Taylor; Diana,
second wife of Stephen G. West, Sr., married November <>, 1841.

Daniel F. Bigelow (1815-1895), son of Doctor Daniel, was born in
Nova Scotia. He married Ann- McCart, a native of Ohio, born 1S24. died
1897. James ( 1819-1899) married Ann Elizabeth bowler.

Lewis Crosby married Phoebe McConkey December 2},. [844.

John H. Ellsworth died in 1859. Sophronia (1827-1894), his wife,
was daughter of Asa Pride and Susan Bates.

James Whipple Field, born at Scituate, Rhode Island, March 22, 1814.
and now living, in 1912, at Elkhorn with his son-in-law, George Kinne, in

420 WALWORTH COUNTY, WIS

fair health and full of memories, is son of Thomas Field and Thankful
VVinsor. His older ancestors, reckoned backward, were Thomas. Jeremiah,
Thomas, Thomas, and William. He married the half-sisters Angelina and
Sarah, daughters oi William Adams.

John Fish married. June 28, 1843, Harriet, daughter of Stephen
Loomer.

Caleb Kendall married Emily A. Webber. June 10. 1842, and lived in
Richmond.

Mr. Kingsley was drowned in Silver lake. 1839. His family came a
few days later and returned to their eastern home. •

John Martin married May 18, 1S40. Eliza Ann. daughter of Ebenezer
Chesebrough and Anna Griswold. She was born in 1809. and had entered
land in her own name in section 33. Mr. Martin died in 1885

Silas Minshall died May in. 1857. leaving widow Rose Ann.

Daniel Nyce was born in August. 1801 : died May 29, 1857.

John Alexander Pierce ( [817-1887), farmer, mill-owner, and man of
many business affairs and very generally prosperous, married, first. Mary
Elizabeth 828 870 1, daughter of Deacon William Chambers and Phoebe
Gray, of North Geneva. She had five sons. He married, second. Hannah.
daughter of Henry ami Mary Moorhouse. He was son oi John Pierce and
Maria A. McFarling.

John Rand (1819-1898 - - 1 of Benjamin and Sarah, was born in
Nova Scotia. He married. May 2, 1844. Sarah Sophia 1 [817-1900), daugh-
ter of Benjamin and Eunice Loonier.

:i Saunders 1 or Sanders) 1 [806-188 — 1 married Jane Lean..

Jeduthun Spooner (1799-18 n of Jeduthun Spooner and Hannah

Crowell, of Hardwick, Massachusetts, a printer in Vermont, and an early
justice of the peace ' - r Creek, went in 1853 to Allamakee county.
Iowa. A nephew of the same name, also of Sugar Creek, a son of Judge

ner, married Julia Ann. daughter of Sutherland German and Mary, a
of Christopher Wiswell.

Jai - >ng 1 [810-18 rn near the line of Virginia in Pennsvl-

\ania. married Lois Parks 1 [817-187

Hiram Taylor (1814-1895) married, in [838, Man L.. daughter of

ph and Lucinda Barker.

muel Holmes TibbetJ 872), bom in Windham county. Ver-

mont, married in Canada. October 2, 837, Sarah (1810-1878), daughter
•avid Pattee. Their three daughters were married: Clarissa to \-a
Sarah Jane to \ :e1 Bird Morris, Hannah Maria to John Henrv
lale.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 4_M

Jacob Tostenson (died 1887) married Margaret Larson (died 1875).
Their sons, Tosten and Ole Jacohson, were substantial citizens. Ole was a
soldier and became an officer of the Thirteenth Infantry and was a capable
and useful man of public and private business. He was born in 1838 at
Skien, Norway, and died January 28, 1912.

Nelson Weaver (1804-1868) married Ruby Rand (1812-1903).

Freeborn Welch. Jr.. (1864-1884) was son of Mercy Spike (1785-
1857). He married, first, Caroline, daughter of I'hineas Brown; second,
Ann McDonough. For some years he kept the long known Gravel Tavern,
at Tibbets Corners. Joseph Welch ( [820-1900) married Eliza Havens
(1821-1893). Hulcy Welch (1812-1879) had wife Hannah. Josiah < [805-
1881 ) had wife Louisa, and lived for several years in Geneva. These four
Welches were brothers, who bad lived in Steuben county. New York.

Capt. George Washington Kendall kept a tavern in 1839 at the corners,
since known as Tibbets. in section 10. He sold ibis place in 1843 to Francis
Rublee. who : it by deed to bis son, Francis M. Rublee, in 1845. Dur-

ing the latter's ownership his brother. Martindale, began to build of lime
and gravel concrete, as is told; but before his work was finished the place
passed by sheriff's -ale in 1853 to John 1). Cowles, who completed and occu-
pied the Gravel Tavern. This landmark fronted northward on the terri-
torial road from Milwaukee to Janesville. and on a section-line road leading
to Elkhorn. In [859 Mr. Cowles sold the property to Freeborn Welch, one
of the jolliest sons of St. Boniface. When tavern custom wholly ended Mr.
Welch made of it his dwelling. His heirs sold the house and ground in 1907
to John and Matthew J. Newman, who pulled clown the ancient walls and
built a fine dwelling in present century style and added barn, silo, and other
out-buildings suitable to a well-managed dairy farm A few rods eastward
along the territorial road Samuel H. Tibbets built a bouse, about [842, which
for some time served as a wayside inn. and for ten year- as a postoffice. Cap-
tain Kendall had been postmaster from 1840 to 1842

In 1889 a newly established postoffice, named Tibbets, received a tri-
weekly mail from Whitewater and Elkhorn.

Congregationalists and Wesleyans joined in 1872 to build their union
church, next south of the Gravel tavern. In the same year Bethel church,
Methodist, was built on land bought of John Cameron, section 12. about
seven miles by road from Elkhorn, to which this church ha- usually been
attached for pastoral assignments. A store, bricl chool house, blacksmith
-hop. and Mount Pleasant cemetery are at the Kendall corner-.

^22 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Congregationalists, Methodists, and Presbyterians met as early as 1840
in Christian unity at Captain Kendall's, at their own homes in turn, and at
the school house. A society of Presbyterians was formed, but soon became
Congregational. This body received its ministrations from those early labor-
ers in newly broken fields: Cyrus Nichols, Stephen Denison Peet, Amnon
< laston, Cyrus E. Rosenkrans, David Pinkerton, Samuel Elbert Miner, and
other clergymen from Delavan and Elkhorn. Among Wesleyan and Free
.Methodist pastors were George Parsons and George L. Shepardson.

A highway parts sections 8 and 9, and where this crosses the territorial
road was an early grouping of settlers, with store, postoffice, church, and in
later time a cheese factory. All this was long known as Barker's Corners,
for the early settlers of that family name. About [852 the postoffice was
new-named Millard and the office at Tibbets was for some years discon-
tinued.

Seven persi >ns met at Barker's Corners to found a Baptist society. These
were Rev. Henry Topping, of Delavan. Thankful Ballard, Jonathan. Joseph
and Sophia H. Loomer, Electa Mason and Christopher Wiswell. At the
next meeting, a few days later, James W. Field and six of the Loomer fam-
ily joined this movement. Mr. Topping divided his well-filled time with the
the new society for two or three years. A. B. Winchell relieved him in
1S44; R. Pickett, [846; Moses Rowley. 1847; Jonn H. Dudley, 1840; Albert
Sheldon, 1851. and again in 1873 (and died April 4, 1874); A. E. Green.
(863 to [868; Nelson Cook, [869; I. C. June-. 1873: Mr. Hicks, Mortimer
A. Packer, aboul 1887, and ordained in [889 (remaining to 1894 and re-
turning in [907); S. F. Massett, December, 1894; George Jerome Kyle.
[897, and in (899; Eli Packer, [898; Nicholas Wakeham, [901; Anthony
Jacobs, 1905; George X. Doody, 1910-12. The first church was built about
1N50. In [892 a better one was built and the old one set aside and back-
ward for Sunday school and other reputable purposes. This societ) laid out
a few rods north, in section 9, on James B. Barker's land, a burial ground
which has become a public cemetery.

There are now five school districts in the town of Sugar Creek, formed
by rearrangement from nine district-.

The Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Compaq of Sugar Creek was
organized in February, 1873, for business in the townships of Darien,
Geneva, Lafayette, Lagrange, Richmond, Sugar Creek. Troy and White-
water. Its officers in Mile were: James E. Lauderdale, president; fames
Parsons, secretary. \t the end of [910 there were [,290 policies in force.
$2,566,674, Losses paid in that year, $5,975. Losses paid
-ince organizatii m, $69, 1 26.

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

4-^3

The land area of the town is 21,629 acres, valued at $1,605,800. Value
per acre, $74.24. Crop acreages for 1910: Barley, 2,223; beans, 12; corn,
3,909; hay, 2,812; oats, 2.422; orchard, 87; potatoes, 234; rye, 153; timber,
2,812; wheat. 17. Live stock: 3.202 cattle. $83,300; 1,019 hogs, $10,200;
795 horses, 855,700; sheep, $800.

Population: 1850. 1,226; i860, 1,139; ^70, 992 ; 1880, 1,015; 1890,
1,004; 1900, 931; 1910, 917.

MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Dr. Harmon Gray 1842

Augustus Caesar Kinne 1843

Levi Lee 1844. 64-5

Perry Green Harrington 1845-52.

'56-7, >o

Jesse Rundell Kinne ^53

Eli Kimball Frost 1854-5

Stephen G. Frost 1858-9

Thomas Davis 1 860-1, '66-9, '72-3

Leonard Loonier 1862-3

Joseph Trumbull Isham 1871

Ole Jacobson__r874, '89, '92-3, "95-6

Solomon Richard Edwards 1875.

'77-9. '88
Donald Stewart 1876, 80-2,

'84, '86-7

Nathaniel Palmer Hand 1883

Frank C. Weaver 1885

Sherman Harrington 1890-1

James Matheson ^94, '99

Duane D. Finch 1897-8

George H. Renner 1900-7

Xim Johnson 1908-9

Charles Harriman WiswelLi 910-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Herbert J. Barker 1905-6

Timothy Putnam Barker 1875

William H. Bartram 1857, '62

Charles Bray 1897-8, 1908

Herman A. Briggs J8/9

John Cameron 1876, '83-4

Nelson Crosby 1846

Ashton M. Davis 1906-7

Orrin S. Day 1888

Resolved Ezra Day 1891

James B. Doolittle 1864, '67, '70

John Edwards 1902

Eugene O. Ells 1903-4

William Hitcroft 1847-9

Asa Foster 1863, '71

Jason Foster 1862

Samuel T. Foster 1899-1900

Nathaniel Palmer Hand 1874, '80

Sherman Harrington 1888

Thomas Havens 1852

Edward liogan 1850, '52

Charles I Inllinshead J859

James Holloway 1895-6

Ubert F Hulce [886, '92-3

Joseph T. [sham_i858, '6i, '68, '77-9

Ole Jacobson l&73

Jacob Ketchpaw 1866

Martin ECettelson J907- 09 io

424

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Ole Kettelson 1911-12

Edmund Kingman 1855

Horace I!. Kinne 1854

George Kinne 1886-7, "90

Jesse Rundell Kinne 1846, '50

Frank H. Kinney 1893-4

William Kulow 1908-10

Martin L. Ladd 1877

James H. Lauderdale i860

Harris A. Loomer 1880-1

Jonathan Loomer 1847-8, '51

Leander G. Loomer 1901

Leonard Loomer 1861, '66-7

William John McDonough 1900

James Matheson 1891

Charles N. Moore 1853

Rasmus Nelson 1897

John Ashe Norris 1863

George W. Nyce 1865, '69

Alfred Olson 1898

John Oslock 1882-3, '85

James Parsons 1894, 191 1 -12

\lnam Peterson 1899

George Edmund Pierce 1889

Nathan Rand 1856

Silas Russell 1856

Stephen Leggett Russell 1874,

'81-2. "85

John Sanders 1851

Francis Smith i860

James Bolingbroke Smith 1892

Jeduthun Spooner 1849

Donald Stewart 1871-3

Hiram Taylor 1864-5. '68> l2- "8

Rial Thomas ., 1876

James D. Ward J853

John \Y. Watson I9°4-5

Silas Ensley Weaver 1895-6

Eugene Webber 1901

Lemuel Webster 1857

Freeborn Welch 1855

William Henry Welch 1889

George W. Wilcox 1875

Thomas Wilcox . 1869-70

D. Tudson Williams 1887, '90

Charles Harriman Wiswell __ 1902-3

TOWN CLERKS.

John Fish 1842

John S. Boyd 1843

Horatio S. Winsor (app.) 1844

Levi Lee 1845

William II. Hyatt 1846

Shuler C. Higbee 1847

William Bowman [848-9

Benj. Blodgett Humphrey 1850

Francis F. Collier 1851

John Alexander Pierce '852-3

Stephen G. Frost 1854-5

AlK-n Loomer 1856-8

Josiah C. McManus 1859

James Whipple Field 1860-2, '64

Jeduthun Spooner 1863

Thomas Davis 1865

Wyman Spooner. Jr. 1866

Newton IT. Kingman 1867

Daniel Mansfield Stearns 1868

Ole Jacobson 1869-70

Frank C. Weaver 1871-9

Duane D. Finch 1880-90

Chester P. Beach 1891

Henry J. Cameron 1892-6

Will V. R. Holloway 1897-1912

WALWORTH COUXTY. WISCONSIN.

4-' 5

TOWN TREASURERS.

John Rosenkrans 1^4-'

Theodore Benj. Edwards 1843

Olnev Harrington 1844-7

William Hogan 1848-9

Henry O. Gibbs 1850

Rufus Eldred 1851

Joseph T. Tsham 1852

William Tremper 1853

Alonzo Rublee 1854

James Sexton 1855

John Rand 1856

George Cameron J857-S

Charles Loomer r859. '<>-

Isaac Flitcroft i860

Stephen L. Russell 1861

Thomas Davis 1863

Timothy Putnam Barker 1864

Jason Foster 1865

George W. Nyce 1866

James W. Davis 1867

Ole Jacobson 1868

John Cameron 1869-70, '75

Otis S. Davis 1871

Joseph Parker 1872

James B. Cook 1873-4

John Oslock 1876-8

James Matheson 1879

William B. Ells 1880-4

Delos Westcott 1885-7, '89

Ellsworth Loomer 1888

James Parsons 1890

Martin Kettelson 1891

Ashton M. Davis 1892-3

Fenton Palmer 1894

Duane D. Finch 1895

Charles Desing 1896

Herbert J. Barker 1897-8

George Weaver 1899, 1906

Homer Davis 1900

John Canutson 1901-3, '05

Henry J. Brandt 1904

John W. Watson 1907

Frank J. Rogers 1908

Hawley J. Donaldson 1909-10

Harry Loomer 1911-12

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Frank R. Babcock 1894

John Cameron 1875-80, '90-5

Charles A. Davis 1906-7

Reuben E. Eastwood 1907-8

Julius Augustus Edwards 1881-3

Solomon Richard Edwards- 1859-70

Aaron Ellbeck 1870-1

Isaac Flitcroft 1879-82

Marcus Gray 1870-1

Sherman Harrington _ 1891

Charles Hollinshead 1863-6

Ole Jacobson 1872-3

Levi Lee 1863-5

Henry Levi Mallory 1882-3

Ward Mallory 1859-62

George Edmund Pierce 1885-8

George H. Renner 1899-1900

Daniel Mansfield Stearns 187 1-2

Rial Thomas 1860-9, '72-81

Fred Waters— 1894-5, '97-8, 1905-8

CHAPTER XXXVI.

TOWN OF TROY.

As one of the five towns constituted by the act of January 2, 1838, Troy
included the next eastward township, set off March 21, 1843, as East Trov-
The present town is Xo. 4 north, range 17 east. It is not known why it was
so called, but it may have been that its discoverer preferred a short and easily
spelled name. About the time of the separation from East Troy the Legisla-
ture conferred upon that town the old name and renamed the older town
Meacham. To this the sensible Major objected and to such purpose that the
two towns were immediately named as at present.

hxcepting the large Honey creek marsh in the southern one-third of the
town, the ground is moderately high and well drained. Barometrical obser-
\ations, taken at eight points, give heights above sea-level ranging between
811 and 895 feet. The principal water course is Honey creek, which comes
'■in of Lagrange into section 31. passes through a corner of section 30 and
thence across the town into section 30 of East Troy. Crooked creek flows
through sections 4, 9, 10, 3, 2 into Lake Lulu, thence over the county line into
Eagle lake and joins itself to the outflow of Beulah lakes. Booth lake, in
sections 13, -'4, has no inflowing nor outflowing stream. Its area is one hun-
dred and twenty-five acres and it- greatest depth is twenty-five four-tenths
Feet. Pickerel lake, its little companion in section 13, discharges by a short
1 ourse to the Beulah group. The name I [oney creek is a translation of its only
native name preserved, — Ah-moo-Ms-po-<|net-se-pee. and had some aptness
from a number of bee trees found and robbed before wasteful white men
came and made it needless to place wild honey in the tariff list. Besides the
marsh about to become meadow, there are a few gravel knobs of no consid-
erable heighl which rise above the prairie and timbered land: but the town
generally is tin- home of prosperous farmers.

'Idle land ana of the town is 22,378 acres, valued at $1,413.01x1; average,

; 1 1 per acre. Crop acreages in [910: Barley, 782; corn. 2,680; hay,

I.64; oats, 3.404; orchard, 35; potatoes, 99; rye. 388; timber, 1.351 '■ wheat.

Returns of live stock and values: 1,946 cattle, $59,000; 602 hogs.

So. 99 horses, $37,900; 931 sheep, $2,800.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 427

Population of the town, at seven federal censuses: 1850, 1,094; i860,
1,238; 1870, 1,176; 1880, 964; 1890, 972; 1900, 1,018; 1910, 928.

Major Jesse Meacham and Adolphus Spoor came from Washtenaw
county, Michigan, in September, 1835, to Milwaukee, whence they set out
for Rock river valley by way of Waukesha and Mukwonago, and as they
passed noted favorably the valley of Honey creek. They went home by
way of Chicago, and on May-day, 1836. set forth again with their families
and household goods which were hauled by two ox teams. They plodded
through Chicago to Racine and thence by Ives Grove to the ford at Roch-
ester. The Fox was then at high water and they crossed with some diffi-
culty and with danger of overturn in mid-stream. They left the families at
Levi Godfrey's, a halting place and a host long memorable to pioneers of
at least two counties, and went forward, marking their trail as they went by
ways till then untrodden by white men, to their chosen place in section 25.
Since they had left the old home atLodi the brothers, Alexander and Othni
Beardslev, and Mr. Roberts, also from Michigan, had marked the claim for
their own and one of them had a fortnight before begun plowing. It
was now May 27th. These five were reasonable men and they in possession
sold their claim to Meacham and Spoor and chose their land in other sections.

These men had means sufficient for the wants of early settlers, and they
began at once to build their houses on which they bestowed unusual labor.
It is told that they sawed boards by hand for their floors and joiner-work.
It is not probable that many boards were sawn from each log, nor that their
flooring was much less than a half-log in thickness. While they were at
this work John S. Spoor came and bought Alexander Beardsley's new claim
in section 30, and with him Sylvanus Spoor, who bought in section 24.
Othni Beardsley's later claim was in sections 23, 26.

Among men of 1S37 were George W. Blanchard, section 11: Samuel
Fowler, 27; Charles Heath, 26; George Hibbard, 26; Marcus Montague, 35;
Albon M. Perry, 10. 14: Soldan Powers, 10, and Horace Smith. In the next
year and thereafter came Elias Truman and William 11. Hibbard, sec-
tion 26; Jacob R. Kling29, 30; John Mayhew 34; Ansel II. Odell 35: Anson,
Charles II. and Ebenezer Robinson jj: George W. Robinson i~ ; Warren
Ames Robinson 23.

Patents were issued from the land office at Milwaukee to John and
William I!. Austin, section 30: James Babcock. 20; Lewis Bartlett, [8;
Chester C. and John C. Beach. 7; Samuel Brush Beardsley, 21 : Ezra Ben-
nett, 29; John E. Bolkcom, 3: Benjamin Bonney, 20; Hiram Brewster, 2j;
Chauncey Brown, 11. 12; Alexander F. Bunker, 10: Calvin Cary. 3; John

428 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Chapman, 9; Jeremiah Clute, 29; Stephen Cooper, 8 ; Gurdon Cox, 4, 29;
Jacob Coxshall, 28; Richard Day. 30; Sprowell Dean, 14, 15, 34; Alonzo
Dougherty, 34; John Fearnley, 19; Loren Ferry, 28; Walter P. Flanders,
2, 17; Philip Foot, 31; Elbert W. Fowler, t,^; William Henry Gilbert, 7;
Rufus Goodall, 28; Clement Hare, 32; John Hink, 28; William Holcomb. 10;
James Ingledew, 30; Adeline Keats, 12; Moses Kelloway, 29; John and
William King, 19, 29; Nelson Lake, 13; James and William F. Lauderdale,
30, 31, 32; Archibald Lighbody, 8; George Matthews, 26, 34, Edwin Walks
Meacham, 24; James Megginson, 32: James C. Miller. 2; John Morrison, 9;
Timothy Mower, 12; Hiram E. Nourse. 29; Peter O'Brien, 17, 18; Samuel
Pillsbury, 19; John W. Pixley, 19; Samuel Lyman Porter, n; Selah Smith
Porter, 20; Edwin F. Randall, 9. 10; Norman A. Rice. 22: John Sanford. 31 :
Paul Schwartz. 2: Israel Scott, 14, 2^; Ephraim Whitney Smith, 1 ; William
Thompson, 8; Jesse Tombleson. 1; Andrew Underbill, 2; Thomas Walker.
32; William L. Ward. 2; Mark Watson. 28; James Weeks, 10: Stephen G.
\\ est. Jr., 31 ; George Wilson, 31 ; Asa Wood. 18; John M. Worthier. 13.

Joseph Babcock died in 1867.

John Chapman died at Little Prairie in 1885.

John Fearnley (1804-1867), born in Yorkshire, died in Lagrange. His
wife was Ann ( 1806-1858).

William Holcomb married Juliana Rogers, December 7, 1846.

Moses Kelloway ( 1X05-1863) had wife Ann ( 1808-1860L

Caleb i\Tewcomb (1776- 185 5) and wife Phoebe (1779- 1850) were prob-
ably from Nova Scotia.

Peter O'Brien died 1888 in Dakota.

George W. Robinson was born 1808, died 1850.

John Sanford died in 1858.

Chester C. Beach (1823-1882) was born in Connecticut and died at
Heart Prairie. He married, first, Elizabeth A. Reynolds: second, Harriet
J. Kmmons.

Ezra Hennett (1816-1904) moved to New Berlin, but died at East Troy.

Hiram Brewster (1806-1861) married Achsah MaiiMir (1812-1882).
I [e li'fi smi^.

Richard Day (1808 [885) died at Whitewater. His wife was Susan
1 [821-1885).

Sprowell Dean (1795 [843) married Clarissa Scott 1171)0-1880).
Lrael Scott and W. Augustus 1 'can were bis sons.

Loren Ferry (1817-1880) married Hannah Rice. February 27. 1845.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 429

Samuel Fowler (1809-1894), son of Linus Fowler and Huldah Bagg,
was born in Xew Hampshire. His wife, Dorothy A., a native of Vermont,
daughter of Allen Dewey, died in 1885.

Charles Heath (181 7-1889) died in Lagrange. Harriet E., his wife,
ivas born in 18 17.

Elias Hibbard (1793-1856) had wife Lydia C. (1800-1875); George,
his brother (1807-1900), married, first, Elizabeth Clark, 1808-1865; second,
Airs. Xaomi Waters. He died at Elkhorn. The Hibbards of Troy were
Massachusetts-born.

Mrs. Adeline L. (Goodrich) Keats (1806-1879) was born in Connecti-
cut, and came to Troy from Michigan. Two of her sisters were married
to two of the Spoor cousins.

John King (1806-1899), son of Jacob and Elizabeth, was born in Lan-
cashire. His wife was Hannah Hilton (1808-18S7). They came to Rome,
Xew York, in 1837, and from 1841 lived in Lagrange.

Jacob Kling (1785-1883) married Dorothy Gasper .(' 1 793- 1874). They
were of Schoharie county, Xew York. Xot all of their fourteen children
came with them to Troy, but enough of them to connect by marriage a con-
siderable part of southwestern Troy.

Jacob Rensselaer Kling (1815-1892) married Emily (1817-1907),
daughter of Gideon Bliss and Prudence Pease.

John Morrison 11815-1864) married Rachel Lightbody (1815-1898).
William Henry, their son. was for several years director of farmers' institutes
for Wisconsin.

Hiram E. Xourse (1824 ), son of Elisha Xourse and Sarah Mur-

dock, of Vermont, married Elizabeth (1823-1885), daugbter of Jacob and
Dorothy Kling.

Asaph Pern' (1779-1856) and wife Anna (T 787-1858) had sons, John
Adams, who became sheriff, and Albon Mann (1817-1902), whose first wife,
Susan, was born in 1825 and died in 1870. Both sons lived long at Elkhorn,
and were radically opposed in politics.

Selah Smith Porter (1805-1887) had wife Cornelia A. 1 1800- iS \i> ).

Soldan Powers (1805-1889) came from Vermonl in 1N37 and, May 31,
1842, married Ann Flanders (1820-1899). who was a -i-u-r of Royal C.
Flanders, of East Troy. Mr. Powers was a man of education, property and
influence, lie served his town variously and for several years as member
of county board, town clerk and justice of the peace. lie was of the I >cmo-
cratic old guard of the county.

430 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Martin Ray, born 1779. married Caroline Phelps (1781-1849), who
died at the home of one of her sons. Three of their large family came to
the county, and all had some part in its greater affairs. These were Adam
E., George Augustus, and" Henry M. ; the last named was of Delavan.

Norman Alonzo Rice married Elizabeth Holcomb. December 3, 1845.

Paul Schwartz (1811-1895), born in Bavaria, was son of Adam
Schwartz, who came to America in 1832. Paul married Elizabeth Wagner
( 1 Sr 5-1881). Their children are yet well known in the Troys.

Mark Watson ( 1810-1896) married Elizabeth Randall (1810-1897).

Major Meacham made his village, which he named Troy, at the point
where the line between sections 25 and 26 is crossed by the Milwaukee and
Janesville road, though that was not laid out until 1838. This was a few rods
south of Honey creek, which afforded a good water power at which Meacham
built his grist mill in 1844. This mill was well built and equipped and was
long locally useful. In 1839 he was a licensed inn-keeper. In 1843 ne Duut
the largest barn in the county. Tt was forty feet wide and one hundred feet
long, and it was not merely a barn, for it served for dancing and for other
public gatherings.

A school was opened in 1839. Lucinda, daughter of Dr. Daniel Allen
and Olive English, taught in a neighboring district of the town in 1840.
Miss Allen was twice married, first to John Mayhew and then to John
Young, and there were three children of each marriage. Two of her May-
hew children became teachers. Her eldest daughter of second marriage was
Emma, who became wife of William Pitt Meacham.

Troy was a fairly promising village until it found itself shunned by rail-
way builders. It had a mill, tavern, stores, shops, postoffice, church, school
and cemetery. Its two intersecting streets are well traveled highways, and
the surrounding country is fair and fertile. It is but two and one-half miles
from East Troy, its more thriving ri\al : three miles from the railway sta-
tion at Troy (enter, and nearly as distant from Mayhew. Within the period
between 1N57 and [880 the village felt the depressing influence which for a
greal pari of that period had affected the larger villages of the county, and
it- aspect was to stranger eyes thai of a hamlet for which two panic periods
and a civil war had wholly blighted every earlier hope. The changes which
encouraged and brightened elsewhere brought a quickening spirit to Troy.
Housebuilding, repairing, painting, lawn-mowing and tree-trimming have
made it look at least pleasantly habitable.

The mill was built about a half mile northeastward, along the road to
Troy. James Hall bought it in [853, Charles A. Gale and Peter B.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 43 1

Stewart in 1854, and Edward Wright in 1858. For the next eleven years
at the least, Troy flour was as good as the best. John A. Pierce, of Millard,
bought the mill in 1869 and after a few more years it was left to decay and
fall.

The church was Congregational and was organized August 17, 1839, by
Rev. Lemuel Hall, of Geneva, whose pastorate then reached, in effect, from
the state line to the northern county line. This society built its church in
1848. Twelve years later it became and is yet a school house. In its rear
is the little cemetery where Major Meacham, his wife and one of her sons
were buried. (Xext to the church eastward is the Major's later built house,
where William Pitt Meacham, the first-born of Troy, died November 3. 191 1.
He was the son of Urban D. Meacham and Prudence Geddes, and was born
September 27, 1836.) After Mr. Hall the Congregational pastors were Mr.
Ordway, David A. Sherman, Solomon Chaffee. Cvrus E. Rosekrans, Ros-
well Robinson Snow. Milton Wells, James Hall, Avelyn Sedgwick.

Major Meacham carried mail unofficially to and from Milwaukee until
1838 when a postoffice was established and himself commissioned lawfully.
He held this post for many years, undisturbed by the ins and outs of Presi-
dents. After him the office was generally at one of the stores. His most
noteworthy successor, perhaps, was George H. Streng, about 1894, who, a
short time before, had killed a burglar — though of that the appointing power
was not informed.

TROY CENTER.

Troy Center, in sections 14. 15, was a creation of the railway company
which in 1871 needed a station there, at a meeting of highways. In that year
Charles D. Haven and Daniel A. Olin, for the company, bought of James
Gardiner Briggs 359-37 acres. In the same year these three men joined in
a deed "to the public" of land included in a village plat. A postoffice was
established, a hotel, stores, warehouse, blacksmith shop were built and thirty
or more comfortable homes made there. Charles Wyman built the first
house. John A. Schwartz built the first store, George Dewitl built the hotel,
and William H. Dewitt built the warehouse, afterward owned and occupied
by Nathaniel M. Bunker and l.indsey J. Smith, and now by John A. and
Albert A. Schwartz. As early as 1837 George W. Blanchard, Albon M.
Perry and Soldan Powers formed a little group of settlers about a half mile
north of the station, bur from this no village resulted.

The postmasters have been Charles D. Baldwin, Frank S. Lumb, J. Kern

432 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Douglas, James B. Wales. The office has two rural routes which supply
nearlv the whole township, with parts of East Troy and Lagrange.

The Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Troy and East Troy
was incorporated in July, 1875, for business in these towns with Lafayette
and Spring Prairie. Its policies in force at the end of 1910 were 440, amount-
ing to $1,273,598. Losses paid since 1875 amount to $27,805. Its present
officers are Alexander Fraser, of Honey Creek, president ; Paul Schwartz, of
East Troy, secretary.

The station has been an important distributing point for lumber and coal
and shipping point for grain, wool and dairy products. Nearly one mile
north a side-track leads to a Chicago company*s ice-houses, from which about
one thousand five hundred carloads are shipped yearly. Lulu lake, from
which this natural product is taken, is small, but deep and clear, and affords
as pure ice as the sanitary authorities may require.

Jesse Halstead and Samuel Pillsbury were sent as early as 1837 to plant
the Methodist Episcopal church in Honey creek valley. It is not told precisely
how and where the members met until 1848, when the Congregational church
at Troy was opened to them. No doubt, too, they made the school houses
serve their need. For several years the members seem to have distributed
themselves among the churches of neighboring towns. In 1894 came a re-
newal of active interest and Mr. Briggs save the society a lot at Troy Center
and a comfortable church was built on it. Its pastors have been D. B. Coffeen ;
Thomas Potter, 1895; John Albert Collinge. 1896; John C. McClain, 1902;
Ambrose C. Jett, 1905; Samuel Lugg. 1907; Horatio S. Martin, 1908; Harris
E. Drew, 1909; George W. Lester, 1910.

M AY11KW.

Mayhew, in section 33. less than four miles from Troy Centre, began
in 1N71 with John Matheson's warehouse, store, lumber sheds and blacksmith
shop, and was at once made a station and a postoffice, the latter now discon-
tinued. Mr. .Matheson was one of the most energetic business men in his
quarter of the county, and he saw no reason why the grain and lumber trade
mighl not be made profitable to himself anil locally convenient. lie passed
thence to Easl Troy and finally to Elkhorn. Wherever he went lie drew to
himself active and profitable trade. Excepting the station, which was named
from Jesse Mayhew, on wln.se land it was built, the buildings, all of which
were Matheson's, are unoccupied.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 433

LITTLE PRAIRIE.

Little Prairie, in section 6, is known as the early home of Adam E. Ray,
the Harlow, Olds, and a few other old families, once numerous there and
hard by. Mr. Ray gave or sold a fine field for a cemetery, now well peopled
and well cared for, in 1850; a lot for the Methodist church in 1858; and one
for the Bible Christians in 1861. Dexter B. Olds gave a deed to the Seventh-
day Adventist society in 1867. The membership of these bodies was partly
of Lagrange, and of the country about Eagle and Palmyra. Only the Meth-
odist church is now left, and for ministerial purposes is joined to the pastorate
at Palmyra.

ADAMS.

Adams, at the quarter line of sections 18 and 19, was for a few years
named in the postal guide, and a little burial ground is one mark of its site.
It was not a village but a neighborhood. The families of Brophy, Chatfield,
Coombe, Kling, Lackey, Xourse and Terwilliger were among those grouped
within range of its postoffice delivery.

Bemis Foster bought an interest in the water power in section 31, in
1854. This is the outflow of Mill lake, of the Lauderdale group. Here he
ground grists until 1865 when he sold to William Patterson, who at once
conveyed the mill to William B. Lean, whose flour had a wide demand.

There are six school districts wholly within the township limits, besides
a joint district with Eagle and one with Lagrange. The schools, as in other
towns, are feeders for the high schools of neighboring villages and cities.

CHAIRMEN AND MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Jesse Meacham 1843-4 Morris Taylor 1859

Elias Hibbard 1845-6 Edward L. Dean 1862

Adam E. Ray 1847, '49, "56-7 Nathaniel Mead Bunker 1863-4

Rockwell G. Northrop 1848 Edward A. Hubbard 1866-8

Timothy Mower, Jr 1850 Lindsey Joseph Smith___i8o9, 'yi-2

Soldan Powers + --1851 William Henry Mayhew___i870, '79

Garrett Winne 1852-3 James E. Reynolds -—1873-5, '81-2,

Selah Smith Porter__i854, '60-1, '65 '84- '86, '98-9, 1904

Albon Mann Perry 1855 John Matheson 1876-8

Daniel Hooper 1858 James Gardiner Briggs 1880, '83

(28)

434

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

John A. Schwartz- 1 885, '87-91, 1903

John Madden, Jr 1892-3, 1900-2

Frank A. Bennett 1894

John Chapman 1895

Francis Leroy Andrus 1896-7

Albert A. Schwartz 1905-7

Henry E Thayer 1908-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Charles B. Ackley 1867-8

Francis Leroy Andrus 1895

Emery T. Atkins__i88o-i, '90-1, '95

William T. Atkinson 1894, '97

John Baker 1874

Chester C. Beach 1851-2, '54. '59

Franklin Bigelow 1843

.Matthew P. Bishop 1863

John Bluett 1878, '82

Richard Bogie 1911-12

Sampson Bottrell 1882

Robert Branford 1889

Robert \Y. Branford 1905

Hiram Brewster ^53

James Gardiner Briggs 1852, '65

Alexander Francis Bunker 1845

Thomas M. Burns 1884, '86

John Chapman --1875, '90-1, '94, '99

Lyman demons 1862

Daniel F. Coombe 1903

Henry Coombe 1896-7

Levi Coombe 1888

Chapman Crafts 1849

Edward L. Dean 1861

Oscar Dingman J8/7

William Donaldson 1884-5

Thomas Emerson 1855

1 11I Garbutt 1908-9

Salmon 1 Harmon 1850, '58, '66

Edward Hart. Jr iSSS ,,

Elias Hibbard 1848, '51

George Hibbard 1854. '64

Richard M. Hibbard 1874

Jonathan Holmes l9®7

Daniel Hooper 1871

Daniel H. Hooper 1898

Edward A. Hubbard 1859

Charles Huth 1901-2.

'04, '06-7. '10- 1 1

William P. Johnston 1861-2

Frederick Kniert 1912

James Buchanan Lagrange. _i 869-72

Benjamin H. Lumb 1886

Philip C. Maier 1905-6, '08-10

James Malcomson 1892-3

Orrin H. Marshall 1896

John Matheson 1875

William Henry Mayhew 1869

Frank Minett 1876

Harrison W. Montague 1883

Timothy Mower, Jr 1846-7

Samuel Murdock 1865

Hiram E. Nourse 1867

James H. Olds 1900-1

Frederick Owen 1873. J^-~

James L. Owen 1895, '97, 1902-4

\lltan Mann Perry 1843-4

Henry C. Porter 1849

Selah Smith Porter 1844-6

Austin Randall 1870-1

Nathan J. Randolph 1887

Horace L. Rice 1879

John A. Schwartz 1872

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

435

Sylvester Gardner Smith 1857.

'60. '63

Sylvanus Spoor 1850

John Swift 1853, '56

Joseph Swoboda 1892-3, '98-1900

Hiram A. Taylor 1858

George Terwilliger 1878

Hollister B. Thayer 1855-7

Daniel Vandenburg 1866

William Vandenburg 1864

•68-70, '79-81, -83

Mark Watson 1847-8

George H. Willis i860

Oscar L. Winne 1873

TOWN CLERKS.

Alonzo Dougherty 1843-4

Soldan Powers 1845-6, '50.

'54-8, '62-5, '70. "76

John Adams Perry 1847-8. '52

Israel S. Dean 1849

Henry C. Porter 1851

Daniel Hooper 1853

James Gardiner Briggs i85g-'6i

Lindsey J. Smith_i866-8, '74-5, '85-6

Francis L. Andrus 1869, '77-8

'98-1900, '02-4, '08-12

Paul Schwartz 1871-3

Percy B. Stratton 1879-81

William Augustus Dean 1882-4

Leonard E. Rice 1887-95

Albert A. Schwartz 1896-7

Richard Holmes 1901

Emery T. Atkins 1905-7

TOWN TREASURERS.

Elias Hibbard 1843-4

Augustus Smith 1845-7, '49

Isaiah W. Hibbard 1848

Adam E. Ray 1850

Albon Mann Perry_i85i-2, '54, '64-5

Jacob Rensselaer Kling 1853

Donald Stewart 1855

Selah Smith Porter 1856, '62

Andrew B. Dibble 1857

Richard M. Hibbard 1858-60

Charles D. Baldwin 1861, '63, '77-8

William Augustus Dean 1866-70

Andrew J. Bliss 1867

John W. Medbery 1868

Nathaniel Mead Bunker 1869

Oscar F. Winne 1871

William Henry Morrison 1872

Charles A. Dingman x873. '82

Harvey L. Randolph 1874, '84-7

Charles Bird Babcock 1875-6

John Hooper 1879

Frederick Owen 1880, '91

Thomas Donahue 1881

George W. Brewster 1883

John Wesley Babcock 1888

Henry Gaskell 1889-90

Thomas J. Coulter. -1892-3, '98-1900

Edgar Watrous 1894-5

William Webster 1896-7

Frank E. Beachtel J 901-3

Henry E. Thayer 1904-5

Clayton X. Babcock 1906-7

Romeo Dingman 1908-9

Charles J. Huth 1910-11

Benjamin Coulter 1912

436

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Charles B. Ackley 1864-5

Arthur D. Andrews 1872-3

Francis Leroy Andrews 1877-8

Emery T. Atkins. .1887-90, '94-1904

Milton Bigelow 1860-1

Ozro G. W. Bingham 1866-9

Matthew P. Bishop 1862

Nathaniel Mead Bunker 1859-60

Ward Smith Bunker 1888-9

John Cameron 1897-8

George Chatfield 1893

William Copeland 1883-4

William Augustus Dean 1892

William Dewitt 1875-6

William T. Donaldson I&79

1'hilo P. Farnum 1876-7, '81-2.

'94-6, 1900-7

Edward Hart 1886

Richard M. Ilibbard i88q

Daniel Hooper 1861-8

Thomas Kenyon 1867-8

Frederick Kuhl 1909-10

Fernando C. Leroy 1870

Charles A. Loomis 1894

William Pitt Meacham 1879-80

Hiram Medbery 1859-60

Perez H. Merrick 1856-7

James L. Owen 1889-90

Levillo M. Pond 1882

Soldan Powers 1860-5,

•70-1, '75-6, '79-85

Horace L. Rice 1873-4

Anson Olin Richmond — 1868-9, '94-5

Charles F. Rohda 1905-11

fames B. Wales 1909-12

Samuel Watson 1869-76

Caleb Douglas Webster 1866-7

George B. Worth 1893-4

CHAPTER XXXVII.

TOWN OF WALWORTH.

Township i north, range 16 east, was a part of the town of Delavan
until February 28. 1839, when it was set off and named for the county. It
then for four years included Sharon. Next southward are the towns of
Alden and Chemung, in Illinois. The ground is generally high, much like
that of Sharon. At the observatory it is one thousand fifty feet above sea-
level, and nearly as high for a considerable area about that institution. At
the railway station, village of Walworth, the height is one thousand four
feet. The lowest point is a short' and narrow area at the end of Geneva lake,
from which the ground rises almost precipitously in three directions to the
normal height of the town. Big Foot prairie, in the southwestern quarter
of the town, and spreading beyond the state line, was early known as one
of the largest and richest of the county. The northwestern corner of the
town is slightly uneven and was once moderately timbered, as is the land
in sections 35. 36 and most of the high margin of Geneva lake.

The streams are few and small. There is, or was, a small lake of very
irregular outline in sections 25 and 26. Geneva lake covers nearly the whole
of section 12. ahout three-eighths of section 13, and cuts a "huge half-moon.
a monstrous cantle" out of sections 11 and 14. When the ancient lake broke
through its lower barrier it was so far lowered as to lay bare the irregularly
outlined, quickly and unevenly sloping Fontana valley in sections 14 and 15,
through the deeper grooves of which a little mill-stream winds its short course
to the small arid now shrinking but not useless marsh at its mouth, and at
the edge of the lake.

Including the village of Walworth (469 acres), the land area of the town
is 21,360 acres. Average value for town, 8124: for village, $326.22. Total
value of town land, $2,590,700: of village land, $153,000. Crop acreages:
barley. 1.638; corn. 3.854: hay. 3.226: oats. 1.539: orchard. ^,^: potatoes,
210: timber, 012: wheat. [9. Numbers and values of live stock: 3,535
cattle. $97,000; 1,100 hogs, $11,300; 860 horses. Si i;,,Su<>; 5-9 sheep, $2,300.

Inhabitants of the town, as numbered by federal census: 1850. 987;
i860. 1,403; 1870.2,291: 1880. 1,278; 1890, 1.372: 1900, 2.003: 1910, 1,698.
Walworth village in 1910 had 7^^ inhabitants.

438 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

James Van Slyke came with his family from the mill-section at Geneva
late in 1836 and was Big Foot's nearest neighbor, who, thanks to Mrs. Van
SI) ke's tact and kindness, was friendly and probably in some ways helpful.
The high ground on three sides of Fontana valley no doubt made the hard
winter of 1836-7 more endurable than at most of the new settlements.

As Cyrus Church remembered and noted, the settlers of 1837 were
Amos Bailey, section 11 ; William Bell, 16; Cyrus Church, 21; Jonathan C.
Church, 10; Carlos L. Douglass, 26, 2- ; Thomas Godfrey, 20; James A.
Maxwell. 2~ ; Matthias Mohr. 14; Doric C. Porter, 24; John Reader, 18;
William Rumsey, 30; Marcus and Robert Russell, 15; Jacob Gregg Sanders,
2] : Israel W. Starr. 13; Jonathan Ward, 13. Between 1837 and 1840 Joseph
Bailey came to sections 31, 36; Cholister Bartholomew, 14; Mills Church,
28; Dr. Henry Clark, 2^; Newell Crooks, 15; John Cummings, 13; David
Davids, 2~j; Jonathan Fish, 33; Sylvester Hawver, — ; Rev. Phipps W. Lake,
34; William Reed, 14; Lucius Smith, 28; Dr. Lewis N. Wood, 23.

Patents of land are recorded from the United States to Samuel Mills
Bailey, in section 1; Harvey Birchard, 5, 8; James and John Boorman. 18;
Aloysius Brown, 30; Charles Brown, 1, 11; George Brown, Jr., 3; Joseph
Burdick. 23; James Carney, 6; William M. Clarke, 25; Michael Clinton, 1;
Harlow Merrill Coon, 25; Joseph T. Crumb, 26; Curtis Hector and Elihu G.
Eaton, 2; Peter and William Featherstone, 7, 8; Henry Ferow, 5, 9: John
Sewell Folds, 1 ; Andrew Gilbert, 24: Elisha Wells Hadley, 1 ; Moses Payson
Hadley, 12; Samuel Hale, t; Charles Hone, 5: Amos D. Johns, 3, 4; John
Keith, 8; Edmund and John Kitelv. 15: George H. Lown, 4, 5: Chilion Buck-
lin Matteson, 9; Dr. Philip Maxwell. 15, 2(1, 27: John Meginnis, 6; Truman
Pierce, 1; Robert L. Rodman, 30; Sterling Pomeroy Searle, t8; Peter
Siperly, 5; George Smith, 11, 21, 29; James Edward Smith. 2^,; William
H. Stevens, 15; Catharine Stewart, 30; William Thomas and Jacob Vander-
vttt, 6; Samuel II. Van Schaick, 7; Joseph D. Whiteley, 35, 36; Sylvanus
Wilcox, [8; Austin Williams. 3; Israel Williams, 1. 24; Moses Daniel
Williams, 28; Daniel I., and Robert J. Wood, 23: Albert Worcester, 9: John
I.. Wyckoff, 4; Seffrenes Young, 9.

5amuel Mills Bailey, born in [825, was son of Enoch, whose American
inci 1 1 reckoned Mom himself backward in time, were Charles, Stephen.
. John, James, of Massachusetts in 1640.

John Boorman 1 [805-1864) had wife Mary 1 [809-1893),

< harles I'.rown 1 1708-1876) married X at icy Van Dresser.

Mills Church married Mary Daniels, October 24. 1844.

William M. Clarke married Farm) Maxon [uly 2, 184V

\\ \l WORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 439

Harlow M. Coon (1819-1899) married Harriet E. Crumb (1823-1884).

Xewell Crooks married, October 25, 1840, Phoebe Angeline, daughter
of Christopher and Phoebe Douglass.

Joseph T. Crumb (,1799-1872) had wife Harriet M. (1816-1882).

Thomas Featherstone (1816-1863) married Catharine Pramer, Novem-
ber 3, 1844.

Henry Ferow (died 1869) married Leah Simmons (1807-1886).

Thomas Godfrey (1809-1878) married Mrs. Elizabeth (West) High-
land, who died in 188 1, and he built the first house on Big Foot Prairie, in
l837-

Sylvester Hawver married, March 27. 1842, Agnes Noailles, daughter
of Christopher Douglass.

Amos Dike Johns (1812-1884) had wife Beulah (1806-1877).

John Keith (1792-1864) and wife Margaret (1792-1864) were but
three days separated by death.

Edmund Kiteley ( 1822-1909) lived in Sharon; his wife, Mary M. Salis-
bury, died in 1901.

Matthias Mohr went to Kansas and died there in 1887.

Truman Pierce (1787- 1866) and Mary (175 5- 1852), his mother, were
buried at East Delavan.

Robert L. Rodman (1806-1895) married Rebecca Harsel (1810-1882).

Marcus C. Russell married, November 10, 1844, Rebecca (1825-1910),
daughter of Robert A. Potter and Sarah Pine, a niece of the bishops Alonzo
and Horatio Potter.

Sterling Pomeroy Searle (1807-1885) in i860 had wife Ellen and five
children.

Lucius W. Smith married Mary Maria Mason, October 26, 1843.

Robert John Wood married Lucy Miranda Jones, April 17. 1844, at Col.
Maxwell's house.

Dr. Allien Worcester (born 1 8 1 1 ) was son of Parker (1782-1864) and
Abigail (1 785-1863).

John Lefferts Wyckoff (1808-1892) was son of Rev. H. V. Wyckoff,
of Montgomery county. New York. He married, first, Hannah Pettit (died
1848) : second, Anna T. Smith. He came to Walworth in [841.

Seffrenes Young | [810-1888) and wife Eliza 1 [819-1885) were buried
at Walworth. His name seems an odd form of "Sophronius."

The road from Southport (Kenosha) to Beloit and that from the foot
of Geneva lake, as well as the several trails and roads from southward, soon
brought settlers to a township whose smiling face masked no deceit. Mailey,

440 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Bell. Church, Douglass, Lake, the Maxwells, Reader and others of their time
were men who chose their new homes with sound judgment and prospered by
their choice. Local trading points for a time at Bell's Corners, at the quarter-
line of sections 16 and 17, and at Douglass Corners at the quarter-line of
sections 21 and 22 — the two places separated by the diagonal-length of a
square mile. At the state line, on the road from Douglass Corners to Har-
vard, a hamlet named Bigfoot, with postoffice, began its existence early, but
it has not yet become a village, though it has the area of two states for its
expansion.

A postoffice was established at Bell's Corners in 1839 and William Bell
was postmaster until 1853. when he was followed by Lafayette Chesley. In
186 1 William B. Maxson transferred the office to Douglass Corners, which
had been named Walworth, Amos H. Hitchcock, a soldier of the Tenth
Infantry, was appointed in 1809, Elisha B. Coon in 1885, Mahlon Colburn
about 1889, Mr. Coon again in 1893, Delos Burdick about 1897. Nathan
Dwight Maxson, 1898-1912.

Earlier residents of the town and of the East Delavan neighborhood had
definite religious and moral convictions. Of these godly folks an unusually
large proportion were of the Seventh-day Baptist persuasion, and among them
were men of strong character, sufficient means, and practical ability for the
conduct of their own and public affairs, and their influence on the town polity
was felt throughout their active lives. These men in a manner gave to their
community, as seen from without, a somewhat distinctive quality, aspect, or
atmosphere. As there were also strong and able men of other religious belief
and of no religion, there were enough differences of habit, prejudice, judg-
ment, and interest to keep Walworthian life from stagnation.

Meetings were held in [845, at which a society of Seventh-day Baptists
was permanently Formed. At or near the same time a district school house
was about to be built — that which was long known and is yet remembered as
the "cobblestone school house." Several members of the new society sub-
scribed to the district building fund, but with a proviso thai the house should
be >.. enlarged as to permit its temporary use as a chapel. Among the
foundi 1 of the society are named Nathan L. Bassett. Hannah M. Cnon. Har-
riet E. ('(urn. William Davids, Charles N. Dowse. Deacon Alfred Maxson.
and John B. Maxson. A considerable number of this congregation became
stockholders in the Big Fool Academy, which was built in [856-7, and in
1 Sin ciety 1 oughl this building and held it for its double use as school

and as church until 1874. In 1873-4 a substantial church was built at the
villaj 1 it 1 in thousand dollars, and dedicated in March, t S74.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 44I

Elder Stillman Coon held protracted meetings in 1846, and with Daniel
Babcock afterward supplied pastoral ministration. Rev. Phipps W. Lake, of
the greater branch of the Baptist church, also contributed his services to these
meetings. In March, 1847, Elder Coon came as resident pastor. For two
years from 1849 Elder Lake and Thomas Maxson supplied pulpit service.
Thereafter were Oliver P. Hull. 1851-9; Yarnum Hull and William M. Jones,
six months each. Within the next four years, Charles Lewis, 1863 ; James
Bailey, 1865 and 1869; Solomon Carpenter, 1866; Lebbeus M. Cottrell, 1867;
Deacon William B. Maxson, 1869 (two months) ; Leander Elliott Livermore.
1871-4; Oscar U. Whitford, Alexander McLearn; Simeon H. Babcock, 1887;
S. Lafayette Maxson. 1887; Mazzini G. Stillman; Andrew P. Ashurst to 1912.
It is told that forty persons were converted during the Lewis pastorate. The
church has now about one hundred members. Its relations with other churches
have been harmonious. In 1856 this society made anti-slavery an article of
its faith.

Baptists of the larger branch of the denomination formed a society about
1856 and built a church in section 18, one and one-quarter miles westward
from Bell's Corners. This is locally known as the "brick church." It was
well built and is pleasantly situated. It has always been strong in numbers
and in spirit. Its pastors have been: Thomas Bright, 1857; Albert R. Bald-
win. 1858; Alexander Hamilton, 1861 ; Edward L. Harris, 1868; James J.
Mclntyre, 1869: Ferdinand D. Stone, 1871 ; Spencer G. Adams. 1874; Enoch
Pickering, 1882; Levi Parmly. 1886; B. F. Hutchinson. 1888: Alfred Row-
land. 1889: S. C. Enos (unordained), 1891 ; J. J. Schuler, 1893; John Y.
Montague, 1804: Joseph J. Jenkins, 1895; Henry Tibbets, 1004: W. T. Mc-
Gann, 1906: D. W. Porterfield, 1908; Harvey H. Mullan, 1910. This pastoral
service from 1857 to 1912 has been, as is understood, without noticeable in-
termissions.

The Congregational society organized and built its church in 1892 at the
village. Its pastor list is: Moulton N. Clark. [892; John Wesley Jordan,
190 1 : Alexander Charles Warner, 1906; William E. Davidson, [910. This
pulpit also supplies Fontana and Williams Bay.

Immanuel Evangelical Society was formed in 1883 and built its church
at the village in 1891. Its pastors have been: Jacob Schneller, 1883; F.
Krueger, 1886; John Schneller, 1889; H. Ninneman. 1890; Samuel J. F.rff-
meyer, 1893; J. C. Hoffman, 1897; C. F. Rabehl, 1898; Herman J Prochnowi
1901 ; F. A. Mundt, 1904; George F. Hack, 1906; Johann Carl Etzelmueller,
1910. This church has more than sixty members. Its trustees are Johann
Utesch. who is clerk; Carl Schwabe, Ludwig Schacht. It is not a Lutheran
church.

442 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

In the winter of 1838-9 Mrs. Moses D. Williams taught a private school.
The county commissioners appointed, in January, 1840. as school inspectors
for Walworth. William Bell. Rev. Phipps W. Lake. James A. Maxwell, Will-
iam Rumsey, H. Smith Young. A meeting was held at Mr. Maxwell's house
in that year, with Mr. Lake as moderator and James M. Clark as clerk, and
here Big Foot school district number one was organized. A framed house
was bought and moved with ox teams to a point near the house of Christopher
Douglass, on the road from Chicago to Madison. John M. Lewis taught a
three-months' winter term for eighty dollars. Hannah M. Clark taught
through the summer term for eighteen dollars. The house was burned in
1842, and the district bought another frame house, moved it a half-mile by
ox-power to a lot within the village plat, and fitted it for school, town hall,
and other public purposes. About 1854 the district voted three hundred dol-
lars (the highest sum then allowed by law) for a new house. This sum
served to enclose the building, and Howell W. Randolph, Eli Davis and Cyrus
Church, who were then trustees, advanced the cost of plastering, seating,
painting, and furnishing. The next July school meeting voted a sum of
money large enough to meet these expenses. Dr. Henry Clark's land in sec-
tion 23, at the crossing of section lines, two miles east of the village and a
half-mile southward, was the site of the "cobblestone school house" built in
[845. District Xo. 6 (jointly with Linn) has a modern school house there.

BIG FOOT ACADEMY.

Men and women of Walworth in its first twenty years felt the need of
something more for their children than the opportunities of the district schools,
however excellent these schools were for their time and its circumstances. In
a new country there was no overshadowing educational center near enough
to be available, to which the brighter youth might be sent. One forward step
mighl Ik- taken at home if home sentiment might be unified to such a de-
sirable end. It cannot now be said who led or who were first to follow. But
there weir always men who were never far behind in any good work.

\ meeting was held in April, 1855, at which Harlow M. Coon presided
and Mi". Bell was secretary. Mr. Randolph moved to elect nine trustees, and
tin- was shown to be the sense of the meeting. William Bell, Carlos L.
lass, ll.irlow M. Coon were chosen for one year ; Elijah Easton, William
I'.. \la\soii, \.mo Bailey for two years; Rev. Oliver 1'. Hull. Cyrus Church,
Howell \\ . Randolph for three years. 'Ibis board made Mr. Douglass its

dent, Mr. Bell secretary, and Mr 1 hurch treasurer. Eli I'.. tyers, foseph

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 443

Bailey, Henry Hall and Ephraim B. Swinney are also named among these
earlier movers toward the object desired. Amos Bailey and Mr. Randolph
were made a building committee, but some delay was inevitable. The needful
fund was not to be collected on instant demand, and the sum required was
large for a yet small community whose wealth was in land rather than in
money lying in ancient Herrick safes at Geneva or Delavan. Air. and Mrs.
Henry C. Coon were teaching in a select school at the village in 1856, and
they presented the matter to their patrons and others so well that large-
minded farmers and villagers and clear-seeing and capable women were con-
vinced that the time was ripe for instant action. The needful sum, about six
thousand dollars, was soon subscribed or secured, and Amos Bailey gave a
fine piece of ground in the heart of the village. A substantial and sightly
brick building was ready for its use at the fall term of 1857.

In 1861 Charles H. Gilbert bought this building with its site and in the
same year sold it to the Seventh-day Baptist society, but the academy con-
tinued its work until 1882, when it was closed, the property was sold to the
village school district, and the academic functions were thereafter performed
by the high school which was then ready to carry forward its general purpose.
A larger new building was afterward placed in front of the old one, with but
a foot-passage between. In a little more time further floor space and better
inner arrangement were needed, and early in 1912 workmen were pulling
away the now historic building of 1857 in order to double the capacity of the
newer building and meet this century's requirement for high schools. A
souvenir pamphlet was lately printed at the instance of living teachers, pupils,
and patrons of the academy. These twenty-eight pages contain a fair picture
of the academy, thirty-six portraits, and a pupil-list of six hundred and eleven
names, of which eighty-six are starred to denote deaths. These are prefaced
with a short account of the school and its teachers. Its list of principals, as
slightly corrected by a teacher living at the village, was: Daniel 1'.. .\la\son,
1857; Joseph A. Badger, 1858-9; Adoniram J. Kingman, [860; William
Alarriner, 1863 ; Ambrose C. Spicer, 1864; Samuel I'. Ballard, 1865-8; Albert
R. Crandall. 1868-9; Inez Childs, acting, [869; James J. Mclntyre, 1S70-1 ;
Leander Elliott Livermore, [871-5 ; Joseph S. Badger. Jr., [875; Wardner <
Titsworth, 1876; Jacob Sheffield Maxson, [877; Frank \V. Place, [878-9; O.
Eugene Larkin, 1879-80; Frank O. Burdick, [880-1; Mazzini G. Stillman,
1881-2. Their assistants are well and kindly remembered; Dr. Edward G.
Huse. Mrs. Henry ( '. Coon and \V. II. Lewis, [857-8; Elisha I!. Coon, [859;
Pamelia Cronkhite, i860: Hannah McPherson, [863; Mrs. Spicer, 1864;
Jennie Ballard. [867-8; Inez Childs. 1869-70; Phoebe S. Coon and Alan \

444 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Cuckow, [870-1 : Alary Wicks, 1871-5: Emma Glaspey, 1876; Mrs. Jacob S.
Maxson, 1877; Mrs. Alice D. Place and Olive M. Ewing, 1878-9; Minnie
Douglass, 1879-80; Mary Whitford, 18801. These teachers were known and
esteemed in their profession and from its opening to its closing the academy
sustained its high reputation, which drew for it many pupils from abroad.

Pupilage so increased with the coming of a twentieth-century Walworth
that a large new building, of good red brick, was placed squarely in front of
the old one, masking it wholly as seen from across the park. The two struc-
tures, with their three acres of ground, are valued at fifteen thousand dollars.
In 191 1 demolition of the older building and construction of a new one to
meet present and prospective need of the district was decreed, and the work-
began with the spring of 1912. The estimated cost of the new building is also
fifteen thousand dollars. This school employs nine teachers, and is on the
list at Madison of what in official language are called "accredited schools." as
is also the high school at Sharon.

The village of Walworth was platted by Carlos L. Douglass and grew
until the business check of 1857. Its first tavern was at the house of Christo-
pher Douglass, and was kept a few years later by Carlos L. Douglass, who
presently engaged in larger affairs. At some time not recorded nor clearly
remembered the Red Lion tavern was built and served its purpose until the
new order of village life came in, when a handsome little three-storied house.
built of brick, well finished and furnished within and well managed, supplied
the later needs. It is named the Wayside Inn. Between it and the school
lli 'ii e lies a little park, around three sides of which part of the stores and shops
arc ranged. As the town grants no licenses for sale of liquor, the school and
hotel are not too near together.

Walworth remained little more than a hamlet until the electric railway
was built from Harvard in 1899, followed in 1901 by the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St, Paul railway line from Chicago to Janesville. In the latter year it was
in orporated as a village, and it is now one of the handsomest of four such
municipalities in the county. The street-ways are raised with good gravel
forever out of the fertile mud and the walks are generally of cement. It has
been lighted with gasoline since 1905 and its water works began service in
on 1 It is nut too far from Geneva lake to receive some benefits from sum-
mer sojourners) For the electric line reaches the lake shore at Fontana, a ride
of two and one half miles.

Savery & Uden began to publish the Walworth Times in 1004. Their

sors have been Walter V McAfferty, Edward M. Holston and Charles

Clarke. Edward and Maurice Morrissej (with Hiram S. Bell as temporarj

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 445

editor), Herbert E. Miles, and since 1907 Frank F. Perrin. The paper is
non-partisan.

The Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Walworth was in-
corporated in January, 1878, for business in that town. Its risks in force at
the end of 1910 were 461, amounting to $788,990. Losses paid since 1878
amount to $16,496. Its present officers are Carlos S. Douglass, of Fontana.
president; Martin F. Schacht, of Walworth, secertary.

The Walworth State Bank was incorporated in 1903. Its capital is
$15,000, and deposits $190,000. Carlos S. Douglass is president and Frank
E. Lawson. cashier.

FONTANA.

The highlands which bound and overlook Geneva lake are at its head-
continued in wanton curvatures for about a mile southwestward in section 1 5
of Walworth. Recession of the water by some prehistoric bursting of the
eastern wall left a very uneven bottom about a half-mile wide, whose numer-
ous springs suggest the probable character of the whole lake Boor. In or near
this basin-like part of section 14 James Van Slyke built his cabin in 1836 and
marked claims wheresoever he listed. In July. 1840, he sold part of his do-
main to John Cumming. who, in January, 1845, s°ld it to Richard Montague,
from whom Carlos L. Douglass bought in 1856.

It is not now known at Walworth when or where James Van Slyke went
from that town or from this earth. Tradition preserves an impression that
. his wife was in most ways his superior. This may do him much less than
justice As Mr. Payne's friend in 1836 he was in small favor with the Brink
party. At Fontana he may not have stood as high as his half-heroic wife in
Bigfoot's esteem, but the noble red man's standards of measurement are his
own. From the scanty record of the family as landowners it is learned that
in March, 1845, Charlotte Van Slyke bought for twenty-five dollars, of R.
Wells Warren, lot 8 in block 19 (next west of the park), in the village of
Geneva; and that in March, T859, Dolphus S. Van Slyke and l.ovina, his wife,
Fernando D. Joy and Mary S., his wife, James S. Chambers and Rosalie \\'.,
his wife, and D. J. Van Slyke, as "sole heirs of Charlotte Van Slyke, of Wal-
worth, deceased," sold the same lot to Dan Wright. Also, that in 1851,
Catharine Van Slyke received a deed of real estate in Walworth from Eliza-
beth < 'ummings. and that in one or more papers Catharine's name is joined,
her name placed first, with that of Dolphus S. Van Slyke. The child born
at Geneva in 1836 died in [856, but it is thought not at the home of her par-
ents.

44'' WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

It is told that in 1837 James Van Slyke sold a part of his claim or claims
to Amos Bailey, Dr. Henry Clark and Matthias Mohr. These three men
planned rather than platted a village near the lake in 1838. but its building
was postponed indefinitely. Air. Mohr. however, named the locality Fontana.
Near the water's edge, on the north side of the basin, was a grove of large
trees standing on not too uneven ground and here, about 1871. Gurdon
Montague and Doric C. Porter set apart a place for picnic and large out-of-
door meetings. Some part of this ground was included in George M. Reid's
park, deeded or dedicated "to the public" in 1890.

Richard Montague built a saw-mill in 1845, which became a grist-mill in
i860. In 1857-8 Carlos S. Douglass built a grist-mill lower down the
fountain-born rill, equipped it, improved it, and for thirty years his Hour was
of the best in the county. Stores and dwellings gradually surrounded the mill.
and Fontana became a village and summer resort, accessible by railway and
steamer from all parts of the world, — half-hidden, as it is, in the ancient bay.
Near the lake is a fish hatchery, well stocked with young trout. Behind the
village a gravel crusher faces the northern bank of the basin, and its product
is largely used at home and within the county, as well as shipped out of the
state by the electric line. Mr. Douglass platted the village in 1895, but village
life had begun there much earlier. In 1891 the women of the Congregational
A ill Society built a union church, and the pastors at Walworth perform dutv
here. The postofnce remains a local convenience. James B. Davis and Oscar
E. Davis have been postmasters since its establishment, about 1884. The vil-
lage school has four departments.

WILLIAMS BAY.

The bay named by or for Capt. Israel Williams cuts almost rectangularly
into section 6 of Linn, leaving on its west side a strip of that section about
five-eighths of a mile long from south to north and, say forty rods wide.
From the head of the bay to the town line of Geneva is one-third of a mile.
From the Linn strip the ground slopes upward into section 1 of Walworth.
The village of Williams Bay lies on the Linn strip and the Walworth slope,
with such varied contour as to make die site practicable ami pleasing to
home-keepers and summer visitors. The village settlement began about [879.
Mr. Simmons noted that in [893 the place "began to attract attention of such
as were seeking summer homes'* At the head of the bay the Chicago &
Northwestern Railway Company made one of its terminal stations, six miles
from Lake Geneva, ninetv-two miles from Chicago In- wa\ of Elgin and

WALWORTH COr.NTV, WISCONSIN.

447

Crystal Lake. The first trains arrived and departed June I, 1888. A post-
office was established in 1892. with Mrs. Marie R. (Barnhart) Williams,
1902. Mrs. Josephine Barnhart. 1898, Miss Anna Peterson, 1907, as post-
masters. James L. Tubbs platted the village in 1897 for Mrs. Lucretia S .
widow of Royal Joy Williams.

CHAIRMEN AND MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD FOR THE TOWN.

George Hiram Lown 1843

James Alexander Maxwell 1844

Philip W. Mink 1845

James M. Clark 1846

Beardsley Lake 1847, '49- '63-4

Archibald Colbnrn 184S

David Coon. Jr. 1850-1, '53-4. '61

Doric Chipman Porter 1852

Amos Bailey 1855

Elijah Easton 1856-7

Ethan Lamphere Gilbert 1858-9

Sidney H. Moody i860

Henrv Hall rSf>2

Carlos Lavalette Douglass__ 1865-72.
•74-5- 77-8. '8i, '86

Ephraim B. Swinney J873

Amos Hunn Hitchcock 1876

Edgar Read Maxon-1879. '82. "84, '89

Zina Cotton 1880

Livingston E Parker 18S3, '85

Theodore T. Greene '. 1887-8

Abraham W. Henry 1890

George W. Pierce 1891

James B. Davis 1892-4

Joseph Swinney I8'95, '99

Mahlon Colburn 1896-8

Carlos Stewart Douglass 1900-12

COUNTY SUPERVISORS FOR VILLAGE.

Edward E. Campbell 1901-2 Wells D. Church

Joseph Swinney 1903

.1904-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Amos Bailey 1843

Kiah Bailey 1854

Barnabas Ball 1862

Hiram Sears Bell 1891

William R. Bonham 1897-9

Phineas A. Bowen 1871. '74

Edwin Brown 1894

George W. Brown 1886

William Chelson Bunnell 1885

Solomon Champlin Burdick 1870

Moses R. Cheney 1852

Cyrus Church 1847, '68

Benjamin Clark 1853-5, '60

Cyrus W. Clark 1867, '69

James Dallas Clark 1N72

Archibald Colburn 1868

Mahlon Colburn 1873

David Coon, Jr. 1875

Harlow Merrill Coon 1874

Marshall Coon 1892

448

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Zina Cotton 1867, 77

John Milton Cramer 1893

Joseph Clark Crumb 185 1

William H. Davis 1891

Carlos Lavallette Douglass. 1856, '61

Carlos Stewart Douglass 1884-5

Christopher Douglass 1848

Horace Greeley Douglass 1888-9

Michael Dunn 1905-6

Curtis Hector Eaton 1846, '55

Jonathan Fish 1845

Henry Francis—. 1881-2, '96, 1906-7

Ethan Lamphere Gilbert 1856-7

George G. Green 1858

James E. Hagan 1903-4

Robert B. Hubbell 1888

Charles W. Huff 1851

Amos Dike Johns 1844, '50, '73

Claudius C. Jones 1893

William A. Lackey 1898-9

Beardsky Fake 1858-9

James C. Mclvesson 1880

Darius B. Mason 1843

Edgar Read Maxon 1883

Frank \\ . Maxon 1863

William B. Maxson 1862

George Heman Merwin 1883-6

August C. Miller 1900

Philip \\ . Mink 1849-50

Sh-plicn Mink ... tS6 \ \

Ezra A. Mulford 1887-89

David Ottman 1847

Livingston E. Parker. 1881-2

Carl Peters 1884

George W. Pierce 1890, '95-6

Mark F. Pierce 1864-6, '77, '79-80

Doric Chipman Porter. .1848, '53, '59

Lester C. Porter 1903-4

William Ramsay 1844

Howell W. Randolph 1857

John Reader 1846, "52

Joseph Rector 1 860-1, '65-6

William S. Reser 1905

Charles H. Ripley 1887

Levi B. Ripley 1875

Martin F. Schacht J907, '10-12

George W. Scott 1869

Edwin J. Sherburne 1878

Ephraim Swinney 1870-2

Joseph Swinney 1890. '92, '94-5

Henry Timming 1902

Russell S. Trumbull 1876, '79

John A. Van Dreser, Jr. 1908-10

John E. Van Schaick 1900-2

John W. Voss 1901

George W. Webber 1876

Hiram R. Whiteley 1878

Charles M. Williams 1897

Emery J. Wright 1908-9, '12

TOWN CLERKS.

James M. Clark 1S43-5

Robert S. Dunn [846

Jeremiah Lollard 1847

Uberl II. Ilolley 1848

Doolittle 1849-51. 53

Jr. 1852

Howell W. Randolph 1854

Harlow Merrill Coon ..1855-63, '67

William B. Maxson 1B64

Nathan J. Read 1865-6

Amos Hunn Hitchcock 1808-75,

'80-3. '95-6, '99-1900

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

449

John E. Van Schaick 1876-9

Mazzini G. Stillman 1884

Edward W. Ripley__ 1885-94. 1907-n
Oscar E. Davis 1897-8

Frank E. Lawson 1 901-2. '04-6

Herbert Leroy Rodebaugh 1903

J. W. Wesson 1912

TOWN TREASURERS.

Joseph Bailey 1843

Elijah Church 1844-8

Cyrus Church 1849-50

Caleb H. Conant 1851-4

William H. Redfield 1855

James N. Lamphere 1856-7

Orrin Coon 1858-61

Henry Ferow 1862

Daniel C. P. Carvey 1863-4

Zaccheus M. Heritage 1865

William B. Maxson 1866

Amos Hunn Hitchcock 1867

Harrison Davis 1868

Oscar Wallace Douglass 1869

Henry Marriott 1870. '73

Charles Herbert Burdick 1871

Mark Avers 1872

Amasa D. Truax 1874

George W. McKesson 1875

Eugene L. Church 1876

Benjamin Franklin Wright 1877

.Mahlon Colburn 1878-9

John E. Van Schaick 1880

Delaney B. Peck 1881

James B. Davis 1882-4

Oscar E. Davis 1885-6

John R. Siperly 1887-8

Henry D. Ripley 1889

Frank M. Pollard 1890

Edgar O. Burdick 1891-2

Lester C. Porter 1893-4

Nathan Dwight Maxon 1895-6

Frederick G. Taylor 1897-8

William C. Coon 1899-1900

Homer D. Lackey 1901

Leonard L. Loynes 1901

Edwin W Crown 1902-3

John E. Wells 1904-5. '12

Milton S. Freer -1906-7

Frederick Rector 1908-9

William S. Davis 1910-II

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Hiram Sears Bell 1892

William Bell 1859-64

Phineas A. Bowers 1869-71

Walter W. Britt 1906

S i >mon Champlin Burdick — 1867-8

Harlow M. Coon 1860-1, '69-70,

'87-8. '96-8
Edwin F. Crumb 1863-6

(29)

Oscar E. Davis 1897-8

Carlos Stewart Dnn«,dass__ --1883-6

George Ouincey Dunlop 1898

George F. Eifer [902-5

Lavallette E. Francis [895-6,

'98-9, 1 901 -2. '04-5

Milton S. Freer iHi)X-<). n/)i-2

George C. Gardner 1866-7

4^0 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Amos H. Hitchcock '89-96, William H. Redfield 1862

'93-6, "99-1900 Edward W. Ripley 1892-3

Amos Dike Johns 1869-77 John Simmonds 1910

Phipps Waldo Lake, Jr. 1876-83, Benjamin W. Sawyer 1907-10

'94-5 Frank Starr 1908-9

William B. Maxson 1862-5 John C. Thacher 1876-83

Stephen Mink 1866-7 Samuel Henry Van Schaick 1859-60.

William F. Xewland 1908-10 '68-9

George F. Orcutt 1897 William J. Warren 1902-3

Nathan J. Read 1876 Randall D. Williams 1879

Joseph Rector 1860-1 Frank Wolff 1906-7

William Bell was among the first justices appointed by Governor Dodge
fi >r the county. It is said that he served for sixteen years — but not con-
tinuously, unless for more than that period. County records do not show all
the facts as to service as justices, and oral statements supply such omissions
but scantily and not without liability to error.

Presidents of Walworth village have been: William Higbee. 1901 ;
Thomas H. Pugh, [902 and 1906; Elmer A. Peterson. 1903 and 1908:
Hiram S. Bell. 1904 and 1905; John C. Partridge, 1907, and Mahlon Col-
burn in the same year; Joseph W. Robar, 1909; Harlow Irving Coon, 19 10.
1011. [912.

Village clerks: Oscar E. Davis, 1901 ; Amos H. Hitchcock, 1903;
Harold E. Waters, [904-5; Amos H. Hitchcock, 1907. and still in service.

Village treasurers: Gilbert E. Dangerfield, 1901-2; and Edgar O. Bur-
dick since 1003.

Justices who filed credentials: H. Irving Coon in [901 as police justice
and in 1007: Frederick Goelzer, 1005: Lewis F. Phillips, 1909.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

TOWN OF WHITEWATER.

Township 4 north, range 15 east, was at first one-quarter of the town
of Elkhorn. It was detached August 13. 1840. and named from the lake and
creek, which the more learned Algonquins called by various names, the most
euphonious of which was Wau-be-gan-naw-po-cat — equivalent to whitish or
muddy water. To these few syllables they added "bess" for the lake and
"se-pee'" for the creek. For several years the more precise of old settlers
persisted in writing the simpler name with two capitals, as was often done
with the name of Elkhorn. The town has Cold Spring, Jefferson county,
next northward and Lima, Rock count}-, next westward.

The surface of the town was determined by a meeting of leisurely-
moving glaciers, resulting in a compromise honorable to all whom it then
concerned. Barometric measurements at various points show at highest and
lowest places a difference of ninety feet in heights above sea-level. The height
at the lake is 795 feet; along the creek, 806 feet; at the railway station, 819
feet; in section 2, 820 to 837 feet; in north half of section [9, 875 feet; on
Normal hill. 885 feet. The long, irregular ridge from which the waters
of the countv descend each way to the Fox and the Rock lies in the eastern
half of the town, sending but little water to the Fox. The southern section-,
west of the dividing ridge, are generally lower than the northern ones, and
these are occasionally marshy.

Whitewater lake, in sections 34, 35, has an area of forty or fifty aero.
Tt is fed by two little streams in sections 2. 3 of Richmond. A little lake or
wet spot in section 3$, irregularly five-pointed and therefore appropriately
named Round lake, is connected by a few rods of creek. These lakes dis-
charge into Whitewater creek, which flows through sections _>o, jj, 22, 23.
15, 10, 4 and finds its end at Bark river in Cold Spring, receiving two lateral
currents on its way to the city. Rass lake lies in sections 2^, 26, 35. Its area
is eighty or more acres, and its inlets and outlets are unseen. The west
branch of Whitewater creek comes out of Lima into section 10. crosses sec-
tions 20. 17, 8. 9. and meets the main stream at the city, where both creek-
spread into Cravath and Tripp lakes before uniting A little stream rises in
section 12, crosses section 1. and find- its way to the Fox by way of Jeffer-

4^2 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

son ami Waukesha counties. A short water-course crosses section 6 and runs
toward Bark river. ,

The land area of the town, 20,302 acres, valued at $1,239,500 — average
value, $61.02. Land in city, not in building lots, 199 acres, valued at $20,900
—average value, $105. Acreages of crops: Barley, 1.016; beets, 12; corn,
2,843: hay. 2,304; oats, 2,050; orchard, 57; potatoes, 78; rye, 66; timber,
538; wheat, 7. Live stock, town and city: 3,315 cattle. $87,600; 731 hogs,
$7,300; 964 horses, S< '2.400; 243 sheep, $900.

Census of the town: 1850, including village, 1,229; 1S60, 915; 1870;
1,006; 1880. 902: 1890, 849; 1900, 806; 1910, j 22.

First comers knew nothing of county borders or of town lines, for these
were then but about to be established. The towns of Cold Spring, Lina and
Richmond, with adjacent sections of Whitewater, were parts of one region
full of promise to settlers. Late in 1836 or early in 1837 Alvah Foster
marked his name on a tree on the east bank of the creek in section 4, but did
not halt to secure his claim by improving it. Finding a few weeks later that
William Barron bad, in April, taken advantage of this neglect, he gave way
without contest — the more readily because he thought the water-power of
little worth. Mr. Barron had come with a party of twenty, families included,
from .Milwaukee: but his companions went a few miles farther. He se-
cured his claim by cutting a part of the logs for his house, and, as is supposed,
was the first to cut a tree within the town. About mid-April. Samuel Prince
marked his claim in section 6 and built the first house in the town. It was
twelve feet square and eight feet from the "found to the eaves. In July Mr.
Sawyer claimed the southwest quarter of section 5 and was the first in town
to disturb the ancient sod with a breaking plow. In the same month Xor-
man Pratt claimed for his brother. Freeman I.. Pratt, the rest of section 5,
for himself tin- whole of section 8, and north half of section 6 for Dean
Williams, lie then broke ground and chopped trees to secure these claims.
ander and William Birge, with Dr. Edward Brewer, came also in July,

the Birges invaded the Pratt claim to the southeast quarter of section 5.
Thereupon a dispute arose as to the interpretation of the settler's code con-
rning claims. It was decided that a quarter-section was the unit, and that
improvements on other quarters of the same section counted for nothing.
The 1'iatts withdrew their claim to that quarter anil bought Mr. Sawyer's
quarter of the same section. Houses were built at once, and before cold
we : m run the two I'ratt families were actual residents. Rufus B.

• larke came to section 5, (hark- Hamilton and Willard 11. Johnson to sec-
tion 7. and /.crab Mead buill a house in section 6, though be did not live in

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 453

it until he had brought his family from the east in 1838. A few settlers
came also in 1837 to the towns before named, and these several little com-
munities often co-operated in procuring supplies from Milwaukee and the
hardly less distant mills. Rufus Branch Clarke, according to Mr. Cravath,
was an accomplished deer slayer, and neighbor Joseph Nichols, of Lima, was
a successful bee-hunter. Until a crop could be raised, and in some after-
years when crops failed, flour, pork, potatoes, and other staples of food were
procured only at famine prices. Most of the men already named were fairly
provided with money, but there was much unavoidable difficulty in freight
carrying, which of itself made prices high. Such conditions, of course, were
not peculiar to Whitewater, — though the journey to Milwaukee was a da\ or
more longer than from Geneva or East Troy.

In 1838 Richard Hoppin came to section 1, David J. Powers to section
7. and. fortunately for Whitewater, Dr. James Tripp to the water-power in
section 4. At this point Messrs. Johnson, Powers and Norman Pratt had
some rights which depended on non-interference by Daniel and Stephen
Butts and John Shaw, men of Rock county. The first named three men con-
tracted in November, 1838, with Doctor Tripp to build within one year ''a
good substantial grist-mill." In the same year Willard B. Johnson built his
framed barn, the first of that kind in town. When finished he celebrated his
work with "a splendid ball." at which the Pratts discoursed excellent music
with their fiddles, while of the dancers twelve were women, whose names Mr.
Cravath thoughtfully recorded: Mrs. Clarke, Miss Collins, three Misses
Hawes, three Misses Humphrey. Miss Keech, Miss Mott. and two Mrs.
Pratts. Seth M. Billings and Abraham Hackett came in 1839.

Buyers at the land office, as recorded, were: Hans Aryedson, section
34: William Atwater, 31; Richard Bartele. 33; Jason Schuyler Peach. 19;
Jesse Brown, 20: Jesse Collins, 20; Jeffrey Cox. i~ : Prosper Cravath. 20:
Warner Earl, 2: Eli Elsbre, 18: Morris Ensign^ 31: < iunder Ericsson, 33;
George Gleason, 32: George R. Goodhue, 19, 20, 29, 30: Amos Gould, 11;
Rasselas Gould, 14, 22: Hiram Gregg, 34; John Hackett, 20; John T. Ham-
ilton, 15; Ole Hanson, 34: Ara Hardy, 30; Samuel Hull. 30: Andrew and
Gardner Johnson. 35. 36; Daniel Price Jones. 21: llezckiah Kellogg. 1. 2:
Martin Lonigan, 23: William and Sarah Lyon, 21,, 24: John MelnUre. 15;
Isaac Magoon. Jr.. 22; Christian Mason, 35: Peter B. Millis. jj : Levi Hale
Xelson. 30; Thomas Stirratt Newton, 31; Delilah M. and Hannah II.
Nichols. 14; Ebenezer Pardee. 30: James and Joseph Porter, 9,; Michael Regan.
24: Samuel Robinson. 2d, 26; Qrigen W. Royce, 19: llezckiah M. Sanders.
I: Harvey Jones Seymour, 1: John Shaw. 15: ErastUS Sherman. 30-; Caleb

454 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

T. Smith, 33 ; Absalom and George Spracklin, 27. 33 ; Frederick J. Starin,
10; Samuel Taft, 3; Cyrus Teetshorn, 27, 28; John Teetshorn, 30; Lewis
Teetshorn, 22; Hans Thomason, 34; Benedict Birch Utter, 31 : Joseph Curtis
Utter, 19; George Watt, 11 ; Asad Williams. 6; George G. Williams, 23. 24,
28, 2q ; George Wilson, 4 ; David Wood, 32.

Hans Arvedson died in 1873. He and wife Esther were natives of
Norway. A least one namesake changed his name-to Arwood, by translating
the syllable "ved." Seth M. Billings (i8i4-i88o)" became sheriff. His wife
was Lena Markle. Dr. Joseph A. Clarke ( 1814-1873) came to Whitewater
in 1839. His wife was .Man Jane Stedman. Warner Earle was a lawyer,
served as town clerk, as member of Legislature, as hotel-keeper, and in 1850
went to California. Abraham Hackett (1811-1885) was son of Jacob and
wife Eliza Moore. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph Randall. She
died in 1852. John Hackett (1816-1886), Abraham's brother, had wife
Eliza (1818-1869). John T. Hamilton (1815-1900) married, first. Marian
Eliza Neill; second, Mrs. Amelia Chamberlain. Richard Hoppin (T783-
1869) was born at Salem. Massachusetts; his wife, Sarah A. { 1790-1867),
was born at New I laven. John Mclntyre. a Xova Scotian. was born in 1809,
a -"ii of James C. lie married Hannah, daughter of Moses Edison. Peter
B. Millis (1819-1885) married Emma J., daughter of Samuel and Martha
Vance. Ebenezer Pardee ( 1 7^7- 1 >s77 > married Thankful (1791-1868).
Samuel Prince (1791-1867) had wife Eliza. Hezekiah Martin Sanders
(1803-1894) married Elnora I'. (1808-1890). Erastus Sherman died in
[866; his wife was Rhoda T. (1802-1870).

In [836-7 men in quest of homes had to them a boundless area within
which to make their choice. They looked for oilier advantages than dee])
vegetable mould, the nourishing mother of food crops. Between the great
lake and Rock river the country was geographically favorable, for it was
only just without the United Slates. Prairie land was desirable, but not so
if no timber was in sight. Water powers promised villages with possibilities
of cities second onl) to the well-harbored lake ports. They who came through
Waukesha and Jefferson counties to Whitewater saw Mich advantages in

11 3 and westward into Lima and southward along the line of Rock
county. I.. aier coiner- less hard to please "i forced to second choice, found
the northeastern quarter \en Ear from forbidding. The comparatively wet
land of the vallev of the outlel of Whitewater lake, and even the morainal
knobs of the southeastern quarter found buyers and improvers. Farmers of
the town, as a whole, have prospered with not more than the usual struggle
with seasons and other instruments of fate. Here. .1- elsewhere, for long the

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 455

staple crop was wheat. After nearly disappearing from crop reports there
is said to be. in 19 12, some observable tendency to increased wheat-sowing
to meet demand at the home mills; but such movement is not likely to be-
come general.

Among the earlier and successful breeders of live stock were John M.
Clark and with and after him Charles M., his sun. merino sheep, short-
horned cattle, and horses ; Oramel Cook, sheep and cattle ; George D. Dou-
bleday, trotting horses and other live stock; Herman Hemenway, sheep;
Leonard C. Smith, fine-wool sheep; Frank \Y. Tratt. cattle and sheep. These
and other men gave the town some distinction at home and abroad in this
line of farmer's enterprise. Before i860 Han ford A. Conger began to raise
fruit trees and berry-bearing shrubs, extending his efforts to other locally
desirable nursery stock, and for several years made his business of some im-
portance to the community as well as to himself. A few smaller enterprises
of the kind had their beginnings and endings.

Galena 1 or Trenton) limestone underlies the glacial drift and crops nut
at points in the creek valleys. It has been quarried superficially, for home
use, and George Coburn's kiln burned it to good lime, as did David Jarvis's.

Zerah Mead of Whitewater, Jared B. Cornish, George Esterly and Vol-
ney A. McCraken, of Lagrange, and Jeduthun Spooner, of Sugar Creek,
were appointed school inspectors for old Elkhorn in 1S40. In the same year
a school house was built in the village district, which was the northern half
of the township. In 1N44 there were also the Island district and the Bluff
district. Nine districts have been rearranged as five, one of which is a joint
district with part of Richmond. But this joint district, Xo. 9 of White-
water, is not identical with Richmond joint district Xo. 3, which includes part
1 if Whitewater.

.MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Dr. James Tripp 1842 Richard O'Connor 1856-8

Dr. Oliver C. Magoon 1843-4 Rufus Cheney 1859-60

Thomas K. LeBaron 1845 Joseph L. I'ratt 186]

Prosper I ravath 1846, '67-9 George Bunker 1862

Frederick C. Patterson 1847 Newton Moore Littlejohn 1863-6,

Isaac Underbill Wheeler 1848 '70-4. '76-84

George G. Williams 1X41; William DeWoIf 1875

Solmous Wakeley 1850. '^J-^, William E. Wright _ _ iXS--'1;i . '93-4

Leander Birge 1K51 David B. Richmond 1892

456

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Henry C. Millis 1 895-1901 Almon L. Peterson

'03-5, '11-12 Frederick W. Henderson.
Henrv Zandtke 1902

1906

.1907-12

ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS.

Nathan H. Allen 1867

Gilbert Anderson 1874

Thomas Bassett 1856

Charles R. Beach 1875

Leander Birge 1850

William Birge 1842-3

Charles Morris Blackman 1873

Henry L. Clark 1893. 95, 1900

Dr. Joseph A. Clarke 1846

Solomon Clark 1856-7

Julius C. Cole 1861

Warren Cole 1848

John Conety 1891

ll.ui fnr<l A. Conger 1879-80

Robert M. Cox 1897-1900

I liarles E. Curtice 1860-1

John P. Cutler 1876

Charles C. Danforth 1868

George Dann 1847-8. '59, '62

Isaac B. Decker 1849

John W. Denison 1869

William DeWolf 1854

Ed. Dorr 1901

William Doud 1901-3

Andrew Engebretsen l^77-'>

leorge T. Ferris 1863

John P. Folsom [844

George II. Foster 1862-3

' 1 '.11 W. Fowler 1865, '67

Orlando S Gallt [864

Charles R. Gibbs [890

Lyman M. Goodhue [884

James Hackett 1892, '95

George B. Hall 1849

Sheldon C. Hall 1845, '51

Sylvester Hanson 1868-9

Morris J. Hawes 1906-9

Frederick W. Henderson 1902-5

Carl Kienbaum 1910-11

Azor Kinney ^43

John Knox 1885

August Krahn 1893-96

Robert McBeath 1870-2

Dr. Oliver S. Magoon 1842

Joseph W. Maynard 1846

Zerah Mead 1845, "66

John Stanley Partridge 1855

Frederick C. Patterson 1847

Joseph L. Pratt 1853, '57-8. '60

Norman Pratt 1844

George A. Ray 1880-3

Edward S. Redington T859

Henry Ridge 1910-II

\nsel Salisbury 1875

George H. Smith 1864

Orlin Smith 1892

Stephen Henry Smith 1887-90

Jacob J. Starin 1876-8

Charles R. Taft 1891

Sullivan S. Taft 1885

Cyrus Teetshorn 1881-4

Salmon II. Turtle 1870-3

Harry Vail 1904-9

\ndrus B, Warner 1894

Eugene B. Warner 1886

Herman Wegner 1902

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

457

George O. West I874"5 Asad Williams 1850

Isaac Underbill Wheeler 1854 George G. Williams 1852-3, '55

William H. Wheeler 1851-2 Lucius A. Winchester 1858

William E. Wight 1886-9 William Wright 1894

TOWN CLERKS.

Warner Earl 1842

Alender O. Babcock 1843

William A. Harding 1844

Frederick C. Patterson 1:845-6

Prosper Cravath 1847-8, '53-5

Solmous Wakeley • 1849

Peter H. Brady 1850

Eleazar Wakeley 185T-2, '56

Henry J. Curtice 1857

Newton S. Murphey — 1858

Henry Oreb Montague.- 1859-60. '64
Fernando Cortez Kiser 1861

Elliott D. Converse 1862-3, '69*72

William H. Lull 1865

James D. Robinson [866

William LeRoy Stewart 1867-8.

'75-8

Mannering M DeWolf 1S73-4

Henry Heady 1879-84

Harvey A. Loomer 1885-6

Frank H. Williams 1887-1909

Eri H. Lewis 1910

John Cassidy 1911-12

TOWN TREASURERS.

Isaac Underhill Wheeler 1842, '66

Joseph W. Maynard 1843-4. '47-8

Frederick C. Patterson 1845-6

Dr. George W. Lee 1849

Lucius A. Winchester 1850

Jacob J. Starin 1851

Pliiletus S. Carver 1852

William H. Wheeler 1853-4

Seth M. Billings 1855

Isaac Joslyn 1856

Ira C. Day 1857

Sylvester Barnes 1858-9

David Chaffee i860

Thomas Mountford 186]

Joseph C. Bower 1862-3, '71-84

George A. Caswell 1864-5

Frederick Hubbard 1867-8

Duane Starin 1869-70

William H. Snyder 1885

Truman W. Taft 1886-7

Ralph H. Smith 1888-9

Henry C. Millis 1890-1, '94

Warren J. Taft 1892-3

John Conety J895-6

William Doud 1897-8

John Cassidy 1899

James Conety _ 1900

William J. Ryan 1901-2

Amos Engel J903-4

Charles Peterson 1905-6

Robert M. Cox 1907-8

Peter If. Nelson 1909-10

Augusl Krahn 1911-12

458

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Henry L. Clark 1891

Frank Cummings 1898-9

Jeremiah Dorr 1897-1900

Frank N. Fryer 1905-8

Gaylord Graves 1856-7

John Halverson 1891-2

Jeremiah Hardin 1863

Ira C. Harris 1893-4, '99-1900

Henry Heady 1879-84

Zerah Mead 1861-2, '74

Frank T. Millard 1891-2

Rev. Oreb Montague 1861-3, '66-73

Xels W. Nelson 1886-7

Thomas O. Nelson 18S9

Charles H. Owens 1910-n

James D. Robinson 1865-8

Milton Rowley 1868-9

John F. Sedgwick 1905-6

Simon K. Simonson 1894-5

James Smith 1863-4

Robert Stephenson 1864-5

Charles R. Taft 1889

John N. Westphall 1885-90

Charles M. Williams __ 1909-13

Thomas Wogan 1899-1905, '07

Henry Wright 1885-6

Mr. Graves was an East Trojan pioneer. Mr. Hardin seemed lost to all
living men's memory, but William L. R. Stewart, who forgets few men or
things, recalls him as one who had lost a leg — though this reminiscence indi-
cates nothing as to Squire Hardin's squirely ability or conduct in office. Mr.
Montague came in 1855 as a Baptist clergyman and built a house in Birge's
addition. His son, Captain Montague, was a lawyer, soldier, and town clerk.
Mr. \\'illi;un> is a grandson of Capt. Asad Williams and Jenny McGee, who
came to Whitewater in 1839. Zerah Mead was commissioned in 1839 and
served until [858 and quite possibly in 1859 and i860, though his credential
is not filed at Elkhorn. The record does not in all cases show whether the
officer was of the town or of the village, or of both.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

CITY OF WHITEWATER.

Two branches of Whitewater creek become lakelets before flowing to-
gether seaward. Cravath's lake, the foot of the western branch, received by 'a
short channel the outflow of Tripp lake. This meeting of waters is in the
south half of section 4, on the claim of Daniel Butts. In 1838 a grist-mill was
a most pressing need, and his fellow settlers urged Mr. Butts to improve the
water power or to sell to somebody who could and would. He sold that part
of his claim which included the water power to John Shaw, who promised to
build, but did nothing. At a meeting of settlers in November, 1838, Willard
B. Johnson, Zerah Mead and Xorman Pratt, as their committee, were directed
to take such steps, under squatter-sovereign's usage, as might induce or compel
Mr. Shaw to build at once. In the same month Dr. James Tripp came from
the lake region of the Troys, and from him the committee received five hun-
dred dollars, to be paid for that body to John Shaw, Daniel Butts and Stephen
Butts, claimants of the including half-section: provided these men should not
prevent the Doctor from buying the premises at the coming land sale, which
began in February, 1839. Tripp further bound himself to build a substantial
grist-mill within one year from the land sale at Milwaukee. Having at that
sale bought the half-section. Doctor Tripp began work on dam and mill in
April. Men from all the neighboring towns came Tune 27, 1839, to help in
raising the frame work of the mill, and Mrs. Tripp feasted them on such
good things as the home market could supply.

In the same year a blacksmith not named in annals made his shop in a
log-walled space of fourteen feet square, but soon moved onward. Egbert C.
and William H. Wheeler came in 1N40. and die clang of hammer and anvil
has continued unto this day. David J. and Joseph Powers, in 1840, built a
tavern at Main street, near the mill, its dimensions eighteen by thirty-six feet.

A smithy, a tavern, and a mill being thus grouped within friendly dis-
tance, each from each, it was in order to lay out a village. Doctor Tripp called
Prosper Cravath from the Cortland count) colony in Lima to survey and
establish street lines and lol corners. The mill was made a central point
from which streets should radiate, crossing-streets disposed like concentric
arcs. Three radial streets were named Mam. Center and Whitewater, lour

460 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

curved streets were numbered from First to Fourth. In fast following addi-
tion to the village plat this spider-web arrangement was disregarded and no
heed was given to geometrical symmetry, and hence Whitewater abounds with
flat-iron points and discontinuities. The site is handsomely uneven in surface,
and some or most irregularities were then in some way convenient or advan-
tageous to owners, though to strangers half labyrinthine.

Benjamin F. Bosworth, of McHenry county, seems to have been he who
had opened a store in 1839, and this he sold in 1840 to Benjamin F. and Joseph
L. StantQn. In that auspicious year of village foundation the postoffice was
established, the Milwaukee Sentinel came weekly to nearly every household,
Patrick McLaughlin came as a tailor, the Murrays. of Beloit, came to teach
dancing for the refinement of pioneer manners, a log school house and a few
dwellings were built, a Presbyterian society was formed, and Julius C, son
of William ami Mar) Alvina 1 Nobles) Birge, was born.

Philander Peck built and occupied a second store in 1841. and Thomas
K. l.el'i.iion bought the Stanton store; Corydon Pratt came to make and sell
boots and shoes; Joseph Powers repaired guns and watches, and did other such
work as was beyond mere blacksmith's skill; the Wheelers began to make
steel plows at twelve dollars each; William Wood's kiln turned out forty
thousand bricks at its first burning; and Doctor Tripp built a saw-mill. At an
election held September J/th, the town adopted the form prescribed by a recent
statute for government of towns.

TOWN ORGANIZATION

At the first town meeting, held April 5. 1S4J. besides the, officers named
in the official lists for the town, ('apt. Asad Williams ami Azor Kinney were
chosen assessors; William II. Wheeler collector; Doctor Magoon. Zerah
Mead, Cabin l'ike. road commissioners; Harrison Bishop, Drs, Clarke ami
Magoon, school commissioners.; Leander Birge, Charles Robinson. William
II. Wheeler, constablesj Norman Pratt, Samuel Prince, Thomas Van Horn,
fejice-viewersj Sidney S. Workman, sealer of weights and measures. In
that year Xehemiah B. Parsons and Jedidiah Prown opened a newly built hotel,
the Whitewater Exchange. En the next year Brown withdrew from the busi-
ness and the house was let to Daniel Niemann. In 1S42 also a cemetery was
laid out; Solmous Wakclc\ boughl the Stanton store: Freeman Liberty Pratt
improved the Powers tavern and made it the Whitewater Hotel; Richard
1 >' onjbor came with another stock of assorted goods; Mender O. Babcock,
Warner Parle and Frederick C. Patterson formed a lawyer partnership; Cory-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN 461

don Pratt moved his kit into his own shop from the Matthew Hicks dwelling;
Mr. Patterson taught school : a debating society formed ; the Baptists organ-
ized their society; several new houses were built. Mr. Cravath noted that in
this year spring wheat sold at 36 cents to 40 cents ; winter wheat. 40 cents to 46
cents ; butter, 16 cents ; eggs, 8 cents ; calicoes, 18 cents to 37 cents. He also ob-
served that fifteen calico dress patterns were sold within the year and that
about fifty bonnets were charged at 37^2 cents a piece and trimmed at I2l/J
cents to a half dollar each. Men <>f [912 may well sigh for a return of that
good old time, when a small family could live on $240 for a year.

Congregationalists organized in 1843, having already built a church.
More merchants and mechanics came to add the enlivening element of compe-
tition to village trade. In this year stage coaches ran from Milwaukee through
Whitewater to Janesville.

In 1844 there were six stores, two hotels, three smithies, two cabinet
shops, a grocery, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a law office, a wagon-maker, a tailor,
a shoemaker, a gunsmith, a cooper and twenty-nine dwellings. At such
steady rate, without reckless or indecent haste, \\ nitewater grew throughout
the pioneer period, which may be held as having ended with the coming of
the first jolting railway train from Milwaukee. In that year the assessed
valuation of village lots was $2,761. Buildings thereon were exempted from
taxation, as was all personal property except merchandise, which was then
valued at $5,200. The late Henry George may have taken a leaf from the
book of a \\ nitewater assessor. In this year, September 4th, Dr. James Tripp,
the father and friend of the village, died at one day less than forty-nine years
old/

ADVENT OF RAILROADS.

Along the generally traveled wagon route from Whitewater to Milwau-
kee, something more than fifty toilsome miles, there were in [849 fifteen tav-
erns, subsisting chiefly from the custom of farmers who hauled grain to the
city and teamsters who hauled goods from the city It was evident that the
time was nearly at hand for quicker and cheaper transportation. \ railway
company was organized in [847 t" build its line from Milwaukee to Waukesha.
An amended charter empowered the company to extend it ^ line across the
state. In 1840 the western terminus and the route thence from Waukesha
were not precisely defined. A line through liberally subscribing villages and
townships would warrant a few curves in the road-bed. If the route chosen
should be across Jefferson count), leaving Whitewater ten miles from the
nearest station, lots at that village would be of little more value than like

462 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

areas at any cross-roads of Lagrange or Richmond. Here was matter of near
concern to village and town. All men agreed that the railway must come this
way, but ingenuity and cunning were taxed to their utmost to invent or imagine
methods by which the required aid might he given without burden to indi-
viduals or community.

In 1850 the directors of this Milwaukee & Mississippi line proposed a
simple expedient. Land owners were to buy stock, mortgage their real estate
as security for its payment in ten years, and the company would pay the inter-
est from its earnings. Dividends from like source, interest not included,
would more than clear away the mortgages and thenceforth the stockholders
would derive an assured income from their shares. There were doubters at
Whitewater,' but their ratio to the generously confiding was about that of St.
Thomas to his more trustful fellow-disciples, which was one to eleven. There
were at the village Rufus Cheney. Jr., Eleazar Wakeley and others whose
manna-dropping tongues could perplex and dash the wisest of the would-be
prudent and persuade men that to shut their eyes was the better way to see
clearly into the next-coming years. The good almost within grasp was not
tn be foregone by too literal adherence in practice to the maxims of ancient
wisdom. Shares were taken, farms and homes were mortgaged, the railway
was built, and at the end of the dance the piper was paid.

In [851 the track-layers reached Waukesha, in 1852 they were at White-
water, Lima, and Milton, and by [856 they had finished at Prairie du Chien.
The effect on village growth was at mice so striking as to raise hope to its
highest at all the villages of Walworth. Three other lines across the county
wen- projected and to each was given local aid. One of these was the Wis-
consin Central railway from Chicago to or beyond Columbus, by way of
Genoa Junction, Lake Geneva, Elkhorn, Millard. Heart Prairie and White-
water. Cheney .and Wakeley were officers of this company and. as Air.
Cravath ha- told, "entered into the work heartily and energetically, and were
very successful in obtaining subscriptions, most of the inhabitants taking from
.oie In five shares." 'Lie town issued bunds in aid of this w 1 irk to the amount
of forty thousand dollars. Most of the grading done was in 1850 ;iiid 1857.
and rails were laid From the State hue to Lake Geneva. The rest of the story
has been told in another chapter. The panic period was borne as patiently and
manfullj here a- elsewhere throughout the states, and when civil war followed
the men and boys of Whitewater were among the earliest in the field and
among the soldiers who remained there, after the proclamation of peace, to
warn or encourage Maximilian'- loo serviceable French army to "gt\ out of

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 463

BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

Doctor Tripp sold his grist-mill in 1853 to William Birge, who rebuilt it
in 1856 of stone from a Waukesha quarry. Mr. Birge died in i860, and in
1866 John Lean bought the mill. After him were Byron Brown, Charles M.
Brown (unrelated) about 1878. A. I. Dexter. 1881, Albert F. and George S.
Bridge, 1882, Thomas X. Sedgwick, 1894, Edwin D. Coe, 1905. Some of
these may have had but part ownership. The mill is yet in operation for cus-
tom work and for production of graham flour. It has always been reckoned
among the business enterprises which brought some good to Whitewater.

Asaph Pratt built the "red mill" in 1843 at the upper power in section
8, a little more than a mile from the Tripp mill. Ansel Salisbury bought it
in 1857 and it was thereafter known as the "branch mill." In 1888-9 Oliver
P. Posey and George W. Chesebro formed the Posey and Chesebro Milling
and Elevator Company. A few months later Mr. Posey withdrew and Mr.
Chesebro formed a partnership with William J Pike and George H. Goodhue.
During the Posey ownership a side track was laid from the station to the mill.
The rails remain, but the mill is no more.

George Dann made bricks in 1847 and for years afterward. His kiln
was near Cravath street, east side. (Mr. Wood's kiln was near the pond,
south of the track.) About 1852 Albert Kendall, in 1866 Augustus Y.
Chamberlin were owners and about 1879 Joseph Dann and Edward Roetlie
added three more kilns. In [891 Mr. Dann sold the works to Charles Martin,
win 1 fired the kiln for two years more. In 1903 came the Whitewater Brick
and Tile Company, without local competition. Thomas Van Horn is also
named among early brick-makers.

Warren Cole began to make pottery wares in [845, and two years later
George (i. Williams bought a half interest. In [855 the firm was James C.
Williams & Company. In 1859 it was Daniel Cole anil William Hunter. The
works were burned in [867, ami rebuilt b\ Mr. Cole. About 1X70 Michael
Ohnhaus, with and without partners, continued the work- for a few years.
Timothy S. Abbott then bought the building and changed its product from
jugs and flower-pots to cheese-boxes. Mr. Ohnhaus with John Milz bad
worked a second pottery about 1859-1805.

Oscar A. Weed made wagons in [843. In [845 his partner was Joseph
L. Pratt, who in 1848 opened a larger shop, ami in [860 sold it to Elliot D.
Converse. Lucius A. Winchester came in 1844 a- a blacksmith, and with
Daniel C. Tripp established a foundry in 1S50. William DeWolf joined the
firm in 1852 and the next year plow-making began, and other things useful to

464 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN'.

farmers were turned out. Plows were made until 1S73. About i860, the
firm made stronger by the entry of John S. Partridge, wagon-making became
the principal business of this shop, and so continued to be until 1888, before
which year the firm had become Winchester. Partridge & Company. Mr.
Winchester died in 1890 and Mr. Partridge in 1892. It was not found profit-
able to continue their work, though twenty years before they had shipped
five thousand wagons yearly.

George Esterly, an inventive farmer of Heart Prairie, began at White-
water in 1856 to make his reaper. The business and the reaper improved
yearly, and in 1889 five thousand of his self-binding machines were made and
sold. He had begun by contracting at Racine for making his castings and
for doing the machine- wrought woodwork. Local shops at Elkhorn and
other convenient points contracted to receive the parts "in the knock-down,"
to add the needful hand labor and the painting, and to deliver to buyers as
directed. In another year all this work was done at Whitewater. Like the
wagon-works, the reaper-shops drew mind, muscle, business, and wealth to
Whitewater, hi 1893 this industry was moved to Minneapolis, "to run a
short and disappointing career." At the height of its prosperity it had em-
ployed from two hundred to five hundred persons.

About 1S4C) Delorfna and Freeman L. Pratt built and carried on a dis-
tillery, on the way to the red mill in section 8. Salmon Hopkins Tuttle
and James M. Schultz bought it in 1856. and two years later Mr. Schultz sold
hi- interest to Albert W. Curtiss. In T S 5 < » the building was burned and was
rebuilt in 1862. This business was closed in 1864. The building afterward
became Frederick Coburn's cheese factory, bul was finally left tenantless.

From 1855 for about fifteen years Sheldon C. Hall, with oft-changing
partnership, boughl and packed pork and "rendered" lard. Their house was
111 \\ hitewater street, near the station.

Nicholas Klinger bought, about [866, in Birge's addition, lots for a
brewery. After his death, about 1906, men of Milwaukee bought the prop-
erly ami the business is continued b\ them as the Whitewater Brewing Cyin-
pany. It is noticeable thai neither Mr. t'ravath not his continuators of the
Annals mention either Klinger or the brewery. Yet he made himself famous
at home and for a few miles about in such years as men called "dry," for he
was full of resourcefulness in hi- contentions with the no-license sentiment of
the \ illage.

Daniel C, Tripp and John M. Crombie built a paper-mill in 1851) on the

1 Doctor Tripp's saw-mill, near the village. In [86i Thomas II. Gant-
1 the firm of Crombie & Gantley. John \\". Denison and

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 465

Leonard A. Tanner paid thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars for it,
in 1866. Air. Denison sold his interest in 1884 to Mr Crombie. Charles
Allen and Benjamin M. Frees, as the Whitewater Paper Company, took the
business, extended and improved it, in 1894 sold it to the Columbia Straw-
board Company, and it soon afterward stopped work. In the earlier years
this mill produced white print-paper of a fair quality.

Among temporary industries was stove-casting by Powers, Allen & Com-
pany in 1857, Peter H. Brady in 1859, and Winchester & DeWolf in 1865.
The latter changed its product to mills for grinding corn in the ear. In 1858
Wright and Cash made one-horse cultivators and for several years found a
ready sale for the work of thirty to forty men. In 1875 Augustus Y. Cham-
berlin built a furniture factory, which presently became a coffin factory. In
1880 the Esterlv company returned it to furniture-making for a year and then
merged it into the reaper works. Distilling and pork-packing made cooper
shops active at times. Cheese-makers came and went, as at other cities.

Such enterprises as have been mentioned gave Whitewater, for a long
generation of men, the aspect of a real manufacturing city. The workmen
employed were numerous enough to form labor unions, and at times to affect
the action of caucuses and conventions and the results of elections for the city
and assembly district. Failure of the wagon works and removal of the
reaper shops had something like the effect of a great disaster, one not readily
reparable. The city has suffered some decrease of population, but so once did
Des Moines and Kansas City. Whitewater creek, in both its branches, re-
mains; and doubtless the world needs and in time will use all its water power.
Much else remains — enough to make the city a good point for retail trade
and for small shops, and a goodly place to visit for such as are so fortunate
as to have any noticeable acquaintance there.

TAVERNS AND HOTELS

In 1840 Freeman L. Pratt bought the Powers tavern and in 1842 gave
it a two-story front and named it the Whitewater Hotel. In 1845 ne s"'''
it to Warner Earle, who is said to have pa-sed it to Eli King. Septer Winter-
mute bought it of Gideon A. Mosher, about 1850. improved it, and named it
Montour House. It was burned in 1865, and there an end to it.

In 1845 William C. and Frederick Cady Patterson became proprietors of
the Whitewater Exchange tavern. At a later period it was "Swapped" for
the Badger State Hotel, once kept by Morris Ensign, which Giles Kinney

(30)

466 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

bought in 1862, improved it. and named it the Cortland House. Asaph Pratt
bought the Exchange hotel in 1867 but did not long find it profitable to him.
Luther Cadman built the American House and occupied it from 1853 to 1875.
[oseph C. Bower built the Bower House and occupied it in 1880. Another
landlord was John H. Fryer. It was also called Hotel Duquesne. The
Hotel Walworth was built about 1900. One of the old hotels, near the sta-
tion, is now the Hotel Whitewater. There were other short-term hotels, with
but imperfectly remembered landlords.

BANKS AND BANKERS.

Alexander Graham and Augustus H. Scoville began business in 1855 as
bankers and brokers. In August. 1857, they organized the Farmers and
Mechanics Bank, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, and issued
currency notes of small denominations. Mr. Scoville was then president and
John S. Partridge cashier. The calamity of 1857 did not overwhelm the
bank, though the books were closed in 1858 or 1859. Mr. Cravath said that
while the monetary panic variously affected business men of the village, none
of them quite failed. Within the time between 1856 and 1861 Sheldon C.
Hall and Eli C. Hall instituted the Bank of Whitewater. Their losses in the
pork trade involved the bank and it was closed in April, 1865.

New Year's day, 1864, the First National Bank of Whitewater began
business with Sanger Marsh as president and Charles Morris Blackmail as
cashier. Its capital was twenty-five thousand dollars, which was gradually
raised to one hundred thousand 'lullnrs. In [911 its officers were C. Morris
Blackman, president (died May, 1912) ; Edwin F. Thayer, cashier; deposits,
[9] 1, three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The Citizens State Bank was
organized in 1894. Its present capital is fifty thousand dollars, deposits
<>nc million one hundred thousand dollars. Officers, 1911, George L. Marsh,
president; Isaac U. Wheeler, cashier.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

In the summer of [842 Elders Alva Burgess and I'hipps W. Lake as-
sembled resident Baptists in William Birge's barn for permanent organization.
Elder A. B. Winchell was engaged for service on alternate Sundays. A
church was built in 1850, and a second one was undertaken several years
later, a fine-looking building of cut stone; but this was sold without having
finished it. There is, no doubt, a record of pastoral services, not hidden, but
in unknown custody.

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 467

Martin Lonigan with his family came in 1844 to section 23, about three
miles from the village. At his house Rev. Thomas Morrissey came from
Milwaukee in 1845 to say mass, and for a period not recorded he held like
service each month at this and other dwellings. Rev. Fathers Kernan and
Smith continued this mission work, as did Very Rev. Martin Kundig after
them, and he also gave money for a church building fund. Nora Moore's
baptism, December 28, 1853, by Rev. James Doyle, was the first at the new
St. Patrick's church. John Tiernan supplied the short interval before Richard
Dumphy came to the village in 1857 as first resident-priest. After him were
Thaddeus Kirwan, 1869; Francis Xavier Etechmann for one month of that
year; Hiram F. Fairbanks, 1870: James Fitzgibbon, 1881 ; Sylvester J. Dowl-
ing. part of 1S97: Francis P. Reilly, 1897; Matthew E. Downs, 1903-1912.
In 1866 a new church was built, with house, schoolhouse and other improve-
ments costing in all about twelve thousand dollars.

Father Fitzgibbon had been Mr. Lincoln's personal friend, and from him
received in 1861 the military chaplaincy at Harper's Ferry. In the later vears
of his long pastorate at Whitewater he was assisted in turn by Fathers E. P.
Lorigan, Philip Klein, M. E. Downs, and S. J. Dowling. He was born in
1827 and died February 5, 1897. Father Downs is a native of Delavan.

Justus and Wealthy A. Carpenter, Deacon Prosper Cravath and wife
Miriam (Kinney J, their daughter-in-law Maria P. and daughter Sophronia
Cravath, Harriet, James, Roxy and Zerah Hull, Zerah and Ada Kinney, Emily
(Cravath) Salisbury, Laura (Cravath) Smith, and Jenny (McGee) Williams
met July 3. 1840, at Deacon Cravath's house in Lima, led by Rev. Daniel
Smith, to form the Presbyterian church of Whitewater. Most of these be-
came residents at or near the village. For a few months they met at the larger
houses of the members, and in June, 1841, housed themselves, for service, at
the log schoolhouse, or, in pleasant weather, met under the old trees. In
1842 they met, alternately with the Baptists, on the upper Boor of Mr. Weed's
wagon shop. In this or in the next year the Congregationalists built a church
at cost of four hundred dollars, on a lot with eight rods front, given by Doctor
Tripp for one dollar. This society built again in 1850, and a third time in
1871. This church was burned February 9, 1880. by which event the society's
loss was twenty-five thousand dollars. Rebuilding, on a more liberal scale
than before, began at once. The list of pastors, with dates of service, is full,
continuous and correct, thanks to the kindly help fulness of one of its congrega-
tion : Daniel Smith, 1839; Seth Smalley, 1841 ; F. Henry Case, 1842; Martin
P. Kinney, 1844; William Sidney Huggins, 1853; William A. Baldwin, T854;
Edward Goddard Miner, 1859; Theron Gaylord Colton, 1866; Benjamin

468 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Drake Conklin, 1874; Edward P. Salmon, 1880; Theodore B. Willson, 1882;
Frank T. Lee, 1884; Elihu C. Barnard, 1888; Bryant C. Preston, 1896;
Frederick V. Stevens, 1900; Watson L. Lewis, 1906; Robert Hopkin, 191 1.
Mr. Colton was born in 1820 and died in 1896. Mr. Conklin was born in
1840 and died in 1908.

Rev. Richard F. Cadle came in 1842 to form an Episcopal parish. He
held service in the useful log school house. (Rev. Washington Philo had been
here in the previous year.) But it was not until 1852 that St. Luke's parish
was permanently organized. Doctor Tripp had given a lot at Church and
Center streets. His widow, Rosepha Ann (Comstock), was one of the early
lew and always faithful. In that year a chapel was built, and was conse-
crated by Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper. This building was burned February 17,
1869, and the corner stone of a new church, of gray stone, was laid in July.
In 1880 Mrs. Flavia White gave a fine organ as a memorial to her son, Hon.
Samuel Austin White. She had given a bell, worth five hundred dollars, to
the chapel. The parish property is now valued at twenty-five thousand dol-
lars. With occasional intermissions in the earlier years the service of this
church has been supplied by L. R. Humphrey, 1851-62; Henry W. Spaulding,
[864-5; J"'111 McNamara, 1865-8; W. E. Walker, 1868; Charles J. Hendley,
[870; Erastus B. Smith, 1X72; Rufus D. Stearns, 1873; Andrew J. McGlone,
1883; Smith Delancey Townsend. 1884; Joseph Marshal! Francis, 1887; John
I [owe Jenkins, [889; Joseph Moran, Jr., 1890; Myron Alfred Johnson, 1896;
Henry Benton Smith, 1900; Daniel Wellesley Wise, 1904; Rudolph Frederick
kcicher, 1907-12. Mr. Francis was consecrated in 1899 as bishop of the

mi- 1 1,1 Indiana. Mr. MeN'aniara had been rector at Delavan, Elkhorn,
Lake Geneva, and had served as chaplain of a volunteer regiment of 1861.
Mr. Moran was killed by a railway accident in 1900

Rev. Johann M. Hametter and Rev. Johann Meier supplied in 1856 the
missions at Cold Spring and Whitewater of the Evangelical Association, here

lerman-speaking body whose creed and discipline ally it to Methodism. In
[865 the two missions joined in one and in 1869 built a church and parsonage
in Janesville street. The minister list is: J. G. Mueller, 1857; C. A. Schnake,
[859; Wilhelm F, Schneider, 1861 ; Joseph I larlaeher, 1863; I. G. Eslinger,
[865; Johann Meier. [866; Johann M. Hametter and Tobias Rabus, 1868;
Wilhelm lluelstcr, 1869; Carl Friedrich Zimmermann. 1870; John Dietrich,
[872; F. William Pfefferkorn, 1873; Carl Schneider, 1N76; Leonard Strobel,
[879; Julius Kahl. 1SS1 ; F. Dite. [884; J. A. Siewert. 1SS7; John Schneller,
[890; F lllian. [892; John K. Klein. 1805; AugTSSl F. Ilahcrman. 1897;*
Mich el l ebele, [898; Emanuel S. Zimmermann. 1901 ; George Reichert,
1 min; Herman V Franzke, 1909-12.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 469

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, of the unaltered Augsburg con-
fession of 1580, was organized May 17, 1881. The society bought one of
the old church buildings, beside which is a comfortable parsonage. Before
organization Rev. Heinrich Ernst had ministered to the few families from
1865 to 1872, and Christian Johann Koerner to 1880. George Wildermuth
came in 1881, Heinrich Bergmann. 1S82; W. Huth. [883; Henry Ohde, 1887-
1912.

Norwegian Lutherans of Heart Prairie, Scuppernong, Sugar Creek and
Whitewater have long been joined under one pastorate. A few of the pastors
named were Germans who were also masters of the Norsk tongue. Johann
Wilhelm Christian Dietrichson came in 1844 to Scuppernong in the north-
west corner of Lagrange; Claus Lauritz Clausen, 1845: Adolph Carl Preuss.
1850: Hans Andreas Stub, about 1851 ; Mr. Preuss again in 1855; Nels
Brandt, 1856; Olavus Frederick Dims, resident pastor, November, 1858, to
June. 1859. The parish was organized formally December 8, 1858. Rev.
Herman Amberg Preuss came in 1859, Heinrich P. Duborg in 1861. In Air.
Duborg's ten years pastorate the four congregations previously named were
• definitely grouped in one pastorate. Mr. Duborg's field of usefulness reached
also to Elkhorn, and across into Kenosha county. He was at times assisted
bv Herman A. Preuss, Abraham Jacobson, Marcus Frederick R. Wiese, and
William Koern, all of whom are named in the record at Whitewater. Carl
Christian Aas came in 1871 ; Eskild Peter Jensen, 1876; Christian Matthias
Hvistendal. 1880: Rev. Prof. Knudt Bjoergo, 1881 ; A. H. Dahl, 1881 ; Iver
O. Schie, 1882: Ole Johnson \kre. 1901 ; Nels Cornelius A. Garness, 1907-12.
These services are without noticeable interruption. The first church was built
in 1 868 in Cravath street near Wakelev street, and is now a hospital. Ole
Bull, the once world-famous violinist, gave one hundred dollars to build this
church. In 1907 the society bought the stone church at Main and Fourth
streets, built by the Baptists.

In the summer of 1843 a Methodist Episcopal society was organized by
Rev. Alpha Warren, of Johnstown. A class of five members was formed with
Talma Hamilton as leader. Until 1848 this church was joined with th.it at
Milton for pastoral service, ami the service at Whitewater then became weekly.
In 1849 the frame work of a church building was raised, but was not ready for
dedication until February, 1852. It was enlarged and again dedicated in
i860. A third building was begun in T872 and finished in 1878 at a cost of
thirty thousand dollars. It is said to be one of the finest Methodist churches,
excepting at Milwaukee, in the state. This church is at Centre and Prairie
streets, in the neighborhood of the Catholic Episcopal and other churches, the

470 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

public schools, and the normal school is but little farther away. Tbe ground
is high and gives some dignity to tbe outwardness of these buildings. The
pastor-list is, as usual to this denomination, rather a long one : Alpha War-
ren, 1843 ani' again in 1846; L. Gallup and William Wood, 1844; Nelson S.
Green and Joseph S. Hurlbut, 1845; ^r- Green in 1846; M. Bennett, 1847;
L. Dickens, 1848; James Harrington, 1849; William B. Schroff, 1849; J- N.
Scott, 1850; Joseph M. Walker, 1851 ; A. D. Hendrickson, 1856; George W.
Robinson, 1859 (but this may be another clergyman's name) ; Alexander C.
I [untley, [860; William Harkness Sampson, 1861 : Rossiter C. Parsons, 1862;
Rufus II. Stinchfield, 1864; Eli W. Kirkham, 1865: A. C. Manwell, 1868;
Charles N. Stowers, 1870; Oliver J. Cowles, 1873; A. A. Reed, 1874; George
W. Wells. 1877; Henry Sewell, 1880; Henry Colman, 1883: Samuel Jolliffe,
1885; Andrew J. Benjamin, 1887; Walter D. Cole, 1892; Walter A. Hall,
1895; Enoch Perry, 1897; George H. Trever, 1901 ; John J. Lugg, 1904;
lames Churm, 1907; John S. Lean, 1909; Charles F. Spray, 191 1.

Universalists organized early in 1868. began building in the fall, and in
the next year dedicated their church, its cost ten thousand dollars. Barton
F. Rogers, Judson Fisher and Holmes Slade filled the pulpit for the next
dozen years. Frederick P. Millar came about 1894.

EDUCATION.

No lax was levied to build the school house of 1840, but citizens gave
logs and labor, each one in proportion to his good will and his power to give,
and thus was enclosed Mxtccn by eighteen feet ground space. Though this
house had served three or four infant religious societies as a meeting house,
and the citizens for various secular purposes, it was found as early as 1844
thai yet more room was needful wherein to seat the fast-coming and faster-
growing youths and maidens before the awful majesty of the teacher. For

um of two hundred and forty dollars Thomas Van Horn built the new
house of brick, twenty-four by twenty-eight feet in ground dimensions, and
thence enclosing two and one-third times the floor space of the log house.
This was building for the present with a sharp outlook for time to come.
Hut neither pre-calculator nor prophet could then forecast the village growth
when ten years later the inscrutable but in this instance unerring judgment
of railway builders should mark Whitewater as a suitable place at which to

-top train- foi w 1 and water ami to load or unload passengers from the

coach oi the period which gracefully trailed at the rear of thirty
[hi cai - which, too, were of the period.

WALWORTH COUNTYj WISCONSIN. 47 1

There was new matter for public discussion in 1852. Another school
house must be provided. Then the many-mindedness of many men was again
evident and audible. Some men would provide for teaching only the three
R's. Others would add one department for most-advanced pupils. A few
others would join academic and collegiate courses of study to the common
school course, and by borrowing money, if need be, would do this work greatly
for Whitewater. George W. Chapman and James Ludington, of Milwaukee,
had bought in 1850 of William Birge, about seventy acres and had laid out
this land in streets and blocks as their addition, next westward of the Tripp
plat. They offered to the academy partisans four lots in block 18, at the
northeast corner of their addition. Subscriptions to the amount of eighteen
hundred dollars were obtained, but further action was delayed for a year. In
the end the district decided by vote to build at block 21, facing the westward
extension of Centre street, and this is yet the site of the public school. The
new house was ready for use at the beginning of 1855. It has been known
as the Union school. A second house was built here in 1867, at a cost of
four thousand dollars. The present house was built in 1883 at a cost of
thirteen thousand dollars, and has since been improved.

An academic department at the normal school was for long so convenient
for Whitewater pupils that a high school was not instituted until 1885. Willi
city government in that year came a high school building and city superintend-
ency of schools. These officers relieve the county superintendency of official
duty at Whitewater. They have been: Dr. Edward L. Carey, 1885; Dr.
Moses Furlong, 1880 and 1X89; Theron B. Pray, 1888 and 1893; Charles H.
Sylvester, 1891 : Elmer W. Walker, 1894; Arthur A. Upham, 1896; Henry
C. Buell, 1900; W. W. Martin, 1901 ; Charles H. Rittenberg, 1903-12. For
the same period of time the principals of the high school have been: William
J. Pollock, 1886; W. D. Gibson, 1888; Charles II. Sylvester, [891; Elmer
W. Walker, 1892; Harry A. Whipple, 1896; Henry C. Buell, 1899; W. W.
Martin, 1901 ; Charles H. Rittenberg. 1903-12. It lias now become customary
to make the principal in fact city superintendent, with two more city schools
in hi- charge.

In [857 a brick school house was built next east of Grove cemetery at cosl
of -ixteen hundred dollars. The present building dates from [872, it- cost
about four thousand dollars. In 1894 the city bought the Esterl) house and
ground at the head of Centre street to serve as a west side school, though it
is but a short distance from the principal -ehool.

The annalists ha e preserved but few name- of earlier teachers, and most
of these so initialed as to have but half-preserved them. As teachers of select

472 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

school, J. B. Hunt in 1846. Ebenezer H. Wilcox in 1847, D. W. Carley in
1849. The last-named was used to tell his slow pupils that he would make
them learn tractions if it should take him and them all summer. Perhaps he
had taught at Galena, or at one of General Grant's old homes. At the log
school Sheldon C. Powers, from Troy, was first teacher and Frederick Cady
Patterson in 1842 at the brick school, followed by Dr. John Dunn, and in
[844 by Charles E. Curtice. At the school in Centre street "a regular system,''
as Mr. Cravath tells it — which probably meant the organization in four
grades, then customary at villages — began with A. A. Lewis as principal in
1855, Rev. A. D. Hendrickson in 1858. H. L. Sherman in 1859, Dr. F. B.
Brewer in 1861, Joseph A. Badger in 1863, Elias Dewey about 1869, George
W. Reagle, 1879. All else is uncertain or now unknown. Before and after
1885 Luther L. Clark seems to have served several terms at the Union school
and also at the east side school. The presence of the normal school has been
of great advantage to local pupilage, and has had a wholesome influence in
the community in forming a liberal sentiment as to the support of schools of
high grade. Broad-minded and in other way capable men of the city, as, for
instances, Thompson D. Weeks and Samuel A. White, have been of the board
cf normal school regents.

Henry J. Curtice issued the first number of the Whitewater Gazette,
January 5, 1855. It was a weekly Republican newspaper, fairly edited and
neatly printed, and compared favorably with village newspapers of the time
in this state. 1 1 - editor was A. Valentine. Its last number was dated January
1. 1857. whence it seems that its publication day had receded from Fridav to
Wednesday. It was then the property of Dr. J. A. Leonard, with A. Emer-
son as editor. The office equipment was removed to Waukesha.

Hamilton L. and Lallemand II. Rann, who were brothers, came in their
ad and with new. well-assorted materials. They published on Friday.
March 25, 1^57. the ffrsl number of the Whitewater Register. These young
men were excellent news, hook and job printers and were also capable editors.
Whitewater had now one of the cleanest and best weekl\ papers in Wisconsin.
This office supplied at least three soldiers of the Civil war: L, 11. Rann. George
W. Peck (long afterwards ( krvernor of the state), and George H. Beckwith.
I. 11. Rann left the linn in 1808 and Horace Greeley Parsons became junior
partner. Dr. !•".. C. I'.eujamin bought the office in 1870 and lightened the
burden of editorship by buying half-printed sheets from an "auxiliary"
publisher.

dwin I). Coe became owner and editor in 1S71. He printed it wholly
at home, and the Register at once took its place near the head of the front

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 473

rank of weekly newspapers of the state; for it now had a quality of editor-
ship that even the Ranns could not have given it. No editor at Whitewater
could at all times, in every column, please all Whitewater ; for the growth of
the city brought conflicting interests and jarring notions — differences not all
at once to be removed or compromised. But however they who differed with
or from Mr. Coe might judge him, there was but one opinion of the Register
among his fellow editors throughout the state. It was the most desirable
paper on their several exchange lists. From the mid-period of his editorship
other duties at home, at Madison, and at Milwaukee, made division of editor-
ial labors urgent. He then associated with him successively Howard S. Salis-
bury, Henry E. Roethe, Edward S. Hanson and Robert K. Coe, his son. At
his death, in 1909, this son became proprietor and editor.

Pitt N. Cravath, the brilliant and wayward only son of the pioneer-
annalist, published the first number of the Puddingstick. in June, 1879. To
his mind local opinions on constantly arising matters for more or less public
discussion suggested a large kettle of boiling, bubbling, sputtering, hasty-
pudding, or, in the vulgate. mush. These needed only a little culinary atten-
tion, a judicious stirring to prevent burning at bottom, and the results would
be palatable and nutritious. The name of the paper was indicated at its title-
head by a home-cut engraving, as like an oar as a puddingstick. It was a
cause of much rushing of wit to editorial heads elsewhere, and the name was
soon changed to Whitewater Chronicle. At first it was politically independent,
then leaned indulgently toward prohibition, and in 1884 became squarely
Democratic. This change may have moved all the Cravath bones, until then
long at rest at Lima and Whitewater, to sorrowful protest.

Russell & Smith bought the paper in 1885 and changed its name to News-
Jesse X. Converse owned it in 1888, John C. Clinton in 1X90 and Hall &
Cowles in 1893. About this time it became the Gazelle, and was edited by
Rev. Frederick W. Millar and others. In 1895 its owners were Wilton & Law-
ton, in 1897 William R. Hotchkiss. in 1898 Hotchkiss & Bloodgood, in 1901
Frank R. Bloodgood, the present owner. Grant II. Lawton is a son of James
1 1 1 .:i\\ ton, of Lagrange.

There is little need here to trace the beginnings and progress of literary
and debating societies and other strivings for the higher culture, for these are
common to all American communities. From the arrival of railway trains the
village became accessible for the lights of the dramatic lyric, and operatic
stage, and for the once and long famous lecturers who carried scientific,
aesthetic, sociological, educational, moral, and politico-moral ideas from
Boston to the meridian 1800 east or west of Greenwich — the line where west

474 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

becomes east and east is west. If these singers, actors, and lecturers could not
or would not halt at Whitewater it could and would go to them at Chicago,
Milwaukee, or Madison. In quadrennial campaigns of nation-saving by elec-
tions, men of Whitewater were persuaded or confused by the oratory of men
to whom their own time decreed immortality — though this was not always
confirmed by the next generation.

Ample provision of churches and capacious and well-arranged public
halls made this often a convenient place for holding conventions of civic and
religious bodies. Delavan and Lake Geneva have each some distinctive ad-
vantages, given by nature or created by its own enterprise ; and so also has
Whitewater, which for its business and intellectual life draws something sus-
taining from two adjoining counties.

LIBRARIES.

A library association existed something earlier than 1858. For a few-
years its efforts were directed to maintenance of yearly lecture courses. In
[861 it opened a library for public use, giving out books on Friday of each
week. Robert McBeath was then librarian. It may be supposed that the
normal school library so far served the wants of the village as to delay any
considerable development of its own library. The establishment of the high
school had been similarly affected from a similar cause.

Mrs. Flavia White, having bequeathed seventeen thousand dollars to
establish a public library in memory of Samuel Austin White, her son. the
White Memorial Library Association was incorporated, in perpetuity, in 1903.
The trustees of this bequest, as named in her will, were Newton M. Littlejohn,
Catherine L. White, Mrs. Jane L. (White) Sherrick, 1). Seymour Cook, "C.
Ab. 111.-, Blackman, and Minor G. Halverson. Thane M. Blackmail supplies
his late father's place on this board. The city accepted the gift, provided the
site, and sustains the library by liberal appropriations. A building of suitable
design, worthy of the giver and of the city, was constructed at the sharp angle
of Main and North streets — about one-fifth of a right angle. It is so placed as
i" leave in front a triangular lawn on which is a fine fountain, given by Julius
C. I'.irge, the firstborn "i Whitewater. The cost of building was sixteen thou-
sand dollars. At present the library has nearly six thousand volumes, and
11- beginning has been in charge of Miss Klla \. Hamilton. It is ad-

stered for the city b\ nine directors chosen by wards.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 475

MILITARY HISTORY.

A militia company, organizing in 1875 and naming itself the Custer
Rifles, was not accepted and mustered into state service until July 7, 1877. It
then became Company C of the First Regiment. Airs. Elizabeth B. Custer,
the General's widow, sent to the company, by Gen. Charles King, a fine photo-
graph of her husband, with a suitable inscription. The Custer Rifles now
forms Company C, First Battalion of the First Regiment of Infantry. Wis-
consin National Guard, Colonel George H. Joachim now commanding the
regiment and Major John P. Joachim battalion commander. The officers of
the company have been: Captains — John E. Bassett, 1877; J. Ashley Part-
ridge, 1878; John J. Downey, 1879; John E. Bassett. 1880; Mannering M.
DeWolf, 1881; Allan F. Caldwell, 1882; Charles J. Walton, 18S5; John D.
Hogan, 1886; Frank B. Goodhue, 1890; Leverette W. Persons, 1896; Frank
B. Goodhue, 1900; Edward T. Weyher, 1902; Severt J. Olson, 1906; Jacob
E. Kinzer, 1908; Hubert O. Hamilton, 1910; Philip E. Trautman, Jr., 1912.

First Lieutenants — Samuel Bowers, 1877; John J. Downey, 1878; J.
Aloys Amnion, 1879; John D. Hogan, 1881 ; Joel W. Richmond, 1882;
Charles J. Walton, 1884; Frank B. Goodhue, 1886; Judson J. Rogers, 1890;
Ole J. Oleson, 1892; Edward T. Weyher, 1894; William Henry Hahn, 1896;
Edward T. Weyher. 1898; Elmer A. Cutter, 1900; Olaf J. Johnson, 1902;
Jacob E. Kinzer, 1906; Herbert O. Hamilton, 1908; Philip E. Trautman. Jr.,
1910; Roland H. Lindbaum, 1912.

Second Lieutenants — Albert L. Arey, 1877; J. Aloys Ammon, 1878;
John D. Hogan, 1879; Judson J. Rogers, 1881 ; Charles J. Walton, [882;
James G. Kestol, 1884; James R. Johnson, 1886; Die J. < Meson, 1890; William
Henry Hahn, 1892; Dennis II. Halloran. 1894; Charles E. Johnson, (895;
Edward T. Weyher, 1896; Chark- Spracklin, 1808: Elmer A. Cutter, 1900;
Henry J. Cadman, 1902; Philip E. Trautman, Jr., 1908'; Roland H. Lind-
baum, 1910: Otto J. Rennemo, 1912.

Regimental promotions from this company were: Charles J. Walton
in 1884 to adjutant, Joel W. Richmond in 1885 to adjutant and in [886 to
quartermaster, Allan F. Caldwell in 1888 i" lieutenant-colonel ami [89] to
colonel, John D. Hogan in 1890 to major, Severt J. Olson in [892 to adjutant.
Joseph H. Tobin in 1X94 to sergeant-major. Dr. John Dunn in 1005 to assist
ant surgeon. Rev. Joseph Moran in 1895 to chaplain. Colonel Caldwell was
appointed assistant quartermaster-general in 1895.

Governor Ku>k ordered this company to Milwaukee in [886 for active
service in preservation of tin- peace ami dignity of the state against the rioters
of that year, on the occasion commonly called the Bayview riot. The dut)

476 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

signed was to guard railway property against lawless violence. The com-
pany's prompt response to call and its soldierly conduct on duty were creditable
to itself and to the whole body of "baby militia" and "tin soldiers." as the
rioters jeeringly named the state's armed forces.

In 1898 Captain Persons recruited his company to its full number for
service in the war with Spain. The regiment, at the close of the war, was
waiting at Jacksonville, Florida, for orders or for transportation to Cuba. (It
may be mentioned here, since omitted at another page; that Peter Kauer, Jr.,
of Elkhorn, who had enlisted at Fort Sheridan for a term of service in Com-
pany A, Second United States Light Artillery, went with his guns to Cuba
and was present for duty at the battle of El Caney. As far as known he was
the only man of Walworth who stood in line of battle in that war.)

PUBLIC UTILITIES.

Messrs. Jarvis K. Pike. Asaph Pratt and Asad Williams, in 1842, chose
an acre from 1 )r. Tripp's land on the east side and there laid out Grove ceme-
tery. It was managed by the town supervisors until 1848, when an associa-
tion was formed, two acres of land were added and all the ground was fenced.
This now well-peopled territory is wholly surrounded by the city's growth. It
was, therefore, necessary to choose a site which would admit expansion in at
least one direction. The choice was well made, and in 1858 Hillside cemetery
was laid out on the high ground east of Tripp lake and from two sides over-
looking the water. The old ground is kept in order, and the new one is con-
stantly improved.

The Whitewater Electric Light Company was formed in 1886, its works
near the railway station. Its present officers are Edwin F. Thayer, president:
Charles W. Partridge, vice-president and secretary; Oliver B. Williams.
treasurer and manager.

Duane Starin gave the city, in 1888, about eight acres of land in his
addition, for Prospect park. It is within a few rods of the county line, on
high ground with fairly easy slopes to the streets. It is of irregular outline.
hut bounded by Straight lines. Thus far it is a Hue natural park, its wide open
spaces shaded fairly by tree- of second growth, hut unimproved except with
mowing machines and hush scythes. In this state it is both beautiful and use-
ful,—an admirable place for out of-door meetings and amusements — truly a
city's breathing place, without trespass sign, policeman or other needless an-
.noya

In the same year the city drilled a well at a lower corner of the park. At
nearly a thousand feet depth was found water which rose a little away above

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 477

the surface, and is pumped into the stand-pipe at the highest point of the park.
This work was done by C. E. Gray, of Milwaukee, who made a contract with
the city to run twenty-five years, for constructing water works and a system
of street mains, and whatever else was required for the city's water supply,
and to operate the whole system. Mr. Gray received a half acre of ground
and twenty-live thousand dollars. This contract expires in 1914, and a propo-
sition to take the works into city ownership and control is about to be sub-
mitted to a vote of the citizens at a special election. The system now includes
a well six hundred feet deep and two wells of more than two hundred feet
depth and the entire present valuation is placed at eighty-eight thousaand
dollars.

A city hall was built in 1899 at the acute-angular meeting of Centre and
Whitewater streets. It is of red pressed brick and is interiorly arranged for
all the departments and uses of the city administration, their records, and the
apparatus of the fire department. Its approach from the front is guarded by
a siege gun, — a forty-pounder Parrot — its calibre a fraction more than four
inches, and under its muzzle a little pyramid of eight-inch shot.

In 1904 the several Masonic bodies built a "temple" at Main and Fre-
mont streets, about forty feet wide by seventy-five feet long and of propor-
tionate height of red brick with stone trimmings. Its overhanging gabled
pediment rests on an Ionic colonnade of stone, giving a convenient and sightly
front porch. All without is classically plain and therefore tasteful.

A postorfice was established in April, 1840, and the village thus had
weekly mails from Troy. David J. Powers was the first postmaster, and
after him were Thomas K. LeBarron, Warner Earle, Eleazar Wakeley, Isaac
U. Wheeler, 1849; George G. Williams, 1853; Lallemand H. Rann, about
1861 ; Edmund B. Gray, about 1867; Henry O. Montague, about 1869; Pros
per Cravath, 1872; Henry McGraw, 1880; Edward F. Donnelly, 1887; Edwin
D. Coe. 1891 : John II. Fryer, 1895; Frank B. Goodhue, [899, probably until
mi 5. Mr. Fryer remains in the office as first assistant. Aboul (892 thi^
office was raised to the second-class, and it is at the head of five rural free
delivery routes. It also ha^ a city carrier system.

VILLAGE INCORPORATION.

Forty-two villagers signed a call, published in the Register of March 6,
[858, for a meeting at which to consider a plan fur incorporating the village.
At this meeting Warren Cole. William DeWolf, Edson Kellogg, Newton M.
Littlejohn, Richard O'Connor. John S. Partridge and Augustus II. Seoville
were directed to prepare a charter. The Legislature, then in session, passed

478 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

an act to incorporate the village under this charter. At an election. May 27th.
Newton M. Littlejohn was chosen president; Charles E. Curtice. George
Esterly, Samuel Field and Mr. Scoville, trustees; Lallemand H. Rann. clerk;
Edward Barber, treasurer: Edward F. Tarr. marshal. (Mr. Tarr was also a
federal deputy marshal for the district court of eastern Wisconsin, and as
such took the census of i860 for his assembly district.) City government
began in 1885, but ward division, with a county board member for each, began
in 1883. A slight, formal change in 1897 made Whitewater a statutory city
of the fourth class.

VILLAGE MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD.

Samuel Austin White 1871, '-3 John W. Denison 1874-8, '81

Thompson Dimock Weeks 1872 William Le Roy Stewart. 1879-80. "82

Robert McBeath, William L. R. Stewart, Philip Trautman were ward
members for 1883; McBeath. Stewart, Edwin T. Cass for 1884.

CITY MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD.

For First Ward — Sylvester Hanson, 1885-6; Martin K. Wood, 1887-8,
'92-3; Aliimr (i. llalverson, 1889; E. Benjamin Chamberlain, 1890; William

B. Reider, [89] ; Charles Chaffee, 1894; Truman Rollin Spooner, 1895; Henry
K. Charles, 1896-1901, "03: Albert Hanson, 1902: John F. Henderson,
1904-12.

For Second Ward — William L. R. Stewart. 1885-1901; George B.
Averill, 1902; J. Nelson Humphrey, 1903-4; Thomas E. Lean, 1905-8; Robert

C. Bulkley, 1909; Newton R. Steele, 1910-12.

For Third Ward — Robert F. McCutcheon, 1885. '91. "93-5; Edward F.
Donnelly, 1886-7; James Casserly. T888-90; William Allen Knilans, 1892;
Charles A. Alexander, i8o/>: Henry Lingemann, 1897: Stephen Henry Smith.
1898-1908; George W. Sperbeck. 1909-12.

PRESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE.

Newton M. Littlejohn__ 1858-9, '82-3 William LeRoy Stewart 1867

Joseph L. Pratt 1860, '69 George W. Esterly 1868

George G. Williams 1861-2 John Stanley Partridge 1872

William DeWolf i'si>3-4- '66, '70-1 Thomas Bassett 1873

Jacob J. Starin 1865 Sylvester Hanson 1874-5, 78

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

479

Thomas A. Brann l^>7^>-7 Simon Buel Edwards 1881

George Augustus Ray 1879 Alvin D. Coburn 1884

Fernando Cortez Kiser 1880 1 '" '"]

MAYORS OF THE CITY.

Samuel Bishop 1885

Edward Engebretsen 1887. '89

George W. Steele 1891

Lyman M. Goodhue 1893

Zadock Pratt Beach 1895

Frank W. Tratt 1897

Henry J. Wilkinson !§99

Newton Moore Littlejohn 1901

James G. Kestol I9°3> 05

Paul H. Tratt 1906, '07

David F. Zuill Sept. 1907, '11

Arthur A. Upham 1909

Mayors are elected for two-year terms. Mr. Kestol and his successor
served each a part of two terms.

VILLAGE CLERKS.

Lallemand Ff. Rann 1858-9

James McBeath i860

Joseph L. Pratt 1861

Isaac U. Wheeler 1862-4, '66. 'jS

Ulysses B. Woodbury 1865

James D. Robinson 1867

Fred E. Day 1868

Charles D. Chaffee 1869

Matthew Allen 1870-1

George W. Steele 1872

Henry Heady l&73, '79-81

William H. J. Hewitt 1874-5

Ira Pearson 1876

Winfield Scott Salisbury 1877

James Casserly 1882-4

CITY CLERKS.

Charles J. Walton 1885, '89-90

James G. Kestol 1886

Howard S. Salisbury 1887-8

Herbert E. Smith 1891

Albert W. Martin 1892-4

Frank H. Holmes 1895-1904

George W. Rankin 1905-6

William J. McLane x907-

VILLAGE TREASURERS.

Edward Barber 1858-9

(Not shown for i860.)

Theodore Hempel 1861. '63

John Wilson 1862

Lewis Cook 1864

Abraham Van Yalkenburg 1865

William L R. Stewart 1866

Elliott D. Converse 1867-8

480 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Thompson D. Weeks 1869 John Taylor Smith 1879-81

Joseph Haubert 1870-3 Isaac Underhill Wheeler 1882

George S. Marsh 1874-8 Edward Engebretsen 1883-4

CITY TREASURERS.

Edward Engebretsen 1885 Ferdinand Kra'eplin, Jr. 1897-8

Fernando C. Kiser 1886 Charles Addison Pratt 1899-1900

John Bonnett 1887-8 Ebenezer B. Finch 1901

John D. Hogan 1889-90 Milton B. Carey 1902-4

Alphonso B. Esterly 1891-3 Allan F. Caldwell 19°5"7

Makendre J. Rawson 1894 Jacob Koelzer 1908-11

B. F. Cook 1895 August Krahn 1912

Frank P. Hall 1896

The roll of village trustees is of little historic value, but in it are
names that old citizens and those of middle- age recall with interest and
pleasure. Among these are: Gilbert Anderson, Sylvester Barnes, Peter H.
Brady, Byron Brown, George A. Caswell, Augustus Y. Chamberlain, Roswell
Coburn, John M. Crombie, Albert W. Curtiss, Benjamin M. Frees, James
Gleason, Thomas Goodhue, Gulik Halverson, Job Harrison, Jr., Joseph Hau-
bert, Frederick A. Hurlbut, Edson Kellogg, Francis L. Kiser, Henry Mc-
Graw, Henry O. Montague, Ole Posman, Leonard C. Smith, Ole Sobye, John
D. Sweetland, Daniel C. Tripp. Salmon II. Tuttle, Dr. Henry YYarne, John
Wilson.

The population of the village in i860 was 2,831 ; in 1870. it was 3,280;
in iSSci it was 3,621. Federal and state censuses for the city — In 1885: First
ward, [,335; second ward. 1.3(17: third ward. [,456; total, 4,158. In 1S90:
First ward, 1,416; second and third wards, 2,943; total, 4.359. In 1895,
not shown by wards, total, 3,799. In 1900: First ward, 997; second ward.
1,290; third ward, 1,118; total, 3,405. In 1905 : First ward, 867; second ward,
1,300: third ward, 941; total, 3,108. In 1910: First ward, 912; second ward,
[,282; third ward, 1,030; total, 3.224.

CHAPTER XL

MAKERS OF THE COUNTY.

It has been judged useful to add here a few biographical and genealogical
notes, from such data as lie most readily at hand, of men and women who were
in some sense among the makers of the count)-, and few of whom are now
living. It is not attempted, generally, to measure their moral worth or mental
stature, nor to catalogue all their capacities for public or private usefulness.
Each short statement may be taken to mean that its subject had been in the
days of his strength one who had some fair measure of men's esteem and con-
fidence. In the few longer sketches it has been sought rather to fall short of
truth than to exceed truth. As to families of like name, if no relationship
each to each is shown, it will be understood that evidence of ancestry in com-
mon has not been found.

Ika C. Abbott, son of E. A. Abbott and Nancy Gregory, born at Burns,
Steuben county, Xew York, December 14, [824; lived at White Pigeon from
[835 to 1854; was postmaster at Burr Oak, 1855 to 1861. He served in
Company G, First Michigan Infantry, as captain and was wounded at Bull
Run. In the regiment as re-organized for three years service he rose Step
by step from captain of Company B to the colonelcy and nearly twenty years
later was breveted brigadier-general. He came to Delavan in 1N75 1 employed
by Allen & Wilber, grocers) ; to Elkhorn in 1880; and a few years later was
given a clerkship in the pension bureau for the resl of his active life. I [e died
at Washington, October 9. [908, leaving wife Electa, one sun, two daughters.
He was a small, soldierly-looking man, of easy manners and modesl in speech,
llis regiment was one of the three hundred named by Colonel box the "light-
ing regiments of the war."

Alfred II. Abell, son of Henry Abell, was born al Duanesburg, Xew
York, May 17. [824. He came to Bloomfield in [848; served four terms as
chairman of town board of supervisors, lie was chosen assemblyman for
1N77 over Addin Kaye. He died May 24, [882. Marietta Carpenter, his
wife, was born December 17. [833; died November 30, [882.

1 I enry Adk:ns, son of Henr) ^dkins and Elizabeth I tuekstep, was born
at Ramsgat . Kent, England, December 23, [812; apprenticed to an apothe-

(31)

482 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

cary ; came to neighborhood of Utica, New York, in 1833: married Elizabeth
Ann, daughter of William Adams, at Xew York Mills, July 22, 1836: came
to Sugar Creek in 1841 ; next year bought government land in sections 11, 14,
Lagrange : came to Elkhorn as register of deeds, 1855 to 1859; began com-
pilation of abstract of titles to real estate; from the organization of the First
National Bank of Elkhorn, in 1865, to his death. May 17, 1887, was its compe-
tent and trustworthy accountant and teller. His wife was born in Otsego
county, September 10, 1813, and died at Elkhorn January 25, 1889. His sons,
William E. and Henry Breckenridge, and son-in-law, Reuben Eastwood, were
soldiers of Company K, Thirtieth Wisconsin Infantry

Alma Montgomery Aldrich, son of William Aldrich and Hannah K.
Montgomery, was born at Kirtland, Ohio, May 6, 1837. His father was
born at Lisbon, Grafton count)-, his mother at Whiteneld. Coos county, both
places in Xew Hampshire. In 1847 the family came to section 35, Spring
Prairie. The father served on town and county boards and as justice of the
peace. The son was for eight terms a member of the county board, and in
1878 was assemblyman, elected over Andrew Kull, Jr. In 1865 ^ie married
Elizabeth, daughter of Lyman Hewitt, of Racine county. In 1899 he re-
moved to Burlington, where he died November 1, 1902, leaving two children.

DwiGHT Sidnkv Allen, sun of George Allen rind Harriet A. Buell. was
born at Lebanon, Madison county, New York, February 12, 1843; lived in
Linn until a few years before his death, when he moved to Lake Geneva,
where he died May 5. [908. In 1862 he enlisted for three years service in
Company ('. Twenty-second Infantry, serving as corporal; September 4.
1867, he married Delia A. Sherman, at Eagle. He seiwed his town as treasurer,
justice, ami From 1S77 to 1890 as member of the county board, of which body
lie was eight times chairman. I [e was a member of the Assembly at its -session
of [889, elected over Edward Decatur Page and Huron Irving Hawks. From
1888 to 1908. he was a member of the Soldier's Relief Committee. Mrs.
\llen was In nil m [846, :mi>1 has seven children.

George \iu\. grandson of Elisha Mien of Worcester county, Massa-
chusetts 1 Princeton or Sturbridge), and son of Walter Mien and Harriet Hol-
brook, was born at Lebanon, Madison county. New York, July 23. [820; mar-
ried Harriet A. Buell January rj, 1842: came to Linn in 1852. settling on
section 24 and adding later more than half of section 23 -more than a square
mile in all. He and his wife had been teachers; and a fairly educated land-

1 11 ti.dh find- -ome fair place in the esteem o\ his townsmen. Mr.

Mien was member of the county board seven time- between 1834 and 1867,

and chairman in [866; member 1 f Assembly in 1855; assessor more than

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 4X3

twenty years: and justice of the peace from 1866 to his death, February 26,
1899. Mrs. Allen, daughter of Ira Buell and Chloe Holcomb, was born at
Plymouth, Chenango county, January 3, 182 1, and died December 16, 1895.

George Rue Allen, son of Samuel Allen and Maria High, was born at
Hartford, Washington county, Xew York, August 9, 1838; came to Bloom-
field in 1841 ; married Mary, daughter of James Grier; was thirteen terms a
member of the county board and six times its chairman ; served in the Assemble
in 1880, having defeated Cyril R. Aldrich, a rock-rooted Democrat of Spring
Prairie. He died at Lake Geneva, January 1, 1901.

Lucius Ali.en, son of Dr. Daniel and wife Olive English, was born at
Hamburg, Xew York, February 13. 1816; came in 1838 from Geauga county.
Ohio, to section 31, East Troy (his parents to section 6, Spring Prairie);
moved to latter town and served as town officer and as assemblyman in 1864,
elected over William R. Berry; came about 1870 to Elkhorn as building con-
tractor and furniture dealer; member of county board in 1877: died January
12, 1895. His first wife. Mary A., a sister of Adolphus Spoor, married May
27- I&37- died November 15, 1838. left a son Augustus Carlton, who was a
soldier of the Eighth Illinois Infantry. July 10, 1842, he married Sarah Ann.
daughter of Hosea Barnes, who died July 10, 1842, leaving two children. Her
son, Fayette Lucius, died in service at Little Rock in 1865. Mr. Allen married
Juliet Barnes, his sister-in-law, in August, 1848. She died March 11, 1878,
leaving five children. September 4, 1890, he married Mrs. Hephsibah (Tom-
linson), widow of Charles Babcock. Three of these marriages were at
Auburn, Ohio, and the last at Elkhorn. Mr. Allen was a clear-headed man.
and stood firmlv by his political and moral convictions, which in his later life
led him to Prohibitionism.

Samuel Allen, born at Gloucester. England. June 30, 1789, came with
parents about 1800 to Xew York. From his majority till 1X3') he was an
innkeeper at various places in the state. In 1839 he made his claim to land
in sections 20, 30, Bloomfield. and brought his family in 1X41. In 1844 and
at a few later elections he was chosen a justice of the peace, and a member of
the county hoard in 1 845. I le lnnlt one of the firsl framed houses in the tow n.
His wife, married in 1822, was Maria, daughter of Charles and Christine
High, of Kingsbury. Xew York. He died at home. November 20, 1866.
Mrs. Allen died in June. 1880. Their children were Charles, George l\..
William II.. Samuel and Susannah.

William Cheney Allen, born at Hoosic, New York, February 2, 1X14:
married, October 7, 1840. Mary A. McConkey at Voorheesville — a town or
hamlet now not easily to be found in Xew York geography. He came in

484 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

the same year, as a lawyer, to Delavan. and in June, 1843. became probate
judge, holding that post till January, 1847. In 1850 he became county judge,
and resigned in 1856, in which year he became president of the Walworth
County Bank. He was member of Assembly in 1866 and 1867, having been
chosen successively over Joseph F. Lyon and Julius A. Treat. He removed
to Racine, where he died January 12, 1887. He was a brother-in-law of
Hon. Alanson H. Barnes.

William P. Allen, son of John and Alary Allen, was born in Jefferson
county, Xew Yurk. in 1821. In 1842 he was a teacher at Portageville,
Wyoming county, Xew York. He came to Sharon in 1845, and for fourteen
years served that town as clerk and as assessor, and for twenty years, nearly
continuously, as justice of tin- peace. In 1873 he became postmaster at the
village, at which place he was a dealer in general goods. He was chosen over
Samuel W. Voorhees as assemblyman fur 1854. He died July 25, 1901.
His wife was Sophronia I.. Lyman.

[•'.LisiiA Lerov Andrus was son of Elisha Andrus and Sarah Wallace.
I lis earlier American ancestors were John' 2, Stephen'1, Elisha4 '"' ''. His mother
was daughter of William Wallace and Eleanor Drake. He was born at
Manchester, Connecticut, May 31. 1813; married, August z~, 1843, Clarissa
1 [823-1899), daughter of Sprowell Dean and Clarissa Scott; came in 1845
to Troy, where he died March (>, 1854. Their sons were Francis Leroy,
Arthur Denison, Aaron Sprowell.

I wii ss Wwt. son of Matthias Aram and Elizabeth Tompkins, was born
at or near I 'tica. Xew York, August 9, 1813 ; came west in 1838 and to Delavan
village in 1840, where he went into retail business A few years, later he
became one of a firm of warehousemen and lumber dealers, composed of
George Passage, himself, Leonard E. Downie, and Col. Jacob T, hosier. He
was successively a stockholder in the Walworth County Bank, a director of
the First National Bank of Delavan, and vice-president of the banking house

E. Latimer \( ompany. He was a member of the county board for thirteen
term-. [862 to 1875; and a trustee of the Slate School for the Leaf 1872 5.
lie served a few years as president of the village, [anuary i>. 1830. he mar-
ried Susan ( '., daughter of James Rood and Elizabeth Miller. She was horn
at Scipio, Xew York, August 10. 1814, died at Delavan December 14. [906.
Tin m tin,, children had died, and at Mrs. Aram's death the bulk of their
I tie was applied, as the) had wished, to the building and equipment of a
it I >elavan.

I I '. ■ Armstrong was son of John Armstrong and Elizabeth Lytle,
w ho came earl\ I 1 Geneva with him and their other children, lie w as born

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 485

in St. Lawrence county, in 1814; married Mary Scripter; came in the later
forties or earl)- fifties to Spring Prairie as a blacksmith, and presently as a
plow-maker, and for some years had a good local business. Later he lived
at or near Elkhorn, and went about 1856 to Trempealeau county. At some
time he made the overland way to California and came hack with material for
occasional home lectures. He was a ready rhymer, in various measures; but
his preference was for the versification as well as the philosophy and satire of
Pope. His wife, Mary Scripter, who died several years before him, was a
spiritualistic medium, and, as he said, a very superior woman. "Uncle Hat.
the Plowmaker," was eccentric only in religio-philosophical beliefs or notions,
loving or tolerating everything and everybody except creeds and clergymen ;
but was a better Christian than he knew, being one of the hot and kindest
of men. His brother James never married. J I i s sister Maria was wife of
Yelorous Scripter (Mary's brother), and Sophia was wife of Richard B.
Flack.

Samuel Armstrong, a brother of John, married Mary Gregg. At
least ten of their eleven children came from St. Lawrence county to Geneva
and Elkhorn. The order of their birth is not known with exactness. James,
a carpenter, married, first, his cousin Elizabeth Armstrong; second, Jane
Cruickshank (whose brother Alexander was a building contractor of Elkhorn
and of Chicago). Jane was wife of Thomas B. Gray. Agnes, wife of David
Wells (not known here). Elizabeth (twin with Agnes), wife of Elihu Gray.
Maria, wife of Martin Russell. Hawaii, second wife of John Dunlap.
Julia Axx. wife of Daniel Carr Gray. Samuel married Hannah Van
Allen. John A. married Elizabeth ( daughter of Isaac) Gray. .Martha, wife
of James Adams Flack. Lvdia, wife of Henry J Smith. [See black. Gray,
and Lytle families.] John Armstrong, a soldier of the Revolution, father of
John and Samuel, had a daughter, wife of Nathaniel Carswell, whose son.
Nathaniel H. Carswell lived in Racine county, and thence came to Elkhorn in

Alaxsox Browx Arnold was born in Cayuga county. New York. De-
cember, 1812; married at Medina. New York, January 1. [835, Dorothy
Althina. daughter of Joseph Davis : came in [865 to a farm in Linn ; died Aug-
ust 3, 1885. Mrs. Arnold was born in 1N15; died December 28, [896. Their
children were Joseph Davis. Henry Alanson, Francis Lamartinc. Robert
Bruce. Clifton Sumner.

Fayette i'. Arnold, one of four sons of Luther and wife, Mary I'nuity.
was born near Hubbardton, Vermont, in [826; attended an acadeniy at
Poultneyville : studied law: came to Sharon in 1X50: was admitted to practice

4X0 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

in 1851 ; was member of the county board nine terms; chosen assemblyman,
without opposition, for the session of 1862; died January 9, 1872. His wife,
Jane Willis, was born in 1830. A son, Cassius F., was town treasurer in
1877-8.

Salmon G. Arnold (July 15, 1820-March 10, 1896J, of Sharon, was
son of Luther Arnold and Mary Frouty. He married in 1848 Ann Eliza,
daughter of Chester Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Gillette. She was born May
1 1. 1826; died March 3, 1901.

Varnum Arnold was son of Joseph and Susannah Arnold, who were
natives of Rhode Island. It is not unlikely that both parents were of old and
often honored families of the colony, for it is about evenly probable that the
wife was born Yarnum. Fheir son was born January 18, 1819, in Cayuga
county, New York. After a short career as a teacher he married, at Auburn,
January 22, 1845, Julia A., daughter of Dennison and Lucy Butts, and in the
next year moved to section 32 of Richmond, where he bought a large farm.
lie served his town as one of its supervisors and also as assessor. He died
September 20, 1901.

Andrew W. Arwood, son of John and Christina Arvedson, was born
at near Holden, Norway, August 25, 1841, and came with his parents to the
town of Whitewater in 184(1; enlisted August 21, 1861, in the Twenty-eighth
Infantry and thirteen days later married Prudence, daughter of Samuel
Loomer and Deborah Strong, Me served three years as corporal, and came
home to be one of the best of citizens. His farm at the Heart Prairie church
was well managed and improved and the church well attended. He died at
\\ hitewater 1 citj 1 in January, [909. Mrs. Arwood was born in Nova Scotia,
September 7, 1836; died July 10, 1809.

Henri II. Austin, born July 28, 1832. at Mexico. Oswego county, New
York; came to Easl Troy village in 1X54 and went into retail business as
clerk, in [857 as partner, and later as wool and produce buyer. He married
I [elen M., daughter of Samuel and Doroth) \nn Fowler, September 1 1, i860,
and died at East Troy, March [8, [906. llis son Charles 11., is now of
Chicago; daughter Lucy I-', is wife of Prof. Leonard Sewall Smith, of the
University ami grandson of an early settler of Easi Troy : Mary Belle is
wife of Rev. II. II. Jacobs.

\l \i uiu Lloyd Wers was son of Jehiel Ayers and Clarissa Niles. His
earlier American ancestors were John1 1 s..n of Thomas Eyer, of \\ iltshire),
Obadiah2, Thomas8, Levi4, Edward6. \li ^.yers was born in Delaware county,
New York, December 4. iSm. lie married, in [845, l.tithera Cook Aikin,
daughter of Edward Aikin and Lucinda Stone, and came in the same year to a

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 487

farm near Honey Creek, where he died June n, 1884. Mrs. Avers was born
in 1823 and died May 11, 1896. Their children were Althea Amelia (Mrs.
S. Dwight Slade), Frank Jehiel, Edward Aikin, William Henry, Clara. Mr.
Avers was as much business man as farmer, and as he was strong and forceful
he became one of the solid men of his town. He was a Democrat of an un-
changing type, usually attended conventions of his party, and was often its
willing candidate for certain defeat.

Alexdek O. Babcock was born at Homer, Cortland county. New York,
in 1817; studied law; came to Whitewater in 1842 and formed a law partner-
ship with Warner Earle and Frederick Cady Patterson, but passed in the next
year to East Troy; served for several years as justice of the peace; served five
terms on the county board of supervisors ; was elected over Adam E. Kay as
member of the Assembly for 1850; was elected as district attorney in 1862
over James D. Merrill. He married, April 12, 1855, Rosanna F., daughter
of Stephen Field and Mary Jordan. He died July 3, 1874. He was a good
lawyer and a useful citizen. He left no children, nor known relatives of his
name. Mrs. Babcock was born May 20, 1825; died July 5, 1906.

Stephen Sly Babcock, son of Stephen and Elizabeth, was born at Jeru-
salem, Albany county, Xew York, June 16, 1824. In 1827 the family moved
to Wayne county. About 1846. with his brothers, Caleb Sly and Willard
Blanchard, he came to Darien, and all became men of character and substance.
(Caleb S. Babcock died at Delavan, August 9, 1885, aged fifty-three. He
married Sarah Emeline Brundige. Willard B. Babcock, born 1822, married
Louise Burnett, died at Delavan, September 13, 1882.) In 1851) Stephen be-
gan business at Delavan as grocer and nurseryman. He had some years of
more active experience as advance agent of a circus and menagerie — traveling
in the Southern states and Cuba. He served as justice of the peace for
Delavan in 1877-8, and at election of [878 was chosen sheriff over Benjamin
Bassler. with another election in 1882 over John I'. Cutler, lie was once
a member of the county board, and several times president of the \ illage. I te
died at Florence, Alabama, November 4, [894. His wife, Eliza Jane, daugh
ter of Nehemiah Barlow and Orinda Steele, was born at Rochester in 1821):
married December 14. 184c;; died at Vincennes, Indiana. July 10, 1906. Mr.
Babcock was tall and strongly built, and in the line of duty feared neither man
nor weapon. While he was sheriff be showed much --kill in tin- detective work
of his office. He was well-informed, sound-judging ami companionabli

Enoch Bailey (Charles5, Stephen4, James3, John2, James1, of Rowle) 1
was son of Charies Bailey and Abigail, daughter of Daniel Safford and Han-
nah Hovey. He was born < >ctober 1, 1771 : died April 8, [866. Hi- second
wife, Susannah Bangs, was born March 4, 1784: died September 20. 1858.

|SS WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Both were buried at East Delavan. His known children of first marriage
were: I. Charles Stewart (1811-1877); his wife named Laura C. (1820-
1874). 2. Enoch Henry Martin (horn 1820): married Amanda Bartlett.
3. Levi Parsons (1823-1874) ; married first, Phoebe S. Lippitt (1828-1853) :
second. Delia Louisa Shumway. 4. Samuel Wills, born 1825, of whom little
nunc is now remembered than that he went westward. The three older sons
were men of substance and in business and official ways useful to their town.

Charles Minton Baker, son of James Baker ( 1779-1851 ) and Eliza-
beth Price ( 1 780- 1 870), grandson of David Baker, of Morristown, Xew
Jersey, was born at Xew York (city), October 18, 1804; the next year his
parents went to Addison count}-, Vermont; he entered Middlebury College in
1 822 ; studied law at Troy in Samuel G. Huntington's office ; was named in a n ill
of attorneys at Troy in 1831, and also as commissioner of deeds ; married, first.
Martha W. Larrabee, of Shoreham, Vermont. September 6, 1830; settled on
section i, Linn, in 1838; district attorney 1839-40; married, second, Eliza
Holt, July 1. 1841; served four years in Territorial Council, 1842-6; chair-
man of committee on organization of judiciary in first constitutional conven-
tion; in [849 was head of the commission to revise statutes; earlv in March.
1850. appointed to vacancy in circuit judgeship, but refused nomination at
the April election, and hence served but six or seven weeks, holding a term
in Racine county for April. In the latter part of the Civil war be was draft
commissioner for his congressional district. In April, 1871, he was chosen
justice at Lake Geneva for one year, lie died there, February 5, 1872. Mr.
Simmons wrote of him: "As a man he was foremost in the promotion of
every cause which tended to the real advantage and permanent benefit of his
fellow citizens. As a lawyer his talents were of a high order but he was not
ambitious to make them known. He was from bis early youth a Christian,
and was always recognized here as a strong and earnest one', a pillar in the
church, tlie right hand of bis pastor, and a chosen leader among his brethren."
This testimony is useful since it may explain why Judge Baker did not ask
his fellow citizens for high places among them, and why they did not offer
many such tokens of their favor.

Ih.\m Barlow, sou of Nehemiah Harlow and Orinda Steele, was born
November 23. [815, at Ballston, Xew York; came from Perry, Xew York,
in [838 to sections 5. (,. Delavan; married July 3. 1S41. Kniclinc. daughter of
Daniel Edwin LaBar and Hannah Rees — perhaps the first marriage at Del-
avan; served a few years as supervisor; was an opposition candidate in 1872
i"i assemblyman, defeated by Carlos L. Douglass: died \ugust f>. 1884. Mrs.
Barli 'W was 1„ ,rn in 1 Sj 1 , near Stroiidsburg, l'euns\ Kama; died September J2,
1890.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. _ 489

John Whitney Barlow, youngest son of Nehemiah and Chimin, born
in western New York. June _'<>, 1838; appointed from Wisconsin about [857
as a cadet at the United States Military Academy. Wesl Point; second lieu-
tenant, second artillery. May 6, 1861 ; nine days later first lieutenant; brevet
captain May 2~, 1862. for distinguished service at Hanover Court House;
transferred to topographical engineers July 24, 1862; to engineers March 3,
1863: captain July 3. 1863; brevet major for service in Atlanta campaign;
brevet lieutenant-colonel for conduct in battles before Nashville; major of
engineers in 1869, and successively lieutenant-colonel anil colonel; superin-
tended Tennessee river improvement at Muscle Shoals; performed other
engineer services, and in 190 1 was retired as brigadier-general. Now living
at Xew London, Connecticut.

Nehemiah Barlow, son of John Barlow and Sarah Whitney, was born
December 23, 1781. at Ridgefield. Connecticut; married at Windham. New
York, in August. 1810, Orinda, daughter of Perez Steele and Hannah Sim-
mons; came about 1839 from Perry, Xew York, to Delavan ; died in Darien,
in October. 1846. Mrs. Barlow was born at Tolland, Connecticut, April 4.
1792; died January 25, 1876. Their eleven children were: I. — Hannah
Simmons (1811-1907), wife of William Harrison Petit. 2 — John Whitney
(1813-1838). 3. — Henry. 4. — Stephen Steele. 5. — Mary, wife of Stephen
P. Fuller. 6. — Sarah Anne, wife of Dr. Henderson Hunt. 7. — F.liza Jane
( 1826-1906), wife of Stephen S. Babcock. 8. — William Augustus (1829
1908). married Antis Almira Mallory. daughter of Samuel Mallory and Jane
ranees Hart. 9. — Harriet, first wife of George Bulkley. 10. — Emily Wright
(born [834), wife of Henry Pettit. 11. — John Whitney (born 1838). Hannah
S.. William A., and Harriet lived at Elkhorn. Nearly all the others are found
in the history of Delavan. Mrs. Orinda (Steele) Barlow's American an-
cestors were : George1. James2 3, Rev. Stephen4, Stephen"'. Perez11. Mr. P>ar-
low's ancestors came early to Xew England.

Samuel W. Barlow, whose grandparents are said to have come from
England, was born in Xiagara county, Xew York. January 28, (802; married
Almira, daughter of William Wright, was a carpenter, farmer, and Wesleyan
preacher: came to town of Delavan about i860; died March 24. [889. His
wife was born in 1807; died January iS. iNX_>. They had seven children, of
whom Silas Van Xess Barlow, bom January c), [835, married Antoinette.
daughter of Stephen C. Goff and wife Matilda.

Stephen Steele Barlow, son of Nehemiah and Orinda. was bom Aug-
ust 17, 1818; came to the village of Delavan and was admitted to practice in
the territorial courts. He married October 4. [843, Anna Maria, daughter

490 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

of James Parsons and Olive Beach. He was a member of the county board
in 185 1 ; elected assemblyman in the same year over Perry G. Harrington;
moved to Dellona, Sauk county, about 1855; was chosen presidential elector
at large in j 868 ; state senator 1868-9; elected attorney-general in 1869 and
1871 ; died at St. Paul, October 5, 1900.

John Barr was son of Allen Barr, who died at Paisley in 1828. John
was born in Renfrewshire in 1792. He married Barbara Black (born in 1789
at St. Andrews). He was bred a shawl-weaver, and on his father's death
he came to New York (city). In 1833 he went to Taunton, Massachusetts,
and to Fall River in 1840. In 1848 he came to a farm in Linn. He died in
i860 and his wife died in 1873. They had eight children. One of these,
George W. Barr, was for several years chairman of the county board.

William Ayres Bartlett, son of Joshua Bartlett and Airs. Martha
(Martin) Phoenix, and half-brother of Henry and Samuel F. Phoenix, was
born later than 1800. He married Mary Ann, daughter of Ichabod Brainard
and Alary Cleveland, and sister of Cyrus Brainard. She was born about 1804
and died May 29, 1857. Air. Bartlett was a member for Walworth of the
territorial legislature of 1843-4. He seems to have moved from Delavan after

1857.

Richard Baxter Bates, son of Joseph and Esther, was born at West

Troy, New York, August 17, 1843; came before i860 with his parents to
Darien; married September 29, 1864, Clara A., daughter of Leander Dodge
and Harriet Carter; lived at Delavan and later at Racine: was national bank
examiner 1893-8; died at Alilwaukee, Alay 18, 1910.

Adelaide < ow i.r.s Beardsley, elder of two daughters of Bennett Beards-
ley and firsl wife, Mrs. Susannah (Johnson), widow of Jetur Gardiner, was
Imni at Walton, Delaware county, New York, June 1, 1815: was baptized in
childhood at the Fpiscopal church of Walton, and in due time truly confirmed,
"foi her faith never wavered nor were good works once forgotten or neg-
lected." The sisters came to Flkhorn in 1843, where she called the children
together for non-sectarian primary instruction in Christian dot-trine and prac-
tice. She also taught in the earlier common school. Every bishop of her
diocese, from Kemper to Webb, knew and esteemed her. "She was capable,
clear-seeing, justly judging, resolute, and enduring; and she was always sunny,
kind, sympathetic, helpful, modest, self-effacing, womanly — a somewhat re-
markabl) endowed person." She died at Elkhorn, June 10. 1907. Her full-
sister, Mar) Martha, was wife of Col. Edward Flderkin.

Nelson Beckwith (Reuben,6 Wa.1 Joseph,3 Nathaniel2 Matthew1),
bom in town of Western, < Ineida county. New York; married Elinor W. ECeyes

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 49I

(a native of Nova Scotia) ; lived at East Troy some years each way from i860;
removed to Oceana county, Michigan, and died. His son Alanson married
first, Caroline Waters, of East Troy, January 30, i860; second, Miss Quacken-
bush; now lives in Oceana county. Seth Beckwith, not nearly related to any
namesakes in the county, came to East Troy with wife Elizabeth in 1839, and
in 1842 sold his land, in section 12. to Abel Sperry. He may have gone to
Omro.

Warren Beckwith, son of Silas Beckwith and Polly Green, and grand-
son of Silas Beckwith and Esther Fales, of Charlemont, Massachusetts, was
born in Westmoreland, Oneida county. Xew York, August 13, 1827; came
about 1849 to Geneva, section 3 ; was teacher, farmer, surveyor, civil engineer
and town and village magistrate. He married, first, Hannah Vincent ; second,
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Prouty ; and died at Lake Geneva, August 30, 1904. A
brother. Luther (wife Betsey Clute), lived for some years in the county, and
moved to Mauston. There is no reason to doubt the descent of these men
from Matthew, of Hartford, New London, and Lyme, though names in four
generations are wanting.

Nathaniel Bell, son of James Bell and Isabel Harkness, was born at
Truxton, New York, February 22, 1800; married, before 1830, Sarah Leon-
ard, daughter of John Cook and Dorcas Case. She was born in 1810 and
died January 31, 1847. Major Bell came to section 25, Lafayette; in 1839
was chairman of the first board of county commissioners, and was five times a
member of the county hoard of supervisors. He was the last territorial
sheriff, 1845-8. It is not known whence he derived his military title, but he
may have been a drum-major, if not a major of New York militia. He, with
Riley Harrington and Lot Mayo, with or without General Walling, usually
made martial music on" patriotic or Democratic occasions. John Hell, his
brother, was assemblyman in 1853. His sister, Mary Ann, was wife of Dr.
Jesse C. Mills.

William Berry was horn at Salem. Massachusetts. December 20. 17X0;
married April 3. 1798, Nancy Mellen, of Pelham; moved to Madison county,
New York, and thence to Cortland county, where he held for a term a nominal
judgeship of the court of common pleas. (From 1823 to 1847 eacb countv
of New York having forty thousand inhabitants had such a court, composed
of a first judge, who was presumably competent, and four associate judges,
in common speech called "side judges." The first judge and at least two of
the associates made a quorum : but the latter usually had no voice in the court's
rulings and decisions. Some amusing incidents are told of these court 0111,1
ments.) In 1843 Judge Berry came to Honey Creek, and in 1846 was men-

492 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ber of the first constitutional convention, — the oldest member of that body.
Because of his delayed attendance he missed assignment to a committee. He
died late in 1848. Mellen Berry, his sop, died July 5, 1859. He had also a
daughter, Sally Ann.

Seth M. Billings was born at Rutland, Vermont, in 1814: married Lena
Markle February 16, 1855; came to Whitewater in 1839; chosen sheriff in
i860; enrolled the men of the county liable to military service, in 1863; died
at Whitewater, January 18, 1880. A daughter, Mary E., was wife of Charles
Morris Blackman; a son, Henry M., married Emma Pamela, daughter of
Colonel Elderkin. Sheriff Billings, though not above medium height and
build, was resolute in performance of official duty. He was an upright and
intelligent citizen.

William Birge was eldest of thirteen children. If one of these was
George Richmond Birge, son of Elijah Birge and Mary Richmond, who also
was an early resident at Whitewater, their ancestors were Richard1 (of Dor-
chester in 1630) and wife Elizabeth Gaylord, Daniel-'". Jonathan4. Hosea5,
William was born at Hartford, Connecticut. November 18, 1813: came to
Jackson, Michigan, from Ithaca, New York, in 1834: with brothers Henry
and Leander to Milwaukee and thence to Cold Spring and Whitewater in 1837.
1 bun's stay was short, hut William and Leander stayed to build a city. Will-
iam married January 9, 1839, Mary Alvina Nobles, whose father was in busi-
ness at Milwaukee. Their son, Julius C, was born November 18, 1839, the
first native of Whitewater. Mr. Birge's business activity at Whitewater was
an important part of the history of that rising village. He died May _>_>.
i860. Mrs. Birge was horn in [808 and died March <;. 1892.

M att 1 new P. Bishop, son of Ira Bishop and Sarah Patrick, born at West
Windsor, Vermont, Augusl 15, [822; came by way of western New York to
Eagle in 1845: married, first, Roxana Alvord November 14. 1848; bought a
farm in Lagrange in 1803; his wife died in the same year; married second, his
sister-in-law, Mary E. Alvord, in 1873; he died at home. January 1, [883,
He was six limes a member of the county board — twice its chairman, and in
other ways useful in his town. A son, Charles \. Bishop, became a supreme
0 lurl judge in Iowa.

('n vhles Morris Li n< km w. son of Aha Blackman and Almira Brisks,
was born at Bridgewater, < hieida county, New York, October 10, 1833: came
to Stoughton in 1847 and in 1850 engaged in business. In 1803 he came to
\\ luicwatcr as cashier of the First National Lank, of which he was from 1873
until his death, \pril 10. 1912, president. He was also a trustee of the White

orial Library bequest, lie married August 13. 1800. Mary E.. daughter
of Seth M. Billings and Lena Markle

W M.WORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. . 493

Dr. Orrix Willard Blanchard, a son of Deacon Willard Blanchard

and Sarah Piatt, was born at Clarendon, Rutland county. Vermont, October
22. 1808. and was academically educated at Auburn, New York. He studied
medicine, attended lectures at Castleton, Vermont, and about 1828 was ad-
mitted to practice. ( But this date may be suspected of error.) He came to
Racine in 1842 and to Delavan in 1847. From 185 1 to 1854 he was assistant-
surgeon of the regular army at a post in Xew Mexico, and then returned to
Delavan. He served as surgeon of the Fortieth Infantry in 1X64. and as
surgeon of the Forty-ninth in 1865 — both regiments of Wisconsin. Ik-
reached and held a high place in his profession. His death was March 25,
1X79. His wife. Nancy Foster, was horn January, 181 1; was married at
Arcadia, Xew York, March 2-, 1831 ; died at Delavan, January 9, 1910,
within a very few days of her ninety-ninth full year. Of their three sons,
Charles Carroll studied and practiced in his father's profession. He had
served a half year as private of Company D, Twenty-second Infantry, and
under hi> father as hospital steward of Fortieth and Forty-ninth Infantry.
Two other sons of Deacon Willard and Sarah were also physicians. Dr.
Caleb Sly Blanchard was born at Victory, Cayuga county. New York, May 8,
[818. He practiced for many years at East Troy. He was a member of the
Assembly of 1880, having been elected over John Matheson ( then a Democrat)
and Daniel Kinney Sanford, Greenbacker. Dr. Pliny Willard Blanchard
passed over the state line to Rockford, or in that vicinity. There was some
maternal consulship of the Drs. Blanchard with Stephen S. Babcock and his
brothers, as indicated by names.

Joseph Bowker. son of Silas, was born at Locke. Cayuga county. Xew
York, October 9, 1797: married Eliza Maynard, October 10. 1X17; crime to
Geneva in 1844 and soon after to Delavan, where he went into retail business.
He was a member of the first constitutional convention. He died at Delavan,
March 26, [856. He left a son, Silas \V. Bowker, who was for some years in
retail trade a^ member of the firm of Bowker & Staley.

John William Boyd, son of John Logan Boyd and Electa Bacon, was
born at Solon, New York, September 15. [811; was academically educated;
married Elizabeth Lee. who died within a year; married November 10. [842,
Wealthy A., daughter of Gen. Samuel G. Hathaway, at Solon ; came in 1844
to Linn and bought a large farm; was one of Governor I lodge's major-gen-
erals; in first constitutional convention was of the committee on state execu
tive: in [848 was first state senator for Walworth, and served again, [858 9,
having been elected over Perry G. Harrington; married third wife, Septembei
9, 1858. Mrs. Persis Annette, widow- of Abram Mudge, daughter of Ira Buell

494 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

(second wife had died June 14, 1855) ; in 1874 was chairman of the county
board of supervisors: between i860 and 1876 served the Madison Mutual
Insurance Company as director and part of that time as president; died Janu-
ary 28, 1892. Mrs. Persis A. Boyd died June 27, 1906. General Boyd left
six daughters. He had at times hoped to be his party's nominee for repre-
sentative in Congress, but the other counties of the district willed it otherwise.

Henry Bradley (Daniel Edwin5, Ezekiel4, James3, Daniel2, Francis
Jr.1 ) was son of Daniel E. Bradley and Betsey Sturges, born at Sidney. Dela-
ware county, Xew York, in the valley of Ooleout creek, an affluent of the Sus-
quehanna, December 26, 1823; came with parents in 1S37 to section 7 Geneva
(near Elkhorn). married, April 17, 1847, Nancy Jane Mallory (Samuel6,
David3 4, Benjamin3, Joseph2, Peter1), whose mother was Jane Frances Hart.
He went overland to California with his wife in 1852, and alone in 1859. In
1861 he succeeded Lot Mayo as postmaster at Elkhorn, retiring in 1886, and
returning in 1890 for four more years. He was for many years a village
officer, and member of the school board, — always for the good of the village
and its schools. He died at home August 17, 1909. He was not a money
maker, but he owned a substantial house, with valuable lot, and a three-story
brick store in Walworth street. He loved justice and square dealing, and had
courage to speak truth though it might lay himself in the wrong. He was an
early and serviceable friend of the free library, to which he contributed fifty
volumes.

William Wallace Bradley, son of Dr. Enos Bradley and Ada Hoyt,
of Groton, Xew York, was born May 20, 1826; came about 1846 from Darien,
New York, to Kenosha and thence in 1848 to Delavan, where he was the first
dealer in men's ready-made clothing. His business expanded and he became
■in of the best known drvgoods dealers of the county. He drew trade from
afar, and he left his name to the knitting works now owned mostly by his
heirs. He married July 23, [850, Cynthia, daughter of Peter Millspaugh
Keeler and Prudence Sturtevant. She died December 31. 1853. He married
\|nil 21, 1855, Esther, daughter of Elisha Laniard and Nancy T. Wilson,
lie left two daughters: Alice (Mrs. William H. Tyrrell) and Eva (Mrs.
Ji ihn J. 1 'hocnix ).

Abel Brigb km, son of Joel8 Brigham and Elizabeth Brown, had earlier
ancestors, Thomas1 and Mercy 1 llurd) of Watertown in 1035, John23, Sam-
mi1. Joel5. Abel was born at Sudbury. Massachusetts, January ri, 1814:
died at Troy. February 14, iSS l 1 lis wife, Fmeline, daughter of George and

ii Hibbard, was born at North Hadley, August 23, [824; died at Troy
June 2. [902. Their children were : Maria, Truman Elbridge (married liar-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 495

riet Xewell Hibbard), Emma Salina (Mrs. James Hooper), Emerson Abel
(married Rose Meacham), Susan Emeline (Mrs. Emery T. Atkins), Clara
Levina (Mrs. Cbarles Finch), Allen C, Frank M.

Rev. George F. Brigham, of Sharon, is also a descendant of Thomas
and Mercy, in a differing line.

Martin Ff. Brigham, son of Jabez and Elizabeth, earlier ancestors un-
known, was born at Perry, New York, August 29, 1821 ; came to East Del-
avan in 1842; married Elizabeth Richardson, May 7, 1847; died October 25,
1894.

John Bruce was born in 1788: came from western New York in 1837
to section 22, Darien. and also bought land in section 27, where he built a
house which was temporarily an inn and also a postoffice. He built a grain-
house at the station in 1858, and also added a few lots to the village plat as it
was laid out in 1856. This addition lies between Beloit street and the rail-
way, and at the west end of the village. His first wife was Fear H. (1776-
1832); second wife was named Cornelia (1822-1870). He died April 17,
1870, having outlived his wife by five weeks. His son James R. Bruce built
the first hotel in 1843 and died July 23, 1845, a?e^ thirty-one years. His sister
Lydia was wife of Cyrus Lippitt, and his sister Susan was Mrs. William
Phoenix.

Francis A. Buckbee (Jesse4, Russell3, Elijah-. John' ) was son of lesse
Buckbee and Mary, daughter of John Secor. He was born in the town of
Chili, Monroe county, New York, June 18. 1828; went in 1845 to Rockford.
After some experience as farmer, retailer and produce-buyer he came in 1863
to a farm in Lyons. He married, February 18, 1863, Abbie Jane, daughter
of Salmon Hubbard and Abbie Jane Sears, and adopted daughter of Dr. Alex-
ander S. Palmer. He was member of Assembly in 1867, elected over Charles
Wales, and in 1874, elected over Ethan B. Farnum. He served several terms
as justice of the peace at Lake Geneva. He died May 24. 1907. Mr. Buck-
bee was a fine looking man of very pleasing address and intelligent conversa-
tion, and a nearly perfect Masonic workman in lodge and chapter.

Joseph Sidney Buell was eldest child of Ira Buell and Chloe I folcomb.
His father's ancestors were William1. Samuel23, Joseph4, Thomas". Era's
other children were Harriet V 1 Mrs. George Allen), Persis A 1 Mrs. John
W. Boyd), Wallace J., William Ira, Henry C, Charles Edwin. J. Sidney
Buell was born at Plymouth. New York, March 7, [819; married Mary I..,
daughter of Rufus Maynard and Chloe Wheat. September 7. [847; she died
April 24, 1855; he married June 13. [856, Marie Antoinette, daughter of
Abncr Holcomb and Susan Hubbard. His father and all or mosl of the fain-

496 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ily came in [849 to Linn, where they bought an almost lordly domain on and
near Bloom Prairie. He died at Lake Geneva in December, 1895. Of his
children, Ira M. has gained some distinction as a geologist. J. Sidney Buell
was a capable farmer, an intelligent and excellent citizen, and was one of a
notable group of men who were faithful working members of the County
Agricultural Society.

Alexander Francis Bunker was a son of Francis and Eunice, and
grandson of Shubael and Lydia. Francis was born at Nantucket. July 30,
1758. and Eunice was born January 19, 1759. They were married in Dutchess
count\', Xew York, April 22, 1779. Their children were Susannah. Eliza-
beth, Mary, Robert, Alexander F., Shubael, Gorham. The last three, with
Simeon, son of Robert, came early to the Troys. Alexander F. Bunker was
born in Columbia county, October 28, 1793; married Sarah Meade, December
22. [814; died at his home in Troy. April 10, 1872. Sarah was born in 1791 ;
died March 2j, 1871. Their children were Samantha, Nathaniel M., Mar}'.
Richard M. (married Jane Chapman), Phoebe S. (Mrs. Charles D. Baldwin),
Hannah ( Mrs. George Worth) Louise M. ( Mrs. Charles B. Ackley), Ann E.
( Mrs. John G. W'atrous), Sarah V. and Helen M. (in succession Mrs. Colla-
more Severance).

GORHAM BUNKER, son of Francis and Eunice, was born in Columbia
county. Xew York, April 4, 1798, and died September 20, 1N74. He was a
farmer and a blacksmith. Rachel, bis wife, was a daughter of Airs. Cynthia
Russell. She was born June 13, [800, and died November 28, 1869, at Fast
Troy. Their children were, as far as here known, "George, Henry, William,
< larissa.

Nathaniel Meade Bunker, son of Alexander Francis and Sarah
Meade. \\ a- born at .Milan, Dutchess county. Xew York, ^.ugusl 31. 1S1 7 : mar-
ried, first, Phoebe E. Prescott in [840; she died in [853; in [854 he married
Phoebe Stratton. Coffin and came the next year to section 10 of Troy. In 1S71
In- was del rated by Judge White at the elect ii m fi »r member of Assembly, and in
[875 be defeated Henry Oreb Montague tor the same post of honor. In that
■ ii In wcni into warehouse business at Troy Center with (apt. l.indsey J.
Smith as partner, lb' died March 25, [889. His children were Nathaniel, Net-
tie, Sarah (Mrs. Charles B, Babcock), Carrie. Ward Smith, and George
Worth. Mrs. Bunker is yet living at Troy Centre.

Shubael Bunker, son of Francis and Eunice, was born in Columbia
ci unty, January 1 |. [896; married Edith Russell, lii^ sister in-law : died Sep
tember 17. [858. Their children were Charles, John Russell, Hiram
Shubael, Cynthia 1 Mrs. II. C. Mincer), Eliza M. 1 Mis. William Alexander 1.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 497

Solomon Champlin Burdick (1812-1891) and wife Martha M. Cran-
dall (born 1S12), came in 1845 t0 section 10, Lyons; then to section 29, Linn.
He died at Lake Geneva. He was son of Peleg C. and Olive Burdick, who
also came to the county. One of his sons, Charles Herbert (1820-1903), was a
soldier, editor and poet, whose second wife was Almina Maria, daughter of
Kiah Bailey and Emily Ward. A grandson, Hugh Abram Burdick, was district-
attorney.

William Burgit, son of Jacob Burgit and Alary Gardner, was born at
Richford, Tioga county, Xew York, December 6, 1818. He came with his
parents in 1837 to sections 29, ^30, East Troy. The claim included a good
water power, near the village site. His father, a prosperous and respected
citizen, was born in 1796; died March 21, 1870. His mother was born in
1790; died June 4, 1858. William Burgit married Maria Jane, daughter of
James Burleigh and Dorcas V. Carr, January 14, 1862. Their child, Edith
F., is wife of Hubert Stephen Bovee. Air. Burgit died September 23, 1892.
Airs. Burgit was born September 17, 1833; died January 21, 1911. Air.
Burgit served eleven terms as member of the county board. In i860 he con-
tested with Judge Spooner the nomination for assemblyman and, losing, ran
independently, only to lose again. In 1870 he was elected to the Assembly
over James D. Merrill and in 1874 over Perry G. Harrington.

Zenas Baker Burk, grandson of William and son of David Burk and
Mary, daughter of Andrew Springer and Desire Baker, was born at Moscow,
Aiaine, December 9, 1814; came in 1842 to section 10 of Lyons; married, June
23, 1844. Alary W., daughter of Amos Cahoon and Alary Williams, of North
Geneva. He had two sons and three daughters. Of the latter Flora Al.
(Mrs. Charles D. Winsor) lives at Lyons. Air. Burk was town clerk twenty-
two years, on county board six years, justice of the peace thirty-five years. He-
was also a trustee of the Alethodist church. In all his life his fellow citizens
had but to think and act on the right side to find Squire Burk already with
them.

David Ward Carey, son of Amos E. Carey, a soldier of 1812-15, was
born in Columbia county. Xew York. November 26, 1808. He married Jane
E. Rann, and in 1844 came to Bloomfield. He was for some years in business
at the Junction, and once had for his partner William Youlen, a bright young
man whose record-book, as town clerk in 1850, was kept admirably. Mr.
Carey's abilities were practical rather than show}- and were useful to him
and his community. Of his six children. Julian Marcellus was a soldier in
active service, and has since served his town in various way-. The father
died December I, 1880. Airs. Carey was born at New York, .May 17, 1 X 1 — .
and died March 12, 1855.

(32)

498 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Nathaniel Henry Carswell, son of Nathaniel and a daughter of John
Armstrong, of Revolutionary service, was horn at Hebron, Xew York, Novem-
ber, 1S15 ; married Harriet Louisa, daughter of Joseph Gillis Taylor and Jane
Todd, January 7, 1841 ; came to Yorkville, Racine county, in 1843; t0 Spring
Prairie in 1853 and in same year to Elkhorn. where he owned a blacksmith
shop. Mrs. Carswell died March 24, 1868. At her funeral "The Sweet By
and By," then but newly composed, was sung publicly for the first time. Air.
Carswell was a close friend of Prof. Webster, and. having been himself a
singer, he as well as Mr. Pip might have been called the "Harmonious Black-
smith."' He died November 11, 1874. Of three sons, one is living: Orland,
Nathaniel and Charles.

Orange"' Carter ( Ebenezer4, Thomas32, Rev. Thomas1) was son of
Lieut. Ebenezer Carter and Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Buell.
He was born December 21, 1774, probably at Warren, Connecticut. He mar-
ried in 1797 Elizabeth Rumsey, at St. Albans, Vermont. She was born at
Danbury, Connecticut, July 20, 1777; died at Darien, January 11, 1847. He
came from Darien, New York, to Darien, Wisconsin, where he died September
9, 1855. Ten of his eleven children, or most of these, came early, already or
si miii thereafter so intermarried" with several pioneer families of Darien as to
make the Carter family record of unusual genealogical interest. These chil-
dren, born between 1798 and 1818, were: 1. Ann (Mrs. John Williams, Jr.) ;
2. Orra (Mrs. Price Matteson) ; 3. Daniel married Maria Matteson; 4. Sabra
1 Mrs Zebulon T. Lee); 5. Harriet (Airs. Leander Dodge): Ackley married
Melissa Hough; 7. Lucy (Airs. Asa Foster); 8. William Thurston married
Adeline Al. Seaver; 9. Orange Walker married twice; 10. Betsey Irena (Airs.
John L. Ward). It is not known that Daniel Carter came westward.

Ackley Carter was born April 16, 1808. (His grandmothers second
husband, Alaj. Benjamin Ackley, of Castleton, Vermont, was his namesake.)
He married Melissa Hough; a son, Edwin Buck Carter, married Sarah Maria,
daughter of Jonathan Hastings and Almira Slocum. Ackley Carter died
April 3, 1893.

Orange Walker Carter, born September 10, 1815. at Darien, New
York, and came to this county in [838. (His father and William T. Carter,
his brother, bought government land in section 21.) His first wife, Elvira
(1815-1880) was daughter of Samuel Matteson, Jr., and Electa Mead. His
second wife, Harriet 1 [827-1899), was daughter of James G. Tiffany and
Martha, daughter of Samuel Matteson, Sr., and was widow of Manuel Taft.
James, son of Orange W. and Elvira, married Nellie, daughter of William
Hollister and Sarah AI. Van Aernam. Lewis, another son, married Bettie
('.. daughter of David Williams and Adelia Phelps.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 499

Christopher Page Farley Chafin, son of Samuel and Elizabeth, was
born at Weston, Vermont, April 9, 1S19; came with his mother and brothers
Samuel and Wilder C. Chafin to East Troy in 1837; married Parthenia,
daughter of Gaylord Graves, September 26, [849. (His brother. Wilder C,
had married Amelia Graves. January 29. 1845.) Mrs. Chafin was born at
Fowler, St. Lawrence county. New York, September 23, 1826; died at Sugar
Creek May 29, 1908. Mr. Chafin died at East Troy August 25, 1893.

William Dknsmore Chapin (John3, Jacob2, John1), son of John
Chapin and Clarissa Patterson, was born at Heath, Massachusetts. April 28,
1814. He came to Bloomfield in 1837, and the next year he with his parents
and his brother, Jonathan Patterson Chapin, bought land in sections 5. 6, 22.
of that town. His father was born March, 1790, and died December 29, 1865 ;
his mother was born in 1794 and died April 2^,, 1873. He married Septem-
ber 29, 1847. Loretta, daughter of David Walker Hyde and Dorothy Church.
She was born in Bennington county, in 1824; came with her parents to Linn
in 1846; died August 26, 1894. Mr. Chapin served eight times on the county
board and in 1856 as assemblyman, having been elected over Dr. Ezra A.
Mulford. He died April 20, 1904. His second wife, Lucina Hotchkiss, died
November 18, 1905.

Silas Barnum Chatfield, son of Levi Chatfield, Jr., was a cousin of
that Levi Starr Chatfield who, for a term of office between 1845 and 185 1
was state treasurer of New York, and for whom a Minnesota county was
named. Silas was born in Connecticut, October 21, 1822; lived as a boy in
Chenango and Madison counties; came to Troy from Ohio in 1846; married
Mary E. Holcomb, December 22, 1849. She died December 31, 1854, leaving
two children. In 1857 he married Catharine L. G., daughter of Jacob Kling
and Dorothy Gasper. There were seven children of this marriage. He died
February 8, 1908. Mrs. Chatfield was for nearly thirty years a contributor of
"items" to the newspaper at Elkhorn, relating to the families within the Adams
post office delivery.

Augustus Jackman Cheney, son of Moody Cheney and Susan Bur-
bank, daughter of Paul Jackman, was born at Byfield, Massachusetts, March
1, 1837: was graduated from Dartmouth College in [857; came to Racine in
1858 and the next year to Delavan as principal of the high school. In [862
he was chosen county superintendent of schools, — the first to hold that office,
for Walworth county, and was re-elected in 1864. In May, 1864, he raised
a company of which he was captain — Company F, Fortieth Infantry, for one
hundred days' service. On his return he raised Company K. Forty-ninth
Infantrv. for one year's service, and was successively captain and major.

^OO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

While in this later service he was detailed for various duties requiring tech-
nical knowledge and sound judgment. These military services took him away
from his duties as a school officer, and his second term was served by Osmore
R. Smith. He was among the earlier members of the State Teachers' Associa-
tion, and one of the most intelligent and active among them. He was western
manager for various school-book publishers, among them G. & C. Merriam.
He made his home, several years ago, at Oak Park, Illinois, but his business
was largely in Wisconsin, and there were few great soldier-meetings in this
county or state that he failed to attend. To the end of his life he seemed to
his old friends of the sixties as still one of "Old Walworth'' ; while between
him and such of his pupils as had obeyed him as captain the bond was two-
fold and not to be broken. He died at Oak Park, February 27, 1907. He
had married at Racine, August 5, 1862, Sybil Ann, daughter of Duncan Sin-
clair and Lucretia Ashley, who, with an adopted son, lives ( 191 1 ) at Oak Park.
Major Cheney's ancestors were John1, Peter2, John3, Edmund4, Moses5, Jona-
than0, Mark7, Moodys. Rufus Ellis Cheney, of Whitewater, had only the
first of these ancestors, and thus was the major's fourth-cousin twice removed.

Ebenezer Chesebro, son of Christopher6 (Elisha543, Samuel2, Will-
iam1) and Abigail Williams, was born June 27, 1784, at Stonington, Con-
necticut ; married Anna Griswold ; moved to Berne, Albany county ; came early
to Darien, with Christopher Columbus and Jabez Brooks Chesebro, his sons,
where they bought land in sections 1, 11, 14, 15, 19. One of his children,
Ariadne I'., was born or became deaf. This misfortune gave him a quick-
ened interest in mute-instruction, and for a few years his house became a
schoolhouse for her and a few others like afflicted. As if for him it was a
logical conclusion from his first step he moved effectively about the county and
at Madison to secure a state school for the deaf at Delavan. Another daugh-
ter, Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Nelson Lee), made her name memorable by her

ice in federal military hospitals. He died February 10, 1867. Mr-.
Chesebro was born May 15, 1784; died September iS, [866. Their children
were Eliza Ann ( Mrs. John Martin). Jabez Brooks (married Mary Simpson) ;
Edwin I. married sisters. Jane and Clara Nessle ; William D. (married Mary
Jane Chase) ; Mary Elizabeth; Christopher Columbus (married Maria John-
son), Wickham Ebenezer (married Almira J. and Charlotte E. Whiston) ;
Washington (married Caroline A. Hastings) ; Aaron 1 married Lvdia Gardi-

l; Vbigail Isabella: Samuel (married delta [ves) ; Ariadne P., born 1820
and dud \pril 26, 1858.

James Child was son of William Child and Susan Deake. His colonial
ancestors were Ephraim1, Benjamin2, Ephraim8* Increase0, Salmon8 and

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 5OI

wife Olive Rose. Hon. Salmon Child was a soldier of the Revolution, who
was born at Woodstock, Connecticut, September 19, 1765, died January 28,
1856. William Child was born January 4, 1798; died April 24, 1865; Susan
was born December 26, 1796; died April 17, 1865. James Child was born
August 23, 1823, at Greenfield, Saratoga county; died near East Troy, Novem-
ber 24, 1901. He, with his parents and grandfather are buried at Hickory
Grove, Spring Prairie. This family came to section 1 of Lafayette in 1847,
from Gorham, Xew York. September 15th of that year James married
Esther, daughter of Melzer Dinsmore. She was born March 4, 1827, and
now lives at East Troy. In i860 Mr. Child was a member of Assembly.
chosen over Gregory Bentley. From 1877 he served twelve years as county
surveyor, but derived small revenue from that office. He was well taught in
geometry and trigonometry, and was skillful in the use of his professional in-
struments. Mr. and Mrs. Child were for long members of the Baptist church
at East Troy. Outside of the church James Child was evenly just and kind,
and was a man with whom to talk on matters in general was not a waste of
his hearer's time. Of eleven children four are living, one of whom is of his
father's profession.

Cyrus Church, grandson of Uriah and son of Elijah Church and Violet
Holcomb. was born in New Haven county, July 27, 1817 ; came with parents in
1821 to Broome county, and in 1833 to Ohio; thence in 1838 to Walworth,
where he built a frame house, the second in that town. He was among the
foremost in organizing and developing schools, and had a good citizen's
interest in all town and county affairs. He married Emeline Russell, Decem-
ber 17, 1843 : sne died June 2^. [854, leaving five children. He married, second.
Mary, daughter of John Boorman (born at Maidstone. England, June 5,
1828 J ; had three children. He died January 7, 1899.

Alvin Dexter Clapp was son of James Clapp and ( Irilla, daughter of
Nathaniel Field4 ( Zebulon3. Richard-, John1, of Providence) and wife Sarah
Leonard. Mr. Clapp was born in 1814 at Taunton, Massachusetts; in 1840
married Martha Dinsmore Viles, daughter of Joseph Viles and Eleanor I Ieald ;
came to section 9, Geneva, in 1847; died August 28, 1898. Mrs. Clapp was
born in .Maine in [819; died November [8, [896. Eli (1843-1863), their only
son, a promising young man, died in military service at Helena, Arkansas.
Of their two daughters, Orilla is Mrs. Samuel Decatur, and Mareda is Mrs.
Edward M. Waffle, of Elkhorn.

Dr. Henry Clark was born in the state of New York, July 10, 1793.
He came in 1839 to section 16 of Walworth — quite opportunely, since he had
there and then but one professional competitor. At the three sessions of the

502 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

last territorial council, 1847-8, he served as member for the county. His wife
was Lorinda Coon and their children were twelve, a patriarchal number. Dr.
Clark died April 16, 1853. Mrs. Clark was born March 16, 1814; died
.March 5, 1896.

Dr. Joseph A. Clarke was born at Stowe, Lamoille county, Vermont,
September 23, 1813; came with his parents in 1831 to Townshend, Ohio;
studied medicine at Bellevue, Huron county, Ohio; married Mary Jane Sted-
man in 1840 and came to Whitewater, in 1845 became a partner of Dr.
Willard Rice. He died in 1873. He was the "beloved physician" of early
Whitewater.

Edwin Delos Coe (Orris K.T. Seth", Ephrainr' *, John 3, Robert- 1) was
son of Orris Kirtland Coe and Paulina Stevens, daughter of Thomas Bushnell
and Nancy Blood. He was born at Ixonia, Jefferson count}', Wisconsin, June
11, 1840; married Emma Ellsworth, daughter of Joseph Spaulding, of Janes-
ville, September 26, 1865; had five children, of whom Joseph Spaulding Coe
died in 1896, in his twenty-third year. Mr. Coe was educated at the Univer-
sities at Beaver Dam and Madison; enlisted and served two years in Company
A, First Wisconsin Cavalry; studied law at W'atertown and practiced at
Janesville ; gained newspaper experience at Watertown and Beloit ; bought
the Register at Whitewater in 1871 ; was elected to the Assembly in 1878 over
Daniel K. Sanford, and to that of 1879 over George H. Smith ; was chief clerk
of the Assembly of 1882; defeated in 1890 for secretary of state; was post-
master at Whitewater 1891-1895; chairman of the Republican state central
committee in 1896; and was United States pension agent at Milwaukee under
Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt — eight or more years. The congressional
district convention of 188(1 was held at Elkhorn. The leading candidates
were Lucien B. Caswell, with Jefferson and Rock at his back, and Henry A.
Cooper, obstinately supported 1 \ Racine and Kenosha. Nobody could win
without Walworth, and her delegates offered successively Newton M. Little-
john, Thompson D. Weeks, and Edwin I). Coe. The choice at last fell again
upon Caswell. Mr. Coe died Ma\ 5. 1909.

( >rrin 1 1 \ 1 1 11 ( oe, a third cousin of Edwin IX Coe, was thus descended :
Robert1 '-'. John3, Ephraim4, Aaron"', [thamar8, Martin ( >.T His parents were
Martin < >liver Coe ( [786-1861 ) and Clara (1790-1863), daughter of Timothy
I Catch and Abigail Porter, and a sister of Mrs. Sophia S. Noyes. < )rrin 1 1. Coe
was born August 8, (8 1 6, and married Louisa Nowland. He came to Chicago in
[836 and thence to Geneva with his mother's sister's son, Charles V Noyes,
and had some pari with him in the negotiations For a share in the mill-site.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 503

Joseph Collie, son of George Collie and Alary Ross, was born in
Aberdeenshire, November 14, 1825. He was left fatherless in his boyhood,
and in 1836 his mother came with her children to the neighborhood of Aurora,
and a few years later to Plattville, Wisconsin. He seemed a predestined
student and teacher, and he continued his education from the common school
to an academic course at Mineral Point, and thence to Beloit College, where
he was graduated about 1851. He had worked his way to this end as many
an American boy has done, and this under somewhat unusual difficulty, that
of congenital lameness. In 1854 he was graduated from Andover, and in
1855 was ordained and installed in the Congregational church at Delavan,
and continued in its pastorate through his active life. He married November 4,
1856, Ann Eliza, daughter of Rev. Lucius Eoote. He died July 8, 1904. For
many years he owned a bit of land at the entrance of Williams Bay. on the
north shore of Geneva Lake, with a landing place for steamers. — likely to be
known long hence as long heretofore to local geographers as Camp Collie.

Nicholas Spencer Comstock, son of Aaron ( 1769-1843) and wife
Patience, daughter of Nicholas Spencer, was born at West Greenwich, Rhode
Island, November 5, 1802; married, first, Mavilla Evans; second, Catharine
Mulks (1822-1879). He came to Darien in 1837 and bought government
land in sections 7, 9. In 1845 he, with Salmon Thomas, were chosen town as-
sessors. He died at Darien, October 3, i860.

David Coon was born in Rhode Island, March id, 1785; lived in Madi-
son and Jefferson counties, New York; in 1852 followed his sons to the town
of Walworth; died June 9, 1858. Alary Bentley, his wife, was born June 5,
1787; died September 25, 1870. Not enough has been gathered as yet from
family records to determine all of their children or next nearer kindred.
Gardner Coon (1808-18791 and wife Damans (1808-1883) hail children,
William, Henry, Charlotte, Alzina. David Coon. Jr., (1810-1886) married
Hannah M. (1818-1889), daughter of Stephen Clark and Judith Maxon;
their children were Louisa and Lucy. Elisha Bentley Coon 1 1817-1901 1 and
wife Louisa had daughters Catharine and Caroline. Ik- had been a teacher
in his wander-years, and among his pupils had been John Griffin Carlisle, ol
Kentucky. Charles Douse Coon (born 1825) and wife Cynthia X. Crandall
(born [826) had children Charles. Mary. William. Some of these names
and dates may he incomplete and inexact. They are shown by the census of
[860, which also shows, in the same town, Dr, Nathan Coon (aged thirty-
eight), wife Penna (aged thirty-seven), daughter Josephine (aged fourteen).
Also, Orrin Coon (aged forty-eight), wife Mary (aged forty-seven), daugh-

504 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ters Catharine (aged nineteen), Harriet (aged fifteen). George Coon (aged
twenty) lived with William Clark. Besides these, Marshall Coon (1856-1908)
married, first, Lucy Campbell; second, Luella Crandall. He left two sons.

Harlow Merrill Coon did not suppose himself related to David. He
was son of Ezra Coon and Cyrena (or Serena) Burdick, and was born in
Otsego county February 14, 1819. He came in 1843 to section 25, Walworth.
For some years he was in retail business at the village and then returned to
farm management. He died April 13, 1899. His wife, Harriet E. Crumb,
was born March 3, 1823; died November 10, 1884. Children: Phoebe S. (once
a teacher at the seminary), Eva H., Harlow Irving.

George Cotton, son of Nathaniel Cotton and Prudence Goodwin, was
born at Claremont, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, January 5, 1815; edu-
cated at the Hopkinton Academy and at the military school, Norwich, Ver-
mont. After a few journeyings in the South and the West, he went home and
married May 8, 1844, M. Maroa Chillis, of Newport, New Hampshire, and
came in that year to a Darien farm. He was four times a member of the
county board for that town, and was chairman of that body in 1852. The
next year he moved to Delavan village, where, in 1854, he became postmaster
for a term of four years. His politics shut him from the larger places, but he
was found useful in unpaid municipal stations, including presidency of the
village. In 1878 he became president of the Citizens Bank. He died Decem-
ber 8, 1886, and Mrs. Cotton"s death followed quickly, March 27, 1887. Mr.
Cotton was short, stout, swarthy, keen-eyed, an excellent appraiser of property
and of personal values, a shrewd investor of money, an easy-mannered neigh-
bor, ami a good citizen, lie was an old-fashioned Democrat, not subject to
change with time or circumstance.

Dyar Lamottk Cowdery was descended from William1, Nathaniel-,
Samuel3, Nathaniel4, William"' '', Lyman7. The last-named, son of William
and wife Rebecca Fuller, was horn in [802 and died in 1881. He married in
1825 Eliza, daughter of Robert Alexander and Catharine Campbell. He was
admitted to law practice, served a term as county clerk, and a few months as
county judge. The children were Helen Mar (Mrs. Darius Coman), Sophia
Amanda (Mrs. Francis A. Liter), Dyar L., Lyman Emmet. Mrs. Cowdery
was learned in all household wisdom and well experienced in ways of neigh-
borly goodness; wherefore the Judge was used to say thai Dyar was his
mother's boy. and in this he judged mother and son truly and kindly. She was
born in 1S05 and died in 1879.

Dyar was born at Arcadia, New York, January 5, 1833. The family
came in 1846 from Kirtland. Ohio, to Elkhorn. The common school, the

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 505

printing office, and a few years in California filled his time until 1859. He
worked at the Independent office as foreman and at times as editor-substitute
from that year till 1875, when he followed Mr. Dewing as county clerk and
served until his death, May 10, 1900. He had married at Richmond, Illinois,
Lydia Malvina, daughter of Sylvanus Aldrich and Lydia Crandall, November
24, 1864. Of their two children Edith Aldrich died in bright young woman-
hood, and Kirke Lionel is a professor of the French language and literature at
Oberlin. The county clerk's records show the minutely nice habits of mind
and hand which had made Mr. Cowdery a skillful and tasteful printer. His
thorough knowledge of the county's business made him for long an invaluable
county-seat correspondent of the Whitewater Register, of whom Mr. Coe often
spoke with his characteristically generous judgment.

Judge Cowdery's brother, Dr. Warren A. Cowdery, married Patience
Simonds. of Pawlet, Vermont. Of their children Martius Dyar Cowdery,
long a resident of the town of Geneva, was born at LeRoy, New York, Octo-
ber 29, 1819; married, first, Caroline B. Craig; second, Vesta L. Lawrence.
He died April 26, 1898.

Oliver Cowdeiy, one of the prophet Joseph Smith's "witnesses," was
another son of William Cowdery. After the prophet's death he left the
stricken church, and a few years later died also.

Pitt Noble Cravath, only son of Prosper Cravath and Maria P. Noble,
was born in town of Lima, Rock county, August 1, 1844; his parents moved
the next year to Whitewater ; he was graduated from the State University in
'63; served as private of Company D, Fortieth Wisconsin Infantry, in '64;
was graduated from Albany law school in '65; married Alarcia Dowd at
Waukesha. October 20, 1867 ; went to Louisiana in 1868 and served two years
as assistant secretary of state. Returning, after a short stay at Milwaukee, he
went to Algona, Kossuth county, Iowa, where for five years he practiced law
and editorship. In 1870 he was again at Whitewater, and at once began to
publish the Puddingstick, — shortly renamed Chronicle. At first it was an
organ of a loosely bound opposition to political and local policies supported by
the Register. In 18X4 he supported Cleveland, — and. about this time, had Sam-
uel Bishop as a law partner. He sold his paper a little later, and gave his time
to law practice and to his duty as city surveyor. His wife, who had been to
him in some ways more than wives commonly are u> husbands, died October
20, 1898. He died November 28, 1898. Mr. Steele says of him: "Kind and
genial in all his ways, he filled a peculiar niche in the affections of all who knew
him."

506 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Prosper Cravath, eldest son, and one of sixteen children of Deacon
Prosper Cravath and Miriam Kinney, was born at Cortland-
ville, New York, May 28, 1809; began study of law in 1829; married Maria
Prudence, daughter of Solomon Noble, March 27, 1834. He came in 1839
from Lime Ridge, Huron county, Ohio, to the north half of section 13,
Lima, — about three miles from the site of Whitewater. The earliest settlers
did not bound all their affairs strictly by county and town lines. Thus it may
have been that Mr. Cravath appeared at Squire Mead's court in June, 1S39, as
counsel in the cause of William Birge vs. Willard B. Johnson, an account for
labor and goods and against it an account in offset ; Warner Earle for plaintiff,
Cravath for defendant. Earle was out-generaled and lost. Thus began legal
contention at Whitewater. In 1843 Mr. Cravath was admitted to practice in
courts of Jefferson county, and in 1845 removed to Whitewater. He served
town and village variously as clerk, supervisor, justice, and the village as
postmaster. He was member of Assembly for the first session, June, 1848.
He was defeated for county judge in 1848 and for district attorney in 1850.
He died May 20, 1886. Mrs. Cravath, born at Blandford, Hampden county,
Massachusetts, August 20, 1813, died at Whitewater, February 11, 1890.
Early Whitewater was in many neighborly ways indebted to this grand old
couple, and these obligations are still willingly admitted. To Mr. Cravath
more than to any of his neighbors the county, town, and city owe the gather-
ing and preservation of most of the names, dates and facts relating to the set-
tlement and development of the old town of Elkhorn. As not seldom happens,
the historian has told much less of himself than posterity would read with
interest and pleasure. He need not have told all. nor was there need to sup-
press an) thing.

Booth Beers Davis, son of Gershom Davis and Margaret Vorhees, was
born in 1X10; perhaps in Delaware county, New York. He came to a farm in
I 'ins about 1841. He lost both legs by freezing when hauling a load of flour
to or from Fort Winnebago. In 1842 he came to Elkhorn as register of deeds,
and at the end of his term remained here till his death, February 20, 18S0. lie
had married Adeline Irene, daughter of Joseph Barker, at Batavia, New
York, • )ctober 24. [833. I fer father was afterward one of the early settlers of
Sugar Creek. Mr, Davis went into business as a dealer in dry goods and
groceries, and until the crash of [857 had a large and apparent!) profitable
trade I le went under, as did all his neighbors, but started anew and struggled,
with moderate success, till the end of living and striving. Mis wife died at
cago, September 2, [892. One of his daughters, Adeline, was wife of
Henr\ Fish Spooner. The other, Frances Augusta, was wife of Dr. Louis
Joseph Kords, of Burlington.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 507

John Potter Davis, grandson of John Davis, son of Peter Davis
(1800-18O1) and wife Rebecca J. Kingsnorth (1809-1892;, was born at Wood-
church, Kent, England, July 9, 1834, and came to America in 1850, and lived
at Deans vilie, Oneida county, New York. He married December 12, 1855,
Mary, daughter of John Alack and Electa Truby, December 12, 1855, at
Stockbridge, Madison county, where she was born March 6, 1837. In 1857 he
came to Oakland, Wisconsin, and thence in 187O to section 7 of Richmond.
Mr. Hulce, a poor commissioner, induced him and his wife in 1882 to under-
take the management of the county poor farm and the care of its inmates.
Their administration, from which they retired in 1901, earned for them the
fullest approval of the commissioners, the county supervisors, and the com-
munity,— and, though yet living, a place in the county history. Their children
were: Emma Luella (Mrs. Franklin Gage), Edgar Monroe (married Helen
Goodhue), John Frederick (died in his first year), Mabel Josephine (Airs.
Charles Kinne Dunlap).

Johx W. Denison was son of John Denison, Jr., and Martha Coe. His
mother was daughter of Daniel Coe and his wife Martha. Her grandparents
were those of Edwin D. Coe's father. Air. Denison was born at Durham,
Greene county, New York, April 6, 1819. His parents moved about 1829 to
the Genesee valley. He was bred to business at Spencerport, and from there
came in 1847 t0 East Troy to establish the branch house of E. H. Ball & Co.
He continued in the business of both eastern and western concerns until [866,
when he came to buy, with Leonard A. Tanner, the paper mill at Whitewater.
At Spencerport he had married Alary A., daughter of Julius A. Perkins,
March 9, 1854. They had four children. Mr. Denison served five terms as
village member of the county supervisors. He died September 8, [897. I lis
lather was born in 1778. in Connecticut; died September 15. [853. I lis
mother was born in 1781 ; died October 5, 1852.

Julius Derthick, son of Ananias Derthick and Tryphena Skinner, was
born at Winchester, Connecticut. September 30, C795; married Esther Mon
roe at Sharon, Connecticut. December 30. 1821. She was born at Cornwall.
Connecticut. March 26, 1799, and died April 12. [879. Their children w<
born in Connecticut. New Jersey and Ohio. In [854 he bought a farm in
Lafayette: served as supervisor in [860, and died at home Augusl m. [863.
He had four daughters and two sons, one of whom was twice sheriff, the
other a member of the Legislature.

Walter Georcp: Dkkiiik k. -on of Julius Derthick and Esther Monroe,
was born at Shalersville. Portage county, Ohio, December 8, 1839; came to
Lafayette in 1854; married Mary, daughter of Nathaniel Hell and Sarah L.

508 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Cook, August _'0, 1 80S. (After her mother's early death Mrs. Derthick's child-
hood and young womanhood were passed in the family of her uncle, Dr.
Mills.) Mr. Derthick was active in town and county politics, and was some-
times chosen justice of the peace. In 1882 he was Assemblyman, elected over
Edward D. Page. He died September 13, 1905. He was a prince among
good fellows. A son, Julius Mills Derthick, was a soldier of the war of 1898.
The only daughter, Helen Bell, is a teacher at Elkhorn.

Ely Bruce Dewing (Dextere, Jeremiah5, Solomon4, Andrew321),
seventh of eight children of Dexter Dewing and Deidamia Weaver, was born
at French Creek, Chautauqua county, New York, June 21, 1834. His parents
came to Elkhorn in 1843, where he finished his schooling. He learned printer's
ways at Centerville, Michigan, and at White Pigeon. He married, August 15.
1855, Elizabeth, daughter of George Dixon and Theresa Sowerby. Commer-
cial pursuits, a few small investments in village real estate, sports of held and
stream, and local politics occupied him until 187G, when ill health forced him
to less strenuous life, in 1873 he began work as local contributor to the Lake
Geneva Herald, but did not bind his pen to "rural scoops"; for it rambled in a
way that delighted many readers and but mildly rasped a few. He wrote a few
songs for his friend Webster's music — his pen-names, "Edwin Bruce," "Luke
Collins." "Paul Vane." Among these were "All Rights for All," "Get
Out of Mexico," "Our Soldiers' Welcome Home," "There's a Light in the
Window for Ale." "The Past We Can Never Recall." "The Spring at the
Foot of the I [ill," "Under the Beautiful Stars." "To Little Hattie Harvey," —
perhaps few or none of them now in demand. He had served the village as
supervisor, and was experienced in affairs of the county. In 1878 he was
chosen assemblyman over Hollis Latham, the one man in the district whom a
coalition of Democrats. Greenbackers and anti-Reynolds Republicans might
hope to elect. In the contest at this session of Howe. Carpenter and Keyes
for a I'nl! term in the Federal Senate, Mr. Dewing voted for Horace Rublee.
His editorship, [884 88, and service in the circuit clerk's office. iSNu-04. have
been told. In 1900 he became president of a new board of library directors,
his last public service. While canvassing the county for his return to the
kship (if the circuit, a short, sharp illness closed his useful and honorable
lift-. VugUSl 7. Hi'1-'. It might he said of him that he touched nothing but to
do it well, and often admirably. One of the most modest of men. few or none
of his friends knew all his intellectual measure.

Myron Edwin Dewing, sixth child of Dexter and Deidamia, was born
at French Creek, New York, March 27. [832. At two years old. having
Stumbled with hands reaching forward, and fallen into the embers of an out-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 509

door chip-tire, all his fingers were so burned as to maim him for life. When
his forearms rolled outwardly the baby fingers were seen folded upon the
palms, under a new covering skin. The more usual appearance was that of
amputation at the wrists, the effect of longer cuffs to shirt and coat. This
mishap was of advantage to his brother, born a few weeks later; for the
younger became to the elder a bodyguard in their childhood and a close com-
panion in study in their youth. Both were thus taken from the trowel and
builder's scaffold for other usefulness. He qualified himself at common
schools for teaching, and thus earned means for more liberal self-education.
He was a fair Latinist, and between himself and Ely some graceful transla-
tions were made from such scraps of French and German literature as fell in
their way. He made himself a good marksman, a bold and graceful horseman,
and taught his stumps to move his pen freely and with clerkly neatness over
papers and record books. He could deal skillfully from a pack of cards, open
his mail and his pocket-book, and shift for himself in most ways. His tongue
was witty, keen, caustic, and made for him friends and unharming enemies.
He was most annoyed by impertinent curiosity. In 1856 he was elected clerk
of the county board over Charles Daniel Handy, and served till his death,
March 26, 1874. He had lived with his parents until their death, and with Ely
until his own. He left to his brother and his sister, .Miss Melvina, his small
property interests and his library of one thousand volumes, — bought mostly by
himself and well read by all three. In 1901 these heirs gave six hundred and
fifty volumes to the new free library, still held together as the Dewing Col-
lection, and these unusually well chosen books give some distinction to the
whole array of shelving.

John DeWolf, son of John DeWolf and Eunice Ludington, was born
at Frankfort. Xew York, June 7, 1817; came from Otsego county in [85 | to
Darien, where he bought two hundred or more acres of good farm land;
served his town three terms as its member of the county supervisors; served
the Baptist church at Delavan as deacon, and the Citizens Bank at that city as
a stockholder; was chosen assemblyman for the session of i860 over Robert
R. Menzie; died September 7, 1895. His wife was Susan Emeline, daughter
of Samuel Vinton and Lydia Merry. She was born in Herkimer county, June
7. 1 S 1 7 : married October 31, [838; died September 7. 1893. Their children
were Myron (married Julia Gray), Rev. Delavan (married Minnie Churchill),
Elizabeth (Mrs. George Fisk), Etta (Mrs. Charles T. [sham). Deacon
DeWolf was an upright man, who prospered honorably, and whose advice in
the general conduct of business was regarded as sound.

5IO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

William DeWolf, son of Jabez and wife, Thankful Fairchild, was born
at Bridgewater, Xew York, Jul}' 21, 1821 ; came to LaGrange in 1842 and
bought a farm on Heart Prairie; in November, 1845, ne married Eunice
Lucena. daughter of Morris F. Hawes and Sarah Lounsbury, of Richmond.
In 1852 he became a partner with Lucius A. Winchester in the business of
plow-making, and as hardware dealers. About 1878 he built and operated a
mill for making wire cloth. He was living in 1906. Mrs. DeWolf was born
in 1824; died February 5, 1904. Of their four children (in i860) Xettie
became Mrs. Henry H. McGraw, and Mannering M. became an officer of the
Custer Rifles.

Nathaniel Dickinson, grandson of Nathaniel and Theoda and son of
John and wife Eleanor Hicks, was born at Calais, Vermont, December 20,
1810; became a joiner and building contractor; worked at Boston, and at
1 laverhill, Xew 1 lampshire ; was member of a military company at Boston, and
a captain of New Hampshire militia ; married at East Calais, January 2(1, 1841,
I'hila, daughter of Artemas Foster and Priscilla Titus. (Her father-ancestors
were Rev. Thomas1, Thomas2, John3, Chillingsworth4, Nathaniel"', Thomas6,
Artemas7. Her mother-line of Titus was Robert1, John'-', Thomas34, Mi-
chael", Priscilla6. ) In 1843 he came to Burlington village, was a supervisor for
four years, member of count}' board two years, and justice two years, in
[846 he was member of committee on boundaries and name of state in the
firsl constitutional convention. Under Governor Dewey he was captain of
< ompany G, Fourth Wisconsin Militia. He came to Spring Prairie in 1854,
li> Delavan in i860, and to Elkhorn in [863. Mrs. Dickinson was born at
Easl Calais. April 10, 1815; died at Elkhorn, March [3, [873. Mr. Dickin-
son's death was March 14, 1883. They had live children. One of these,
Ransom Cass, was born ai Burlington and died there. His father's military
preceptor in Vermont was Col. Truman B. Ransom, who was killed at Cha-
pultepec in command of the Ninth United States Infantry. Mr. Dickinson
\\a- all his life of the unwavering Democratic old guard, that could die hut
would join neither I'reesoilers nor Greenbackers. For the rest, he had the
usual quota of civic and domestic virtues, with the none too usual qualities of
resoluteness in doing and in enduring, and that of unvarying temper that could
not In' upsel h\ trifles nor could be tempted to hasty speech or action.

Josiah Dodge, grandson of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Rumsey and son of
losiah |)<«lge and Phoebe Wilson, was born in Seneca county, Xew York, in
1 Ski; came to < ienesee count) in [818; married , first. Julia, daughter of 1 high
I ong, in [834; came to Darien in (843; his wife died 111 )\u\c. [867; her
children were l.osette, Mary. Hugh. Phoebe. Julia. Delia M. He married,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 5II

second, Airs. Susan (Champion), widow of Charles Hastings, in 1872. He
died October 10, 1886.

Leander Dodge, son of Josiah and Phoebe, was born at Romulus, New
York, April 10, 1802; married Harriet, daughter of Orange Carter, November
28, 1827; bought farm in section 28, Darien, in 1838; in 1866 moved to
Lyons, where he died October 22, 1880. His children were Eugene, Wilson
Rumsey, Levant, Laura, Leroy, Amelia L., Elizabeth, Harriet, William. Wil-
son R. Dodge married Susan F., daughter of Cyrus Lippit. Amelia L- was
second wife of Hon. Joseph F. Lyon, — an admirable home-maker.

Christopher Douglass was twice descended from William and Ann,
who came to Boston in 1640, and to New London about 165 1. He was son of
Capt. Daniel-1 (Robert4, Thomas3, Robert-, William1), and Lydiar' (William4,
Richard3, William- 1) ; that is, these were third-cousins. Christopher was
born February 22, 1787, at Xew London, Connecticut; married Phoebe Doug-
lass, his mother*s brother William Jr.'s granddaughter. Her parents were
Ivory Douglass and Phoebe Smith. He came from Cattaraugus county, New
York, to section 28, Walworth, in 1837, with ten children. He was chairman
of the board of county commissioners. 1840-2. and a supervisor in 1848. He
was one of the earliest school commissioners. He died February 16, 1867.
His children were : Oscar Houghton, Christopher Columbus, Aurilla Ann,
Roxana Columbia. Maria Theresa, Gilbert Lafayette, Phoebe Angeline, Agnes
Noailles, Carlos Lavallette, Maria Louisa Josephine.

George Washington Dwinnell, son of Solomon and Mary, was born
at Millbury, Massachusetts, October 6, 1818; came to Lafayette in 1838; mar-
ried Abigail Catherine Wilson, November 16, 1845. About 1880 he bought
the Squire Lee house, at Elkhorn, and a few years later went to Pawnee City,
Nebraska, where he died July 24, 1892. His wife was daughter of Alexander
Wilson and Abigail, daughter of George and Abigail Bishop. She was born at
Waynesburg, Ohio, April 11, 1827; died at Pawnee City, April 22, 1902. Their
children are: Emily M. (Mrs. Smith A. Hartwell), and Mary A. (Mrs.
Frank L. Bennett).

Solomon Ashley Dwinnell (Solomon1 '■, Henry-, Jonathan1), son of
Solomon Dwinnell and Mary Ashley, was born at Lee, Berkshire county,
Ma>sachusetts, August 9, 1812 (eldest of eight children); was educated at
Phillips Academy; came in 1836, by way of Indiana, to Lafayette, where he
bought land in sections n, 14. 18, 20, 23, 24 for himself and brothers,— their
father at Millbury advancing money needful. He passed the hard winter of
1836-7 in a new cabin and in the spring set about the work of founding a
countv on a basis no narrower than that of evangelical religion, anti-slavery,

512 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

total abstinence, and public instruction. He preached, plowed, lectured, or-
ganized, served as justice of the peace, and as station master on the "under-
ground railway." These things and more he did until duty or inclination sent
him, in 1850, to Reedsburg, where he founded a Congregational church and
became its pastor, after his ordination in 1853. He urged, among other
things, suppression (by statutory enactment) of profanity and Sunday-
breaking. He married, at or near Keene, New Hampshire, April 24, 1837,
Lydia Herrick Gove, daughter of John Gove and Lydia Herrick. He died at
Reedsburg, June 15, 1879. His wife was born in New Hampshire, January
18, 181 1 ; died at Amiret, Minnesota, October 16, 1892. Their children are:
Frances (Mrs. J. Perry Elliott, of Indianapolis); Osgood Herrick; Harriet
(Mrs. Samuel John Smock); Eugene Ashley (married Mary Beery); Mary
(Mrs. William H. Finch), Herbert Augustus (married Fanny Longley). Mr.
Dwinnell seems to have been unable to finish his reminiscences of Walworth
county and two of its towns, and after his death his manuscripts were sent to
the State Historical Society. Since so little else of the kind has been preserved,
these papers are of much value to such as care to study the beginnings of new
communities.

Elijah Easton was born at Afton, Chenango count}'. New York, May
18, 1815; came to Walworth in 1842; served in Assembly of 1851, having
been elected over William P. Allen and Lyman H. Seaver; went to California
in i860; to Minnesota in 1866; died at Owatonna, February 27, 1905.

Julius Lyman Edwards was a son of Julius Edwards and Theodosia,
daughter of Solomon Lyman and wife, Lois. His older ancestors were Alex-
ander'. Benjamin2846. He was born at Northampton. Massachusetts, Sep-
tember 29, 1821 ; came in 1839 to a farm in section 27, Sugar Creek, and his
father bought parcels of land in Lafayette and Troy ; married March 5, 1846,
Wealthy Amanda, daughter of Seth Rust and Jerusha Starr. Her father's
ancestors were Henry1, Israel23 ' ■"'. She was born at Northampton, July 8,
[817; died at Elkhorn, April _>. 1906. In 1861 Mr. Edwards became presi-
dent "i the bank at Elkhorn, at which place he came to live about 1866. Ten

s later he became senior member of the dry goods firm of Edwards &
Preston, the junior being Dwight Preston, lie died August 4, 1890. His
children were Frances Adelaide (1848-1893) and Alice 1 Mrs. J. Edwin
Wheeler, of LaCrosse).

Simon Bi ei Edwards, son of Joseph Edwards and Abigail Bud, was

born at Windsor, Broome county, New York. November 10. 1815; went in

Sherburne, where he married March 8, 1838, Elizabeth Ann. daughter

of Isaac Underbill Wheeler and Lavina Duncan; came in 1839 to East Troy

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 513

and built for himself a blacksmith shop; also bought farm land in section 4,
(his father bought in section 15) ; did occasionally duty as supervisor; deputy
sheriff under Russell H. Mallory; was a working member of the Agricultural
Society and in 1S74 its president; moved in 1878 to Whitewater. His wife,
born April, 1818, died November 21, 1880, leaving seven of her eight children.
Mr. Edwards in 1885 married Mrs. Clarissa (Kuch), widow of J. Curtis
Utter. She was born at Great Bend, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and died January
23, 1889. Mr. Edwards died August 14, 1893.

Solomon Richard Edwards, son of Julius and Theodosia, was born at
Northampton, November 29, 1823; came to section 10, Sugar Creek, in 1839;
went back, to a seminary at East Hampton, for his better education; in 1848
went around Cape Horn to California, visited Honolulu, and in 1853 returned
to Sugar Creek, bringing home a large collection of stereoscopic views and
other memorials of his journeyings. He married April 12, 1854, Sarah
Almira, daughter of Augustus Smith and Almira Stiles, of Troy, and had a
son and a daughter. He was five times a member of the county board and
served often as justice. From 1894 he lived at Elkhbrn. where he died Octo-
ber 26. 1901. Mrs. Edwards was born at Hadley, Massachusetts, August 28,
1832, died at Chicago, December 31, 1904. Their children were Julius Augus-
tus and Helen Viola (Mrs. Frank Porter Stone).

Stephen R. Edgerton, son of Sims D. Edgerton and Harriet Benedict,
was born at Rome, New York, October 24, 1832; his father came in 1846 to
Spring Prairie and died there in 1873; he owned a farm in sections 13, 14.
Lafayette; married, first, Olive, daughter of David Tower Vaughn and
Rebecca Densmore, December 31, 1857; she died in 1877; he married, second,
Lila B.. daughter of Silas Patten and Charlotte T. Sweet: she died August 13,
1881. Mr. Edgerton's name may be found in the official lists of his town
and of the Agricultural Society. He was well read in the current literature
of farm and dairy, and took a ready talker's part in convention discussions.
He was elected to the .Assembly in 1870 over Maurice L. tyers. He moved
to Elkhorn in 1894, and died at his daughter's home, Oregon, Wisconsin,
April 9, 1901. A few years before his death he lost all his earlier thrift had
gained, by investments in lower Louisiana and on the Pacific coast.

I !i\\ \rii Elderkin was seventh of eleven children of \nihom Yeldorf
Elderkin and Pamela Fuller. His father's ancestry ran: Bela5, Col. Jedidiah4,
|(>hn:: - '. This famil) was long of Norwich, Connecticut. Edward was born
at Potsdam, New York, January 5, 1815; was academicall) educated; studied
law at Canton, the home of Silas Wright; came to Elkhorn in 1839; married

(33)

514 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mary Martha, daughter of Bennett Beardsley and first wife, Mrs. Susannah
(Johnson) Gardiner, December 25, 1843. (Mr. Beardsley's second and third
wives were sisters, Belinda and Frances Townsend, each of whom left chil-
dren.) About 1882 the family moved to Racine, where Colonel Elderkin
died December 11, 1887. Mrs. Elderkin died at Elkhorn. September 11, 1889.
They had seven children. Among the family papers is a commission signed
by Governor Dodge, February 10, 1841, naming Edward Elderkin as colonel
of the Sixth Regiment of Wisconsin militia. He bought a farm south of the
village, which produced excellent wild mustard. His clerical qualifications
were excellent, and on the whole he grew relatively wealthy with the growth
of the village, in which he laid out a southeast addition to the original plat.
He named two streets therein "Jackson" and "Wright." But a few years
later he became a Republican, and in 1872 turned again to Democracy. Colonel
Elderkin was a man of impulses. — seldom reflecting before acting, and some
lit his actions at law ami in business needed much excusing. He was one of
the kindest of men at home, and thoroughly sociable and democratic every-
where. If a neighbor or stranger fell sick he was at hand. If there was a case
(if cholera or smallpox in town he would take his turn with Lot Mayo and
see the patient made well or buried. His safeguard against contagion was
"in chew tobacco and swallow the juice." Mrs. Elderkin, like her sister, was
an early and lifelong member of the Episcopal church, and, like her sister's,
her life was filled with well-doing.

Charles Perkins Ellis, son of William Ellis and Rhoda, daughter of
< apt. Lamrock Mower, had ancestors, Richard', son of a British soldier in
[reland, came to New England in 1717: Reuben-'. David3. He was born at
Ashfield, Massachusetts, March jo, [812; lived in Pennsylvania and in Michi-
gan; came in 184-' I" section _' 1 , LaGrange; was a capable town officer and an
excellent citizen, lie married December 15. 1839, Sarah, daughter of Jere-
miah Harris and Priscilla, daughter of Barnabas Cole, lie died January jj.
[881, Mrs. Ellis was born at Henderson, New York, May 11. [816; died
January 7. 1894. Their children were Priscilla A. (Mrs. John E. Menzie),
James R.. ( 'harles E.

Hon. Stukely ELLSWORTH, born 1701. and wife Mercy, born 1775. at
some time went to Hart wick. Otsego county. Of their eight children at least
three came to Walworth county. Stukely Stafford Ellsworth was born at
I 1 .1 rt w irk. February 9, [803; married May 31, 1832, Nanc\ . daughter of
Nathan and Mary Field; came about 1846 to Lafayette; died August 21,
[881. Mrs. Ellsworth was born at ( Itsego, August 5, 1805; died October 19,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 515

1880. Their children were: Rosina (Mrs. Joseph Potter) ; Stewart D. (mar-
ried Elizabeth, daughter of Silas Ranney and Martha Sawyer) ; William
Pierce (married Jeannette Rebecca, daughter of Christopher YViswell and
Almira West): Mercy Ann (Mrs. Waldo Hartwell) ; Henry (married Mar-
tha Ann Gadsy ) ; Eugene.

Dr. Chester F. Ellsworth was born July 21, 1 8 1 0 : married Harriot R.
Smith, February 22, 1852; came to Spring Prairie about 1807 and to Elkhorn
a few years later. He died October 19, 1877. Mrs. Ellsworth was born at
Little York, Cortland county: died at Spring Prairie, May 2. 1899. Children:
Luella J. (Mrs. Leroy W. Merrick) ; Cora A.; Elmer.

John H. Ellsworth married Sophronia Pride and had sons, Julius M..
Lucien, Luzerne, Clarence.

Experience Estabrook was son of Seth Willey Estabrook and Hannah,
daughter of Moses Hibbard and Hannah Alden. His grandfather was Ex-
perience, son of Nehemiah, son of Rev. Samuel, son of Rev. Joseph, who
came to Massachusetts in [666. He was born at Lebanon, Grafton county.
New Hampshire. April 30, 1813 ; educated at common school, with private
teaching: studied law and was admitted to practice; came from Erie county.
New York, in 1840, to Geneva; was district attorney 1841-5 : married April 17.
1844. Caroline A., daughter of Col. James Maxwell; was chairman of com-
mittee on education and school funds in constitutional convention of 1847;
member of Assembly in 1851, chosen over Samuel D. Hastings and Cyrus
Rugg; attorney-general of Wisconsin, 1852-4; appointed attorney-general of
Nebraska Territory in 1855; claimed seat as delegate in thirty-sixth Con-
gress, but was not seated; died at Omaha, March 2<>, 1894.

George Esterlv, son of Peter and Rachel, was burn in Lister county,
New York. October 17, 1809. He was three times married. His first wife.
Jane Lewis, was mother of his eight children. In [860 their step-mother was
named Amelia and the children then at home were Mary, George \\ '.. Eva
(now Mrs. Joseph Hubert Page), and Emma. Mr. Esterly came to Heart
Prairie in 1837. where he bought nvrv than eleven hundred acres of land and
in 1843 sowed three hundred acres with wheat. His mind was of mechanical
turn, and here was stimulus for an inventor. By [856 bis reaping and mowing
machine was fully in the local market, and in its improved forms found other
markets. He attempted, by newspaper articles and pamphlets, t<> discuss and
settle some of the politico-economic problem- of hi- time, and his efforts found
admirers. "All in all, he was one of the most forceful and remarkable of
many strong men of Whitewater." He died about [893 at Hot Springs.
South Dakota.

516 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

John Allen Farnum, son of Jonathan Farnum (born 1760) and Let-
tice Kelly, was born in 1797; married Chloe Bennett; was at Hudson in 1842;
died in north Geneva, September 23, 1858. Chloe was born in 1808; died
March 3, i860. Their children, born between 1826 and 1843, were Ethan
B. (married Hannah M. Rouse) ; Alonzo L. (married Nancy Dean) ; Edgar
J.; Samantha B. ; Ezra C. (killed at Port Hudson) ; Lucy A.; Mary E.

Timothy Hopkins Fellows, son of Abiel Fellows, Jr., and Dorcas
Hopkins, had ancestors William1, Ephraim2 :;, Abiel4. He was born in Wyom-
ing valley March 14, 181 2; his parents removed to Kalamazoo county -in 1829;
he married December 1, 1831, Eliza Ann, daughter of William Duncan and
Ruth Gilmore; came to Bloomfield in 1839; served three terms in county
board; was assemblyman in 1852, chosen over Moses Seymour and Dr. Hilton
W. Boyce ; and in 1&53, having beaten Capt. Albert T. Wheeler and Dr. Lewis
X. Wood ; died November 5. 1894. Mrs. Fellows was born October 19, 1814;
died April 2^, 1887. Six of their children lived to maturity : Gilmore Duncan
(married 1. I Lien Augusta Noyes; 2. Dora II. Parmelee) ; Theodore A. died
February 10, 1912; Emma Jane ( Mrs. Emerson W. Peet) ; Anna E. (Mrs.
Edwin F. Duncan) ; Mary H. (Mrs. Orson S. Avery) ; Catharine L. (Mrs.
' larence X. Reynolds).

Andrew Ferguson was born at Laurens, New York, September 2j,
1803; in [822 went to Cooperstown and became a tanner and shoemaker;
married April 24, 1824. Lucretia S. Goodsell. In 1835. with Lewis B. Good-
sell, his brother-in-law, and George Campbell, he began a general retail busi-
ness in Dearborn street, near Lake street. Chicago. His attention was drawn
to the Brink-Payne war at Geneva, but was at first too prudent to risk much
of his capital in disputed titles. He moved his stuck of goods to Geneva, and
from 1S38 to 1850 was postmaster. After six years of farming in Linn he
returned, in [866, to Lake Geneva, where he died May 14, 1884. His wife had
did \]iril 3, [869, and he married Mr^. Mary L Maynard, September 2,
1873. lie \\a^ of the "Old Guard" of the county Democracy, and was there-
fore not often burdened with official duty; but he was not therefore less es-

u d a- a man. llis children were Ami. Thomas Henry, Charles Eugene.

Stephen Field ( Vbner8, William6, Jeremiah'. Thomas821), son of
Abner Field and Rebecca Payne, born in Windsor county, Vermont, January
to, 1701 : married Mary Jordan I [790-1840), March 7. iXia; died at East
Troy, January i~ , 1879. lie came to Mukwonago in [838; to section 20,
in (839; was member of the Territorial Legislature in 1845. Of
five children, Augusta ( 1818-1873) was unmarried. Martin married Sarah P.,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 517

daughter of James Meacham and Prudence W'allis, and moved to Mukwonago.
He was once a trustee of the State School for the Deaf. Mary (born 1S1 6)
was wife of Andrew E. Elmore. Stephen F. married the Sage's sister, Ellen,
daughter of Job Elmore. Rosanna (1825-1855) was wife of Alender O.
Babcock. Mr. Field was of a Federalist family, and passed naturally to the
Whigs and thence to the Republican party. He was a man of substance and
of influence among intelligent neighbors and townsmen.

James Flack, son of immigrants from Ireland, born 1782, married Polly
Powell, born 1792, and lived in Washington county, Xew York. Their chil-
dren were John Powell, Thomas. Margaret (Mrs. Thornton), Anna (Mrs.
David G. Lytic 1, Garrett, Richard B., James D.

Richard Baker Flack was born December 13, 1815; married Sophia,
daughter of John Armstrong and Elizabeth Lytle, March 20, 1838; came to
town of Gene-va in 1843; died at Elkhorn, October 30, 1887. Mrs. Flack was
born at Lisbon, St. Lawrence county, July 5. 181 5 : died at Elkhorn, February
3, 1901. Their children were James II., Wilbur, Alarada, Emma, Elmina
(Mrs. Duane D. Finch).

James Douglas Flack, born September 2j, 1828: married Sarah Eliza
Cook; died March 7, 191 1. Mrs. Flack was born in 1834; died March, 1909.
Children: Furness, Man,-, James, Alice, Lucy, Willie E.

John Flack, a brother of James, married a daughter of Capt. Isaac
Gray. Their son. James Adam, was torn in Washington county June 2, 1804;
married, first, Mary, daughter of Samuel Lytle; second, Martha, daughter of
Samuel Armstrong and Mary Gregg: came early to the town of Geneva; died
March X, [888. Mary's children were John G. David L. and Mary Ann 1 Mrs.
Daniel Gross). Martha's children were Arvilla (Mrs; Samuel Lytle, Jr.),
Ellen Genevra (Mrs. Henry Delap), Lydia Marilla. Charles Mortimer (mar-
ried Nellie Cruickshank).

John Gray Flack, born July 3, 1828; married December 18, 1849, Ellen
M., daughter of Daniel S. and Maria Benton; she died June 22. 1900; he mar-
ried Mrs. Hephsibah (Tomlinson) Allen, June 19, 1902; is yet living, at Elk-
horn.

David Lytle Flack was born at Lisbon, October 1. 1830: married, first,
Philinda, daughter of Richard Crandall and Abigail (Grain) Ransom; second,
Mrs. Adelia (Cady) Baldwin; third, Anna Wealthy Moody; 'lied April 20,
1893. Philinda's children were Hiram Crandall, Mary A., John A.

Nathaniel Foster was son of David Foster (a soldier of the Revolu-
tion) and Lydia Wrhite. Other ancestors were Thomas1 '-. John8, (hillings-

518 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

worth4, Nathaniel5. He was born May, 1786, at Williamstown, Massachu-
setts; came from Vermont to Sugar Creek; died August 27, 1870. Sarah
Leach, his wife, was born April 17, 1792; married in 1809; died February 14,
1867. Of their twelve children Jason, Jay and Asa came to Sugar Creek.

Jason Foster was born at Fairfield, Franklin county, Vermont, July 4,
[812; married Chloe Johnson; died November 24, 1880. Chloe was born
August 26, 1808; married in 1833; died April 25, 1887. Their children were
Hale (married Addie Ketchpaw), Eugenia (first, Mrs. McDougald; second,
Mrs. William H. Conger), Jane (Mrs. Stephen L. Russell). Sarah (Mrs. Ira
Rood), Edna (Mrs. Royal Potter).

Jay Foster was born at Fairfield, April 11, 1828; married December 31,
1854, Marcia, daughter of Loyal Leach and Elizabeth Bradley; died March 1,
1905, in Lafayette. Mrs. Foster was born July 24, 1834; died May 2, 1905.
Their children were: Dexie (Airs. Burton Webster). Ann (Airs. Rodney
Webster), Scott, Edith (Mrs. James Tripp), Edna (Mrs. Ernest A. West),
Angie (.Mrs. Homer Davis), Lora (Mrs. William Tripp), Alary 1 Airs. J.
Ashton Davis).

\s\ Foster was born at East Fairfield, Alay jt,, 1830; married Septem-
ber 23, 1858, Clarinda L.. daughter of Samuel Holmes Tibbets and Sarah
Pattee; now living in Sugar Creek. Airs. Foster was born at Hawksbury,
Ontario, January iN. [839; died July 4, 1892. Their children are Sarah
Emogene (Mrs. Charles II. Nott), Jennie (Airs. Charles Mosher), Samuel
Tibbets (married Mary Jane Fountain).

George Gale was sun of Peter Gale, Jr., and Hannah Tottenham. His
father's American ancestors were Peter8, Isaac54, Abraham32, Richard1. His
mother's were Nathaniel4, Elisha3, Eliah2, Henry1. George Gale was born
at Burlington, Vermont, November 30. [816; had a fair education, thanks to
early tendencies i<> study; read law at Waterbury, and was admitted to the
bar in [841, and then set out for Elkhorn. lie at once took an active interest
in all movements in furtherance of morals, education, and community develop-
ment, lie Founded a newspaper at Elkhorn and was for a year its editor. His
Form Book, published in 1846, went to revised editions in [848, 1850 and
[856. In 1X47 he was member of the committee on judiciar) in the second
constitutional convention, In 1850 lie was state senator, chosen over General
Boyd and Jeduthun Spoorier. In 1N51 he went to LaCrosse county, was
county judge for a term of four years, and was circuit judge [857-63. In
[853 he boughl land on which he laid out the village of Galesville, and moved
for the organization of Trempealeau county. He gave ten thousand dollars

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 5I9

toward establishing a "university'* at his new village. One of his later labors
was the compilation of a genealogy of the descendants of Richard Gale and
wife Mary, of Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1640; and of Edmund Gale, of
Boston. He died April 18, 1868, at Galesville. He had married at Elkhorn,
December 5, 1844, Gertrude, daughter of Gapt. George Young and Ann
W'aldron — the latter one of the innumerable heirs of Anneke Jans Bogardus.
Their children were George, William, Helen.

Palmer Gardner (Sylvester11, Palmer', Sylvester4, Nicholas3-,
George1), son of Sylvester Gardner and Sarah Cogswell, was born in the town
of Hancock, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, February 23, 1803; his parents
moved to Manlius, New York, in 18 10, where he received an academic educa-
tion, and to this added a year at Hobart College. For some years he found
employment as a surveyor and civil engineer in Xew York, Canada and
Maryland. In 1835 he went forth to see what prospect for him there was in
the West. Southern Michigan seemed already pre-empted, and he came by
way of northern Blinois to southeastern Wisconsin. Returning, he equipped
himself abundantly for prairie-breaking, grain-sowing and home-making. Thus
setting forth, he reached by well-deliberated steps the prairie named lor him-
self and in April, 183d, built his cabin. He entered land in sections 24, 25, 36,
of Spring Prairie. February 14. J 844. he married Margaret S.. daughter of
Samuel Williams, of Manlius. She was born in 1822 and died May 19, 1871.
The official list of his town shows his name but once, — as town clerk in 1847,
and in the same year he sat five weeks as representative at the first session of
the last Territorial Assembly. His colleague. Charles A. Bronson, of La-
Grange, also retired at the end of that session. He seems to have had an un-
usual if not un-American indifference to public service. After his wile's
death he moved to Burlington, where he married again, and died there January
i'). 1888. Lucretia May. his daughter, was born November 24, 1844; died
January 19, 1805. Ann- Gardner, his father's sister, wife of Willard Smith,
brought her family into relationship with other old families of the eastern side
of the county.

Andrew Gilbert was born January 15. 1792: married Calma Butler;
came from Madison county, Xew York, to section 24. Walworth; died at
Delavan, October 22, 1870. Calma was born July 9, 1793; died March 5,
1872. Their children (known) were Ethan Lamphere (married Elizafo
Caroline Curtis), Phineas C. (married Elizabeth Aim Lewis), Nelson, Esther
L. (Mrs. P. Dudley Kendrick), Sarah 1 Mrs. Fdwin Phelps), Charles II.
(married Eliza Day). Ethan L. was a business man at Lake Geneva. Phini a
C.'s wife was Hollis Latham's step-daughter. < harles II. died in military
service, in 1864.

520 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Zaccheus Phelps Gillet (Zaccheus P.5, Zaccheus4, Isaac3, Nathan- 1),
son of Zaccheus P. Gillet and Elizabeth Holcomb, was born November i. 1770:
came to Geneva with his sons while that town was yet young, and died August
9, 1861. His wife, Clarissa, daughter of Charles Humphrey (and Naomi
Worcester), whose ancestors were Samuel43, Michael2, Samuel1. The later
of these Gillets were from Litchfield county, Connecticut, and thence to Oneida
county. Xew York. Among their children were Rinaldo Phelps and Charles
Leander. by whom the name has been spelled Gillette. Rinaldo P. Gillette
married Abigail Boughton, and their daughter, Martha Emeline, born at Vic-
tor, Xew York, March 4, 1838, and died at Elkhorn. August 1, 1899, was
married to Benjamin F. Skiff. She was one of the brightest and truest of
wives, mothers and friends. Charles Leander Gillette married Eliza Ann
Hanna Their son, Almerin, was captain and major in the Twentieth In-
fantry; later railway commissioner of Kansas; and was a man with highest
sense of personal and commercial honor.

Peter Colder, son of Peter Golder and Deborah Wood, was born in
Dutchess county, July 5, 1819; learned to make shoes as a means to gain a
legal education; went to Ontario county, where, at Victor, he married Mary
Jane, daughter of Hervey llickox and Lydia West. March 3, 1841 ; came to
Kenosha in 1842, and in the same year to Elkhorn. He studied law while he
made and mended boots, and was admitted to practice in 1850. About 1855
he formed a short-lived partnership with James Densmore, of the "Indepen-
dent." In 1857 he was elected county judge (over I lollis Latham) and held
that place for twenty-nine years. Squire Smith said that "God made Peter for
a probate judge," — this by reason of his qualities as a man and a lawyer: He
was a life-long student and also a reader of the best things in literature, from
the Atlantic Monthly to the "Republic of God.'* As a personal friend he was
one not to be forgotten by any who deserves to be himself remembered. His
wife, born at Victor, September 15, 1819, died at Elkhorn. December 6, 1889.
Her ancestors, in father-line, were Hervey7, Asa6, John''. Samuel"1, William''.
Samuel-'. William1. Judge tinkler's increasing deafness compelled his retire-
ment. He went to Norborne, Missouri, to live with his adopted daughter.
Helen Laura, whose husband, George Dana Yiles, had gone there to become a
banker. Before his death. July 1 1, 1900, he was wholly deaf and blind.

Charles Morehouse G sell was burn at hast Haven, Connecticut,

in 1805; bis parents moved to Otsego county, where he was bred to the busi-
ness ul" a general store, grist-mill and distillery. His father failed in all this
business, and the young man took the wreck of the property and so managed
it as to clear away its debts. In 1834 he went to Cincinnati^ to raise farm

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 52I

stuff and to sell goods, and also to begin a Christian life. He seems to have
prospered so far as to enable him to come west in 1S36 with a convenient
capital for new enterprises. Having lingered a year at Chicago, he came in
1838 to Geneva where he built the first grist-mill. He also bought land in
section 12, Linn. He refused to grind for whisky-making and suits were
brought to compel him to grind alike for Trojan and Tyrian; but in the end
he held his ground. He was a man much after the manner of Mr. Dwinnell
and Col. Phoenix, and like them was active in religious work and in opposition
to whisky and slavery. He had some not precisely-told part in the foundation
of Beloit College. He married twice, — the sisters Abbie F. ami Elizabeth
Jennings. In 1850 he removed to Alinnesota, where he died.

Lewis Purr Goodsell, Charles M. his cousin, was born at Fairfield,
Connecticut, about 1800; while yet a boy his parents moved to Cooperstoun.
where he reached manhood and was bred to business. In 1836 he went into
retail business at Chicago, in partnership with George L. Campbell. In 1845
he came to Geneva, and built up an increasing trade. In 1852 he died at New
York, whither he had gone to buy goods. His wife was Caroline, daughter of
Munson Smith. His son Munson Smith Goodsell married Annie Marie,
daughter of Giles T. Arnold and Iris Welton Hickox. He had also a son
Henry.

Gavlord Graves, son of James X. Graves, of Springfield, .Massachusetts,
was born at Richfield Springs. New York, May 22, 1804; married, first, June
18. 1824. Nancy Tuckerman, who died January 5. 1845 ; came in 1836 to East
Troy, and was one of the justices appointed by Gov. Dodge in 1838; he served
as town and county supervisor, and in 1846 was a member, at its last session,
of the Fourth Territorial Assembly, — lower house. In [848 he was a mem-
ber of the first State Legislature. March 15, 1848, he married, second, Keziah
Freeman, who died in the next spring. His third wife was .Mary Ann, daugh-
ter of Isaac U. Wheeler and widow of Calvin Pike. He died August 28,
1889, at Northwood, Worth county, Iowa. His five children were of the first
marriage. A daughter, I'arthenia, was wife of Christopher P. F. Chafin.

Harmon Gray, son of Dominicus Gray and Elizabeth Webb, was born
at Arlington, Yermont. June 29, 1806: went as a child to Georgetown, D. C,
where he was liberally educated, attended medical lectures at Columbia Col-
lege, and was four years preceptor of an academy at Georgetown. Removing
to Norwich. New York, he finished his professional study and in 1830 took a
diploma from a county board of medical examiners. He began practice at
I nadilla. where June _\ [832, he married Maria Theresa, daughter of David
Finch and Mary Ann Mallory. In 1840 he came to a farm in section X.

522 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Sugar Creek, and proved himself a master of two exacting professions. For
thirty years he raised crops, attended the sick in a range of great width, voted
the Democratic ticket, spoke as he thought, which was "not in the words of a
master," made himself respected, and died September 19, 1895. Mrs. Gray
was born in New Haven county, Connecticut, in 1809, and died October 20,
1887. Three of their children are dead: Helen (1834-1910); Jane (Mrs.
George \Y. Kirchhoeffer) (1836-1876) ; Marcus (1841-1873) ; Mary (Mrs.
Henry L. Mallory) lives at Elkhorn.

Isaac Gray, a captain of various services in Massachusetts regiments in
the army of the Revolution, had sons Elihu, Daniel Carr and Isaac. The last
named married Elizabeth, daughter of Sergeant Thomas Baker, of the same
army, and had sons Thomas Baker and Elihu. Besides these were Alexander,
Asahel, David, Isaac, John Flack, Phoebe, Tirzah. and possibly others. Dan-
iel Carr Gray married Susan Crawford, and had a son Daniel Carr.

Daniel Carr Gray, Jr., was born May 27, 1813, at Lisbon, New York;
married July 31, 1839. Julia Ann. daughter of John Armstrong and Mary
Gregg. (It appears that Mary was also wife of Samuel Armstrong.) In
1845 Mr. Gray came to the town of Geneva, and about 1875 to Elkhorn,
where he died February 13, 1895. Mrs. Gray was born at Hebron, New
York, March 19, 1814; died June 12, 1897. Their only child, Marinda Lydia,
is Mrs. William Kinder Chambers.

Elihu Gray, son of Isaac and Elizabeth, was born at Hebron, December
[8, [801; married November 3, [826, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Arm-
strong and Mary Gregg; came to town of Geneva in 1846; was for some time
superintendent of the county farm; died at Elkhorn, September 25, [884. His
wife was born at Salem, New York, July 31, 1806; died January 22, [899.
Their children were Clarinda ( Mrs. George Ross) ; Samuel Armstrong (mar-
ried Emily A., daughter of James Armstrong and Elizabeth Armstrong and
granddaughter of Samuel and Mary (Gregg) Armstrong); Gilbert Elihu
I [838-1860) : Cordelia Jane 1 Mrs. Edward M. Latham).

Thomas Baker Gray, son of Isaac and Elizabeth, was born at Hebron,
I ebruary 1. [806; married November 15. 1827. Mary Jane, daughter of Sam-
uel Armstrong and Man Gregg;died at Lake Geneva, August 17. [900. His
wife was born at Salem. December 5, iSm : died M.i\ 24, [874. Their chil-
dren were Maria (Mrs. Alonzo Herrick) ; Luthera buster (first, Mrs. Miles
X. Herrick, second, Mrs. James Tarbell) ; T. Baker; Elihu Wilbur 1 married
Sylvia A. Goodspeed) : Hannah E. I Mrs. Charles Rogers).

ROBERT Gray was burn in Ireland; married Mary Lytic: came to Lisbon
before [808; died in July, 1865, aged eight) four years. Mary died before

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 523

i860. Their sons James, Alexander, Robert and William came to the town
of Geneva, in near neighborhood to the afore-mentioned Gray families. James
(1808-90) married Tirzah, daughter of Isaac Gray and Elizabeth Baker, June
28, 1832, at Lisbon. They left no children. Alexander married Tirzah,
daughter of William Chambers and Phoebe, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth
Gray. Robert married Phoebe's sister Rachel. William married Alvira
Ryder.

William E. Gregory died at Elkhorn in 1847. His widow, Olive,
daughter of Nathaniel and Isabel Colburn, was born at Haw lev. Massachusetts,
July 28. 1805, and married in 1827. She died April 17, 1891. Her children
were William Elliott, who went to Galveston and died November 13, 1895,
aged sixty-four years. His brother Asaph, born in 1830, died at Elkhorn
November 22, 1879. Elizabeth became, first, Mrs. Michael Thompson, sec-
ond, Mrs. Bowe. Louise, born 1836, went to Nebraska after her mother's
death. Mr. Gregory left his family in comfortable circumstances, and Elliott
prospered honorably at Galveston. Asaph was not wholly a bad fellow,
though it is not recalled that he had more than one positively good quality.
He would say mean true things to men whom none else cared so to affront, but
who were better men than he, and who sometimes needed such reminders that
they were not impeccable. He was unmarried.

Isaiah Hamblin (Barnabas3, Sylvanus4, Elkanah3, James-1) was son
of Mary Bassett and was born at Falmouth, Massachusetts, in 1790; married
Daphne, daughter of William Haines, November 30. 181 2; moved to Kirt-
land, Ohio, whence he came in [836 to section 25, Lafayette, where he built
his cabin and with his wife endured the first hard winter. His son-in-law,
Isaac Fuller, came also. Mr. Hamblin was a disciple of the prophet of Palmyra,
Finland, and Nauvoo, and in a few years after coming to this county lie fol-
lowed his tribe to Utah, and died at Santa Clara in [857. Hi- wife died in
1847 >n Pottawattomie county, Iowa.

Jesse Hand ( 1783-1846) was son of Abraham Hand and M.n\ South-
ard. He married Lucy J. Cowles ( [783-1866). These two wire buried at
Springfield cemetery. Of their children were :

1. John S. Hand (wife Emma Jane), who had sons Elbert Osborn,
Jesse, and John Wesley.

2. Nathan Benton Hand, who married Marcia F. Cowles, September 1.
[842; married Mary Antoinette, daughter of Nathaniel Barlow Hand and
Mary Palmer, September 2^, 1851.

3. Lorenzo Dow Hand (1814-1889), a teacher of high repute. He
married in 1853 Lydia Ann Church (1831-1889).

524 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

4. Harvey Hand born about 1805: died in 1882. His wife was named
Martha. They had children Eleanor, Linnaeus, Lacon. Bernadotte, Ellery
Charming, Arthur. It is not here supposed that these were all of the children
and grandchildren of Jesse and Lucy.

Lemuel Hand, related nearly, it is presumed, to Abraham Hand, married
Lydia Doubleday, and part, at least, of their children were born in Columbia
county. New York. The best known of these were Tared. Osborn, Nathaniel
Barlow, all of whom were thrifty farmers i<i Geneva.

Jared Hand, born October 26, 1808; married, first. Dorcas Montrose:

Mary Jane Raymond; died March 18. 1883. Of eight children five

lived and married : Milton J. ( married Adeline Wischhusen | : Helen M. 1 Mrs.

Joseph M. Moore); Raymond J. (married Harriet Cowles) ; Hannah A.

(Mrs. John Greenwood): Temperance (Mrs. Jasper M. Fish).

Nathaniel Barlow Hand, born September 3, 181 0: married Mary, daugh-
ter seph Palmer and Mary Palmer in 1841 : died November 6, 1891.
Wife born May 17. 1825: died March 14. 1898. They left children: Nathaniel
Palmer. Mary Antoinette, Joseph Spencer.

;born Hand, son of Lemuel Hand and Lydia Doubleday. was born at
New- Lebanon. Xew York. August 27. 1810: married Maria, daughter of
Mo>es Cowles and Pamela Fellows, November <'. 1834: came to northern
Geneva in 1842: about 1855 to Elkhorn where he died February 1. 1880. Mrs.
Hand was born July 21. 1814. died January 25, i8c»o. They had seven chil-
dren, of whom George Cookman was a soldier of Company A. Thirty-sixth
Infantry, and died, a prisoner, at Salisbury. Mr. Hand was a thrifty farmer
and - I teacher, thoroughly versed in common school studies, and

a reader of the best old-fashioned books. He acquired a clear and forcible
style of writing for the local papers, and was an ingenious debater. He was a
prudent manager of his moderate means and was able to help his neighbors
who could give good security. When money brought its less considerate own-
ers thirty-six ]>er cent, interest lie would receive but twelve per cent., the legal
rate. In later life he was a stockholder of the National Bank. He hated
slavery, alcohol, and tobacco openly and vehemently. Xo negro, whether
freedman or bondman, was refused food and shelter. His heart warmed
:ird young men teaching themselves under difficulties. His children were
encouraged to study and to earn their living by honorable effort, for he was
a judicious as well as kind parent.

James Hakkxi>>. born April 21. 1770. married Man- Ware, born De-
cember 12. 1777. and died in her eighty-fifth year. They lived in Washington
county. New York. Their children were Jacob: Nancy 1 Mrs. Isaac Wrigh:

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. : 2 j

Man- (Mrs. Ross) ; James | married Hannah R. Wh Dr.

Daniel ^ married Harriet Whin: IcDonough; Samuel i marrit

etta Chapman i . These Whitmore v re daugh: h Whit:

and Hannah Call. McDonough brought op -: barbar tor-

ture, mutilation and death at the hands of Indians
was a sister of Mrs. Edward YYinne.

Jacob Harkxess. son of James and Man-, was born March 22. 1800;
married Jerusha Hill : came to Lafayette in 184 -^ Jerusha

was born in 1812 188 t iza.

Melanchthon. Daniel. A a e. Burnham. M<

Daniel mar- th Waters [854-

Perry Green Harrix Job. was born at Laur

counn. July • _ I arietta Eldr

and the next ye:,- - section 15, S pr Creek. F £4.5 S52 ;«a

member of the county board and for three later terms [84S - the

Candida:. -- i-Butler Democracy

race at the election. In [854 g beaten Daniel

per : and was twice pre* gricultural Sociel

ber : Ij . and his wife i - _ ly They ren.

horn the eldest was : -hip. Commodore Harr •

ton 1 as he was called 1 was one of the best good

have ne~ :nd.

Daniel Hartweix - : Phipps

Xe - . 3oi ; married Sepj 182

\lexander Ham:'.: -

Mrs. Hai r, it is sa -

• _ 'ary: Lethe: Wal

Ann E I Helen Mar

-.. i married : S

b A. Haii
Two
5

5 son of Her -

Stephen "

en and E

54. I :
Man M - »nst 3.

- born ir. 25, 1822

526 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

They had eight children, of whom Louisa was married to Isaac, son of Henry
Moorhouse, of North Geneva. Mr. Hatch was a prosperous farmer, as well
as a good citizen.

.Morris Fant Hawks, son of William Hawes and Martha Wood, was
born at Warwick, New York, November 12. 1797; moved to Steuben county,
was a boy-soldier of the war of 1812; married May 17, 1818, Sarah, daughter
of Capt. Nathan Lounsbury, and moved to Chautauqua county, and thence in
1830 to Hillsdale county, Michigan. In 1837 he came to section 34, Rich-
mond. With a few neighbors he built the first schoolhouse on a corner of his
land. He was elected member of the first constitutional convention, but did
not attend its sessions. He died at Whitewater January 13, 1868. His wife
had died July 28, 1859. They had nine children.

Daniel Heimbach, son of Philip and Eva. of an old Pennsylvanian
family, was born in Columbia county. May 2, 1821 ; married Harriet (1831-
1901 ), daughter of Gorham Bunker and Rachel Russell; died August 7, 1902.
He lived many years on his large farm in section 2^, East Troy, and his estate
is still held by his children. The names Benjamin and Peter are also found —
apparently these were his brothers. Part of this family spell the name "Hime-
bach."

John Mathias Henderson, son of Dr. Edward Henderson and Mary
Mathias, was born June 2j, 17S2, at Bennington, near the battlefield on which
his father had served as lieutenant and then as surgeon. He, too, had experi-
ence as an army surgeon of the war of 1812. He practiced medicine at
Willoughby, Ohio, and came to Elkhorn in 1849, where he died November 29,
1857. lie married June 4. 1815, Rebecca, daughter of Samuel Wirt: she
was born October 11, [795, and died October 1, 1823, leaving a son. His
second wife was Samantha, daughter of Charles I line and Anna Baldwin,
burn April 11. 171)1, married June 14. [829, died May 26, 1833, leaving a
daughter. His third wife was Mrs. Hetty (Smith) Findley, who was born
September 22, 1802; died December 4. 18(17. Of her five children two daugh-
ters are living. Her son Edward Henderson was a soldier of the Fourth
Infantry-Cavalry, and l>ecame an officer of Louisiana colored troops.

Samuel Wirt Henderson, son of Dr. John M. and first wife, Rebecca
Wirt, was born at Willoughby, December 17. 1817; studied in bis father's
office and was graduated from the medical college at Cleveland, lie married,
January [i, [845, Rebecca, daughter of Nathan Hicks. After practicing in
Herkimer county (nine his father's home) and in northern Ohio he came in
[847 to Elkhorn. He died May 6, [857, having a week before jumped from
a wagon to hard ground, causing intestinal constriction or intussusception, fol-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 527

lowed by inflammation. Doctor Henderson's perception was quick, his mind
active, and his action prompt, anil he was rated among the better county phy-
sicians and surgeons. He was also a working Democrat and persecuted
opponents with unbridled tongue, vitriol-dipped pen. and jack-knife wickeder
than tongue or pen: for it made caricatures on pine as ugly as modern exag
gerations in the Sunday papers. His knife and pen were voluntary con-
tributors to his friend Utter's paper. He left three little boys, of whom |ohn
Hicks, the eldest, was a soldier of Company B. First Heavy Artillery.

Jacob Herrick, son of Joseph0 and Hannah Northrup, of Salem, Con-
necticut, was born in Chenango county, in 1790. His older ancestors were
Joseph5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Ephraim-, Henry' of Ipswich. His first wife was
Roxana Bradley. In 1841 he came to section 21, Geneva ; married Mrs. Sarah
(Corwin) Rouse; died October 30. 1859. His children were Gilbert, Jason,
Henry. Miles. Polly Maria. Phoebe, Adeline, Julia and Harriet. All these
were long residents and became connected by marriage witli other old families
as Armstrong, Gray, Ross, Stevens, and Wait. The brothers, Alonzo and
Moses S. Herrick, of the same town, were not definitely related to Jacob's
family, but Moses S. married Jacob's daughter Julia.

Thomas Worden Hill, son of Henry Hill and Fanny Worden, was
born at Swanton, Vermont, January 9, 1817; in 1822 his parents moved to
Lewis, Essex county. Xew York, where they soon afterward died, leaving
him to the care of Joseph Wells, his uncle. In 1838 he came to Geneva village,
making much of his way on foot. He worked on farm and in mill for R.
Wells Warren. Andrew Ferguson, and Charles M. Goodsell in succession for
the next five years. In 1839 he bought with his savings a farm in sections
18, 19. Lyons; married February 12. 1843. Lydia, daughter of Lewis Kerris
and Samantha Crosby; moved to his farm in 1N44 and proved himself a most
capable farmer. He was for nine terms a member of the count} board ami
three times it- chairman. In [853 he was assemblyman, chosen over < barles
M. I laker and Simeon W. Spafard. and again in [863, having been preferred
to Dr. Alexander S. Palmer. In 1865 he began his long service as poor com-
missioner. He became assured that he could be of greater service to the
inmates of the county-house and to the tax-payers by taking upon himself the
duties of overseer or resident commissioner. This was neither to his own
liking nor to that of his wife, but to both a duty clearly seen was not to b
evaded nor to be performed in other way than entirely and well. He died
suddenly, while directing improvements on his farm. May 20. 1879. Mrs.
Ferris was born at Tyrone. Xew York, April 4. 1823: died at Lyon- Novem-

528 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

lier 5, 1900. She was granddaughter of Gould Ferris and Lydia Nichols, of
Westchester county. New York. Mr. Hill joined the Presbyterian church of
Geneva in 1S42. and in his after life his actions showed forth the sincerity
and constancy of his profession of faith. His physical and moral courage
were one. and equal to each occasion's need. He attended no talking conven-
tions of philanthropic reformers at distant cities, but remained at his post,
working hand in hand with the county board, the superintendents of the poor —
his colleagues — and the county physician, and was at once their indispensable
servant and their practically wise leader. He may be said to have put an
undying soul into a half-formed county institution and gave its management
definite direction and purpose, with intelligent and business-like methods of
overseer-ship. His death was not an irreparable loss, but men might well re-
gret, for a time, that such a life should have been stopped in its sixty-third
year. When, if ever, the county shall make up its roll of best and most serv-
iceable citizens, their names placed as nearly as men may judge in the order
of their merit, the name of Thomas Worden Hill will not be hard to find in
that honorable list.

Edwin Hodges, son of Erastus Hodges and Laura Whiting, was born
at Torrington, Connecticut, in 1810. He married Catherine Jane, daughter of
John Hickox and Clarissa Dan forth. January 13, 1836; came to Elkhorn in
[843 with some money and went into various kinds of business; was county
clerk in [846, five times a member of the county board and twice its chairman;
five times treasurer of the Agricultural Society, postmaster under a Whig ad-
ministration. About [868 he went to Kansas, and later to Winterset, Iowa,
where he died July 23, 1884. Mrs. Hodges was born at Williamstown, Massa-
chusetts, and died at Hutchinson. Kansas, June 16, [892. Their daughter,
Laura E., was married to Charles H. Britton. George VY., their sun, went to
Winterset. He was a soldier of Company F, Fortieth Infantry. Clarissa
Danforth's ancestors were William1 and Paul2, of Suffolk, England, Nicholas8,
Thomas4, Nicholas6, Jonathan6 T. Samuel8, Jonathan9.

William Hollinshead, son of James Hollinshead and Sarah Stroud,
burn near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, September 3, [806; was well in-
structed in common school and in practical farming; came in 1837 to section
3, Delavan; in [839 was county treasurer; married June 20, r8 jj. Caroline,
daughter of James Burson and Deborah Stroud and settled for a long and
honorably useful life at his new home, lie was the firsl county treasurer.
but he was a thorough fanner and was not to be turned aside for official un-
certainties, lie was always at the service of the Agricultural Society and of
fanners' institutes. When he took part in discussion it was to talk from his

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 529

own experience and well-matured thinking. He died October 20, 1895. His
wife was born November 11, 1815, and died February 11, 1890. Their daugh-
ter Elizabeth H. was married to Herman A. Briggs. She was born June 1,
1843; married her cousin April 23, 1880; died, full of good works, September
20, 1908.

Henry George Hollister (Seth L.7, Elisha", Benjamin"' ', John3 - '),
was born at Perry, New York, May 15, 1826; came in 1843 t0 sections 13. 14,
Delavan; married first, Mary Ann, daughter of Henry Mallory, December 21,
1848; she died December 29, 1873, at Delavan village, whither he had moved.
He married, second. November 29, 1877, Mrs. Helen C, daughter of Peter
Millspaugh Keeler and Prudence Sturtevant and widow of William Crary.
He died December 17, 1902. He was proprietor of a livery stable, and he
was for twenty-three years a member of the county board. His son Seth
Henry was twice sheriff of this county. Other children were, John H. (mar-
ried May Howe), Pamelia, Ella.

Kinxek Hollister, son of Isaac Hollister and Elizabeth Newcomb,
had ancestors John1 -, Joseph3, Capt. Timothy4. lie was born January 13,
1783; married June 5. 1805. Mary, daughter of Lemuel Winchell; bought gov-
ernment land in Darien and Richmond; died April 28, 1850. Mrs. Hollister
was born September 8. 1784; died February 3, 1849. Of their children.
Cyrenus N., Lemuel, and William came to Darien.

Cyrenus Xewcomb Hollister was born at Olive, Ulster county, New
York, December 11. 1808: married May 7, 1837, Maria Catharine, daughter
of Alexander Latimer and Nellie Smith; came in 1839 to Darien; in [866 to
Delavan; died January 8, 1890. His wife was born at Middletown, New
York. December 22. [816. Their children were Uriah Schutt (married Emma
Q. Morrison); Kinner Newcomb (married Fanny M. Tilden) ; Eugene B.
(married Xellie V. Jones): Lillian (Mrs. A. Hastings Kendrick) ; William
Cyrenus ; Elmer Latimer.

Lemuel Hollister was born at Dryden, Tompkins county. October 12.
1818; married Gertrude .Ann. daughter of Alexander Latimer, Januar) 26,
1S42: came to Darien in 1844; was living in 1902. 1 1 i -. wife was born Janu-
ary _■(.. 1 842 ; died October to, 1902. Excepting Melbourne II. 1 1857-10.
their children, if there were more, are not found in records.

William Hollister was born at Dryden. May 17. 181 1 ; came in 183.-
Darien; married Sarah Van Aernam, January t, [848; died June 26, (884,
leaving' children ; Charles and Xellie ( Mrs. James ( arter, 1 >\ I >ai i< n 1

(34)

53<5 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Seth L. Hollister, son of Elisha Hollister and Jane Thompson, was
descended from John1 - 3. Benjamin4 "'. He was born at Chatham, Xew York,
July 19, 1792: married Catherine Brigham, April 12, 1818; died March 16,
1867. His wife was born at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, February 10.
1796: died at East Delavan, May 12, 1868. Children: Catherine Jane (Mrs.
Elihu G. Eaton) ; Laura ( Mrs. Harrison Barnes) ; Edward Brigham (married
Harriet Eaton) ; Henry George; James Heath (married Elizabeth William.- 1 :
Milton L. (married Hannah Eliza Barnes).

Joseph Trumbull Isham (Enoch5, Joseph4, Timothy3, Isaac2, John1),
son of Enoch Isham and Mary Carver, was born at Bolton, Connecticut. Aug-
ust 19. 1815. While he was very young his parents moved to Smyrna, Chen-
ango county. He married January 28, 1841, Mary Jane, daughter of James
Sturtevant and Lovina Yaw, at Earlville ; came in 1847 t0 Sugar Creek, where
he lived as farmer and blacksmith, and occasionally as town officer, until his
removal to Elkhorn about 1886. where he died November 7, 1902. Mrs.
Isham was bom in Washington county. New York. November 11. 1822, died
April 21, 189 1. A child died young. The other children were Helen Mary
( Mrs. Wallace Hartwell ) : Fred Willard ; Dora ( Mrs. Frank Hendrix) , Henry
Devillo; Reta (Airs. Arthur Wales). Enoch Isham, born at Bolton. July 29,
17X7: died at Delavan. June 21, 1880; had a son Devillo EC. I 1828-1905) un-
married. Mr. [sham's mother's mother, Esther Trumbull, was of the historic
family of her name.

William Willard Isham, son of Enoch and Mary, was born at Smyrna.
March 24. 1820; was apprenticed to a carriage maker; in 1842 was master of
a shop at Earlville; married March 1. 1843, Eluah Newcomb Francis, daugh-
ter of Levi and Hannah Francis, and bad six children, of whom Francis
Devillo was a soldier of Company K. Forty-ninth Infantry, and Charles
Trumbull was for many years a railway postal clerk. In [845 Mr. Isham.
with Charles H. Sturtevant, and later with Joseph Walton, began a steadily
increasing business of wagon making, and found distant markets for their
products. In [869 be became a hardware dealer In 1S55 be was assembly-
man elected over Tosiah Dodge; was a trustee of the school for the deaf; and
a town officer. He died November 26. 1876. Mrs. [sham was born in Wash-
ington county. New York, November 30, 1822, and died June 15. 1901.

Thomas James, of an old colonial family, was born in the town of Rich-
mond, Rhode Island. June 0. [782; married Dorcas Perry ( who died in April.
1843) ; served as sheriff of Washington county and as a member of the Legis-
lature; came from Providence early in [838 to township 3. range 15. and was

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 531

one of a group of Rhode Islanders who named the town Richmond; married
June 22, 1847. Mrs. Sarah Stowell (who died July 30, [867); moved to
Delavan in 1854; died June 17. 1858. Children of Dorcas: Fanny (Mrs.
Gardner Kenyon ) : Nancy 1 Mrs. Joseph Barber) ; Hannah 1 Mrs. Robert Sher-
man) ; Susan (Mrs. Asa Congdon) ; Thomas P.; George E. (married first,
Elizabeth Odell, second, Ellen Delaney) ; Dorcas (Mrs. Jonathan Church);
Mary | Mrs. Elijah Belding) : Robert H. (married Mary R. Raul) ; Sarah T.
(Mrs. David Irish): Elizabeth 1 1830-1891), wife of Earl M. Irish 1 [829-
1891).

Thomas Perry James, son of Thomas and Dorcas, was born June 15.
1816; came with parents to Richmond in 1838: married Elizabeth, daughter
of Daniel McClary, November 2^,. 1852; died in October, 1896. lie was one
of the "solid men" of his town, was one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank
of Delavan. and in general terms, was a worth)- representative of an old and
honorable American family. Mrs. James died January 9, 1903, leaving her
six children: Dorcas Perry (second wife of Rev. Charles Albert Hobbs) ;
Thomas; Daniel M. ; Susan 1 Mrs. Charles H. Barker) ; Eliza S. (a teacher) ;
Fanny Louisa (Mrs. Rev. Ralph Waller Hobbs). Charles A. and Ralph \Y.
Hobbs are respectively father and son.

John Jeffers was born in Lisburn parish, county Antrim, Ulster, in
1822; came in infancy to Oneida county. New York; married Flora Ann Arm-
strong; came in 1852 to Sharon, where he proved himself a useful addition to
the muscle and the mind of the town. He was a zealous member of the Agri-
cultural Society, ready and able to talk, write and work in its interest. In
1864 he was member of Assembly, elected as an independent candidate against
Alanson H. Barnes. In 1871 he served for another session, having beaten
A. W. Cole. In 1872 he supported the Greeley ticket, and soon afterward
became an out-and-out Democrat. He died February 22, 1890. lie was a
member of the Methodist church at Darien. a cheerful Christian, tolerant of
many differences of belief, and kindly disposed toward all mankind.

Truman Jones i 1783-1833) was son of Amasa and Azubah. lie mar-
ried Elizabeth (born 1781;), daughter of Stephen Kinne (or Kenney), who
was son of Gideon Kinne and Thankful Hewitt. Truman died in Cortland
county, probably, for his widow came with part of her eleven children from
that county to Darien in 1838, and she was living in 1X60. These sons and
daughters, as here known, were: 1. — Loren Kenney 1 [812-1861 ). married
Laura H. (1814-1883), daughter of Homer and Rachel Greenman. 2. —
Lyman (1813-1889), married Mary Bean. 3. — Parley \Y. 4. — Rowena
(1815 ), wife of Newton McGraw. 5. — Mary M. (1816 1X73). wife

532 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

of Israel Stowell. 6. — Sanford (1820-1864) (wife Levina), soldier of
Company F, Thirty-fifth Infantry, and captain of Company A, Thirty-seventh
Infantry; died in service. 7. — Arimathea (1827-1872), wife of Joseph F.
Lyon. 8. — Horatio.

• Daniel Keeney was son of Ebenezer Keeney and Lois Locke, probably
from Connecticut to St. Lawrence county, New York. Daniel was born De-
cember 29, 1799; married at Lisbon, April 17. 1822, Margaret, daughter of
Robert Lytle and Esther Lytle (probably cousins) ; came to this county before
1N47; lived in Geneva, Delavan, and Elkhorn; died March 2y, 1884. Mar-
garet was born May 6, 1803; died July 27, 1881. Of their children were:
Laura (Mrs. Nelson Fairchild) ; Mary Jane (Mrs. Leander Waffle) ; William
Ebenezer (married Ann Goldthorp)'; Alvira (Mrs. Alfred Sherman) ; Esther
( wife of Loren Latham, a brother of Hollis) ; Lucy Ann (Airs. Alvin Emory
Beals) ; Margaret Maria (Mrs. Joseph Goldthorp); Daniel Wilson (married
Mary Hall) ; Loania (wife of Aaron Hickock and of George Taylor).

Albert Keep was son of Chauncey Keep ( 1784-1853) and Prudence
(1789-1863), daughter of Parmenio Wolcott and wife Mary. The older
Keep ancestors were John1, Samuel2, John3, Capt. Caleb4, and were of Con-
necticut. Prudence was a descendant of Roger Wolcott. Mr. Keep was
born at Homer, New York, April 30, 1826; came from Fredonia with Henry
(1820-1897), his brother, to Whitewater in T847 an^ formed a partnership
in retail business with Philander Peek. In 1851 Peek &• Keep went into the
wholesale trade in dry goods at Chicago. About 1856 Mr. Keep turned his
attention to city real estate. Among his affairs was to secure the right of way
through the city for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Co., of which
he became a director in 1865 and its president in 1883. His administration
was vigorous and up-building. He died at Chicago about [908. His cousin,
John Martin Keep ( 1813-1861 1. of Beloit, was judge of the first circuit 1S56-
8, and was accounted one of the ablest men on the bench of the state.

\i .phonso G. Kei.lam, son of Harvey and Julia 1 Davis), was born at
Scottsville, near Rochester, New York. December 7, 1840: came to Elkhorn
about [857 and studied law in the office of Winsor & Smith, lie was an
unusually bright student and readily digested whatever he learned. lie was
admitted to the bar in [859 and practiced at Delavan until iSoj, when he re-
cruited l ompany D, Twenty-second Infantry, and became its captain: in
1N0] In- was commissioned as major; was mustered out of service in Tune.
[865, after an active and most creditable service of nearly three years. He
married at Smithville, New York, October 23. 1865, and returned to law
practice at Delavan with \lfred S. Spooner as partner. In the earlier seventies

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 533

he went to Chamberlain, Dakota, and became the first chief-justice of tbe state
of South Dakota. Several years later he resigned and went to Spokane,
where he died June 15, 1909, leaving his wife and a son, Fred W. Kellam, a
lawyer of that city.

Augustus Caesar Kinne was son of Elias Kinne and Lydia. daughter
of Jesse (son of Abraham) Rundell. His father, who died at Sugar Creels,
June 29. 1854, was son of Nathaniel, son of Stephen, son of John, son of John,
son of William, of New London. Augustus C. was born at Norwich, New
York, December 3, 1808; came in 1838 to Troy and later to Sugar Creek, for
which town he was a member of the county board in 1843. 1° J854 'le married
Cecilia, daughter of James Oliver Rosencrans (Dr. Simeon4, Col. John3,
Alexander2, Harman Hendrick1 ).. He was a teacher and a farmer. He was
a member of the second constitutional convention; and in 184S. 1857, i86t he
was defeated Democratic candidate for assemblyman against Enos J. Hazard.
Butler <i Noble, and Sylvester Hanson. He died January 23, 1863. His
wife was born at Walpack, New Jersey, May 12, 1832, and died at Irwin.
Virginia, May 18, 1892. His children: Mary ( Mrs. Walter E. Lauderdale 1 ,
Dr. Edward, of Elkhorn ; Herbert, a lawyer of Milwaukee.

Jesse Rundell Kinne, son of Elias and Lydia ( Rundell). was born at
Norwich. Novmeber 26. 1803; married January 14. [829, Sarah, daughter of
Isaac U. Wheeler and Lavina Duncan; came in 1843 to Sugar Creek, where
he owned more than three hundred and fifty acres of land, and knew how to
thrive by good farming: died March 24. 1886. .Mrs Kinne was born Janu-
ary, 1809; died November t, 1873. Children: Charles 1 married Jane,
daughter of Daniel Bigelow) ; Lavina (Mrs. Ezra Resolved Day): George
(married Mary E., daughter of James W. Field ). Mr. Kinne was one of the
ancient county Democracy. — often seen in conventions, but never in official
places, excepting when his Republican neighbors did not like all of their ticket
for town office.

William Allen Knilans, son of Daniel and Sarah Allen, was bom in
northern Ireland, November 22, [833; came with parents and brothers to
Richmond in 1840: in 186] enlisted in Company I. Thirteenth Infantry, and
was successively first sergeant, second and first lieutenant and was transferred
to Company G as its captain; mustered out late in 18(15 at San Vntonio, Texas.
He served at Huntsville, Alabama, as provost-marshal and was in all ways a
capable and trustworthy soldier. He married February 20. [867, Eleanor
Frances, daughter of Samuel Stewart and Margarel Mitchell, became a farm
owner and prospered steadily. In his turn he was presidenl of the Agricul-

534 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

tural Society, oi which he was a working member. He was seven terms a
member of the county board for Richmond. His clerical and business quali-
fications were good, and he was often appointed executor of wills or admin-
istrator of valuable estates. Like Messrs. Bell, Coon, Curtiss, Kinne, Latham.
Oatman, Page, Stebbins, Treat, Willis and others, he reckoned it honorable to
be often a defeated candidate on Democratic legislative and county tickets.
He was for several years a member of the county soldiers' relief committe.
About 1883 he moved to Whitewater. In 1893 ne went to Sligo to administer
an estate of something like twenty thousand pounds value, having been named
in an aunt's will as her executor. Jn the second Cleveland administration
he bad much influence with Senators Vilas and Mitchell in the distribution of
postmasterships within the county. He moved to a farm near Beloit in 1894,
where he died June 25, 1909. His children were William Arthur, Alice
Elizabeth, Daniel Amos.

Phipps Waldo Lake was born at Hoosick, New York. April 30. 1789;
was a soldier of the war of 1812; married Rebecca, daughter of John Beards-
ley ; came about 1839 to Big Foot Prairie, where he bought about six hundred
acres of land. He was a member of the Assembly of 1854, having been pre-
ferred by his district to Capt. Albert T. Wheeler. He died August 17, [860.
Airs. Lake was born at Richfield, Xew York. May 5, 1892; died May 22,
[884. Mr. Lake turned in early life to the service of religion, and was or-
dained as a Baptist clergyman, lie was one of the earliest in the work of
religious organization in the southern half of the county.

Ika Pratt Larnard, son of Elisha Laniard and Nancy Wilson, had
ancestors William'. Isaac-', Benoni3, Thomas'. Jonathan"'. Fanning6, Moses7,
who married Sarah Pratt. Ira was born at Waverly, New York, January jo,
1 «Sj 1 ; came to Delavan in 1N41 ; two or three years later he bought a wagon-
shop in which he worked about eight years. In 1845 nc became head of the

dry-g Is firm of Laniard, Bailey & Company, with Enoch 11. M. Bailey as

working partner. In [859 he went to Tike's Peak and returned. From i8(k)
In- business was that of insurance agent, and from 1S70 to [890 inclusive, he
was town clerk of Delavan and was treasurer of the Baptist society. He mar-
ried September 6, 1868, Hannah Uida, daughter of Dr, Benoni Bradway and
Althea Vanderveer. She is yet living with one of her four daughters. Mr.
Larnard died May 2, [912. He was of sound mind and clear memory to the
<:n<\ of his life, which was useful, well ordered, exemplary.

1 1 01 1 1- Latham I James"' ' :. Chilton2, Robert1 > was fifth of lift ecu chil-
dren of James Latham and Mary, daughter of Amos Robinson and Bethany
Jones. He was born March 1 _\ 1812, al Northfield, Vermont ; learned enough

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 535

at home and at district school to make him a plain, good American; came in
1836 to Milwaukee and early in 1837 to Spring Prairie : joined Mr. Rockwell's
party on its way to Elkhorn, and chose his home m the Genevan quarter, sec-
tion 6. In April, 1838, he married Mrs. Lemira Lewis, daughter of Capt.
Daniel Edwin Bradley and Elizabeth Sturgis. He served the town for 111.11 13
years as justice of the peace, the county as clerk of the In aid of commissioners
and as a superintendent of the poor, the state as trustee of the school for the
deaf, the town and county Democracy as its candidate for many defeats, the
Republican party when it did not care to send Richard 1!. Mack to the As-
sembly <-<i 1862, the agricultural society for several years as its secretary and
several more as its treasurer. In the second constitutional convention he had
been a member of the committee on "executive, legislative, and administrative
provisions." Like his old friend Mr. Hollinshead, he had the unhesitating
confidence of his fellow men, though there were many observable differences
between these two "grand old men." Mrs. Latham was born June 2 i. 1N06,
and died July 25, 1885.- She left two sons, not now living: LeGrand, first-
born of Elkhorn children, and Edward Marshall; also a daughter of her firsl
marriage: Elizabeth Ann Lewis, wife of Phineas C. Gilbert, Mr. Latham
died February 22, [886. His brother Loren (1823-1897) lived forty-five
years in Geneva and at Elkhorn.

Ebenezer Latimer, son of Alexander Latimer (died 18(17) ;il1(' Nellie
Smith, was born in Lister count). New York, October 25, 1N1N. \\c was
bred a carpenter, and in the city of Xew York was for some years a building
contractor. He came in 1847 io Darien, where he bought a large farm. 1 le
married February 21, 1849, Elizabeth, daughter of Rial X. Weed and Ruth
Austin. She was born in [825 and died August 2, [895. Their children
\\ere Fred E. and Mary L. 1 Mrs. AJonzo C. Goodrich). Mr. Latimer came
to Delavan in 1854, built an elevator, and with his brother and 1 Itho Bell was
for some years in grain trade. In 1N73 he became president of the First
National [lank of Delavan, and at its dissolution he opened the private hank
of E. Latimer & Co., of which he was at the head until 1908. He died March
24. 1910. He was a cool-headed, capable, conservative business man; and on
at least two occasions acted mosl serviceabl) as the city's agenl in adjustment
of its business with the holders of its corporate bonds, lie was a Jackson
3-Tilden-Cleveland Democrat, and a member of the Methodist church.
Ili- sister, Maria Catharine, was wife of < yrenfcs X. Hollister. Hi- brotl
lame- Freer Latimer, was horn in [833 and died 1 Ictobei jo. [904, and was
hi- partner in earlier enterprises.

536 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

James Lauderdale, son of Edward and wife Janet Elliott, was born at
Cambridge, Washington county, New York, August 29, 1813; married in
Livingston county, May 11, 1841, Margaret, daughter of James P. Stewart
and Janet McNaughton ; came to Lagrange in 1842; served on county board;
was assemblyman in 1853, chosen over George G. Williams, and again in
1856, chosen over Datus Ensign; died March 13, 1888. Mrs. Lauderdale
died October 1, 1909; their children were James Edward, John Henry.
Amanda (Mrs. D. Judson Williams), Mary Eliza (Mrs. Chester B. Williams),
and Walter Elliot.

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Lee, daughter of Ebenezer Chesebro and Anna
Griswold, was born in Albany county, New York, July 22, 1815; in 1837 she
was married to Nelson (son of Elon) Lee. He was born at Guilford, Con-
necticut. March 1, 1814; his parents went to Monroe county. New York, two
years later. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Lee came to Darien ; in 1848 to Sugar
Creek; in 1868 to a farm near Delavan. Mrs. Lee died at Sugar Creek, Octo-
ber 13, 1890. Mr. Lee died at Webster City. Iowa, April 9, 1898. It is told,
with much color of truth, that she was hardly second to her father in his
efforts to secure a state school for deaf children. Her son, Elon Nelson Lee
(afterward county superintendent of schools), was a soldier of Company A.
Tenth Wisconsin Infantry. He was sick at Elizabethtown. Kentucky, when
she went there in February. 1862. Her ministration was not restricted to him.
She came home and pushed the work of the sanitary aid societies, and then
went to find further service at the Louisville hospital. After the battle of
1 liaplin Hills she went to the hospitals at Danville. The next year she re-
turned with credentials, letters, >>v other helpful papers, from Gov. Solomon,
Lieutenant-Governor Spooner, and the Chicago Sanitary Aid Society, and be-
came well known to thousands of soldiers at Louisville, Nashville, and Mur-
freesboro. I ler son wrote of his parents: "I have said that if I were as
truthful and honest as my father, and had the courage, grit and leadership of
my mother, ] would feel satisfied." \ et their son has never been reckoned
here as a degenerate, but, on the whole, quite worthy of such parentage. Known
ancestors of Elon N. Lee were Nelson4, Elon8, Eber2, Elon1, of Guilford.

Chester Deming Long, son of Hugh and Parnell, was bom in Pem-
broke. Xew York, February 15. 1819. He came with his father to Darien in
[839, and married November i. [843, Laura Ann 1 1826- 1893 ) . daughter of
Zebulon T, Lee and Sabra. daughter of Orange Carter. In [851-2 he served
rm as register of deeds, and his records show that he was a competent
and neat-handed officer. In i860 he was elected member of Assembly for one
session, over Charles A. Hutchins and David Coon. Jr. tie died June 15,
[884. Mrs. Long died January 31, [893.

WAL WORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 537

Isaac Lyon, son of Thomas Lyon and Benjamins Valentine, had older
ancestors, Thomas1 2, Jonathan3, Capt. David4. His father and grandfathers
were soldiers of the Revolution. He was horn at Nine Partners, Dutchess
county, April 4, 1795; served in the war of 1812; married at Chatham, New
York. April 2. 1814, Eunice, daughter of Capt. Uriel Coffin. She was horn
April 2, 1800; died October 3, 1848. Isaac, with brothers David, Thomas and
William Fletcher and their father, came in 1837 to Hudson (Lyons) and were
among the founders of the village at the mill. He died December 15, 1884,
and was buried at Delavan, whither his father's and his wife's relics were re-
moved from Lyons. His son. William Penn, ex-chief-justice of the state
supreme court, is living near Sacramento. His daughter, Maria C, was wife
of Amos Phelps, of Delavan, son of Jeremiah and Margaret. Volume VI,
Wisconsin Historical Collections (1872), mentioned him as the depositor in
the Historical Society's cabinet of his large and interesting collection of curios-
ities, the labor of years, and as "our venerable friend and benefactor"; and in
Volume X it is noted (for 1884) that he "continues, voluntarily and without
recompense to supervise the cabinet-department with the same intelligent zeal
and interest as in former years."

Joseph Foster Lyon i [saac6, David', Edward4, Samuel3, William-1),
son of Isaac Lyon and Sarah Blodgett, was born at Harford, Susquehanna
county, Pennsylvania, April 27,, 1825; came to Waukegan in 1844; to Wood-
stock in 1850; to Darien in 1854. He married July 26, 1854, at Beloit,
Arimathea. daughter of Truman Jones and Elizabeth Kinne. A few years
later he went to California and soon returned to Darien. where he studied law
and in 1864 was admitted to practice. He served a few terms as justice of
the peace, eight terms as member of the county board, and in t868 as assem-
man, chosen over Julius A. Treat. In 1875 he was appointed clerk of the
circuit court, and served a full term by election, brum [875 to his death,
December r2. 1902. his home was at Elkhorn. Mrs. Lyon, who was grand-
daughter of Amasa and Azubah Jones, and whose mother was daughter of
Stephen Kinne and granddaughter of Gideon Kinne and Thankful Hewitt,
died November 7, 1872, leaving children, Ari May (Mrs. C. \\ . Ferson), Jay
Forrest 1 now county judge), and Vernette M. (Mrs. George M. Dunham).
Mr. Lyon married December to, 1X73, Amelia 1... (laughter of Leander Dodge
and Harriet, daughter of Orange Carter. She was born at Darien, Ma) 17,
1840; died at Chicago, October 10, 1906. Mr. Lyon was an intelligent studenl
of legal principles, and was an ingenious reasoner. He had also a marvelous
memory of the statute books, himself almost a living index to their contents. —
often able to stand in court and trace a chapter from its passage in the fori

538 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

through one or more amendments to its repeal in the seventies, he looking back-
ward from eighties or nineties. Besides, he was a part of the age in which he
lived, in touch with its spirit, and moving forward with its progress; and,
moreover, was one of the kindest of men and neighbors. His brother, Charles
Lysander, born September 1, 1829, has been coroner since 1883.

Robert Lytle married Esther Lytic Both were of the north of Ireland,
and were children of immigrants. They had children: Isaac (married Nancy
Armstrong) : Elizabeth ( Mrs. John Armstrong) : Lucy ( Mrs. William Lytle) ;
William (married Nelly Lytle): James (married Chloe Haskins. and Eliza-
beth Henry) ; Margaret (Mrs. Daniel Keener).

A brother of Robert or of Esther had children : Samuel ( his second wife.
Mrs. Harriet Campbell Magee); Nelly (wife of above mentioned William
Lytle) : William (married above-named Lucy Lytle) ; James; John.

Samuel Lytle and his first wife had a daughter Mary, wife of James
Adam Flack. Of his second wife, Harriet (Campbell) Magee, were Samuel,
whose wife Arvilla is daughter of James Adam Flack's second wife, Martha
Armstrong; Thomas (married Sylvia Rust) : Henry (married Julia, daughter
of Richard Potter) : Louisa (Mrs. Cyrus Cole).

Thom \s Morris McHugh was grandson of Lieut. Stephen McHugh, of
the British army, and son of Rev. Stephen McHugh, of the early Episcopal
church of Wisconsin. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Berry Xorris,
• if county Leitrim, Connaught. Thomas was born in Mohill parish, of that
count}. November jj. iN_>_>; had academic education: studied law at Utica,
New York: came in 1 S44 with his father's familj t" Delavan; admitted to
practice, at Elkhorn, in [849. He was secretary to the Territorial Council in
1 847 : a secretary of the second constitutional convention; was the first secre-
tary of state for Wisconsin and gave form and order to the business of that
office: chief clerk of the Assembly in 1853 and [854. He died, unmarried, at
Palatka, Florida, March 19, [856. lie has been credited with "a tireless
activity, versatile mind, a winning address, a clear head, and a warm heart."

I homas McKaig, son of William, whose wife was named Dawson, was
of a Scotch-Irish Family of Lister. He was horn at Stewartstown, county
Tyrone, December i-\ [812. He crossed the sea in [831, and five years were
passed at Quebec and Detroit, part of that time as a teacher. In [836 he was
empli yed in the land -office survej of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Me chose a Farm in section 29, north of Duck Lake, and was employed in
platting the village of Geneva; ami kept so far in touch with it- citizens a- to
play the trombone in it- earliesl brass hand, and to become a member of its

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 539

division of the Sons of Temperance. He was one of the earliest justice- of
the county and remained several year- in service. From 1847 to 1853 he was
county surveyor. He married July 25, 1S40. Asenath, daughter of Robert
Dunlap, a soldier of the Revolution, and Mary Letts. He died August -'4.
[888. -Mrs. McKaig was born at Ovid. New York, December ir, 1S1 1. and
died at Elkhorn. March 25, mod. They had six children, of whom a daughter
and three sons are living. Mrs. McKaig, in her old age. joined the Milwaukee
Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and in recognition of
her now unusual qualification for such membership she received from that body
a gold spoon of an appropriate device.

Samuel Mallorv i David"' \ Benjamin3, Joseph2,. Peter3 ). .-on of David
Mallory and Sarah Eldridge, was horn at Sharon. Connecticut, April 18, 1798;
lived a moving life in Broome, Cortland. Tompkins and Yates counties, as
farmer, wool-carder, chair-maker, innkeeper. He married, first, Nancy
Hooper. July 28, [821, at Homer; she was horn March 19, 1707; died January
17, 1827. He married, second, in Tompkins county. May 2, 1829, Jane
Frances, daughter of Amos Hart and Sarah Eldridge — the latter his mother's
cousin, perhaps. In 1844 he came to Elkhorn. bought a farm, and for four
years kept the hotel at Walworth and Broad streets. In 1846-7 and in 1855-6
he was count}' treasurer, and was once treasurer of the Agricultural Society.
He retired from his farm, within the village, and moved a few rods eastward
about 1877. I le died April 2. 1897 — sixteen days before the end of his ninety-
ninth year. His daughters, all of the second marriage, were Nancy Jane ( Mrs.
Henry Bradley), Ruth Ann (Mrs. Stansbury Ogden), Anstis Almira (Mrs.
William Augustus Barlow), and Betsey Frances (Mrs. Robert Harkness).
Of these the first only is living.

Sanger Marsh (christened Jedidiah Sanger, and quite probably a near
relative of Judge Sanger, the namesake of Sangerfield, Oneida county. New
York) was son of Wolcott Marsh. He was horn at Alexander. New York,
August 27. [815; passed from farm to counter at Nunda and Attica: and
married Harriet M. Horton at Nunda in 1841. She died January jj, [843,
leaving a son. Mr. Marsh came to Whitewater in 1845 and went into retail
business with John S. Partridge. He married Chelsea Pratt in January, [851,
whence three daughter-. In 1864 he became president of the Firsl National
Bank of Whitewater. He died October 29, 1872. His son, George Sanger
Marsh, was horn at Nunda, January 17. [843 : married May 20, [874, Rebecca
Jane, daughter of Jabez Wight and Rebecca Garrett Worrell. Her older
ancestors were Thomas1, Henry2, Joseph8, Jabez4, John1 ,;. Mr. Marsh i- now
president of the < itizens State Bank of Whitewater.

540 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Ebenezer Martin and his second wife, Joanna Favvcet, had sons Orra.
John and Josiah. Two of these and a son of the third came to Spring Prairie.
The family was of Mansfield, Tolland county, Connecticut, and may have been
earlier of Bristol count}-, Massachusetts. It is not known that others of their
name, in the count}-, were related to them.

Ciiari.es Martin was a son of Josiah Martin and Rachel, daughter of
Titus Williams. He was born at Harvard, Delaware county, New York,
November 12, 1818. He had a fair education and was well bred to farming.
He came to the vicinity of Vienna in 1844. He married May 6, 1846, his
cousin, Elizabeth, daughter of John Martin and Huldah Cornell. She was
born at Mansfield, May 11, 1821 ; died November 11, 1850. Mr. Martin mar-
ried November 24, 1853, Caroline Matilda, daughter of Samuel Fowle and
Harriet Ingraham. He came to Elkhorn and died March 4, 1906. Mrs.
Martin was born April 21, 1834; died January 31, 1892. Of five children
three died early. Delia is widow of Emory Williams. Helen is county super-
intendent of schools. Mr. Martin was an early member of the County Agri-
cultural Society and was once its president. For many years he was superin-
tendent of the Baptist Sunday school at Spring Prairie, once one of the best-
attended of any in the county. He was one who passed readily among men
as an intelligent Christian gentleman.

John Martin, son of Ebenezer and Joanna, was born at Mansfield,
\pril 4, 1793. He had a fair education and much natural ability. He was
once a member for bis town of the lower house of the Legislature, and was also
judge of the Mansfield probate district. (One or more towns of Connecticut
may constitute such a district, and in Judge Martin's time there were eighty-
six such districts in the stale. 1 lie married 1 [uldah t 'ornell. and their children
were: Ebenezer (married Lucia, daughter of Charles High, of IJloomtield ),
Elizabeth (Airs. Charles .Martin). Joanna (wife of Samuel, son of Rev. Orra
Martin), John I married Mrs. Man (Cornell) Monroe, his cousin), Timothy
1 married Laura Kell\ 1. Judge Martin came to Spring Prairie in 1842,
bringing with him his title for the convenience of his new neighbors, lie died
)\\\w [9, [871. Huldah was born in 1795; died Octoln-r 20. 1X44.

Ouk \ Mas riN, son of Ebenezer and Joanna, was born at Mansfield. Jan-
nai \ 25, 1701. While yet a young man he became a Baptist clergyman. His
wife was Tolly S., daughter of Augustus Mitchell. Of their children. Dr.
( leorge P, lived in Racine county, and John 1 1, lived near Vienna. The latter
married, first, Joanna Woodman; second, Adeline Decker. Elder Martin was
widely known to members of his denomination in this state, lie and John H.
\lutiii were Democrats, while their relatives were all Republicans. Elder

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 54 1

Martin was found dead in his bed, January 14, 1885. Other children, at home
\\ ith parents in i860, were Juliette S., Carlos D., Thomas M.

Albert L. Mason, son of Darius B. Mason and Harriet C. Starr ( early-
settlers of Sharon), was bora at Cooperstown. New York, August 23, 1824;
came to Sharon in 1840: married in 1847 Sophronia, daughter of William
Joiner; was postmaster 1850-3 at Sharon village; member of Assembly in
1879 — elected without opposition; died March 26, 1896. His father had been
a member of the county board, and his son. Darius B., is named in later official
lists of the town.

Asa Lewis Maxon, Jr., was born in Rensselaer county, New York, May
5, 1802; lived in Madison and Jefferson counties between 1825 and 1853;
came to section 2j, Walworth, and bought a large farm. His wife was Julia
Ann Read (1823-1897). He died May 5, 1882. Four sons were named:
Edgar Read (1823-1907) married Emily Wilson, daughter of Austin Rogers;
Henry J. ( 1 826-1892) married Phoebe Howland ; Francis W. (1805-1887)
married Mary L. Colhurn ; Dr. Joseph S. married Anna, daughter of Anson
Goodrich.

Deacon Alfred Maxon (1785-1858) had wife Mary (1787-1864). He
may have been an elder brother of Asa L. Maxon. Clark P. Maxon, born in
1818, married Lucy Ann Kinney. His relationship, if any there was, is not
shown. The presence, in the same town, of Maxons and Maxsons makes some
uncertainty as to the correct spelling for any individual.

Coe. James Maxweee was born at Guilford, Vermont, about 1785. The
sti >rv of his early and middle life is but scantily told. He must have had a fair
education and some experience in business. He lived for some time in Penn-
sylvania and in Indiana, and at the time of Black Hawk's war was at Chicago,
and at that time, probably, was one of Governor Reynolds's militia colonels,
The records of the adjutant-general's office, at Springfield, might make tin's
clear. Coming with Dr. Philip S.. his younger half-brother, to Lake Geneva,
he left that theatre of war and made a peaceable settlement in Walworth, where
he and "his son, and with them the Doctor, bought liberally in sections 15. 24,
26, 27. He was a member of the upper house of the second and third Leg
lative Assemblies for the joint district of Rock and Walworth, [838-42. Ii
not known when he left the count), but, at the organization of the State I [is
torical Society, in 1840. he was present from Sauk county. It is said thai he
died about 1869. His son, James Alexander Maxwell, remained in Walworth
long enough to find a place in the official list of that tow n.

Philip S. Maxwell was born at Guilford. Vermont, April 1, 1799;
was educated at the Cherry Valley Academy; studied medicine and was grad

542 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

uated from the Medical College of New York; opened an office at Sacketts
Harbor in 1832; about that time married Jerusha, daughter of Jabish and
Eunice Moore, and was commissioned assistant-surgeon, United States Army:
ordered in 1833 t0 Fort Dearborn; served also at Green Bay: in 1836, being
again at Chicago, he, with his halt-brother, Col. James Maxwell, invested in
the conflicting claims at Lake < ieneva and in other land ; was ordered to
Florida in 1838, and later to Fort Smith; resigned in 1842 and began success-
ful practice at Chicago. In 1N53 he became state treasurer of Illinois; but
having built and occupied a summer home overlooking Geneva Lake in 1 N 5 ; , .
his office at Springfield was declared vacant by reason of his non-residence in
the state. He renounced Illinois citizenship and Democracy, and made his
home ;it Lake Geneva and his political bed with the Republican party;, though
it pleased him not to hear his old-line Whig associates rail at General Jackson,
a- they were rather wont to do. He died November, 1859. His wife was
born December 28, [804; died at Lake (ieneva. March 27, 1875. Dr. Max-
well's family may be regarded as pioneers of the now numerous lakeside-
dwelling Chicagoans.

Lot Mayo, son of Elisha. was born at Augusta. New York, in 1803:
moved with his father to Chautauqua count}-, near Mayville, whence both came
in the early forties to Elkhorn. He had married successively two daughters
of Samuel Tubbs and Polly Frost, — the second wife named Jane, who was
born in 18] 1 and died at Elkhorn, October 26, 1849. His father died the
same day, aged seventy-five. Of one or both of these marriages were sons
Andrew, Samuel and Elisha. In 1853 he became postmaster at Elkhorn; and,
having secured reappointment, he married, third, Mrs. Amanda, daughter of
Simeon DeWitl Corbin and widow (since [846) of Erastus Hubbard. Of
this marriage was one child. Zaida. lie died January 3, 1N70. Mrs. Mavo
died November 26, [893, leaving also a son. DeWitt Pratt Hubbard. Mr.
Mayo was a working Freemason, and for some years master of the lodge at
Elkhorn. lie insisted constantly that no man could be a good and true Mason
vvithoul obedience to the moral law, and his own conduct squared with this
profession, lie was also a working Democrat, and his political reading had
made him a fairly formidable opponent in the partisan debates or wrangles of
his time.

Jesse Meachaw was born at Burlington, Otsego county. December 10.
1 791; served as a soldier of the war of tSu, and as a prisoner was nearly
lost by shipwreck at the mouth of the St. Lawrence: afterward became a
major, bj a governor's commission or by the courtesy of his neighbors; came
to Lodi, Michigan, soon after his marriage, in [828, to Patience Wallace.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 543

widow of his brother James, whose children lie made his own. Having visited
Honey Creek valley in 1835 he came with his family and a few friends in
1836, settled a town and founded a village. He died July 29, [868. Patience
was born July 20, [794; died March i_\ 1875. Her children were: Urban
Duncan (married Prudence Geddes ) , Edwin Wallace (married Emeline M.
McCracken), Edgar (married Sarah Mason).

Urban D. Meacham's son. William Pitt, was horn September jj. [836,
first native of Troy. He married Celesta [.. daughter of Stephen Smith, of
Monroe, Wisconsin, and returned in 1865. after twenty-one years absence, to
his grandfather's place. He died there November 3, 191 1.

Zerah Mead was born at Rutland, Vermont, June 4. 1800; from 1825
to 1832 worked a woolen factory at Waddington, St. Lawrence county; mar-
ried Fama, daughter of lame- Mott and Abigail Barnum, October 6, 1832;
came to Whitewater in 1837 and bought land in section 15. lie was one of
the several justices of the peace appointed by Governor Dodge for the count)
in 1838 and became aged and gray in that office. A son. James M. Mead, died
in military service at Helena in 18(13. Squire Mead was assemblyman in [852,
having defeated Willard Stebbins. He died March 23, 1875. Mrs. Mead was
born November 17. 1813: died April 30, 1898.

Perez Merrick was born January 28. 1760; married Hannah Williston
in 1789: lived at Franklin. Delaware county. Xew York. His ancestors.
Thomas1 and wife. Elizabeth Tilly; James1' and wife, Sarah Hitchcock:
Joseph3 and wife, Man- Leonard: Joseph4 and wife, Deborah Leonard. Perez
and Hannah had children: Gordon (died at Akron), Perez. Roderick. Austin
L.. Alonzo 1 married Samantha Wylie). Flavia (Mrs. Samuel White).

Col. Perez Merrick was born June 12, 1792: married Jerusha, daughter
of Dr. S. Hutchinson: came to this county in C836; was one of the earliesl
justices of the peace: died August 2^, 1854. His daughter Juliette was wife
of Horace Coleman. His son, Perez H.. born June 9, 1825, married Mary V.
daughter of Nicholas and Mary P>riggs, and had a son, < frlando Briggs.

Roderick Merrick was bom August 5. [794; married Rebecca < rates, Jan-
uary 24, 1828; came to Spring Prairie in 1837; died May 18, 1870. Hi- wife
was torn July 16, 1800; died February 24. [895. Their children were:
Flavia (Mrs. Alonzo Daniels). Hannah Rose ( Mrs. German Moore), Gordon
Williston (married Celeste Annette, daughter of Jeremiah Sheffield and Han-
nah Gardner Smith), Oscar D. (married Emily, daughter of Nathaniel Bell
and Sarah Cook), Elnora, Albert II.

Austin Leonard Merrick was born January 2. 1807: came to Spring
Prairie in 1836: married December 12. 1839. Esther Celestia Cook, who left

544 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

seven children; married July 28, 1856, Gratia Putnam, daughter of Josiah
Crane and wife Ruth; died December 19, 1887. His wife, Gratia P., was
born May 20, 1815; died December 16, 1900. Mr. Merrick's children were:
Leroy Williston (married Luella J. Ellsworth), Josephine Louisa (Mrs. John
H. Norton), Esther Priscilla, Augusta Deborah (Mrs. Vernon H. Raleigh),
Agnes Flavia (Mrs. Frank Jones), Dr. Jerome Cass, Irene Celestia.

Ezra Ames Mulford was born in Albany county, New York, in 1804;
studied medicine at the neighboring medical college ; practiced for some years
in his native state; married Zilpha Packard (born June, 1804). a native of
Xew Hampshire, and came in 1845 t0 tne t°v\'n of Walworth. In 1847 ne
was a member of the committee on general provisions at the constitutional
convention, but took little part in the work of that body. He continued in
medical practice in Walworth until his death, November 1, 1861. He had six
children.

Charles Augustus Noyes (Abel7, Moses11, Joseph5 4 ?', Rev. James-',
Rev. William1), was son of Abel Noyes and Sophia Shepard Hatch (Tim-
othy654, Benjamin3, Jonathan2, Thomas1), daughter of Timothy Hatch and
Abigail, daughter of Moses Porter and Sarah Kilham. He was born in Otsego
county, Xew York, September 3, 1812; improved his common school educa-
tion b) judicious reading; went to Buffalo in 1830 as a shipping clerk; came
to Chicago in [836, and thence to Geneva, where he bought, with his cousin,
Orrin I latch Coe, one-fourth interest in Brink's claim to the mill-site. This
share of the bone of contention was soon sold to R. Wells Warren, whose
sister, Nancy Page, daughter of Thomas Warren and Anna Page,
was married to Mr. Noyes, January 23, 1837. Before the end of
the year he recrossed the state line, made and sold claims: was post-
master in 183.9 al Tryon, Illinois; returned to Geneva in [850 only to set out
for California; in 1853 bought an interest in the water-power at Genoa
Junction; again to California in 1858, returning to Lake Geneva in [872,
where he died November 25. 1X81. Record of Mrs. Noyes' birth and death
is nol found. Their children were: Helen Augusta (Mrs. Gilmore 1). Fel-
lows), Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Franklin Rowe), Charles Augustus (1841-
[897 I, a soldier of the Civil war 1 married Jenny Lind, daughter of Benjamin
B. Humphrey and Juliet Smith). Martha Irene (Mrs. James Ervin Fuller),
[1 isephine Amanda 1 died early I,

Cyril Li v< 11 < >atw vn was grandson of George and son of Eli Oatman
and Mary, daughter of Joel and Patience Symonds, of Pawlet, Vermont. (His

1 died Ma\ 30, 1X51. aged seventy-four; his mother died February [6,
[861, aged eighty.) Cyril, seventh of eleven children, was born at Middle-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 545

town. Vermont, April 10. 1815. His sister, Calista (fourth child 1. was wife
of Russell H. Mallory. In 1S35 Mr. Oatman went to St. Louis; in [838 he
came with Mr. .Mallory to Geneva and (except a few years in business at
East Troy) made his home there till his death. May 17. 1889. He served as
under-sheriff for Mr. Mallory, and the two made the census of 1842. Being a
Democrat, as well as a man of property, character and ability, he was many
times defeated on the county and legislative tickets of his party. After Mr.
Mallory's death. March, 1852. his family was adopted by Mr. Oatman, who
never married.

Richard O'Connor was born at New York, March 17. [816; married
Elizabeth Morgan about 1846, and left the city by the sea for the city by lake
and creek in the same year. He founded a good business in drugs and books. —
the pioneer store at Whitewater in such goods. He was town assessor for
more than twenty years, and was among the earliest effective movers in the
matter of good walks and shaded streets. In business sense he was one of the
builders of Whitewater. He died December 27. 1881. leaving a well-estab-
lished business to two sons.

Albert Ogden (Zenas7, Daniel6, John7', David1. Thomas3, David2,
John1), son of Zenas Ogden and Julia, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth
Marsh, was born at Walton, Xew York. February 1. [815; came to Milwau-
kee in 1830. and joined himself to the founders of Elkhorn. lie married
Charlotte, daughter of Peter Boyce, September 7. [843; she died July 25,
1844: his second wife was Emma Oricia, daughter of Miner Watkins and
Anna Barr. married April 29, 1847. Mr. Ogden made no ripple in politics,
nor was named on election tickets; but he was a Whig as long as Clay and
Webster lived to lead. From [854 he was a Democrat, and lived to vote for
Palmer and Buckner. He prospered moderately and noiselessly, and at his
death. August 5, 1903. left a fair property and no children. Mrs. Ogden was
born at Stockbridge, Vermont, May, [824; died at Elkhorn, November 29,
1905.

Zenas Ogden, son of Daniel Ogden and Phoebe, daughter of Mo
Lindsley and Iranv Raynor, was born at Morristown, Xew Jersey. February
3. [79 : married Julia, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Marsh 1 born [794 :
died lune [6, [828); married again, in [833, Melita Baird 1 born at Bed

husetts, November 2, [806; died a1 Elkhorn, December to, t88o) in

1833; came in the forties to his farm in the southwestern quartet ol Elkhorn;

ed December 12. [861. He was a cousin of President William B. Ogden, of

the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. In his middle life he was a

I 35 I

546 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Whig, in later years a Republican. His eight children ( three by second mar-
riage) were Harriet Thankful (Mrs. Elijah Smith), Albert, Mary (Mrs.
Gabriel Smith Sawyer), Stansbury (married Ruth A. Mallory). Lucy (Mrs.
A. Sidney Downs), George Washington (married Mary M. Jewell), Henry
(died young), Elizabeth (Mrs. \Y. Frank Jewell ).

John Stanley Partridge, son of Stanley Partridge and Priscilla Ash-
ley, was-born in Genesee county, New York, June 28, 1819; came, in 1846, to
Whitewater and went with Sanger Marsh into general retail business, to which
they later added grain-buying, having built a large warehouse and elevator.
In April, 1848, he married Henrietta M., daughter of Uriah Johnson, of
Leroy, New York. In 1883 he became president of the Citizens National
Bank. He died July 3, 1892. His wife was born March, 1823; died Decem-
ber 13, 1890. His earlier ancestors were George1. John-. George3, James4,
Stephen5, Rufus6. His children were, in i860, J. Ashley, Clarence J.,
Ernest G.

Dan Phelps, son of Joseph Phelps and Jemima, daughter of Israel
Post, had other ancestors: William1 2, Timothy3, Joseph456. He was born
at Lebanon, Connecticut, September 18, 1779: married Elizabeth, daughter of
Israel King and Elizabeth Thompson: came from Darien, New York, to sec-
tion 1, Geneva, in 1842; died April 26. 1868. His wife was born April 18,
1789; died July 3, 1864. Their children were Cyrus K., Pamela (Mrs. Sam-
uel P. Jenks), Sarah (Mrs. Eli Webber), Lavina (Mrs. George Wickwire),
Adelia (Mrs. David Williams).

Cyrus King Phelps was born at Darien, Xew York, July 4. 1818: mar-
ried September 26, 1843, Adeline C, daughter of Thorp Williams and Clar-
issa Peters; died October 24, 1899. Mrs. Phelps was born at Darien, June 28,
1822: died September 2, 1879. Their children were Asa W.. Jane J., Jerome
1).. Arthur H. Mr. Phelps was a careful breeder of fine sheep and cattle, a
thorough farmer, and in some fair sense a model citizen and neighbor.

Ih\k\ Phoenix, sun of John and wife Martha Martin, was born at
Greenwich, Xew York, June 2^, 1792: was apprenticed to a tanner at Painted
Post ; after various business ventures he settled for a time at Perry, where he
was postmaster. In 1836 he came with his brother. Col. Samuel F., to Dela-
van, and the two joined in platting the village and naming it. in null-building,
in a general store, and in real estate business. He had married. November, [819,
at Painted Post, Ann. daughter of John Jennings. They had eleven children,
lie died February jj. [842. I lis widow was killed by a railway train while
sin- was crossing an icy trestle-bridge west of the village, November 19, 1857.
She had eleven children. Martha was wife of \aron II. Taggart, and Mary
( ',. w as w ife of |ohn 1'". MeKey.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 547

Samuel Faulkner Phoenix, son of John and wife Martha .Martin,
was born December 23, 1798, probably in Washington county, New York. His
father died about two years later and his mother was married to Joshua Bart-
lett. It is conjectured that the family removed to Chenango county before
reaching the town of Dansville, in the northwestern corner of Steuben county,
where the boys learned the process and the business of tanning. Samuel mar-
ried October 24, 1822, at Sherburne, Chenango county, Sarah Ann, daughter
of Samuel Kelsey and Elizabeth Carver. She was born in that county Septem-
ber 3, 1799, and died at Delavan, May 9, 1894. The brothers had gone, about
1816, to Perry (then in Genesee county), and in the next few years built a
prosperous business as tanners and added general stores at Perry and Frank-
linville to their enterprise. In 1827 Samuel became colonel of the Twenty-
seventh Xew York Infantry, and at or about the same time joined the Baptist
church. In 1830 the brothers spilled their stock of alcoholic liquors and de-
voted themselves to the cause of total abstinence. In 1835 Samuel was a
delegate to the Utica convention, which formed the State Anti-Slavery So-
ciety. This was the meeting which was mobbed at Utica and was entertained
by Gerrit Smith at Peterboro. In 1836 he came to Spring Prairie, and set
out in quest of a site for his ideal village, which he named, and concurred with
Baker. Dwinnell and others in naming the county as worthily. Colonel
Phoenix died September 6, 1842, from bilious colic. He had brought to Dela-
van, with his military title, his business shrewdness, his endless activity, his
zeal for religious and moral reform, and his interest in public education. He
preached at Delavan, Spring Prairie and at other settlements. He was a
moving spirit in early conventions of temperance men and of slavery-haters.

The story of his early life is imperfectly and not quite consistently told.
It is not quite certain that his father was not William, as Mr. Dwinnell's
papers tell it: though it is probable that as to this Mr. Cutler was correctly in-
formed at Delavan in 1881. Colonel Phoenix was at his coming westward a
relatively wealthy man. and must have made himself so between his eighteenth
and thirty-sixth vears. He did not live to see the early failure of his purpose
to build a city as well on moral ideas as on commoner principles of business;
but the good seed he sowed was not all wasted, though tares took root there,
too. His only child. Franklin Kelsey, was horn at Perry, March 3. 1825;
married Mary E., daughter of Thomas Topping, of Darien, December 2,
1850; died February 3, 191 1. His children were Samuel T.. A. Melville. Fred
S.. May (Mrs. Cameron). Frank. Carrie 1 Mrs. Edward F. Williams), John
Jay (married Eva. daughter of W. Wallace Bradley 1.

548 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

William Phoenix, a cousin of Henry and Samuel F. Phoenix, was
born in Sussex county, Xew Jersey, March 17, 1793: was a farmer and
teacher, and in time a retailer of general goods. He wandered about western
Xew York and northern Pennsylvania for a few years before settling at
Perry, whence he came in 1836 with his cousins to Delavan, and in 1837 be-
came postmaster at that village. He was once assessor and twice a member of
the county board. He died November 25, [855. It seemed fore-written by
the Fates that others should reap what these Phoenixes had sown so well. He
had married at Milo, Xew York. July [8, 1818, Susan, sister of John Bruce,
■ if Darien. Their children were Henry H., Mary A. ( Mrs. Edwin Brainard),
Samuel A.. William A., John W.

Jarvis King Pike was son of Jesse Pike (1756-1799) and Rebecca
King (1763-1833). He was born in Dutchess county, Xew York, December
[9, 17X1 ; married December 24, 1801. Rebecca Mead, who was born June 4,
17X2, and died December 6, 1X07. In 1X13 he served as aid to his maternal
uncle, Gen. Nathaniel King, of the Xew York militia, at Sacketts Harbor; in
iXji as a member of the Xew York constitutional convention; in 1837 as a
judge of the Cortland cdunty court of common pleas. In 1X41 he came to
Whitewater, where he built a house, but later moved to Cold Spring, and in
[849 was a member of Assembly for Jefferson county. He died January id.
[863. I lis children, whose lives were more or less of Whitewater, were:
Calvin (married Man Ann Wheeler), Clarissa ( Mrs. William Field). Flnora
1. Mrs. I le/ekiah M. Sanders). Mary Ann. Alanson (married Fidelia Cra-
vath I. Sarah.

John Fox Potter (John1', Rev. Isaiah"', Daniel1"'. Nathaniel2, Will-
iam1), son <>f John Potter and Caroline Fox, was born at Augusta, .Maine,
May 11, 1X17. lie was educated at Phillips-Exeter Academy, and had as
schoolmates and friends the five Washburne brothers, who were afterwards of
as many states; namely, Maine, Illinois. Wisconsin. Minnesota and California,
and all more or less politically fortunate. J le became, like his father, a lawyer.
and coming to Easl Troj in [838 he became also a farmer, having settled on
three hundred and fifty acres of land in sections 10. 11, 15, His land nearly
'1 a lakelet, and on Us high bank he built his house, lie married ( >ctO-
ber [5, [839, Frances E. 1... daughter of Capt. George Fox and Rebecca
Lewis, and they had six children. Their son, Alfred Charles Potter, was a
sergeant of Company I. Twenty-eighth Infantry. The places Judge Potter
tilled and those he declined have been mentioned. As a member of Assembly
.1 railwaj company's method of influencing a governor, a judge of
the Supreme court, a legislature, ami part of the daily press to secure to itself

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. S49

a large grant of public land in aid of railway building, lie voted for its bill,
but refused its present of bonds, though that was the share of a senator. In
two of his eongressional terms the unending debate on the admission of Kan-
sas, with all its wanderings, overshadowed other proceedings, and in his third
term the consideration of war measures was always in hand. In the first four
years he found occasions to use his lists with much practical and some scenic
effect in Homeric battles on the floor of the House, in which he left the marks
of his peculiar grace on the godlike countenances of William Barksdale, Reu-
ben Davi> and Lucius O. C. Lamar — all of Mississippi. "1 'otter, the wiry, from
woody Wisconsin." lives sub-immortally in Punch's hexametric story of these
congressional diversions. Mr. Potter never quite liked thai so much import-
ance should be given to his affair with Mr. Rryor, which grew from a cor-
rection and counter-correction of a passage in the record of a previous day's
debate. The matter was wholly personal, but the excited state of partisan
discussion prepared men's minds to take tire over-easily. Northern opinion
justified Mr. Potter's acceptance of the foolish challenge. He always spoke
appreciatively of General Pryor's personal and professional qualities, and
similarly of General Barksdale and Colonel Davis — but not so of Judge
Lamar. Near the end of his last session, in 1803, Mrs. Potter died of typhoid
fever contracted while trying to better the conditions of a badly managed mili-
tary hospital. She was a high-minded, intelligent and brave-spirited woman.
December 7, 1865, he married her sister. Sarah Lewis Fox, who died in [882.
In 1873 the Greeleyan bolters of the year before, with the Democrats of the
county, needlessly mistaking his position, named him as their candidate for
state senator. He was not fully aware of this action until election day, when
he disclaimed such political fellowship. Taking an open Republican ballot. In-
folded it before all men present and thus voted for Mr. Weeks, his quasi-
opponent. He died May 18, 1899. He was a ready, easy speaker, without
tricks of elocution, and cared more to convince his hearers than to electrify
them or to stir them to transient emotion.

Robert Knight Potter (Joseph'1, Thomas5, John' :; -. Robert'), son of
Joseph Potter and Anna Knight, was born at ( xanston, Rhode Island, April 1 1.
1 791. Two of his brother-, Alonzo and Horatio, were bishops of the Epis-
copal church (the first of Pennsylvania, the other of New York), and Para-
clete was eighty years ago editor of the Poughkeepsie Journal. Mr. Potter*
married Sarah, daughter of Daniel and Phoebe Line. December 25, 1813, and
lived many years at Beekman. Dutchess county, where four children were 1m. 111.
In or about 182^ he moved to Monroe county, and thence in [843 to sections
18, 19, Lafayette, with his twelve children. In 1857 he left the farm to bis

550 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

son Joseph and built a house at Elkhorn, where he died March 15, 1883. Airs.
Potter was born in 1793 and died July 6, 1887. Their children were long
known in half of the county: Emeline (.Mrs. Cyrus Cole) ; Russell (married
Lavinia Avery ) ; Amelia ( Mrs. Gain R. Allen) ; Joseph (married Rosina Ells-
worth; 2d, Mrs. Caroline (Randall) Penny) ; Rebecca (Mrs. Marcus C. Rus-
sell) ; Alonzo (married first, Laura Pitkin; second, Adelaide Merrick) ; Rob-
ert (married Mary E. Patterson); Horatio; Monroe (married Eliza Emily
Bemis) ; Lorenzo Dow; Paraclete (married Arabella M. Seymour).

David J. Powers was born in southeastern Vermont, June 3, 1814; had
a common school education ; was apprenticed to a machinist; married and came
in 1838 to Milwaukee. Here he met Willard B. Johnson, who told him of
golden possibilities at Whitewater, and he came at once to see, and to buy half
of section 12 (in his wife Caroline's name). Dr. Tripp gave him a hotel site
in the new village, and he built and occupied the first hotel at Whitewater. He
was also postmaster, but he bad a wider and larger aim. In 1S42 he bought a
mill-site at Palmyra and platted that village. He was member of Assembly in
[853, and for the next fifteen years tarried at Madison to publish and edit the
Wisconsin Farmer, and to serve as secretary of the State Agricultural Society.
Ik- next went to Chicago, and thenceforth became of that city and its manu-
facturing interests a part. His career was, on the whole, prosperous, and
Whitewater is vet pleased to remember him as one i>t its founders.

Samuel Pratt, son of Samuel and Hephsibah, was burn at Enfield.
Massachusetts, October 6, 1807; his wife was a daughter of Thomas Miller;
lie came to White Pigeon in [829 ami to Spring Prairie m 1837. He was
Assemblyman in 1849, elected over Ansel A. Memenway ami James Porter;
in [855 over Thomas Russell, in [863 over Mollis Latham; senator in 1870
over Latham, in [872 over c "apt. John Turtle, lie died March 23, [877.
1 )a\ id Pratt, an early settler, was his brother and there were I Matt s of the next
generation at Spring Prairie related to him. lie was an upright, intelligent.
self-respecting man and a reputable legislator. Mis only son. Orris Pratt,
served in the Assembly of [883, having been chosen over Dwight S. Allen.
w hi 1 had been defeated in the nominating convention.

Freeman Liberty Pratt, son of Asaph and Hannah, was born at Eaton,
Xew York, July 31, 1814; married a1 Smithfield, March 24, [836, Melinda Al..
daughter of Terry Mack and Catherine l )emott ; came with his brother Norman
in [839 to section 5. Whitewater. Their father came and built a mill. Me
died in 1844. The Pratl brothers built the first log house, the only other
building at the time being a shanty, filled with unmarried rovsterers. Free-
man died February r8, [880 Mr-. Pratl was born April 17. 1820. and died
July [8, 1898, She was Whitewater's Kind and useful "Aunt Melinda."

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 55 1

Otis Preston, son of Samuel and Alary Preston, was born at Lanesboro,
.Massachusetts. May 13, 1813; apprenticed to a tailor at Sheffield ; was foreman
of one of the best shops at Great Barrington ; and came in 1834 to White Pig-
eon. His education was mainly from good reading and from contention in
debating schools. He received from Stevens T. Mason, the "boy governor" of
Michigan, a captaincy for possible service in the "Toledo War"; and, as a
member of Assembly in 1841 he was a stalwart adherent of Gov. John S.
Barry. His business at White Pigeon as tailor and dealer in general goods
flourished for a time: but in 1846 he came to Spring Prairie village, and in
1848, having been chosen sheriff over George W. Dorrance (Whig) ami
Perry G. Harrington (Democrat), he came to Elkhorn, this his last removal.
In 1855 he failed of nomination ( on the Barstow ticket) as state treasurer,
but was placed the next year on the Buchanan electoral ticket. I [e served
three terms as member of the count)" board, and so closed his official life.
Though never a farmer he was an enthusiastic member of the .Agricultural
Society and five times its president. He had opened a store for the sale of
dry goods and groceries, at the close of his sheriffalty, first with Horatio X.
Hay. and later with Benjamin F. Pope as partner. His voice as a town officer
and as a business man was always for village improvement. He would have
moved the village a half-mile eastward and new-named it "Centralia." His
firm built a grainhouse, and across the track southward platted an addition
which he named "Byzantium." The business panic of 1857 demolished his
and many another's air-castles, and he ended his long life of honest and hopeful
poverty January 10, 1890. His wife, Julia Ann, daughter of Simeon DeW itl
Corbin and Amanda Pratt, was born m Ohio, July 2, 1818; married at White
Pigeon, May 18. 1836; died November 9, \X<>j. They had three children:
Orville Marshall, who died while yet a minor, — full of promise for luisincss
activity: Lydia Louise (Mrs. Henry Cousins) : Robert (lark, long hi- father's
associate in the business of the mice locally famous "Shanty," died at Kan
Claire June 4, 1907. Mrs. Preston was a woman "nobly planned." Mr.
Preston was a clean-living, kind-hearted, broad-minded, public-spirited man.
An earlier ambition had been to make himself an orator, for which his figure,
manner and voice lilted him fairly. His later aspiration was toward editot
ship, for which he lacked nearly everything.

Josiah Osgood Pi ffer was son of Samuel Puffer and Eunice (0 g 1)

Osgood. His mother'- ancestors were John1. Stephen-, Hooker3, David4,
( apt. Josiah'"' and wife Jane Byington. Her first husband, Samuel Osgood,
of Jonathan, Jr., was her second cousin. Their son Samuel Stillman 1
1. was a good man of Elkhorn. Josiah O. Puffer was born at Sunderland,

e;52 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Massachusetts, October 22, 1S14; came to Spring Prairie and prospered in
shoe-shop, on farm, and in business at the village; married successively Han-
nah M. Whitmore and .Mrs. Mary Whitmore Hatch. Hannah was born April,
1820; died February 11, 1862, leaving six sons. Alary died January 31, 1897.
Mr. Puffer was a deacon in the Baptist church. In the church and out of it he
was a man of action, for he was sound and energetic in body and in mind, and
had his share in the direction of local affairs. He died March 16, 1895.

Adam E. Ray was a son of Martin Kay (born 1779) and Caroline Phelps
(born 1781). He was born at Kingston, New York, in 1808. He came
about 1837 to Milwaukee, and served for Milwaukee and Washington counties
in the territorial Legislature; lower house from 1831) to 1X42: upper house in
[845. About 1X4(1 he settled in section 6 of Troy with wife Eliza, and was
four times a county supervisor. At the legislative session of 1851 he was an
assemblyman, chosen over Timothy Mower and Mellen Bern*. About 1858
he went to Alabama with intent to try northern ways of farming there. He
and his money were made welcome, but within a year or two the political
atmosphere became so over-heated that he returned and soon afterward moved
to Waukesha, where he died September 20, 1865. His children were Patrick
Henry, Eliza, Mary, Augusta, Jane, Ered, Ira, Ida. 1'. Henry Ray enlisted
in April. [861, and served in Company K, Second Infantry, as corporal; in
Company A, hirst Heavy Artillery, as senior first lieutenant; in Company L,
same regiment, as captain; entered the regular service in 1867 as second lieu-
tenant; was retired as brigadier-general; and died in 191 1.

George Augustus Ray, son of Martin and Caroline, was born in Dela-
ware county, Xew York, April 23, [819; came to Mukwonago by way of Mil-
waukee about 1837; to East Troy about [842; to Lagrange about i860; to
Whitewater in 1S70, where he died February 23, [893. lie served for seven
terms as county supervisor for Lagrange, ami in [868 was assemblyman, hav-
ing defeated Henry B. Clark. October 31, 1844. he married Fanny, daughter
of Jonah Wicker and Fanny Compton. She was born in Vermont, March
31, [826; died at Whitewater, October 25, 1906. Their children were Mary
(Mrs. William R. Taylor): James W. ; Frank P.; Ada (Mrs. Arthur R.
Cook) ; Margaret (Mrs. Roby).

HENRY M. Ray, son of Martin and Caroline, was born in April, 1800. at
Kingston. He came to Darien before i860. In 1865 he was one of the
in orporators of the First National Rank id" Delavan, He died November 5,
1866. Mrs. Mary S. Ray, his wife, was born in Saratoga county; died at
Delavan, April 23, 1892. Their children were Asa W. ; W. Augustus;
Henry; Mary !•'.. 1 Mrs. Warren W. Sturtevant) : Piatt. W. Augustus was colo-

WALWORTH COUNTY., WISCONSIN. 5^3

nel of the Fortieth Infantry, and Henrv E. was a lieutenant in the same reei-
ment.

Edwin Mortimer Rice, son of Jones Rice and Hannah Hemenway, was
born in Addison county, Vermont, February [3, 1S17; married December 24,
1840, Laura E.. daughter of Ira Wicker, of Bridgeport : came in 1841 to section
5, Richmond; was member of the county board in 1855 and in the same year
began six years of service as superintendent of the poor. In 1807 he moved
to Whitewater, where he died May 19, 1904.

Erasmus Darwix Richardson, son of Caleb Richardson and Clarissa
Knight, had ancestors Thomas1. Nathaniel3, John3, Caleb4, John5. He was
born at Burlington, Xew York. November 26, 1810; in 1834 married Eliza-
beth \\\. and in 1843 Alma O.. daughters of Abraham Spafard and Sarah
Williams. He came to section 31 of Lyons in 1842, and from his farm was
taken the addition of five acre- to Lake Geneva, lie began his hanking busi-
ness at Lake Geneva in 1848 and continued in it until his death, January _\
1892. His affairs were found somewhat involved, most likely because age
had impaired his earlier sound judgment. He had served the town as clerk,
and the village as president, and was a member of the Assembly of 1849. 1 te
was regarded as one of the safest business men of the county. His one child.
Elizabeth, was wife of Charles E. Buell.

Ard Starr Rockwell was a son of Benjamin Sperry Rockwell and Try-
phena Starr. Jabez Rockwell, his grandfather, was of Danbury, Connecticut,
where his children were born. These were Levi, Eli, Benjamin S.. and Ezra.
Benjamin S. Rockwell was horn May im. 1702: married May 4. 1783; died
October 30. 1835, at Butternuts, New York, whither he had removed in 171)5.
Trvphena was daughter of Jonathan Starr. Jr., and Lucy, daughter of Joseph
and Elizabeth Ruggles. Her earlier ancestors were Thomas'. Dr. Comfort'-'.
Thomas3, Josiah4, John5, Jonathan0. She was born May 12, 1762; died
March 23, 1851. Their children were Ard Starr. Keziah, Ashbel Ruggles,
Amos, Andrew, Asahel. Rachel, Laura, Anson, Almon. Ard S. was born
December 5, 1783; married Betsey Shaw in 1809; died at Elkhorn, July 4.
1866. Mrs. Rockwell was born in 1795 ; died December 5. 1875. Their son-
were John Starr. LeCrand. Lester Ruggles, Henry; and there were four
daughters.

(ames Oliver Rosencrans (Simeon1, Col. John3, Alexander-'. Herman
Hendrick1) was son of Dr. Simeon Rosencrans and Sarah Shoemaker. He
was born at Walpack, Hunterdon county. Xew Jersey. June 3, [803; married
Susannah, daughter of James Van Campen and I ecelia Meeker, March 3.
1824; came to earlv Whitewater — several namesakes ami relatives also to

554 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Troy, Sugar Creek and other towns; died May 5, 1883. His wife was born
November 6, 1805, died September 1, 1892. Their daughter Cecilia was mar-
ried to Augustus C. Kinne.

Cyrus Rugg, son of David Rugg and Eunice, daughter of Solomon
Gleason, was descended from John1, Daniel2 3, Reuben4- He was born at
Heath, Massachusetts, January 20, 181 1; married October 7, 1835, Lucinda
F., daughter of Zenas and Abigail Taylor. She was born February 29, 1816;
died November 2, 1884 — having known but seventeen birthdays. Cyrus died
at Logan, Iowa, February 2. 1894. In i860 they had six children. Mr. Rugg
came to Bloomfield in 1841. He served the town three terms as its member
of the county board. A few of his townsmen remember him as a competent
farmer and man of town affairs, and speak of him as one of the best men of
his town — and, therefore one of the best of the count}'. His brother, Erastus
Root Rugg, was born November 2, 1820: came to Bloomfield in 1841 : mar-
ried December 25, 1844, Lucy Elizabeth Hatch; went westward in after years;
was killed at Portland, Oregon, September 20, 1889. Mrs. Rugg was born
January 18, 1827: died September 4. hjoo.

Silas Salisbury, if, as here supposed, he was son of Duty (or Dutee)
Salisbury and Cynthia Smith, had ancestors : William1, Cornelius'-'. Jonathan3,
Edward4. 1 le married Lydia Dodge and their children were born in Cortland
county between [807 and 1830. These were Amanda. Ansel. Oliver, Nelson,
Rhoda, Elisha, George, Mary Jane, Christopher, Silas, Samuel, Lydia Ann.
Three of the son> came to Whitewater.

Ansel Salisbury was born May 15, 1809; came to Spring Prairie in 1837 ;
married 1 Hive Dame at Northport, Michigan, in 1843; went to Lima in 1846;
tn \\ hitewater in 1854; owned the branch null [858-1865 : died November 24,
[884. His children were: Egbert (married Jean Galbraith) ; Edgar (died
aged [3); \\ 'infield Scott (married Mary Earll) ; Stella (Mrs. Clarence J.
Partridge); Effie (Mrs. Mannering De Wolf ) ; Willard (married Atlanta
Schrom) ; Jessie (married Fred Hurlbut, Jr.).

Nelson Salisbury was horn December 31. 1812. at Marathon; came to
Wisconsin in [839; married Esther, daughter of Prosper Cravath and Miriam
Kinney. She died April 16, [845, leaving a child Helen (Mrs. Luther L.
t I. irk). In January, [880, he married Mrs. Julia Hemenway and died Sep-
tember 1 (. [880.

George Salisbury was lorn April to, [819; came in Spring Prairie in
|.o; in Lima in iS|i ; married in [849 Philena Matilda, daughter of Levi
Kinne) and ^dah Cravath ; moved to Whitewater in [854; died April y, 1889.
Ili- wife was horn July 22, 1N20: died July <). 1902.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 555

Daniel Salisbury suspected some not assignable degree of cousinship
between himself and his namesakes. He was born at Homer, January 25,
1814; came to Spring Prairie in 1836; married Harriet, daughter of Isaac U.
Wheeler, April 1, 1841 ; she died August 16, 1843; ne married Lucinda Bryant
June, 1848; she died May 14, 1878, leaving children: Wayland (1848-1866) ;
Alice (Airs. Hugh Paden ) ; Harriet (Mrs. Frank J. Palmer); Celia; Rollin
D. : Elsie. He died March 29, 1888, having been for a few years the oldest
living settler. Rollin Daniel Salisbury was graduated from Beloit College;
was for some years assistant to the state geologist and was or is a geological
professor at the Northwestern University, at Chicago. He has made some
contributions to geological science and his reports and other works have been
published.

Arthur Loomis Sanborn ( Ebenezer Simpson87, John", Ebenezer5,
Enoch4, John321), son of Ebenezer Simpson Sanborn and Harriet Blount,
was born at Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence county, New York, November 17,
1850. His father died in 1862, leaving two bright boys to be led to honorable
and useful manhood by their mother — one of the best and most capable of
women. The family had lived some years at Lake Geneva. Air. Noyes gave
Arthur a clerkship in the office of register of deeds, and the mother and sons
made their home at Elkhorn. In 1875 the clerk became chief, and his spare
hours were given to thorough study of the law. In 1879 he was admitted to
practice, and at the 'close of his term of office he went to Madison, to take a
subordinate place in the office of Gregory & Pinney. A dissolution and re-
mposition of partnerships made the new firm of Pinney & Sanborn. He
was later a partner of John C. Spooner and others. Another firm. Berryman
& Sanborn, became widel) known as annotators of the Revised Statutes, and
a younger Sanborn is still engaged in that work. The death of Judge Romanzo
Bunn made a place for Mr. Sanborn in [905 on the federal bench of western
Wisconsin. Judge Sanborn, while struggling at Elkhorn, married Alice Eliza-
beth, daughter of Isaac Golder and Sarah Merritt, and has three sons and a
daughter.

fosEPH Warren Seaver was born at Arlington, Vermont, July -'3.
1793: married Mary Long; lived in Washington and Genesee counties, New
York ; came to Darien in 1837 ; was first town clerk and served in all six terms ;
in 1852 he was chosen member of Assembly ovei Gaylord Blair and Plinj
Allen: died August 1. [864. His wife was born July 21, [793; died August
30, 1850. Their children, as nearl) as found, were Hora ett I [832-

1897), married Orinda C. daughter of Cyrus Lippil and Lydia ( Bruc< I I »e
witt; Van Ness; Warren; Solon.

556 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Lyman Hint Shaver, a brother of Joseph W., was born at Arlington,
Vermont, October 26, [796; lived in Washington and Genesee counties; came
in 1837 to Darien; was one of the first town board of supervisors, in 1842;
was a member of the constitutional convention of [846 and was one of the com-
mittee on schedule for organization of state government (Article XIX) ; died
June 1, [864. Sarah, his wife, daughter of Archibald Woodard and wife
Anna, was born at Hebron, New York. April 10, 1797: died August 28, 1878.
Of their eleven children three died early. The others in uncertain order of
birth were William (married Alice Bentley) ; John Woodard (married Helen,
daughter of Joseph Chamberlain): Henry Warren (married Mary Jane,
daughter of William Harper) ; Julius Horace (married Martha Jane Herron ) ;
Lyman 1 1. ( married Lavina, daughter of Aaron E. Bell and Julia Armstrong 1 :
Rodney (married Myra A. Dean); Mary Ann (Airs. States K. Corning).
There may be some error of detail as to the two Seaver families or wrong as-
signment 1 if children to them, though some effort was made to rind the whole
truth.

Robert Thompson Seymour (Harvey H.6, Abijalr', Thomas4, Mat-
thew3, Thomas2, Richard1 ), was son of Harvey Hine Seymour and Arabella
Thompson. ( Harvey 11. Seymour was born July 13, 1790. at Wilton, Con-
necticut, and died at or near Elkhorn July 20, 1878. His mother was Eliza-
beth Hine). Robert T. Seymour was born at Rhinebeck, July 13, 1814; had
a fair education; had kept a hotel; was for a term sheriff of Dutchess county,
and was mice required to execute the sentence of the law upon one convicted
of murder in the first degree. No defense had been made in court, except to
show circumstances which would now be thought to warrant much less than
the extreme penalty. While in jail, the prisoner and sheriff formed a warm
friendship, and it needed more than common fortitude to carry out the last act.
In 1854 Mr. Seymour bought the Rockwood farm in Lafayette, and also took
part in county affairs, and in the business of the Agricultural Society, of
which he was president in [856. In the legislative session of that year he was
member of Assembly, chosen over Stephen G. West. He was five times a
member of the county board and twice its chairman He died at Elkhorn.
February 20, [879. His wife was Harriet, daughter of William Jaques and
Mary Cooper. She was born at Rhinebeck, October 29, iSu, married March
_'<>. 1835, and died October [9, 1S78. They had seven children. Capt. Alex-
ander Thompson Seymour served in Company 1. Twenty-eighth Infantry.
and died in 1007. William Harvey Seymour was a business man at Lake
Geneva; he died in [894. Mary Catherine is wife of Eli W. Garfield, at
Elkhorn.

WALWORTH COl'XTY, WISCONSIN. ^^J

Elisha Matteson Sharp, son of Capt. John Sharp and Sarah Mather,
was born at Reading. Schuyler county, New York, October 21, 1832; came to
town of Delavan in 1850. and later to the village; was a teacher and then a
dealer in dry goods, etc.; married September 30, [862, Sarah A., daughter of
Roswell and Martha Williams, of Darien ; member of Assembly in 1872,
elected over William A. Knilans. and in 1875. having defeated Uriah S. Hol-
lister. In 1878 he was appointed consular agent at Paris, Ontario, that office
a dependency of the consulate at Hamilton, Ontario. He died October 8,
189 1. and his wife followed March 5, 1901.

John Sharp, son of Jacob Sharp and Esther Matteson, was born in Hun-
terdon county, Xew Jersey, February 5, 1801 ; his family went in icSu to
Tompkins county, Xew York; he married November 27, 1827, Sarah Mather.
At some date between 1833 and 1839 he was commissioned as captain of
militia, in the regiment of Steuben county. In 1850 he came to the town of
Delavan, southeastern shore of the lake ; in 1807 be made a home in the village,
where he died December 20, 1871. Mrs. Sharp was born in Orange county.
New York, October 12, 1809; died July 13, 17S9. Her parents were Silas
Downs Mather and Mary, daughter of Capt. Cotton Mather, and older an-
cestors were John1, Thomas-, Rev. Richard:!. Timothy4. Rev. Samuel", Rev.
Nathaniel0, Ebenezer7, John8. Her children were: Mary \i. (Mrs. Charles
V; Bassett) ; Elijah M. ; Susan; Hiram Terry; Elisha (killed in military ser-
vice): John Mather; Sarah A. (Mrs. William M. Shepard ; Clara 1 Mrs.
Winn) : Elizabeth A. (Mrs. Edward Powers).

George Sikes was born in Connecticut, December, [816; his family
moved to the state of New \'ork ; in 1843 came to section 23 of Sharon. In
1850 he was member of Assembly, having defeated Amos < llder. His wife
was Alvira, daughter of Wesley Perkins, of Boone county. Illinois. Charles
A. Sikes. their son, was first and only supervisor of assessors. George Sikes
died November 29, 1881.

JAMES Simmons, son of John Simmon-- and Laura Bell, was, as under-
stood, of an old and often honored familj of Rhode tsland. lie was born at
Middlebury, Vermont, June 11, 1821 : was graduated from Middlebury Col-
lege in 1N41 ; studied law ; came to Geneva in [843 and was admitted in the
same year to law practice. He married November 12, [848, Katherine, daugh-
ter of James and Jeannette McCotter. She was born at Orwell, Vermont,
November 29, [822; died February 14, 1895. They had live children, of whom
two died earlv. The others were John Bell (married .\h-- Sarah Bernard,
daughter of George Sturges and \nn Maria Humphrey); James; Mary E.
Mis. Simmons was what is called a "superior woman." That is. she was edu-

5^8 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

cated, broadly intelligent, and in all ways womanly. Mr. Simmons has been
made known in other chapters as lawyer, county officer, historian and poet of
occasions. Besides these labors of duty and of love, he had in hand, in his
later life, the work of digesting the reports of judicial decisions in the courts
of England, New York and Wisconsin. He was not without ambition, but
never had learned to grovel in order that he might rise. He, like his friend
Judge Baker, was carelessly taken by his fellowmen at his too modest self-
estimate, though his qualities as a citizen and neighbor were neither unseen
nor unvalued; but this did not make him blame the world nor despise it. His
life was intellectual, moral and social; his convictions in matters of highest
public and nearest personal concern were calmly formed and clearly defined;
and he was quietly resolute in following them. At home and among neigh-
bors he was one of the best and kindest of men.

Harley Flavel Smith, son of Richard (son of David) Smith and
Sarah, daughter of Edward White and Sarah Tourtelotte, was born at Towns-
hend, Vermont, September 28, 1808; educated at Chester Academy and Mid-
dleburg College; went to Saratoga to study law under locally eminent lawyers;
went to Wyoming village where he taught mathematics and classics in a school
of some repute in western Xew York; continued law study at Pike; admitted
to practice in 1838 and opened an office at Castile, where he abode till the end
of 1848. In 1850 he came to Elkhorn and formed a partnership with Horatio
S. Winsor, and this firm was one of the strongest in the count}- for many
years. About [870 the firm dissolved, and in 1877 he received a younger part-
ner in the person of Jaynes B. Wheeler, ending in the latter's county judge-
ship in 1886. The old man's active career then closed, and his few remaining
years were given to an endless, unreadable legal defense of the authenticity
as historic truth, of the five Mosiac books of the Bible. He wrote with a stub
steel-pen. in the crabbedest of characters, and as the ink on the first foolscap
sheet would scarcely be dry when he reached the end of the third sheet, the gen-
eral appearance of his manuscript would suggest that his left arm defaced while
his right hand scribbled, lie was a public-spirited and in all ways excellent
citizen, a kind and often helpful neighbor, and a friend to be trusted. He
newer eared to hold office, but would have accepted a judgeship of circuit or
supreme court had it come to him without his asking, lie married September
15, 1833, Lydia Ann, daughter of David Nourse and Nancy George. She was
born at Rockingham, Vermont, December 4. i8o<), and died at Klkhorn. Mav
7, [881, leaving a daughter. Mrs. Smith was one of the besl of home-makers.

Lindsey Joseph Smith, son of Sylvester Gardner Smith and Diana
Ward, was born in Lafayette, January 8, 1840. His father was a first cousin

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN'. 559

of Palmer Gardner, the settler of Spring 1'rairie. In [862 L. J. Smith went
into military service as first lieutenant of Company I. Twenty-eighth [nfantry,
and returned as captain in 1S65 — a l°ng and active service. lie married Helen
M.. daughter of James Stewart and .Margaret Guthrie, December 21, 1871.
He was chosen assemblyman fur the session of [88] over Dr. Caleb S.
Blanchard and John Matheson. He died at Troy Centre, August 17, 1907.

Sewall Smith, born at Andover, Vermont. December 13, [802; married
in 1825 Nancy Mansur 1 [803-1884 ) ; died at East Troy January 23, 1881. In
1 84 1 he built and occupied the first store at the village. J Ie was a member of
the committee on banks and banking in the first constitutional convention. In
1844 he was a member of the county board, and served his (own usefully in
other official places. He was also the first postmaster of the village. None
of his children remain at East Troy, though his sons George H. and Charles
W. Smith were for some years in the business begun by their father.

Timothy Clark Smith was son of Noah R. Smith and Susan Dowd.
His mother's ancestors were Henry1. John-. David3, Richard45. He was
born , in Cortland county December 20, 1816; came in 1842 from Orleans
county to Milwaukee where he was clerk for a dry goods firm ; came to Geneva
in 1844 as partner with his employer at Milwaukee; in 1805 changed his busi-
ness to hardware; died December 25, 1888. He married Mary S. Bowen in
1857 and Helen Bowen in 1869.

Alfred Stephens Spooner (Joel5, Wing4, Daniel3, Samuel2, William1)
was son of Joel Spooner and Lydia, daughter of Capt. Israel Trow and Mary
Clapp. He was born March 3, 1819, near Keene, New York; was apprenticed
to a shoemaker, and between work and study found no idle hours; married
Sarah Maria, daughter of Isaac Bristol ami Sophia Holcomb, December 2^.
1844. In 1849 he came to Delavan to work and study, and in [850 was ad-
mitted to the practice of law. From 1854 to [858 he was district attorney.
and was called back in 1878 for another term, having defeated Joseph I lubcrt
Page. He served for many years as justice of the peace at 1 lelavan, ami n
also a court commissioner, lie had nine children, of whom few are living.
lb' died April 22. [895. Mr. Spooner was a vigorous newspaper writer as
well as a good lawyer. He had one of the best law libraries in the county,
and a large family of good and bright children.

Wyman Spooner (Jeduthunr\ Thomas4, John '■'■ -. William1) was son of
Jeduthun Spooner and Hannah, daughter of Joshua I rowell and Mary Shive
rick. He was born at Hardwick. Massachusetts, July 2. [795. He passed
at fourteen from the common school at home to In- uncle Mden Spooni
printing office at Windsor. Vermont. \t twentj 1 me be had earned die degree

56O WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

of master printer, and by orderly promotion became editor of the Advocate
at Royalton and later at Chelsea. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry
Fish and Elizabeth Holmes, at Hardwick, November 10. 1818. She was born
at Upton, November 17, 1794, and died in the town of Lyons, February 16,
1877. Air. Spooner studied law at Royalton under Hon. Jacob Collamer, and
at Chelsea under Hon. Daniel A. A. Buck, and was admitted to practice in
1833. In 1835 he went to Canton. Ohio, and practiced in the courts of Stark
and Tuscarawas counties. In 1842 he came by way of Racine to Elkhorn ;
served as judge of probate 184(1-9: was circuit judge for one term of court by
appointment; served in the Assembly tour terms (twice as speaker): state
senator [862-4, and president of the Senate (and acting lieutenant-governor I ;
lieutenant-governor by two elections, from 1864-68. He was one of the
organizers of the Republican party of Wisconsin in 1854. In his youth he
had been a Federalist and afterward a Whig of the anti-slavery type. In 1872
he thought it possible to make a new party of administrative reform, and joined
the Greeley movement. In 1876 he voted for the last time, and for Hayes. He
died November 18, 1877, at his son Wyman, Jr.'s, home in Lyons. Governor
Spooner was well read in the English classics and thence formed a plain, clear.
forcible style of speaking and writing. His faculties seemed always at his
command, and he was thus equipped for instant service as editor, contributor,
speaker, judge, chairman, or conversationalist. His sense of propriety kept
his discourse, spoken or written, free from false ornament and hi- delivery
unmarred by trick of the stage. I le cared more for essence and substance than
for form; but. to his mind, a courtroom, a public meeting, a business confer-
ence, a meeting of family or friends, had each of right its decencies of be-
havior and speech, each it- appropriate dignity. As a lawyer, one who had
been his partner, and well-qualified for estimating men's higher personal and
professional values, -aid of him: "lie was thoroughly educated in the prin-
ciples of hi- profession, and regarded its practice as a means to secure justice
as its end." For such men as he the first and highest aim of politicians must
be "to secure and maintain the best form of government, honestlj and justly
administered."

John Syng Spoor, -on of William Spoor and Christine Wilcox, was
horn in Erie county, New York, March _>o, 1805. In 1835 lie married Mari-
ette, daughter of Jesse Bivins and 1 ydia Byington. She was born at Clarence,
New York. October 5. t8id. and died at Burlington, Wisconsin, August 10.
[898. In 1837 he came from Washtenaw county, .Michigan, to the Meacham
settlement and presently made his home in Fast Troy. In [842 he bought land
ections to, 11. 12 of Lyons, and lived in that town till his death. April 2,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 561

1867. His son Charles ( 1843-1909), a soldier of the Twenty-eighth Infantry,
married Almira J., daughter of Window P. Storms, in 1866. Other children
live in other counties and states. The elder Spoor served four years as justice
of the peace.

Amos Wagman Stafford, grandson of Amos and son of Samuel H.
Stafford and wife Nancy, daughter of Jacob Ferguson, was born at Saratoga
Springs. November 2, 1810; moved to Victor, New York, in 1824; married,
first, Ann Sabrina, daughter of Stephen and Jane Ellis, May 20, 1832; came
to Bloomfield in 1844 and bought a farm ( with his father) in section 4; wife
died November 7, 1882; moved to Lake Geneva and May 10, 1887, married,
second, Mrs. Juliet, daughter of R. Wells Warren and Mary Knapp, and widi >\\
of Simeon Gardner; he died September 20, 1900. He was seven times a mem-
ber of the county board, and was chosen assemblyman for 1872 over Maurice
L. Avers. He had five children. Eliza was wife of Aimer Farnum, and
Sarah, wife of Jefferson P. Harlow.

Henry J. Starin, son of Jacob F. Starin and Mary Schermerhorn, was
born at Glen, Montgomery county, New York, August 25, 1808; married
Ella Green Schermerhorn in 1835; came to Whitewater in 1840; was a horti-
culturist, and the village owed much to his early efforts in planting shade trees.
He was found dead in his bed, May 5, 1880. He'had sons Henry Allen, and
Duane, a soldier of the Civil war. His brother, Frederick Jacob Starin, born
April 17, 1821, married Jane Martha Groat; died October 2, 1896. He was a
surveyor and civil engineer and was connected with most of the early railway
building in which Whitewater had great concern.

Hiram Alden Stone was born at Pawlet, Vermont, March 4. 1N11;
came to Milwaukee in 1S40, and later to Darien. In 1858 lie was elected
sheriff over Michael Thompson and in 1866 without opposition. He died at
Milwaukee November 4, 1896. Lucinda, his wife, was born in 1817; died
in 1S78. Their daughter Mary A. was married in 1859 to Orange Williams.
His brother, Moses Bushnell Stone, was born in 1814 ; died Augusl 4. [866
married Harriet Sumner 1 1818-1901). Sheriff Stone was a itoul built man
of few words, of clear judgment, resourceful, resolute, and had much ability
and experience in detective work.

Other sheriffs, not named in these notes, were elected : Carver over Perry
G. Harrington and Amos C. Lei and : Crumb over Harrington and Stone;
Derthick over William A. Knilans, Milton L. Hollister; Fay over Albon M.
Perrv : Flanders over John L. Fulton, Edward T. Weyh< 1 I oster over Harold
H. Rogers, Tames Cleary; Hates over Cvril 1.. Oatman; Goff over hied W.

(56)

562 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Hutchins ; Hollister over Harvey W. Curtis, William Brown; Humphrey over
George H. Willis; McMillan over Austin R. Langley; Perry over David Coon,
Jr. : 1'iper over F. Maxwell Porter; Taylor over George O. West, John Mathe-
son; White over James F. Jude, F. M. Porter; Wiswell over Taylor F. Fland-
ers; Wylie over Willard Stebbins, Willis, Knilans.

Winslow Page Storms, son of William Storms and Clarissa Hill, was
horn in Cato, New York. June 9, 1820. He married, February 22, 1843. at
Milwaukee, Melissa Persis, daughter of Isaac Meacham. She was born at
Brownsville, New York, December 21, 1818, and died April 26, 1909. In 1845
Mr. Storms settled at Vienna, in section 13, Spring Prairie. His house long
did occasional service to hungry and benighted travelers as a wayside inn.
He owned a farm in the same section. In 1861-2 he was a member of the
county board, and served the town at times as supervisor, clerk, treasurer and
assessor. He died at Lyons, July 20, 1903, leaving three of his five children.
Of these, Almira J., now of Milwaukee, is widow of Charles Spoor.

Charles Holmes Sturtevant, son of Francis and Jerusha (Bartlett),
was born in Orange county, Vermont, June 3, 1818; came in 1837 to Chicago,
and in 1 84 1 to Delavan as carpenter, cabinet-maker and later was Air. Isham's
partner in a wagon-shop. He was in general retail business for a few years,
and then went into insurance and collecting agencies. In September, 1842, he
married Prudence, daughter of Peter Millspaugh Keeler and Prudence Sturte-
vant. of Darien; she died in October, 1855, and he married Amanda, daughter
of Orlando Brown, of Allegany county, about 1857. There were six children
of the lir^t marriage and four of the second one. He was three times a mem-
ber nf the county board, and once its chairman, and was assemblyman in 1863
w ithout opposition at the polls. He died December 19, 1899.

Aaron Hardin Taggart was born at Greenwich, New York. December
30, [816. He came to Delavan in 1837 and with George Passage built a brick
store, stocked it well with general goods and continued in business seven
years. He owned a large Farm lying in sections 19, 20. south nf the village,
and tn this he moved in [856, and died April 25, 1874. He had married
September 1. 184(1, Martha, daughter of Henry Phoenix and Ann Jennings.
She was horn in 182(1; died in 1905. Their children were Sarah A., Henry
II.. Ada K.. George M., William !'.. Louis II.. Fred II. Louis H. Taggart,
now of Lake Geneva, married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of George Sturges
and Ann Maria, daughter nf Hiram Humphrey and Mary Blodgett,

111 \ky Topping, son nf Jared and Sarah, was horn in Montgomery
county, New York, March 14. 1804; taught school: opened a store at Lees-
ville, Schoharie county; married in that county, December 31, 1828, Nuel,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 563

daughter of William and Nanq S. Van Doren; was ordained as a Baptist
clergyman in 1835 and was pastor at Leesville until 1:839, when he came to a
farm in Darien. From 1841 to 1850 he preached at Delavan. Mast Delavan
and Walworth; went to Sauk county, and returned in i S57 to Delavan. In
1867 he moved to southernmost Illinois, and theme to Kansas, where he died,
at Ottawa, Xovemher 20, 1870. His wife died October 11, 1880 — her birth
September 24, 1808. The)' had two sons and two daughters. One of the
latter, Harriet Nuel, was Mrs. Samuel Rees LaBar.

Julius Allen Treat, son of Oren Treat and Nancy Thompson, had
ancestors: Richard12, Thomas", Richard4, Timothy', Thomas'1, lie was
born at Aurora, Xew York, November 17, 1814; was a surveyor; married
Sarah D. Crocker in 1839: came to a farm in section 25, Sharon, in 1844; was
a retailer at Elton for a short time; moved to the village of Sharon in 1858,
where he was a lumber-dealer. His wife was born March 13, 1815; died
October 22, 1874. His second wife was Ellen Brownson. lie died February
22, 1892. He held various local offices, but his Democracy kept him from the
higher places that he might have filled with credit. His brother, George Treat,
born September 17, 1818, married Sarah C, daughter of Thomas and Lucinda
Foster; died December 2^, 1882. A cousin. Dr. Charles Ralph Treat, son of
Oren's brother Isbon and wife Apphia Thompson, was born January 12, 1826;
married January 1, 1862, Margaret Reesman; died May 8, 1901. His wife
was born January 15, 1839; died August 9, 1905.

James Tripp was born at Schenectady, September 5, 1795 ; studied medi-
cine and was graduated about 1817 from the medical college at Albany; went
to Mobile, but returned in 1819; by Governor Clinton's commission he became
in 1822 surgeon of a regiment of state militia. — an honorary rank: married,
January 4, 1825, Rosepha Ann, daughter of William Comstock, of Otsego
county; came in 1837 to sections 4, 5 of East Troy 1 then included in the
town of Troy), and built a saw-mill at the outlet of Tripp's lake (Lake
Beulah), which he soon sold. He had plenty of money, for the time and place
— plenty and scarcity then as now relative terms — and was induced to build a
gristmill at Whitewater. In 1840 this mill was grinding for a large part of
the country for eight or ten miles around it. I le platted the village of White-
water, chiefly on his own land, and dealt justly and liberallj with lot-buyers.
But he would not doctor them, except in emergencies, in which his knowledge
and skill were trusted by his fellow physicians as well as by his patients. He
died September 4, 1844, at the rising village he had founded and named, and
which he had planned with intelligent foresight. Mrs. Tripp was born at
Laurens, New York, November 2, 1802, and died, full of good works, Febru-

564 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ary 2, 1881. She had been baptized in the Episcopal church, and she brought
with her an abiding faith and a habit of showing it forth by kind and helpful
deeds, to the end of her life. Her memory, too, was well stored with matter
for localfliistory ; for she had seen the infancy of one of the finest small cities
of Wisconsin.

James Lawrence Tubbs, son of Samuel Tubbs (a soldier of the war of
1N12) and Polly Frost, was born at Augusta, New York, September 10. 1824;
came with parents in 1843 to Lafayette; qualified himself as a surveyor, and
in time, as a civil engineer; married December 10, 1849, Anna Rebecca, only
child of Dr. John Mathias Henderson and Samantha, daughter of Charles and
Anna Hine; was elected eight times county surveyor, and served occasionally
as undersheriff. At first a Democrat, he became a Freesoiler and then a
Republican. In 1872 he supported Greeley and returned to the Democracy.
His profession brought him little revenue until past middle life, when he be-
came more profitably occupied in laying out the village of Williams Bay, and
in civil engineering work for Chicagoan owners of Geneva Lake (shore)
property. He also began the compilation of a second general abstract of
titles to count}' property, and this work had begun to bring him revenue be-
fore his death, which was September 6, 1899. Mrs. Tubbs was born at Wil-
loughby, Ohio. December 13, 1830, and died at Elkhorn, December 25, 1904.
Mr. Tubbs was a lifelong student of pure mathematics, and even in latest
years found much pleasure in the stud)- and master) of quaternions. His
clerical habit was neat and exact, and his memory of the political events of
his lime, of the actors therein, and of men who in earlier years had come to
and gone from Walworth county was seldom matched.

Rev. John William Vahey, son of James Henry Vahey and Mary
.i, grandson <>f Patrick Vahey and Margaret O'Hora, great-grandson of
Fergus Vahey and Margaret Prendergast, was born near Castlebar, county
Mayo, • onnaught, June, 1830. He came in 1848, already advanced in scholar-
ship, i" the Lazarist seminary at St. Louis. He studied law and practiced
four years in the courts of Missouri. In 1854 he received priest's orders at
Dulmque. He served at the federal military prison at Alton as chap-
Iain. In his active career as a parish priest at fifteen towns of Indiana, Illi-
nois. Iowa and Wisconsin, he buill several churches, including thai at Elkhorn.
He had also at times lectured to classes in philosophy and languages. He
wrote and published several books and was protagonist for the church in
il newspaper controversies with Episcopal clergymen, lie bought a
farm within city limits, having become disabled for the service of the altar.
but in a short lime retired to find what rest remained in this life, and died Tune

WALWORTH .COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 565

27, 1903. He had a wide range of secular knowledge and his wit was ready
for most emergencies. His personal qualities drew to him many friends not of
his ancient communion. A faithful sister, Miss Margaret, cared for him in
his health and in his long last sickness and lives to keep his memory green.

Solmous Wakeley was born at New Mil ford, Connecticut, March 17,
1794: was a farmer and a shoemaker and lawyer: went to Cortland county;
married Hannah Thompson in 1S18; from Erie county. New York, to Lorain
county, Ohio, and thence to Whitewater in 1843; member of committee on
bill of rights in first constitutional convention; member of county board 1851 -5 ;
member of Assembly in 1855 without opposition, in 1857 defeating Willard
Stebbins. He died at Madison, January 12, 1867.

Charles Wales, son of George Wales and Sally Crane, had father-an-
cestors: John1 of Idle (Yorkshire), Nathaniel2 (of Dorchester). Timothy1,
Nathaniel4, Ebenezer5, Elisha'', Nathan7. His mother's ancestors were John1,
Benjamin2, John3, Ebenezer4, Jonathan0. He was born at Plymouth, New
York. October 22, 1818: bought a farm in north Geneva in 1845: married
October 26, 1848, Eliza Ann, daughter of Richard Crandall and Abigail Crane;
moved to Elkhorn in 1875. Mrs. Wales had died in 1868, and in 1869 he
married Lorahama, daughter of Elijah Butler. He died June 20. 1903. His
children: Ruth Eliza (Mrs. Fred W. Isham) ; Rosa 1'hilinda (Mrs. 11.
Augustus Xewton ) : Belle Bethania 1 Mrs. Clinton D. Dewing) ; Charles Mar-
shall, a mechanical engineer, of Xew York. Charles Wales was a local officer
at Geneva and Elkhorn, a working member of the county agricultural society,
an intelligent, upright and prosperous man.

George Walworth was born at Rome, Xew York. August 15. [793;
died January 13, 1853. He was son of Jesse4 (James3, William2 ' } and wife
Hannah, daughter of Bartholomew and Sarah Daggett, of Danby, Vermont.
He married Keziah Thayer, and in [843 came to Spring Prairie with his
brother Jesse, Jr., who soon returned to Rome. In 1847 he was a member of
the last territorial Legislature. He was related in some not very remote de-
gree to Chancellor Walworth, and probably to his namesakes of the county
who were soldiers of the Civil war. Of three daughters, one came to Wis
consin.

Greenleaf Stevens Warren, son of Thomas Warren and Anna Page
of Ludlow, Vermont, was born in 1802; about 1814 went with his brother, R.
Wells Warren, to Essex county. Xew York; thence about 1823 to Crawford
county, Pennsylvania. Returning, after a successful venture in the lead-
mine region of Dubuque count}', he married Martha, a lister of VrnestUS I >.
Colton. He came in 1837 with his brother to Geneva and built a house whii h

566 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

by enlargement became a hotel (afterward kept by Mr. Colton). He also
built a house and a store. He died in 1852. on his way home from a two-
years residence in California. He was succeeded as landlord of the Lake
House by Thomas D. Warren, his brother, who was followed by Mr. Colton.

Robert Wells Warren, son of Thomas and Anna, was born at Ludlow,
October 15, 1798; bred to his father's calling of millwright, in which he ac-
quired much master's skill; went to Lewis, Essex county. New York, about
1814; married, March 19, 1820, Mary, daughter of Seth Knapp and Martha
Fuller, at Willsborough, in that county; went about 1823 to Cussewago, Craw-
ford county. Pennsylvania, and thence in 1837 ')V wav ot Chicago to Geneva.
Here he came into possession of the disputed mill-site and of a large part of
the village-site. In 1838 he built a gristmill for Mr. Goodsell, and afterward
owned it — for many years a valuable property. In his later life he was used to
early-morning walks, surveying his substantial possessions with quite reason-
able satisfaction ; for he had found them in the rough and had made them
shapely. He died December 30, 1875. Mrs. Warren, born February 22,
1806, died July 27, 1879. Of their live children, Seth Knapp, born at Lewis,
September, 1823, known locally as a photographer and portrait painter, mar-
ried May 7, 1846, Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Harvey Church, and died De-
cember 21. 1890. Juliet was married, first, to Simeon Gardiner; second, to
Amos W. Stafford. Seth K. Warren was not of such practical turn of mind
as was his father; but preferred to let his soul wander farther away than the
solar walk, even unto the polar regions of the universe, in search of evidence
wherewith to confound presumptuous speculation on the origin of all being.

Thompson Dimock Weeks (Spencer7, Samuel6, Hezekiah5, William4,
John3, William-, George1), son of Spencer Weeks and Elvira, daughter of
Thomas and Sophia Dimock. was born at Norwich, Massachusetts. November
5. 1832; came in [843 from Darien, New York, to a farm in Lyons; received
academic education at Milwaukee and a collegiate course at Appleton; was
graduated from the law school at Albany in 1851). After a few months at
Racine he went in [860 to Whitewater and became a partner with Prosper
( ravath, lie married, June 7, 1N1.5. Adelaide M. Farnsworth, At the ses-
sion (if [867 he was assemblyman, chosen over Capt. Edward S. Redington.
In [875 he wa» slate senator, his involuntary opponent at the election having
been John F, Potter, who voted an open ticket, straight Republican, including
the name of Mr. Weeks, lie appeared again in the senate in 181)3. having
beaten Archibald Woodanl. lie died February 11. 1901. He became early
in his professional career one of the ablest lawyers of the county, and was
favorably known in the courts of other counties and in the supreme court of

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 567

the state. He talked easily and candidly to juries, and without blustei or
fustian, and he was a ready and pleasing speaker out of court. He was in
sympathetic touch with all the educational interests of his city, county and
state. His probity in public affairs and in private life was undoubted.

Stephen Gano West, son ©f William, married Rebecca, daughter of
Jesse Pike and Rebecca King, and came about [839 to sections 5, 6, Lafayette.
He married again, November 9. 1841, Diana, daughter of Joseph and Luanda
Barker. Rebecca's children were Almira (Mrs. Christopher Wiswell) ; Jesse

Pike (married, first, Lydia M. , second, Elizabeth Ann Loveland) ;

Ephraim Pitt; Harriet (Mrs. Aaron Smith, of East Troy); Stephen G. ;
Nelson (married Annie M. Hodges); Clarissa Rebecca (Mrs. John Hare).

Stephen Gano West, Jr. (1826-1889), married December 31, 1852,
Martha, daughter of Nelson Lake and Martha Brandon. The last named was
daughter of Charles W. Brandon and Martha, daughter of Lieut. Daniel
Knowlton, of Ash ford, Connecticut, an officer of the Revolutionary army.

Isaac Underbill Wheeler was born at Oyster Bay, Long Island, in
17X7; was apprenticed to a carpenter; raised a company for the war of 1812-
15; had some experience as a justice of the peace; came to Wlhitewater in
1840 and became one of that city's active and substantial citizens. From
[840 to his death, February 9, 1870, he served as justice of the peace with but
one interval — that of his postmastership under the Taylor-Fillmore administra-
tion. This unbroken public service tells something of the man. He mar-
ried in 1875 Lavina Duncan, who died in 1835. leaving six children. ( )f these
were Sarah ( Mrs. Jesse R. Rhine) ; Mary Ann ( Mrs. Gaylord Graves 1 ; 1 1 ar-
riet (Mrs. Daniel Salisbury); Elizabeth A. (Mrs. S. Unci Edwards); and
sons Egbert and William II. Mr. Wheeler married, second, Januarj 26, [837,
Nancy Palmer (1810-1890).

Samuel Austin White, son of Samuel and Flavia, daughter of Perez
Merrick, was born in Delaware county, New York, August 10, 1823; was
graduated in 1841 from Hamilton College; studiel law at Hamilton and al
Buffalo; came to Geneva as a teacher in 1845, ani1 m I,s4'' married Mary,
daughter of Andrew Ferguson. He went to I'mt Washington, where he was
postmaster under the Pierce administration-; member of Assembly for < >zaukee
in 1N57; county judge in [861. He came to Whitewater in [863 and easil)
gained and held a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens. Being a
war Democrat, he was made assistant bank comptroller in 1864-5. '" |S(,5
he was appointed regenl of normal schools. He served as assemblyman in
1N71 and (872, having successively defeated Nathaniel M, Bunker and Will-
iam Burgit He died March 4, 1878.

568 WALYYrORTH COUNTY,, WISCONSIN.

Asad Williams was born at Stonington, Connecticut, September 26,
1781 ; moved to Massachusetts and married, October 13, 1808, Jennie, daugh-
ter of Jonathan McGee, of Colerain ; went in 1814 to Herkimer county, New
York, whence he came in 1839 to Whitewater; died May 16, 1864. Mrs.
Williams was one day younger than Captain Williams. She died February
11, 1880. She was truly a pioneer mother — all the village her debtor for end-
less kind offices. Two children died young. Asad Dean Williams married
Cynthia, daughter of William Powers and Susannah Cooper, and niece of
Soldan Powers, of Troy. Jonathan McGee Williams (born 1820) married
Sarah O., daughter of Dr. Thomas Hamilton and Sarah Armstrong and had
sons Leo A., Frank H., Charles M. The first, ex-superintendent of schools,
and the third are lawyers. The second, for many years town clerk, is on the
home farm, near the city. Nathan married Betsey A. Allen and had children
George W., Alma, Cassius C, Linn A., Leona B. Captain Asad Williams
was a locally famous musician, and his sons Nathan and Thomas W. were for
long widely famous performers on wind and string instruments.

David Williams, son of Thorp Williams and Clarissa Peters, was born
at Darien, New York, January 6, 1818; married September 4, 1838, Adelia,
daughter of Daniel Phelps and Elizabeth King: came to Geneva in 1846: was
twice a member of the county board; assemblyman in 1858, elected over
Charles \\ . Smith; moved to Darien in 1868 and was for many years a justice
of the peace. Mr. Williams was a steady-minded, generally sound-judging,
neighborly man, a fair parliamentarian, an excellent Masonic workman, and
an unshaken believer in the doctrine and revelations of spiritualism. He died
February 7, 1898. His wife was born at Alexander, New York, April 18,
[820, died April 22, 1897. They had two children.

George G. Williams, son of Thomas and Elizabeth, was born at Corn-
wall. Orange county. New York, October 15, 1803; married at Athens, Greene
county, November 7, 1824, Harriet C. Fitch; came in 1847 t0 Whitewater,
and presently invested in pottery making, lie was for several years a justice
of the peace, and from i860 to 1867 was postmaster — appointed by Mr. Bu-
chanan. He served a term as trustee of the State School for the Deaf. His
death was August 8, 1889.

Israel Williams, son of Ephraim. was born September 24, 1789, per-
haps at Ashfield, Franklin county, Massachusetts, of which village his father
was one of the founders. He married Lavina, daughter of Lieut. Nehemiah
Joy, Jr., and wife Hannah. Tier mother came with her to Linn and died
Mil km- to, 1838. aged seventy-seven years. The earlier generations of this
Joy family wen' Thomas1, Joseph28, Simeon4, Nehemiah" and wife Miriam

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 569

Turner. Mr. Williams brought his family in 1837 to a log house on section
iS. of Linn. In 1841 he built a frame house on section 6, besides the bay
of his name. He died October 14. 1846. Lavina was born August, 1781:
died June 28, 1852. At least four of their sons came with or before them to
Linn and Walworth : Moses Daniel. Israel. Royal Joy, Festus A. Other
children were Francis, Lavina. Austin, Hannah, Fordyce.

Royal Joy Williams (named for his mother's brother, Dr. Royal Joy)
was born at Ashfield May 1, 1818; came to Linn in 1836; married April 5,
1848, Lucretia S., daughter of Samuel. Warren and Abigail Williams; died
August 26. 1886, at Williams Bay.

Lucius A. Winchester, son of David D. Winchester and Susan Wil-
son, was born at Hartford, Vermont, September 22, 1821 ; became a black-
smith, ami came in 1843 to Milwaukee; in 1844 came to Whitewater and took
James Rogers as shop-partner. In 1850 he married Lucy A. Wakeley (who
died February, 1861) ; in the same year he began plow making in partnership
successively with Daniel C. Tripp, William DeWolf and John S. Partridge,
and in 1864 added wagon-making to his growing business. In 1873 was
formed the Winchester & Partridge Manufacturing Company, which added
materially to the general prosperity of the otherwise enterprising village. His
second wife was Charlotte E., daughter of Moses and Charlotte Clarke. He
died April 9, 1890.

Horatio Sales Winsor, son of Matthewson and Nancy P. Winsor,
was born in Rhode Island, December 21, 1815. His parents moved t" Ontario
county, Xew York, and gave him an academic education, lie began to study
law. finishing his preparation at Elkhorn, whither he came in 1839, and was
admitted to practice in 184 1. He was county treasurer [842-4, and chairman
of the county board in [851. From 1850 to [869 he and llarley F. Smith
were of one of the strongest law-firms of the count}-. In 1865 he was a
member of Assembly, elected as a Union candidate over Harvey M. Curtiss.
In 1880 he formed a new partnership with a younger man. Edward II.
Sprague. He died at Mitchell, South Dakota, January 23, 1892. Maria L.
Husted, his wife, was born September 14. 1824: married January 1. 1840 :
died December 7, 1890. Their daughter, Ella M. died 1867, at eighteen. Their
sons were Curtis Husted. Frank Horatio and Ed., all in South Dakota, and
the first two are lawyers.

Christopher Wiswell was youngest but one of eight children of ] [enry
WisweU and Elizabeth Salter. Captain Wiswell. with Zenas Crane and John
Fox, began about 1800 to make paper at Dalton, Massachusetts, and from
this beginning was developed the present Crane paper-mill, known througl

^70 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

the country for its bond paper and other fine products. Christopher was born
January i. 1811, and about a year later his father died. Edward Salter took
his sister and her children to Chenango county. In time, Leonard and Chris-
topher owned a tannery at Norwich. In 1840 the brothers Zenas Crane,
Leonard and Christopher, and their sisters, Mary (Mrs. Sutherland German)
and Elizabeth (Mrs. Solomon Lewis), came west — all but the first to La-
fayette or Sugar Creek. Christopher had married August 12, 1837, Almira,
daughter of Stephen G. West, Sr., and Rebecca Pike. Mr. Wiswell was a
good farmer, and in 1865 he was able to lay aside plow and hoe, sign national
bank notes and fill various village offices at Elkhorn. He died March 3, 1883,
two days later than his wife's death. She was born February 9, 181 7. Their
eight children, who lived, were Jeannette Rebecca (Mrs. William P. Ells-
worth), Henry Christopher, Charles Edward (died in military service),
Philip Stephen (married Mary L. Harriman), Frances Almira (Mrs. Everett
C. Rouse), Jane Maria (Mrs. William L. Holden), George Nelson (married
Clara M. Perry), Jessie Leora (Mrs. Frank H. Winsor).

Lewis X. Wood was born in Cumberland county, New Jersey, January
12, 1799; lived in Otsego, Madison and Oneida counties; was principal of the
Waterville Academy in 1832; was graduated as a physician from Geneva in
1837; came to Walworth in 1839; was an early mover in school matters and
served as town superintendent; in 1848 was defeated by George H. Lawn for
assemblyman; elected over John W. Boyd in 185 1 ; defeated by Timothy H.
Fellows in [852; moved to Baraboo in 1856; died in 1868. He married
Naomi Davis and had eight children, three of whom died in the county, while
the others went with him from the county. Dr. Wood was a collector of
I'ussil remains and of mineral specimens.

Cai't. George Young, son of Rev. John Young (of the Lutheran
church l and Christiana Vought, was born at Hagerstown in 1773: went to
Seheneetad\ omiiU and married Anna (or Nancy), daughter of Capt. Hen-
drick Waldron and Margaretta Van Vranken; came in 1843 to Elkhorn and
died in August, 1844. Of fourteen children, four died young or were unknown
here but by names. The others were: Margaret, Mary 1 Mrs. Lewis Free-
man), Jean C. ( Mrs. John Pike), Gertrude 1 Mrs. George Gale), Anne 1 Mrs.
William Vanderpool). Dr. George Henry, John, Catherine (Mrs. Thomas
Liddle), Jacob Hollenbeck, and Dr. William McKowan Young. Margaretta
Van Vranken was daughter of Richard Van Vranken and Anneke Truax,
whose father, \ham. was son of [saac Truax and Trytje Rasborne; Trytje's
parents were Pieter Jacobus Rasborne and Mariche lioganlus. whose father.
Pieter, was son of Rev. Everardus Bogardus and \.nneke. widow of Roelof
Jansen

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 5/1

George Henry Young, son of Capt. George and Nancy, was born at
Duanesburg. New York, March 18, 1817; studied medicine al Schenectady,
New York, and at Fairfield (Herkimer county), and was graduated from
Castleton in 1837. Among Ids preceptors was Dr. Theodrick Romeyn Beck.
and among classmates was Dr. Nathan S. Davis, for long of the Chicago
Medical College. He practiced a few years in Albany and Schoharie counties,
and came in 1843 to Elkhorn. lie had married, March 21, 1838, Hester,
daughter of Peter and Ann Hilton. Doctor Young was a student of his pro-
fession until the end of his life, and seemed to keep easily in step with the
advance of medical knowledge. He died December 28, 1891. Mrs. Young
was born at Sharon, New York, October 24, 1817; died December 31. (894.
Their son, George H, follows his father's profession. A bright boy died in
1864. in his ninth year. There were daughters: Ann. Mary. Hester. Helen.

] TH1

[PUBLIC LIBRA

A8T9X, Lf
I T|LCEN FOUNH'

ALBERT C. BECK.WITH

BIOGRAPHICAL

ALBERT CLAYTON BECKWITH.

Albert Clayton Beckwith. the eldest of ten children of Asahel Lane Beck-
with and Harriet Angeline Seymour, was born at Chittenango, New York.
March 14, 1836; lived at Rome (Oneida county) from 1843 to l855 and
there he and a brother were bred to their father's calling of house and sign
painter; came in 1855 to Adrian, Michigan, for employment as a brakeman;
in 1856 to Racine, and in the same year to Delavan and Elkhorn Two
brothers having enlisted in April, 1861, he did likewise at Cedar Falls, Iowa,
two days before Bull Run, and was honorably discharged from the First
Iowa Batten- in April, 1863, at Young's Point, Louisiana. He worked at his
calling from 1864 to 1873 at Chicago, and returned to Elkhorn. He had
married. April 17, 1870, Isidore Adelaide, daughter" of Nathaniel Dickinson
and Phila Foster. Of two children, Constance Dickinson is (in 1912) assist-
ant to the county school superintendent, and Mabel Foster is a teacher at
Elkhorn.

Mr. Beckwith is a member of Delavan Masonic Lodge, of the Grand
Army Post at Elkhorn, of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, of
the Wisconsin Historical Society, and is a Son of the American Revolution. In
mi 10 he undertook the compilation of the historical department of this work.
In performing this unwonted task he found kindly-given and indispensable
help from county officers, town, village, and city clerks, clergymen and keepi

church record-, and from man) old friends and new ones; bul this is only
to sav that he was among men and women who have made and are making
one of the best counties of one of the best of forty-eight states.

Between 1897 and [907 his brother, Edward Seymour Beckwith ( [837
09), with himself compiled an lit genealogical pamphlets, their

total content- four hundred and ninet pages. Six of thi :ries

of Beckwith Notes, relating to descendants of their immigrant am
Matthew Beckwith 1 [6] and wife Mar}', of Hartford. New Lond

and Lvme. Connecticutt. The younger compiler was a tireless tabulator of

574 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

genealogical data, in collecting which he developed noteworthy ingenuity.
Besides, he knew something of the service and military reputation of most
Federal regiments of the Civil war, and much generally and particularly of the
organization and service of Wisconsin regiments and batteries. He had found,
too, much interest in minor local records, no inconsiderable part of which, by
copying or otherwise, he had saved from destruction. His various notes
have supplied much of value to this compilation. Though no more than his
elder brother a trained writer, his letters were easy, graphic, racy, and he had
his grandfather Seymour's knack of satirical rhyming. In grained imitations
of native and imported woods his forms and colorings were careful studies of
nature's endless variety, and his work was known at Xew York. Detroit,
Lansing (state house), Chicago, and Milwaukee.

HORACE GREELEY DOUGLASS.

The examples such men as Horace Greeley Douglass, the popular ex-
mayor of the city of Lake Geneva, furnish of patient purpose and steadfast
integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish, and
there is always a full measure of satisfaction in adverting even in a casual
way to their achievements in advancing the interests of their fellow men and
in giving strength and solidity to the institutions which make so much for the
prosperity of the community, for, all will agree that it is the progressive,
broad-minded, alert, wide-awake men of affairs who make the real history of
a community and the subject's influence as a potential factor of the body
politic is difficult to estimate.

Mr. Douglass was born at the town of Fontana, near the west shore of
Lake Geneva, this county, on November 12, 1858. He is the son of Carlos
Lavalette Douglass and Margaret (Stewart) Douglass, a complete sketch of
whom appears elsewhere in this work. Suffice it to say here that this family
has been prominent in the count)- since pioneer days.

The subject grew up at Fontana and in his youth worked with his father
in the Hour mill there, the latter owning the mills, remaining in this work
until he was about twenty-four years old. The father also owned a fine farm
of three hundred and sixty acres, which he kept well stocked; this the son took
charge of when the father retired from active life, and the son now owns the
place I 1c remained there successfully engaged in general fanning and stock
raising until about 1887, then came to Lake Geneva and entered the milling

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 575

business, the ins and outs of which he had long previously mastered. He
operated the old Geneva mill, the first mill in this county run by water power.
He continued to operate the old mill about four years, then bough! ground
along the railroad, and he and Mr. Dunn, his brother-in-law, built an elevator
and ran that for eleven years, doing a large business in this line. Selling the
elevator to John E. Burton, they went to Williams Bay and embarked in the
lumber and coal business with Mr. Dunn, under the firm name of Douglass &
Dunn. They had a good business both at Williams Bay and at Zenda. About
1907 Mr. Douglass sold his interest to Mr. I hum and he has not been engaged
in active business affairs since. He made a success of whatever he turned his
attention to and accumulated a competency, lie has a commodious and at-
tractive home at Lake Geneva.

Politically, Mr. Douglass is a loyal Republican and has long been active
in party affairs. He has been a member of the school board at Lake ( leneva
for two years and in the spring of 1908. he was elected mayor of Lake
Geneva, his time expiring in June. 1912. His administration has been char-
acterized by a progressive, fair and broad-minded policy which has met the
hearty approval of all concerned, and he has done much toward the permanent
good of the city.

Mr. Douglass was married to Katherine Dunn, daughter of Patrick and
Ann 1 .Murray) Dunn, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. She
was born and reared in the town of Linn, this county, where her parents set-
tled in pioneer days. Four children, two sons and two daughters, have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Douglass, namely: Ruth, Harold, Josephine and
Howard, all at home with their parents. Harold being engaged in the coal
business at Lake Geneva.

Fraternally, Mr. Douglass is a member of the Modern Woodmen of
America.

Mr. Douglass owns the family homestead and on that ground is a flag
staff, marking the spot where Brink and Jeauno, a half-breed Indian, stood
when they discovered Geneva lake — the first white man who saw the lake.
He and Jeauno were surveying for the government. Mr. Douglass got this
information directly from Mr. Brink and it was corroborated by other-. On
the same ground Chief Big Foot's son was buried high in a tree, then after-
wards taken down and placed in another tree near the lake shore.

From Mr. Douglass' home he can see the whole of Lake Geneva, from
end to end with the exception of Williams Baj and Geneva Bay, and a view
of the lake from the old home is a sight which is calculated to remain in one's
memory through life. On the farm is a great spring of excellent water.

576 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

which analysis has shown to be the same as White Rock. It is sold for drink-
ing purposes and shipped to offices, stores and homes, finding a very ready
sale.

Personally, Mr. Douglass is a sociable, genial and obliging gentleman
whom it is a pleasure to meet, and he is held in the highest esteem by all who
know him.

JUDGE JAY FORREST LYON.

Jay Forrest Lyon was born on November 6, 1862, at Darien, this county,
and is a son of Joseph F. and Arimathea (Jones) Lyon. The Lyon pedigree
has been traced back to William Lyon, of Roxbury, England, who, at the age
of fourteen, September 11, 1635, embarked in the "Hopewell," in which he
reached Massachusetts after a tedious voyage of many weeks. He there grew
to manhood and married Sarah Ruggles, daughter of John and Mar}- (Cur-
tis) Ruggles. To William Lyon and wife a son was born, whom they named
William. He grew up and married Sarah Duncan, and to them Samuel was
born on September 20, 1679; he married Joanna, daughter of John and
Hannah (Prentice) Weld. To Samuel and Joanna Lyon a son, Edward, was
born, December 24, 1710, at Roxbury, who married Rebecca Boyden, and to
them a son, David, was born in 1739, whose son, Isaac, was born at Royalston
and married Sail) Blodgett and to them Joseph F. Lyon, father of Judge
Lyon, was born.

Sally Blodgett's ancestry is as follows: She was in the seventh genera-
tion of the Blodgett family. The first of the name of whom we have definite
record was Thomas Blodgett and his wife Susanna, who emigrated to America
from London, England, in [635 on the old-fashioned sailing vessel "Increase,"
accompanied by their sons, Daniel and Samuel. The family settled at Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts. Their son Samuel married Lucy Locke and settled at
Woburn. Samuel's son, Thomas, married Rebecca Tidd, and they named a
son Samuel, who married Mary Russell, and to this union a son, Timothy,
was born, Augusl 7. 1740. who married Millicent Perry, and their son. Joseph,
born in 177!). married Thankful Hawkins and lived at Fitzwilliam, New
Hampshire. 1 0 them a daughter, Sally, was born in 1800, who married Isaac
Lyon, and was the mothei of Joseph F. Lyon, who was born in Susquehanna
county, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1825. When nineteen years of age, in 1844, he
started from his home in the Keystone state to Illinois, traveling most of the

hi i"i !l< reached Little Foot (Fort?), now Waukegan, where he
found employment as clerk in a store. Soon lie induced his father's familv to
come west, lie remained at Little Foot (Fort?) until 1850, then moved to

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 577

Woodstock, Illinois, and engaged in the mercantile business until 1854, then
removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and established his home in the
town of Darien. Having previously studied law with Mr. Blodgetl in Wau-
kegan. he continued his legal studies while engaged as a commercial traveler
tor a Xew York clothing house, having been thus engaged from 1852 until
1855. While living at Woodstock he was appointed postmaster by President
Fillmore and served in that capacity three years. He was also engaged at
times in the practice of law in justice courts. On July 26, 1854, he was united
in marriage with Arimathea Jones, daughter of Truman Jones, this family
having come here in 1838 among the early pioneers, and for some time Mrs.
Lyon was one of the early teachers of the county.

In the spring of 1859 Joseph F. Lyon went overland with an ox team to
California, and returned in i860, resuming the study of law at Darien, and
was admitted to the bar in 1864 in the circuit court of Walworth county. He
was successful as an attorney and was prominent in local politics. He was a
representative from this county in the Legislature in [868. He continued to
practice law in Darien until 1875. when he was appointed clerk of the circuit
court to fill a vacancy. He was afterward elected to the same office, which he
held until January 1, 1878. Upon his appointment to this office he removed
to Elkhorn. and here be continued to reside after his term of office had
expired, and here he practiced law the rest of his life, bis death occurring in
1902. His wife died on November 7, 1872, leaving tbree children. A. Maw
Vernette M. and Jay Forrest While a resident of Darien Joseph F. Lyon
served as chairman of the county board of supervisors for two years. I le was
elected justice of the peace in Elkhorn, and was clerk of the Elkhorn schools.
He was twice married, his last wife being Amelia Dodge, daughter of Leander
and Harriet Dodge. She was born at Darien, this county, in 1X40, her parents
having been early settlers there. She died in [906

Judge Jay F. Lyon was thirteen years of age when bis parents moved to

Elkhorn. Here he attended the public schools, graduating from the high school

in 1880. He soon afterwards took a position as stenographer in the offices of

the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad, working in their general

ces in St. Pan'. Minnesota, for four years, and while there nut the lady

ter 1 '-came his wife. Xot finding railroading entirel) to bis liking and

having long desired to follow in the footstep ol h farh< n a professional

way. b ; ton University School of Law. from which be was

Tints well equipped for bis chosen life work, lie at 1 nee

entered upon tlr pi I Ikhorn with bis and

37)

578 WALWORTH COUXTY, WISCONSIN.

the) continued in partnership until 1899. In January of that year the subject
was appointed county judge to fill out an unexpired term, and was re-elected
to this office in 1901, and again in 1905 and 1909, for terms of four years
each.

At the law school he took a three years' course in two years, and had the
satisfaction of showing that, although coming from farther west than any
of his class, nearly all being from Eastern colleges, he had the ability to stand
at the head of his class.

The domestic life of Judge Lyon began on June 30, 1886, at St. Paul,
.Minnesota, when he was united in marriage with Caroline A. Bayard, a lady
of culture and refinement and a daughter of William and Rachael (Lewis)
Bayard. She was born at Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, New York.

To the Judge and wife four sons have been born, namely: Bayard, born
April 4, 1887, was graduated from Oberlin College in June, 1910, and is
now in Tientsin, China; William F., born November 2, 1889, was graduated
from Oberlin College in June, 191 1, and he is now in Tientsin, China, where
he went in August, 191 1, under appointment of the International Young
.Men's Christian Association, to teach in the Nan Kai Middle School. He
was soon busy with his work as teacher and he started a football team, a band
and other forms of recreation and amusements, and was in the thick of
college life there when the revolution of 191 1 began; Charles E., born January
7, 1896, and Cieorge D., born July 18, 1897, are attending school.

Fraternally, Judge Lyon is a member of the Masonic order and the
Knights of Pythias, and in religious matters he belongs to the Baptist church.

EDWARD F. WILLIAMS.

In these days of large commercial transactions, when credits cut a iarge
factor in the daily round of business, the province of the banker is very wide
and very important. The excellence of the banks of the present as compared
with those "i the pasl gives to all classes of business men lirst-class security
for their deposits assistance when they are in need of ready money to move
their business, and a means of exchanging credits that could be accomplished
in safety no other way. In a large measure the success of the present time in
all branches (if business is largely the result of the present banking methods.
It is quite common for the stockholders of the banks to be business men of
prominence in the community, fanners, merchants, manufacturers and pro-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 5/9

fessional men, — all of whom are known t" the depositors and their standing
well established. This gives stability to the bank and confidence to the com-
munity. Such is the confidence in the Citizens Bank of Delavan, of which
Edward F. Williams is president.

Mr. Williams was born at Delavan, Walworth county. Wisconsin, April
9. 1859. He is the son of Henry II. and Amanda | Keeler) Williams. The
father was born in Dublin, Ireland, and was the son of Welsh parents. He
grew to manhood in Dublin and there married Jane Curran. They emigrated
to America in 1847, and after spending one winter in New York state they
came to Delavan. Wisconsin. The father had been a jeweler in the old
country, and he started a small shop here in the early days on the present
site of the Citizens Hank. He was in the jewelry business here until he retired
a few years before his death. He was twice married, and the first union
resulted in the birth of six children, namely: Susan became the wife of a
Mr. James and died in Kansas; Henry is living at Forest Grove, Oregon;
Ella lives in Delavan with her brother, Howard; Jennie died in 1902; Robert
lives at Emporia. Kansas; Xettie married I. J. Atwood, and lived seventeen
years in China, where her husband was a missionary ; they now live at New-
ton. Washington. The mother of these children died two or three years after
coming to Delavan, and the father afterwards married Amanda Keeler. who
was born near Elmira. New York, and she was a young girl when she came
to Walworth county in 1837. She was the daughter of Peter N. and Sarah
(Wilson) Keeler. This family located in the northern part of Darien town-
ship, and were among the first settlers in the county. The first child born to
the second union of the subject's father died in infancj ; Howard lives in
Delavan. having succeeded his father in the jewelry business; Edward F., of
this -ketch, was the youngest.

Henry II. Williams was thoroughly identified with the progress of this
community, and he held several local offices. His death occurred in [903,
his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1892.

Edward F. Williams grew to manhood in Delavan ami attended the
public schools here. After leaving school he began his business career by
clerking in a clothing store in Delavan with M. Gavett for live years. In [88]
he entered the Citizen- Hank a- assistant cashier. In [886 be was elected
cashier, and in [910 succeeded t" the presidency of the bank, the duties of
which he continues to ably discharge, the ever-increasing prestige of t hi--
and conservative institution being due in no small measure to his excellent
management. He is also a director in the Bradley Knitting 1 ompan) of this
place. For eight years he was president of the board of education. When

580 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Delavan became a city in 1897 he was elected mayor, which office he held two
years, doing much for the permanent good of the town, whose interests he
has ever had at heart and lost no opportunity to promote.

Mr. Williams was married in 1892 to Carrie Phoenix, daughter of
Franklin K. and Mary ( Topping) Phoenix. Her father was the son of Col.
Samuel Phoenix, whose record is given at length in the chapter dealing with
the county's first settlement. Franklin K. Phoenix was born in Perry,
Genesee county (now Wyoming county), New York, in 1825, and in 1837
he came to Walworth county with his parents. He established a nursery
when a young man. which he conducted until about 1854, then moved to
Bloomington, Illinois, where he engaged in the same line of business on an
extensive scale, basing six hundred acres under stock, making one of the
largest nurseries in the world at that time. He closed out the business in
1877 ancl m ]^79 returned to Delavan, this county, and started another
nursery, which he continued for several years. He married Mary E. Topping,
daughter of Thomas Topping and wife; she was born in Montgomery county,
New York. The Toppings were early settlers around Darien.

To Mr. and Airs. Edward F. Williams three children have been born:
Phoenix and Lawrence are both attending Beloit College, and Edwina is
attending high school at Delavan. Air. Williams is a member of the Episco-
pal church.

The Citizens Bank of Delavan, of which Air. Williams is president,
was organized in March, [875, by Frank Leland, C. B. Tallman, John De-
Wolf and others, as a state bank. It started with a paid-up capital of fifteen
thousand dollars, later increasing this to twenty-five thousand dollars. In
1910 the capital stock was increased to fifty thousand dollars, and it now has
a surplus of thirty-five thousand dollars. In 1S84 they built a one-story
brick building on the present site, and in 1906 tore it down and erected the
present substantial and modernly appointed structure, a two-story building
with two business rooms, with a stone front and all up-to-date safety devices,
etc. In ICS92 there was a great explosion of dynamite in the store next door
which demolished the front of the building in the drug store owned by II. K.
I >oane, and Ik- and a Mr. Totten were killed. Although the front of the bank
building was demolished and partly blown across the street, the rest of the
building was shielded by the vault near which the explosion occurred. Amid
thi 1 citemenl those in charge of the bank placed gold and currency in the
vault and locked it promptly, quickly carrying the books and notes to the other
Next morning then- accounts balanced to the penny. This bank has
1 be thorough confidence of the people and has the reputation through many

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 581

years of being ably, safely and honestly managed. A statement issued by
this bank on September 11, 191 1, shows the bank's resources as follows:
Loans and discounts, $516,943.65; bonds, $62,530.22; banking house and
furniture, $14,000; cash and due from banks, $145,644.65; total, $739,118.52.
Liabilities: Capital, $50,000; surplus and profits, $32,262.56; deposits, $656,-
855-96; total, $739,118.52. The present officers and directors are: Edward
F. Williams, president; K. H. James, vice-president; A. S. Parish, cashier;
W. F. Fernholz, Howard Williams, S. L. Jackson, D. E. LaBar, H. A.
Briggs and J. H. Goodrich.

Personally, Mr. Williams is an obliging, public-spirited and genial gen-
tleman who enjoys the confidence and respect of a wide circle of friends and
accpiaintances. ■

EDMUND J. HOOPER.

A man who has long been influential in the advancement and prosperity
of Walworth county, endorsing every movement which he believes will prove
beneficial to humanity is Edmund J. Hooper, president of the State Bank of
Elkhorn. His achievements represent the result of honest endeavor along
lines where mature judgment has pointed the way. He possesses a weight of
character, a native sagacity, a discriminating tact anil a fidelity of purpose
that command the respect of all with win 'in he is associated, being a leader in
financial, business, civic and social affairs of his vicinity.

Mr. Hooper was born at Palmyra, Jefferson county. Wisconsin, Decem-
ber 26, 1857. He is the son of John B. and Jane Eliza 1 Lean ) Hooper, both
natives of Cornwall, England, where they spent their childhood, the father
emigrating to America in 1S44, when fourteen years old, accompanied by his
father, George Hooper, who bought a farm near Palmyra, Wisconsin, and
established the family home there. The mother of the subject was also a
child when she was brought to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, from England
by her parents, John Lean and wife, who established their home at the town
of Sullivan, near Palmyra, and there Jane Eliza grew to womanhood and
lived until she and John B. Hooper were married. They spent most of their
lives on the farm which George Hooper settled in pioneer times, and there
they reared their six children, and there the mother spent the rest of her
life, dying in January, 1905. John B. Hooper, now advanced in years, still
lives there, an honored and well known pioneer.

582 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Edmund J. Hooper grew to manhood on his father's farm, where he
assisted with the general work when a boy, attending the local schools in the
winter months, remaining at home until he was nineteen years old, when he
started in life for himself by going into the general merchandise business, in
the .Mitchell Brothers' store at Palmyra. In February, 1881, he went to
Chicago, where he took a position with the wholesale jobbing house of Phelps,
Dodge & Palmer, dealers in boots and shoes. Returning to Palmyra in 1884,
he and Giles Hibbard formed a partnership in the general merchandise busi-
ness, under the firm name of Hibbard & Hooper, which continued until 1887,
when he purchased Mr. Hibbard' s interest and continued the business alone
until January 1, 1896, building up a large trade. Then he and W. J. Bray
organized the State Bank at Elkhorn and opened up for business the following
July, Mr. Bray as president and Mr. Hooper as cashier, the latter remaining
as cashier until in January, 19 10, when he became president of the bank,
which position he now holds, the duties of which he has discharged in a man-
ner that has reflected much credit upon his ability and integrity and to the
entire satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons, rendering this popular
bank one of the sound and safe institutions of its kind in the southern part
nf the state. Mr. Hooper is also a stockholder in the Continental and Com-
mercial National Bank of Chicago. He has been very successful both as a
banker and merchant, and is today one of the substantial and representative
business men of the county, all through his individual efforts.

Politically, Mr. HOopejr is a Republican, and while living in Jefferson
county he was on the county board of supervisors for six or seven years, and
alter moving to Elkhorn he was a member of the Walworth county board
< ight or ten years, also a member of the board of education in Elkhorn for a
number of years. He has been very faithful in the discharge of his duties
as a public servant.

Mr. Hooper was married on June [6, [884, to Elizabeth M. Vanden-
burg, a lady of culture and refinement, a daughter of Peter and Pamelia
(I .irr 1 Vandenburg, the father having come to this state from Amsterdam,
New York, and became well established here. Mrs. Hooper was born at
Little Prairie, in Troy township, this county.

The union of the subject and wife lias been graced by the birth of two
daughters, Winifred and Elizabeth Jane, both now at home, the latter at-
tending high school in Elkhorn, the former having been graduated from Mil-
waukee Donnei College. Milwaukee, with the class of 1911.

Mr. and Mrs. Hooper are member- of the Congregational church, and
fraternally he is a member of the Wisconsin Consistory, Delavan Command-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 583

ery, Knights Templar, the Elkhorn Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and the
Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He has long been prominent in
Masonic circles of this part of the state, which is a criterion of his high
standing among his fellow men.

Mr. Hooper has a beautiful home in one of the most desirable residence
sections of Elkhorn, and here the many friends of the family delight to
gather, finding an old-time hospitality and good cheer ever prevailing.

JOHN HENRY SNYDER, JR.

Among the young men of Walworth county who have forged to the
front no better or worthier example than that of John Henry Snyder. Jr.,
the present efficient and popular postmaster of Elkhorn and one of our rep-
resentative business men, could be found. He is known to be a man of
excellent judgment. Careful in his calculations, resourceful in his dealings
and eminently honorable in his relations with others, people have always
reposed confidence in his word and his integrity has been above criticism.

Mr. Snyder was born in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, March 7. 1871. He is
the son of John H., Sr., and Eliza R. (Munson) Snyder. The father was
born in the town of Claverack, Columbia county, New York, December 24,
1834. The Snyder family came originally to this country from Holland and
settled in the state of New York in an early day.

John H. Snyder, Sr., was left an orphan when eighteen months of age,
and he came with his grandfather to Mukwonago, Wisconsin, in 1846, and
there resided until 1869. While living there he was married, in 1857, to
Eliza R. Munson, daughter of Edwin and Mary (Carpenter) Munson. Sin-
was born near Rochester, New York, and came to Vernon, Waukesha

inty, Wisconsin, with her parents when shi 'uny girl, and 1;

in Vernon until her marriage. She was descended from Thomas Munson,
who came from England to New Haven, Connecticut, in 1034. She i> a
direct descendant of Medad Munson, who was in the Revolutionarj ' on
necticut troop, with Benedict Arnold's expedition to Canada.

The parents of the subjeci of this sketch came to Elkhorn in the spring
of 1869: they retained their farm at Mukwonago Fo time aft :

ing here. John Snyder, Sr., became proprietor of the Central House in Elk-
horn. the pioneer hotel of the city, which was finally torn down, mal
place for the present Elkhorn Hotel at the southeast corner of the courl

584 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

house square. He retired from the hotel business in 1884. He had sold his
farm at Mukwonago and purchased another at the east edge of Elkhorn,
within the city limits, the old Latham farm, where the founders of Elkhorn
pitched their tents upon their arrival here. He stiil owns this valuable farm
and lives in Elkhorn.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John H. Snyder, Sr., named
as follows: Fred H., proprietor of the Frederick Hotel, St. Paul, Minne-
sota; Clifford F., now living in Munich, where he has an art studio, being a
very talented portrait painter; John Henry, of this sketch; Maude E. is the
wife of William J. Riddell, of Des Moines, Iowa.

John H. Snyder, of this review, grew to manhood in Elkhorn and here
he attended the high school, later took a course in the law department of
Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated
in the year [893. He then went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he
practiced law successfully for four years. Prior to this time his brother,
Fred II., had become proprietor of the Cataract Hotel at Sioux Falls, and in
1899 he terminated his connection with the same and was succeeded by the
subject, who conducted the business until the lease expired in 1903.

In 1904 occurred the marriage of John H. Snyder, Jr., and Gertrude
II. Harrison, of Sioux Falls. She was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts,
and from there moved with her parents, William Harrison and wife, to St.
Paul, Minnesota, later to Helena, Montana. She came to Sioux Falls as a
teacher of music in All Saints School, an Episcopal school of that city, her
parents remaining at Helena the meantime, where they still reside. In
Km 1 Mr. Snyder and wife came back to his old home in Elkhorn, and here
Ik- went into the newspaper business as a partner of I7. II. Fames, succeeding
VI. I . Park in the office of the Elkhorn Independent, the pioneer newspaper
of the comity, and he has continued in the business ever since.

Politically, Mr. Snyder is a Republican and has long been active in
party affairs. He served two terms in the city council, being president of the
same, and he was also a member of the municipal water and light commis-
sion, lie was elected president of the Progressive Republican legislative
campaign in Walworth countyj and at the primaries was elected a member
of the Republican county committee, and at its organization was unanimously
elected chairman of the county organization, lie was appointed postmaster
al Elkhorn in February, 101 1. assuming his official duties in March following
and he is the present incumbent of the same, discharging its duties in a
manner thai reflects credit upon himself and gives satisfaction to the people
and the department. As a public servant he has been true to every trust

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 585

reposed in him and has shown his fidelity to correct ideals and sound prin-
ciples in all his relations with the public. For two terms he was secret ar\
of the Walworth County Old Settlers' Society and is now secretary of the
Walworth County Historical Society.

Fraternally, Mr. Snyder belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, being past chancellor of the latter. 1 [e
has been interested in the local band for the past twenty-five years, with the
exception of the time when he was away, and for the past four years he lias
been its director.

The death of Mr. Snyder's first wife occurred on September 29, [909.
She was the mother of two children. Theodosia Munson Snyder, born at
Sioux Falls on May 21, 1902, and John Silvernale Snyder, born in Elkhorn
on December 6, 1903.

The subject was again married on November 15, 191 1, to Louise B.
Winter, of Elkhorn, daughter of Fred Winter and wife. She was born in
Lafayette township, on her father's farm, not far from Elkhorn. Mr.
Winter was born in Germany, from which country he emigrated to Cleve-
land, Ohio, when a young man, about 1870. His wife was also a native of
Germany and she came to Chicago when young and from that city to Wal-
worth county, Wisconsin.

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are communicants of the Episcopal church, of
which he is junior warden, having held that position over eight years.

Mr. Snyder has been successful in a business way in whatever he has
turned his attention to, and he has been the Independent one of the most
influential papers in southern Wisconsin. A plain, straightforward, public-
spirited gentleman, he enjoys the esteem of all who know him.

HENRY BRADLEY.

One of the worthy and well remembered pioneer citizens of Walworth
county who did much for the development of his locality in a former genera-
tion was the well-remembered Henry Bradley, at one time postmaster at
Elkhorn, a man who, having the old-fashioned ideas of honesty and upright-
ness, left the indelible impress of his character on the people with whom he
came into contact and therefore he is well remembered by a host of friends
and acquaintances, and his career is well worthy of emulation by the youth
standing at the parting of the ways.

586 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Bradley had the honor of establishing the first settlement at Elk-
horn, having come here when this country was still the domain of the red
man and the haunt of the denizens of the wild, but he was a man of courage,
brave, freedom-loving, taking a delight in God's glorious out-of-doors, feeling
cramped, like Daniel Boone, the greatest of pioneers, if he had a neighbor
nearer than five miles. The men like him who live nowadays are not numer-
ous; however, he was but one of a type in his period.

Air. Bradley was born in Delaware county, New York, December 26,
1823, and was the son of Daniel E. and Betsey (Sturgis) Bradley. His
father was one of the men who staked the first claims and founded the city
of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on February 2j, 1837. On January 12th of that year
the families of Daniel E. Bradley and his brother, Milo E., arrived from the
East at the old log cabin of the settlement. The oldest among the children
of the Bradley party was Henry, then fourteen years of age. Two years
later Daniel E. Bradley died. The family remained on the farm about three
years longer, then commenced in the mercantile business in Elkhorn in 1847.
In 1846 Henry Bradley was appointed under-sheriff of Walworth county.
On April 18, 1847, he Nvas united in marriage with Nancy J. Mallory, daugh-
ter of Samuel M. Mallory. She was bornin Tompkins county, New York.

In 1852 this family wont overland to California and there Mr. Bradley
engaged in mining. Three years later they returned by way of Greytown
and Nicaragua b) steamship to New York, thence to Niles, Michigan. 1>\
train and so home, at Elkhorn. Soon afterwards he was appointed deputy
clerk of the court. He returned to the West, going to southern Oregon in
[859 and spent a year there, then returned to this county.

.Mr. Bradley was first appointed postmaster in 186] by President Lin-
coln, and he served in this capacity for a period of twenty-four years con-
tinuously, discharging the duties of the same in a manner that reflected much
credil upon himself ami to the entire satisfaction of the people and the de-
partment. The salary was small, but he devoted his attention to the office
with much fidelity. In [884, when the Democrats came into power, Mr.
Bradley was succeeded bj one of the dominant party. In [888 he was re-
appointed to the local office l>\ President Harrison and -erved four years
more. Upon his second retirement from official duties he ceased active busi-
ness and i" in considerable time with a son in Salt Lake City, Utah, lie also
-pent a year in Europe, and. being a keen observer and widelj read, he talked
very entertainingly of his travels and his early experiences in the Far West

of ih. pioneer days in Wisconsin. He possessed a very tine store of
lie was a man whom everybody admired and respected For

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 587

his strength of character, his industry, public spirit and general intelligence.
All through his life he was an ardent lover of nature and the outdoors, de-
lighting in camping trips, was familiar with the "oak openings," the lakes
and the clearing from their most alluring days. He was fond of the rod and
gun, because the}' took him into the fields and woods, "away from man with
his vain conceits." He was a musician and although he interpreted little of
the written score himself, the musical taste of the community along its best
lines found in him helpful and encouraging appreciation. Sell" reliant, men-
tally vigorous, of strong but unobtrusive convictions, and of line old-fashioned
integrity, Elkhorn history was enriched by the wholesomeness of his life.

The death of Mr. Bradley occurred on August 17, 1909, in his eight)
sixth year. Few men who had made Elkhorn their home during Mr. Brad-
ley's long residence here were so well or so favorably known. Mrs. Bradley
is still living in Elkhorn. Of their children, William M. is an attorney at
law in Salt Lake City; a daughter, Mrs. Lillian B. Kenyon, lives at Tacoma,
Washington; Anna Ruth is the wife of Francis LI. Eames, Jr., and resides
in Elkhorn.

FRANCIS H. EAMES.

Perhaps no one agency in all the world has clone so much lor public
progress as the press, and an enterprising, well-edited journal is a most im-
portant factor in promoting the welfare and prosperity of an) community.
It adds to the intelligence of the people through its transmission of foreign
and domestic news and through its discussion of the leading questions and
les of the day, and more than that, it makes the town or city which it
represents known outside of the immediate locality, as it is sent each da) or
week into other district-, carrying with it an account of the events transpiring
in its home locality, the advancement and progress there being made, and the
advantages which it offers to its residents along moral, educational, social and
commercial lines. Walworth county is certainly indebted to its wide-awake
journals in no small ee, and one of the men who an- doing a commend-

able work in the local newspaper field is Francis II. Eames, pari owner of the
Elkhorn Independent, lie has d with journalistic work,

and his power as a writer and - ill as a I man

nowledged among contemporary newspaper men and the public in general.

Mr. Fames was horn in Spring Prairie township, this county. Jul)
1872, and is the son of Francis II.. Sr., and Jenette S. (Smith) I The

588 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

father was horn in Verona, Oneida county, New York, on December 18,
[821. He was the son of Havilah E. and Philatheta (Warner) Eames. The
Eames ancestry is traceable back to the famous "Mayflower," when the Pil-
grim fathers founded Massachusetts Bay colony. Later members of the
family aided in the struggle of the colonists for independence. Havilah
Eames was born in Massachusetts, September 18, 1791, and he devoted his
life to fanning. When a young man he moved to Xew York, where he spent
his remaining days, dying on July 6, 1840, when forty-nine years of age. His
wife was horn in Massachusetts. June 6, 1791, and her death occurred in
New York on May 6, 1838. Francis H. Eames, Sr., spent his early life on a
farm in the state of New York, and after attending the common schools he
took a college course, later taught school several terms. In June, 1843, ne
came to Wisconsin Territory and purchased a tract of wild land in Spring
Prairie town-hip, which he developed into a good farm, and here established
a comfortable home through his industry and perseverance, being known as
one of the substantial pioneer agriculturists of this locality.

Francis H. Eames, Sr., and Jenette Smith were married on the 28th
day of June. 1848. She was born in Rochester. New York, April 13,
1831, ami was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Puffer) Smith. Her
father was also born in the Empire state and there he engaged in business as
a lumber dealer. Mr. Smith came to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in 1841. and
there engaged in the lumber business until his death. He became one of the
substantial and influential citizens of that place, highly respected by all who
knew him. His parents were both natives of Germany. Mrs. Smith, who
also was of German parentage, was born in New York, and she spent her
last days in Wisconsin, where her death occurred in 1884 at the age of
seventy-nine years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and a woman of many praiseworthy attributes of head and heart.

Four children were born to Francis H. Eames, Sr., and wife, namely :
Olivia M., born October 6, 1849. died February 22, i860; Alfred W., born
January 5, 1852, is now in the Hawaiian Islands, where he owns and operates
an extensive pineapple cannery, employing about two hundred and fifty people,
and he does an extensive business. Fie owns a vast tract of land and raises
great quantities of pineapples, and has accumulated a handsome competency
there. He had resided at Los Angeles, California, since 1874 until about the
time Hawaii and the rest of the Sandwich Islands were annexed bv the
I nited States. The next child in order of birth in the family of Francis H.
Eames was Ira F., whose birth occurred February 3, 1861, and he died April
28, 1870, when nine years old : Francis H., Jr., of this sketch, was the young-
est of the family.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 589

The father of the above-named children developed a fine farm from the
wild land and in connection with general farming he made a specialty (if rais-
ing Merino sheep and diort-horn cattle, his fine stock ranking with the best
in the county. He started in life at the foot of the ladder, but he overcame
many obstacles and won a large degree of material success by his close appli-
cation and honest dealings. He manifested a commendable interest in every-
thing pertaining to the upbuilding of the community, and he won the confi-
dence and high regard of those who knew him. His death occurred on May
30, 1893. His widow- now resides in Elkhorn with her son, Francis II., Jr.

Francis H. Eames, Jr., spent his boyhood, until he was fourteen years of
age on his father's farm, then came to Elkhorn and attended high school,
remaining in the Elkhorn schools four years. After leaving high school he
went to Chicago and took a commercial course. During vacations in Elkhorn
he worked in the ofhee of the Independent, where he learned the printer's
trade, having begun in a boy's place and worked up, becoming an excellent
compositor in due course of time. After finishing in the commercial school in
Chicago, he took a position in the advertising department of the Chicago
Inter-Ocean. A few months later he took a position as bookkeeper in the
John M. Smythe store of that city, remaining there until 1893, when his
father died, upon which event he came home and spent the summer on the
farm. In the fall following he went to Elkhorn and was again in the office
of the Independent, remaining there until the fall of 1894, when he and his
mother went to California. In February, 1896, he returned home to look
after the place, the barns having been burned down, and he remained there
during the years 1896 and 1897. On August 12, 1807. he married Anna
Ruth Bradley, daughter of Henry and Jane (Mallory) Bradley, a well-
known family of Elkhorn, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
After his marriage he returned to the old homestead and in the spring of
1898 took charge of the same. In 1899 he purchased a one-third interest
in the Elkhorn Independent with M. T. Park and Eugene Kenney, but he
continued to conduct the farm until 1900. Mr. Park had received an ap-
pointment as superintendent of a state institution and Mr. Fames came into
the office to succeed to his duties. On November 6, 1902, Messrs. Park and
Eames bought out Mr. Kenney and they published the paper aboul two years,
then, on March 1, 1904, J. II. Snyder. Jr., purchased Mr Park's inter
and Messrs. Eames and Snyder have been joint owners of the paper since.

Mr. Eames still retains the farm, but he has lived in Elkhorn since [899;
He has done much toward increasing the prestige of the 1 11 J, ■prudent, which
is recognized as one of the leading papers of southern Wisconsin, making it a

590 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

newsy, bright, valuable advertising medium, a peer of any of its type in
mechanical appearance and editorial power, and its circulation is constantly
increasing. It has long wielded a potent influence in local affairs.

Politically. Mr. Eames is a Republican and has done much for the good
of the party in this locality. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of
Pythias. In May. 1909, he was appointed a member of the board of educa-
tion and is now the president of the board. In 1905 and again in 1906 he
was secretary of the Walworth County Old Settlers' Society.

Mr. and Mrs. Eames are the parents of two children, Clifford Bradley,
born November 5, 1898, and Claude Francis, born June 19, 1900.

Personally, Mr. Eames is singularly obliging and accommodating, a genial
friendly gentleman, having faith in his fellow men, public spirited and al-
ways ready to do his full share in furthering the interests of his county.

THE WISCONSIN' BUTTER AND CHEESE COMPANY.

One of the most popular and widely known business firms in Walworth
county is the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company, with head offices in
Waukesha, Wisconsin, being the largest and best equipped concern of its
kind in this locality, if not in this part of the state, in fact, there are com-
paratively few creamery factories anywhere that equal it.

Ahout 1890 Messrs. Harris and West, together with George E. Puffer
and George Harris, funned the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company, a
corporation with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Mr. Puffer and George 1'.. Harris went to Waukesha and took charge of
the plant there, while J. 11. Harris and .Mr. West remained at Elkhorn in
charge of the plant here, the former being president of the company and
the latter vice-president. The) operated at one time twenty-seven cream-
eries.

Their original plant at Elkhorn was near the fair grounds, hut in 1904
they removed to near the station of the ( hicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railroad Company, in order to secure better side track and shipping facili-
ties, and there they erected their present commodious and substantial plant,
a model indeed of an up-to-date factory for dairy products, modern in everv
appointment, sanitar) and convenient. The building is of yellow pressed
brick and it is so handsonieK finished that travelers have frequently mis-
taken it for a hotel. Even the huge smokestack is ornamental, being neatly

1 ''ill designs made of various colored brick with the letters W . I'..

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 591

& C. Co. -bowing plainly up and down the smoke stack. Along the front

are two driveways where every morning long lines of teams are drawn
up to unload the milk that is hauled in from all directions. Rapidly the
milk is received, weighed, a sample taken for testing in the chemical labora-
tory and then poured out to run in a constant Row t<> the large receptacles
on the floor below.

All through the factory runs a thorough system for handling the milk.
making it into butter. Neufchatel and cream cheese, casein, condensed milk,
or shipping the cream. Various machines and appliances are needed for such
work and they have installed the most approved and latest designs. Power
is furnished from four high-pressure boilers of one hundred and fifty horse
power each, and two other boilers of lesser power. They also have a good
53 stem of cold storage rooms and coolers. Water to operate the plant is
drawn from a deep drilled well. They have their own ice plant and a tower
for cooling water. A hydraulic elevator facilitates the work of the factory.
For the convenience and cleanliness of the employes of the factory, there
are toilet and dressing rooms equipped with shower baths.

Here is to be found a complete battery of cream separators, also
large Pasteurizers. A large copper vacuum retort, costing three thousand
dollars, is used for condensing milk, where the air is drawn out. forming
such a vacuum that milk will boil at a temperature of one hundred and
twelve degrees. The condensed milk is either canned in small tins or put
in bulk into large cans, cooled in the coolers where fifty cans at a time are
revolved by machinery in cold water until cold enough to ship to the ice
cream factories. From the skimmed milk casein is made, or dried curds.
which is then put through a dry kiln and thoroughly dried, then shipped
away to make sizing, glazing and glue.

In its earlier stage of manufacture it resembles the Neufchatel cheese,
of which this company makes a most excellent quality, which is very popular;
that made here is the Elkhorn brand and thai made at the Waukesha planl
is the Arrow brand.

This concern manul about fifteen hundred pounds of buttei

day at the present time: they ship a car load of cream daily to Chicag
they handle as high as eight) to ninety thousand pounds of milk daily, and
their business is constantly increasing.

For shipping facilities they have a cement platform along the rear end
of the building, from which their products are wheeled directlj into the
cars, lined up on the tracks to receive them. It would be hard to find a more
thoroughly equipped or systematically managed plant of this nature than
that of the Wisconsin Butter and I heese Company.

592 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ANDREW KULL.

A prominent and well known citizen of Bloonifield township, Walworth
county, is Andrew Kull. a man who has led an eminently honorable and useful
life and achieved a marked degree of success in his chosen vocation and at the
same time has benefited the community of which he is a native, and, one may
truthfully add, a pioneer, having spent the sixty-seven years of his terrestrial
existence in this locality, which he has seen advance from a wilderness to
one of the choice farming sections of the state, and in which development he
lias played no inconspicuous part. He is now' president of one of the leading
local banks.

Mr. Kull's birth occurred in Bloomfield township, this county, on April
29, 1845. He is the son of John Michael and Cynthia (Slafter) Kull. a
worthy old family, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work.
These parents having come here about 1837, were thus among the very
earliest settlers of the county. The subjects mother died when he was only
about four months old, and he was taken by his father's brother, Andrew
Kull, and wife and reared in their home, they having no children of their
own, and they became very strongly attached to the motherless little one and
cared for it as they would have done their own child. Finally gaining the
father's consent, they adopted the child, and he grew up on their farm in the
north edge of Bloomfield township.

Andrew Kull, who .adopted the subject of this sketch, was the son of
John Michael Kull, Sr., of Wurtemberg, Germany, in which place his birth
occurred in 1808. There he grew to manhood and married Gertrude Pfrom-
mer, and they emigrated to America before the year 1830. They came to
Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1837 and entered land in the north side of
Bloomfield township, and they became prosperous for these days, especially
in a new country, where settlers were few and money scarce. The elder
Kull's death occurred in 1887. his wife having preceded him to the grave in
[872.

\nilivw Kull, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew to manhood
when the roads in t hi ^ country were scarcely more than Indian trails and
when wolves and other wild animals were abundant, and he recalls manv
interesting reminiscences <>!' the early days, lie attended V W . .Moody's
select school at Lake Geneva, ami on December 14, [86l, he was united in
marriage with Win Reitbrock, daughter of Vlolph and Christena Reitbrock.
She was born in Kenosha county, of which her father was anion;; the first
settlers, her parents having come from Germany, in which country Mr.

ANDREW KULL

*$&&

1*2

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 593

Reitbrock had been a goldsmith. He established his home lure amid adverse
conditions, such as having to haul his supply of flour and other necessities
from Milwaukee, at first on a hand-sled. But that was not so trying as hav-
ing to carry a sack of flour from Chicago on the shoulder, as Andrew Kull,
who adopted the subject, had to do.

After his marriage the subject of this sketch continued farming on the
place where he was reared, prospering at sheep raising, often keeping large
droves, and he has continued raising sheep in connection with general farm-
ing. He early concluded from his experience as a wool grower that he got no
benefit from a tariff on wool and he became widely known as an opponent of
such a tariff and engaged in public speaking in many places in numerous
states against such a tariff, of which the subject made a deep study, also of
wool dying and manufacturing, becoming one of the best informed men along
this line that southern Wisconsin has ever produced, and, being a forceful
and entertaining speaker, he always had an interested audience. He has long
manifested an interest in public affairs and in 1888 he was nominated by the
Democrats for lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin and he made an excellent
race.

Mr. Kull assisted in the organization of the banners National Bank of
Lake Geneva and he was president of this popular institution from Jan-
uary 17, 1905, up to date of his resignation in 191 1, its constantly growing
prestige having been in part due to his conservative and judicious manage-
ment. He has kept well advised on all financial matters and is regarded as
one of the county's leading financiers, his influence being potent in industrial
and commercial affairs.

Mr. Kull has been twice married, and to his first union five sons and t\\<>
daughters were born, namely: Frances, who died April 6, i<;i2; Helen M.
married Orris Hart, and her death occurred at the age of twenty-nine years;
Henry Andrew, who died when four and one-half years old; Adolph lives on
his own farm in Bloomfield township; Frederick is an attorney, with offices
in both Chicago and Lake Geneva; Hermann lives in Howard county, [owa,
and, although a Democrat in a Republican county, has been elected i" two
terms in the Iowa Legislature: Grover is farming in section 2, Bloomfield
township.

The mother of the above named children passed away in [895, and on
August 18, 1909, Andrew Kull was united in marriage with Carrie Lou
(Scrutoni King, the daughter of William and Man (Pigg) Scruton, and
born in Xew York city. Her parents were natives of England, tin- father

(38)

594 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

born in Scarborough. Mrs. K nil came west to her sister in Illinois in 1890
and she remained there until her marriage in 1891 to Gustav E. EClug, and
they made their home in Maywood, that state, where Mr. King's death oc-
curred in 1902, after which Mrs. King spent two years in Rutherford. Xew
Jersey, then came to Lake Geneva, where she continued to reside until her
marriage with Mr. Knll. Two children were born of her first marriage:
John Leslie and Ethel Lillian. Two children have been born to Mr. Knll and
his last wife, David Clinton and "William Emerson, the latter since deceased.
Air. Kull is a man of splendid physique, broad-minded, strong-willed,
public-spirited, kindly and obliging in his relations with his fellow men, his
conduct always that of an honorable, genteel gentleman, a man of influence
wherever he is know n.

LEV] ADAMS XICHOLS.

One of the well known business men of Lake Geneva is Levi Adams
Nichols, who is well deserving of the success that has attended his efforts
and of the respect of his fellow men which they freely accord, because he has
lived an industrious, conservative and honorable life.

Mr. Nichols was born in Montgomery, Franklin county. Vermont,
April 13, 1850, and is the son of S. J. and Mary A. (Adams) Nichols. The
mother was a descendant of the Adams family so noted in American history
and which produced two Presidents and other leaders. S. J. Nichols was of
So neb descent and bis ancestors were among the early settlers of northern
Vermont, having come there from Leominster, Massachusetts. In 1854 the
subject of (his sketch was brought west by his parents, who located in sec-
tion J5, Linn township, Walworth county, Wisconsin. There the father
bought a farm of four hundred and fifty acres and there he spent the rest
of his life, having become well established. He and his wife both died in
1 Si jo. lie had prospered through close application and the exercise of sound
judgment and, having added to his original purchase, he at one time owned
about one thousand acres of valuable land and was regarded as one of the
county's most substantia] and progressive agriculturists. Farming was his
chief interest all his life.

Levi A. Nichols grew to manh 1 in I. inn township, and when a boy

assisted with the general work aboul the place, attending the district schools

in the winter time. In [876 lie took a pari of the farm there and this he --till

and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in connection with stock

walworth county, wisccwsitt. 595

raising ever since. He has kept his land well improved and under a high
state of cultivation. In 1903 he became a director in the First National Bank
of Lake Geneva, and in January, 1909, he was elected president of that in-
stitution, which is regarded as one of the popular, safe and conservative in-
stitutions of southeastern Wisconsin, and he has continued to discharge the
duties of this important position in a manner that reflects credit upon himself
and elicits the commendation of all concerned.

Mr. Nichols was united in marriage with Ada K. Rice in October,
1876. She grew up and was educated in Whitewater, and she is the daugh
ter of Edwin M. and Laura W. (Wicker) Rice, both natives of Bridge-
port, Vermont, from which state they came to Wisconsin in 1N41 and located
in Richmond township. Walworth county.

To Air. and Mrs. Nichols four children have been born, two sons and
two daughters, namely: John E., who married Cora Baker, is fanning a
part of his father's land; Charles L., who married Helen Brown, is also
farming part of his father's land; he has two children, Velma and John;
Marjery A. married Harold W. Stewart, an instructor in the University of
Illinois at Urbana.

Fraternally, Mr. Nichols belongs to the lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons and the chapter at Lake Geneva; he is also a member of the Modern
Woodmen. He and his wife are both members of the Congregational church
and are liberal supporters of the same.

After he had spent twenty-five years on the farm, Mr. Nichols moved
to the village of Hebron. Illinois, where he immediately became identified
with the life of the place and he took an active part in promoting the public
improvements of the village. It is worthy of mention that any offices or
positions of leadership which he has attained have come without his solicita-
tion. He has proven eminently worth} of every trust reposed in him.
always performing his duties as he saw and understood the right.

DR. SIDNEY CLAYTON Gobi'.

It is by no means an easy task to describe within the limits of this review
a man who has led an active life and by his own exertions reached a position
of honor and trust in the line of work with which his interests are allied. Bui
biography finds justification, nevertheless, in tracing and recording the record
of such a life, as the public claims a certain property interest in th r of

596 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

every individual and the time invariably arrives when it becomes advisable
to give the right publicity. It is then with a certain degree of satisfaction that
the chronicler essays the task of touching briefly upon such a record as has
been that of Dr. Goff, one of the men of high standing and influence in Wal-
worth county, who, professionally, has long ranked with the leading dentists
of this part of the state.

Dr. Sidney Clayton Goff was born in East Troy, this county, on January
23, 1861. He is the son of Sidney Calkins Goff and Martha (Barber) Goff,
the father born in Steuben county, New York, in 1829, and he was the son of
Pliny C. and Magdelane (Vorhees) Goff. The father of the subject grew
up in the state of New York, and when he was about twenty-one years of
age he went to Australia by sail-boat, around the cape of Good Hope, southern
Africa, voyaging to the then newly discovered gold fields of Australia, and
there he spent four years, returning home by way of Cape Horn, South
America. Being a man who observed things, he frequently told interesting
stories of his experiences in the antipodes and around the world. He was
about twenty-five years old when he returned to New York, soon afterwards
coming to Delavan, Walworth county, Wisconsin. There he engaged in the
mercantile business, closing out a dry goods stock for an Eastern firm. He
then took up the study of dentistry with a local dentist, before dental colleges
were established. About 1857 he moved to East Troy, where he took up the
practice of his profession, which he continued there until January 1, 1875,
having enjoyed a large practice. On that date he came to Elkhorn, to take
the office of sheriff of Walworth county, to which he bad been elected the
previous fall, and he was encumbent of the same for two years, discharging
In- duties to the satisfaction of all concerned. At the expiration of his term
he resumed tin- practice of his profession in Elkhorn and continued there
with his usual success until 1883, in April of which year he moved to Perrv.
[owa, and there be died January 30, [912. IK- was bom in [829 and reached
the advanced age of eighty-two year-. 1 1 is widow still resides at Perrv,
towa. lie and Martha Barber were married when the town of Trov was
young. She was born in Livingston county, New York. Her parents dying
when she was a child, she came to Walworth county. Wisconsin, when a girl
and lived here until her marriage, making her home with her elder sister,
Mrs. Millard.

Dr, S. Clayton Goff, of this sketch, was one of three children, he being
the only sun: his sisters were Cora and Lena, the former having married
DeWitl C West and resided at Elkhorn three or four years, then moved to
Perry, [owa, where Mr. West died, then she married Henry I'. Lods. Lena
married Charles F. Case and they live at Lake Geneva.

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN". 59/

Doctor Goff, of this sketch, spent his youth in East Troy and Elkhorn,
and he received his early education principally in the high school in the latter
city, soon afterwards taking up the stud) of dentistry, lie attended the
Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, where he made an excellent record
and from which he was graduated in the year [883. lie returned to Elkhorn
and began practicing, succeeding his father, who in that year moved from
here to Iowa, and here he has since remained, having enjoyed a very liberal
practice all the while, following successfully in the footsteps of his worthy
sire, and, like him, gaining the confidence and good will of the people.

Politically, Doctor Goff is a Republican and active in the affairs of the
party. He was elected village clerk before the town of Elkhorn was incor-
porated as a city, having been first elected in [885, and again in 1886. He was
elected a member of the village board and served on the same for a period of
six years successively. In 1908 he was elected mayor of Elkhorn, and. after
a most satisfactory and praiseworthy term of two years, he was re-elected
and served until April, 1912, in a manner that reflected much credit upon
himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party
alignment. He has done much for the permanent good of the city. He was a
member of the county board of supervisors for a period of three years. In
1910 he was elected as representative from this county to the state Legisla-
ture, and he served in the session of 191 1, making his influence felt for the
good of his locality and the party.

Doctor Goff was married in 1885 to Jennie P. Britton, daughter of
Charles H. and Laura (Hodges) Britton. She was born in Elkhorn, but
lived in the town of Berlin, Green Lake count}-, at the time of her marriage.
Her parents were originally from Xew York. Her grandfather, Edwin
Hodge-, was one of the first settlers in Elkhorn. having emigrated to this
county from Xew- York in pioneer days. Two children have been born to
the Doctor and wife, namely: Rispah J!., born in [891, and Sidney B.,
born in 1899.

The subject and wife belong to the Congregational church. Fraternally,
he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was a charter member of the
local camp of Modern Woodmen, which cam]) was the first organized in
Wisconsin, and was started within a year of the organization of the ordei

Doctor Goff was elected chairman of the Walworth county Republican
committee in 1904 and again elected to the same organization in 1906. I It-
has been a member of the Elkhorn Cornet Band since 1878, one of the best
bands in this part of the state.

598 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

In childhood the Doctor developed a natural talent for mechanical work
and at the age of sixteen years he made a small steam engine which worked
successfully, being well made, — in fact, there seems to be little difference
between it and a real locomotive except in size. He also had a well developed
talent for making toy ships, which in their completeness of detail rival the
large sailing vessels. Since reaching manhood he has found recreation in
collecting Indian relics and other curios, now possessing a large and valuable
collection, some of them being very rare, as well as beautiful.

Personally, the Doctor is a kind, genial, obliging and sociable gentleman
whom it is a pleasure to meet.

HENRY DeLAFAYETTE ADKINS.

Henry DeLafayette Adkins, the efficient and well known cashier of
the First National Bank of Elkhorn, is a worth) representative of one of the
oldest and best known families of Walworth county. Time and prolific
enterprise have wrought wonderful changes in this section since he first saw
the light of day, and the great section no longer depends upon its initial
industr) <>i lumbering but has been brought forward to the high plane which
marks the older sections of the commonwealth. The Adkins family have
played no inconspicuous role in this development.

Mr. Adkins was born in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on January 10, 1864. He
is the son of Henry Breekenridge Adkins and Emma (Cronk) Adkins. the
father a son "I' Henry and Betsey Ann (Adams) Adkins. Henry Adkins,
son 'if Henr) and Martha Adkins, was born on December 23, 1812, in
county Kent, England. In his youth he was apprenticed to learn the drug
business am] he served three and one-half years. In [833, when twenty-one
years "Id. he emigrated to the United States, locating in Oneida county.
New York, where he married Betsey Ann Adams, daughter of William
Want- and wife. She was born in Otsego county, New York, September
to, [813. In 1N41 he and his family came to Walworth county. Wisconsin,
and Incited on a farm in Sugar Creek township, moving the following year
to Lagrange township, entering eighty acres of land from the government,
in section 14. In the autumn of [854 he was elected register of deeds and
hi December of thai year moved t" Elkhorn and entered upon his official
duties. lie was re-elected and seTved lour years. While there he siarted

riginal books now in use by the Walworth County Abstract Company.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 599

After his term of office had expired he entered the abstract business, in
which he remained until 1863, when he engaged as a clerk in the First
National Bank of Elkhorn. He finally became assistant cashier and vice-
president and was active in the affairs of the hank until his death in 1889,
and was one of the substantial and influential men of the county.

The Adkins family consisted of the following children: Elizabeth, who
married Reuben Eastwood, died on March 5. [892; Henry B., father of
Henry DeLafayette, of this -ketch; Charlotte [sabell, who was horn in Xcw
York, now lives in Elkhorn; Zehrua A., born in 1841. is the wife of Charles
D. Root and lives at Lake Mills. Wisconsin; William E., bom September 4,
1847, died Jm)' J3> r9Q3; Mary Lydia died in early childhood; Mary Ellen,
who married Preston Smith, died on December 28, 1889; John Charles,
born April 28, 1856, died on April 26, mi 1. Henry Breckenridge Adkins,
father of the subject, was born near (Jtica, Oneida county, Xew York, on
January 17, 1839. He came to this county as a child with his parents, in
1841. He received a fairly good education, and was an excellent penman,
but preferred mechanical work to clerical confinement. He learned the
painter's trade, which he followed most of his life. He was married on
January 1, 1862, to Emma Cronk, who was born in Dutchess county, Xcw
York, in 1S42. She was the daughter of Acel and Polly (James) Cronk.
Her father was born in Dutchess county, Xew York, in J 803, and her mother
was born at Clifton Park. Saratoga county, Xcw York, in t8o2. The Cronk
family came to this county in the early days. Acel Cronk died on December
28, [881, his wife having died on December 14. 1880.

On December 10. [863, Henry I',. Adkins enlisted in Companj K.
Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served his country well in those
trying times during the Civil war. his labor- being for the most part con-
fined to Wisconsin. Minnesota, the Dakotas and Kentucky. He was hon
orably discharged in September. [865. After the war he made his home in
Elkhorn during the principal part of bis remaining life. His wjfe died on
0 ember 1;. 1901, and he survived until November M>. 1007.

As a companion, whether at home or in business life, the father of the
subject was always agreeable, kind, obliging and always fair in In relati m
with his fellow men. He was a keen observer and kepi well posted on cur-
rent events.

The children of Henry B. Adkins and wife were as follows: Henry D.
L.. of this sketch: Jessie Lena, wife of George Rannej Short, of Sanger,
California.

600 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

The immediate subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Elkhorn and
he received a good education in the local schools. He entered the First Na-
tional Bank of this city on October i, 1882, and has been with this popular
institution ever since. Starting as a clerk, he later became bookkeeper, which
position he held for a number of years. He became assistant cashier in 1896,
and in July, [911, he became cashier, and has thus been an employe of this
bank for over thirty years, having given the utmost satisfaction to the stock-
holders and patrons, always discharging his duties in a manner that re-
flected much credit upon his ability and fidelity, his honor and integrity never
being questioned. He has kept well informed on financial matters and has
been a profound student of banking affairs. He is secretary and treasurer
in group Five of the Wisconsin Bankers Association.

Mr. Adkins has been city clerk, which position he held a number of
years at the time the village was merged into a city. He represented his
ward on the board of supervisors for a number of years. He and his wife
belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, and for about twenty years he has
been chorister of the church.

Mr. Adkins was married in 1896 to Jennie McDougald, of Elkhorn.
daughter of William and Eugenia (Foster) McDougald, and to this union
one child has been born. Jessie Louesa, whose birth occurred on December 30,
[897.

Mr. Adkins was a charter member of the local lodge of Knights of
Pythias, and he has been active in lodge affairs, having held all the chairs in
the local lodge and has received the grand lodge honors.

JOHN II. HARRIS.

Examples that impress force of character on all who study them are
worthy of record in the annals of history wherever they are found. By a
few general observations the biographer hopes to convey in the following
paragraphs, succinctly and yet without fulsome encomium, some idea of the
high standing of John II. Harris, of Elkhorn, as a business man and public
benefactor, one of the representative citizens of Walworth county. Those
who know him best will readily acquiesce in the statement that many ele-
ments of a solid and practical nature are united in his composition and which
during a series of years have brought him into prominent notice throughout
the southern portion (if the state, bis life and achievements earning for him a
conspicuous place among In- compeers.

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 601

Mr. Harris was born in Jefferson count). New York, August 29, 1856.
He is the son of James B. ami Rachael (Chene) 1 I [arris, the mother a native
of Jefferson county, New York, .laughter of an old family of that state.
James B. Harris was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and when a boj he emi-
grated to [ngersoll, Canada, with his parents where his brother and other
relatives had preceded him. He came down into the state of New York,
probably about 1850. and there married Rachael Cheney, and he conducted a
cheese factory in Jefferson county, that state, most of his life.

Two sons and three daughters were born to .Mr. and Mis. James B.
Harris, namely: John II.. of this sketch; Minnie is the wife of John Mc-
Kelvie and they live in southern Kansas; Belle, who was a teacher in the Xru
York schools, died there in 1910; Maria, the fourth child in order of birth,
married C. O. Roberts, and they live in Philadelphia, Jefferson county, New
York; George B.. third in order of birth, was born February, [860, has al-
ways been in the creamery business, being at present associated with the sub-
ject in the management of the Wisconsin Butter ec Cheese Company, of which
there are several branches, he being in charge of the one at Waukesha, in
which city he resides, having moved there in [89] from Spring Prairie, where
lie had lived up to that time. He married Alma Coleman, daughter of James
Coleman and wife, an excellent family of Spring Prairie, and George B. and
his wife have five children. John C, Hugh, George, Robert and Helen.

John H. Harris grew to manhood in Xew York and there received his
education, remaining in his native community until the spring of 1879, when
he came to Clinton Junction. Wisconsin, where he lived something more than
a year, then moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1880, and located
about seven miles east of Elkhorn, in Spring Prairie township. There he
operated a cheese factory until 1890. when he and Walter A. West, (ieorge
B. Harris and George B. Puffer formed the Wisconsin Butter & Cheese Com-
pany, one of the best known companies of its kind in the state, a large, pros-
perous and growing concern, a complete account of which is to In- found on
another page of this work. The subject is presidenl of this company and its
splendid success is due largely to his able management.

Mr. Harris has long been active and influential in public affairs and is an
ardent Republican. In [898 he was elected state senator, and lie served his
constituents in a manner that won their hearty approval and reflected much
credit upon himself.

Mr. Harris has been very successful in a business way. being a man of
progressive idea-, sound judgment and keen discernment. Aside from his
large cheese manufacturing interests, be owns a valuable and finel) improved

602 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

farm of one hundred acres in the southwestern part of the city limits of
Elkhorn. Here he has an excellent barn, worthy of special mention because
of its size, convenience and completeness, a model dairy barn in every respect.
He is a breeder of full-blood Holstein cattle and is taking a great deal of
interest in improving and enlarging his herd.

The domestic life of Mr. Harris began on September 5, 1882, when he
was united in marriage with Effie G. Webber, daughter of Loring O. and
Alary (Fairbanks) Webber. She was born in Raymond. Racine county,
this state. Her mother"s people came from the state of Xew York. Loring
O. Webber was one of the first settlers of Racine county, and his father
erected the first frame house built in that county.

Four children have been born to Mr. ami Mrs. Harris, namely: Cora
Belle, wife of Clarence A. Arp, lives in Chicago, where he is connected with
the Universal Cement Company ; James L. lives with his father in Elkhorn ;
Robert Bruce and Ruth M. are also at home.

Mr. Harris is a thirty-second-degree Mason, and he belongs to the
Ancient Arabic Order of Xobles of the Mvstic Shrine.

RICHARD POWERS.

It is proper to judge of the success and the status of a man's life by
the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his
work, in his family circle, in his church, hear his views on public questions,
observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself
in all the relations of society and civilization and thus become competent to
judge of his merits ami demerits. After a long course of years of such
daily observation it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to
know his worth, because, as has been said. "Actions speak louder than
words." Throughout Walworth county there is nothing but good words
heard concerning Richard 1'owers, Well known banker of Lake Geneva, lie
lias passed his life here and his worth is well known, but it will lie of in-
terest to run over the busy events of his unusually busv. successful ami
useful life in these pages, for he is one of the native sons whom the county
delights to honor, being the scion of one of our sterling old pioneer families.

Mr. Powers was born on Decembei 31, 184S, in Lyons, Walworth
county, Wisconsin. IK' is the son of Patrick and Margaret (Derene) Tow-
el's. The father was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, and there spent his

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. OO3

.hood, emigrating to America when aboul eighteen years old, in iSjS.
He lived in St. Louis many years, lie came to this count) on Januarj 6,
1S45, and located on a farm in Lyons township, east of Lake Geneva, on
land now owned by Homan Brothers. There Richard Powers resided until
he was forty-four years old, having worked hard to develop a good farm.

Mr. Powers was one of a family of four children, namely: William;
Michael, who died when young; Richard, of this sketch; and John, who is
now living in Dakota.

The father of these children farmed the rest of his life east of Lake
Geneva, becoming one of the substantial men of that community and he
established a comfortable home there, where he lived until his death, in
1868, his widow surviving until 1882. He was active in public affairs,
holding a number of township offices in Lyons township, and he was one of
the pioneers who helped build the first Catholic church at Lake Geneva, and
he was liberal in his support of the same the rest of his life.

Richard Powers followed general farming and stock raising success-
fully until he was forty-four years of age. For nearly thirty years he ha--
been interested in Dakota lands and for two seasons he engaged in shipping
horses there. He is still interested in Dakota farm lands and has been
very successful in this line of endeavor. Lie and his brother own in part-
nership about twenty-four hundred acres there. They built the first cream-
ery in North Dakota and for a period of thirteen years operated the same
most successfully, benefiting both themselves and the farmers over a wide
territory. They were compelled to furnish the cows in order to gel il
started, but when the farmers there saw the great value of the same they
•vent into it heartily.

Mr. Powers is also interested in two banks in this county, also two
banks in .Montana, being president of one of the .Montana banks at Lain
ville. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers National Lank at
Lake Geneva, and he is at present in charge of the department of loans,,
discounts and collections of that institution, lie has been very successful
in whatever he has been engaged, being a business man of rare acumen.
sound judgment and foresight, by nature an organizer and promoter and
able to foresee with remarkable accuracy the future outcome of a present
transaction. He is one of the substantial and influential business men of
the county and he has won the good will and esteem of all with whom he has
come into contact as a result of his industry and integrity.

Mr. Powers was married in [880 to Bridget Cassin, a native of [re-
land, born and reared near Waterford, from which country -he came to

604 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

America in early life and located in 'Walworth county, Wisconsin. Mr. and
Airs. Powers are the parents of five children, named as follows: Margaret,
who married Oliver T. Cody, lives in Chicago; May is at home with her
parents in Lake Geneva; William is in the bank at Bainville, Montana, of
which he is cashier; Edward is assistant cashier of the bank at Bainville;
John is superintendent of the farm in North Dakota. These children have
received good educations and are well launched in life's affairs.

Mr. Powers and family are faithful members of the Catholic church.
Personally, the subject is a quiet, unassuming, obliging and genial gentle-
man, whom it is a pleasure to meet.

CEYLOX COURT.

One of tlie most attractive villas of southern Wisconsin is Ceylon
Court, the Lake Geneva home of John J. Mitchell, at the east end of the
lake, which comprises about thirty acres of the most beautiful grounds in
the lake region of Walworth count}'.

The original structure of the residence was the Ceylon building at the
Columbian Exposition at Chicago, 1893, which was brought here in sections
and rebuilt. It stands on high ground overlooking the lake, every part of
which can be seen from the tower and, in fact, near all the lake shore places
can be seen, the point of view being nearly three hundred feet above the
water. Approaching from the lake, one lands at the pier beside which rides
at anchor the splendid white steam yacht. '"Louise," with its gold mountings
ami luxurious furnishings. There is also a .sailing yacht and a motor boat.
A short distance up the lake is the convenient bath-house, from which the
family and friends bathe in the lake.

The shore vises somewhat steeply and is built up in narrow terraces of
boulders and large field stones into an attractive grotto overgrown with
Boston ivy and on each terrace grow many varieties of flowers in season.
Winding up along the terraces, the walk leads to the tunnel through which
one goes to the hydraulic elevator that takes one up into the residence.

The house is octagonal in general outline, decorated with exquisitely

carved \\ 1 work from the island of Ceylon. The roofs are red tile, of

Ceylonese architecture. Additions have been made to the original structure.
making it roomier and enhancing the general beaut) of the building. Even
the chimnevs are of terra cotta and are tine works of art. The furnishings

WALWORTH COUNTYj WISCONSIN'. 605

match the carved Ceylon wood, much of the furnishings being of Japanese
style. Throughout the house are to be found the comforts and furnishings
that one would expect a man of Mr. Mitchell's means and esthetic tastes to
have. About the grounds are a number of other buildings, all built after the
same general style of architecture.

The boat-house is commodious and well arranged, handsomely finished,
adjoining which is the laundry, finer than the average good residence, and
equipped with the most approved machinery and appliances for high-grade
work. Not far from the boat-house, about two hundred feet from the lake,
is an immense never-failing spring lined with marble, over which is a little
open house, in the same style as the other buildings, with seats around the
sides for the accommodation of visitors to the grounds. The latter being
thrown open to the public, visitors are usually taken here the first place after
their arrival at the lake, when they start out to view the places of interest
and most attraction. All about the front of the main residence, in summer,
may be seen a great bank of tropical plants. The grounds have been set with
many hardy plants which remain alive all winter, and in addition to them
about thirty thousand other plants are set out annually, in the best taste th.it
an expert can devise. The broad, well-kept lawns are studded with natural
forest trees and ornamental evergreens. Nearby is a rose-garden containing
about five thousand plants of one hundred and fifty varieties, which would
have delighted the poet Omar Khayyaim, who loved hi- Persian gardens of
rare blooms.

Over on the farm, across the Lakeside Drive, there is a series of green-
houses covering about thirty thousand square feet, containing roses, orchid-,
palms and many other plants, a number of them tropical, from which come
the supplies of Ceylon Court and also for Mr. Mitchell's home in Chicago.
Fruit trees are grown in large pots and brought to the residence for t'ruitN
and decoration. \Y. Imer varieties of fruit tret-- could l»- found in tin- coun-
try, in fact, all the tree- ami shrubbery on the grounds arc of the besl varie-
ties obtainable, many having been brought from remote localities. Until the
summer of 1 <j 1 1 there was a deer park on the grounds, containing forty-
four deer. The-c wi 1 to Lincoln Park, Chicago, bj Mr. Mitchell,
and there the}' are now kept, and the ground has been made into a garden of
wild flower-.

Coming to the place by land from the city of Lake Geneva the visitor
goes south over the Lake Shore Drive, and comes to one of the : en

trances to Ceylon Court, through massive gateways, made of granite from
the fields. The broad gravel driveways wind about through the park, and

606 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

from them one may see a stretch of lawn about two hundred feet long and
ten feet wide, on each side of which is a mass of scarlet flowers extending the
entire distance, in beds about six feet wide. Other designs in flower beds
are to be seen, but so arranged as not to make it too conventional nor to
detract from the natural beauty of the undulating surface of the park.

Across the Lake Shore drive to the east lies Ceylon Court farm, also
the property of Mr. Mitchell and a part of the same establishment. Ceylon
Court is under the supervision of Alfred John Smith, whose record appears
on another page of this work, and Ceylon Court farm is under the super-
vision of Harrv E. Cocroft, who is well known in this county, and a sketch
of whom, and his family appears elsewhere in this work.

Ceylon Court farm is of commanding interest, not merely because it is
improved and kept up in a manner that can be afforded only by the wealthy*
hut because it is the home of a number of domestic animals that are world
champions of their species. Furthermore, it is kept not merely as a matter
of pride, but as a benefit to the surrounding country.

It was only a little more than ten years ago that Mr. Mitchell began
building up this farm. In 1901 he purchased of F. H. Chandler the Ceylon
building and fifteen acres of land surrounding it at the lake shore, which was
already a place of great beauty. He also bought of the same gentleman a
ten-acre tract one-fourth mile east of Ceylon Court, and that was the nucleus
of the present farm. Most of this was underbrush and swamp. In 1903
he put thirty to forty men to work clearing and cleaning up the land, and
draining it. A small portion of the land had already been improved and on
it was the coach barn and carriage house, a building sixty by two hundred
and twenty feet.

In the carriage house may be seen eighteen carriages, all the later styles
of vehicles, from the old-fashioned stage-coach to the modern baby cart.
It is a common occurrence in the summer to see Mr. Mitchell and his family-
out in the old-fashioned stage-coach, with four high-stepping horses. In
[903 a horse barn was built, in which are kept twenty-six of the best coach-
horses that could be bought in America. The same year a cow barn was
built, thirty-four by one hundred and thirty feet, to which has been added an
extension, twenty-four by one hundred and sixty Feet. These buildings are
models of their kind. They have concrete floors, concrete mangers, hoi and
cold water and are lighted by electricity. In the cow barn there are lights
in each stall for cows and calves and also the barn is equipped with machine-.
operated by electricity, for milking the cows. These machine-, properly
used, have been found to be a success in every way.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN*. 607

In 1904 .Mr. Mitchell imported from the island of Jersey twenty-four
head of the best Jersey cattle to be found on the island, and lie now has
seventy-six head of Jerseys, ranging from rive hundred dollars to three
thousands dollars in value each, and several for which he has refused twenty-
five hundred dollars each.

In 1904 a chicken house was also built, large enough to accommodate
four thousand chickens, and at this writing the place is stocked with over
three thousand fowls. This, too. is a thoroughly up-to-date plant, heated 1>\
hot water, and chickens are hatched every month in the year, incubators and
brooders being used. In 1904 Air. Mitchell purchased two hundred and sixty
acres of land adjoining, and the following year another horse barn was built,
which is sixty- four by eighty feet, of stone construction and is well kept.
The same year he built a creamery, where there is a spring that furnishes an
inch stream day and night for cooling the milk. This is one of the most up-
to-date creameries in this part of the state. In the same year was also built a
hog house which accommodates sixty h<>gs. It has floors and troughs of
cement. An up-to-date dog house was built in 1906, of cement floor, and
heated with hot water, ddie house contains wire cages, and here may In-
seen seven varieties of dogs. The same year a new water system was also
installed, and a drilled well, two hundred and ninety-seven feet dee]), from
which water is pumped with a gasoline engine. The various buildings are
supplied with electric lights, the electricity being furnished from the city
plant. In 1908 Mr. Mitchell purchased the Cliff Arnold farm of ninety acres,
adjoining on the east, which has been converted into a hog farm, fitted with
all the latest improvements for caring for hogs. English Berkshire's. Ches-
ter White, Duroc Jersey Reds are to he found here, all registered stock and
the best that money can buy. In 1910 a three-storied horse barn was built,
forty-four by one hundred and forty feet, of cement block and concrete, with
pebble dash outside, j<>i-ts of steel and cement floors, all casings and posts
being of steel. In this barn we find the champion Belgian stallions and
mares of America, which were tin- best in Belgium before their importation,
In three months after landing here they won the championship at the Inter-
national exhibition at Chicago. Here are also t" he found the champion
Percberon horses. The mares won both the first and second prizes at all the
leading horse shows in 1910. Mr. Mitchell also own die three first prize
Percheron stallions, imported in 1910. In English Shin- horses he has al the
head of the mares "Selffridge Pride." the prize winning man' of England
and also of America, having won first prize at the London show in May,
1910, and in August, of that year, won first and championship at Dee

608 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Moines, Iowa. From there she won first and championship at five different
state fairs and at the International Stock Show in Chicago in 1910 she was
first champion and grand champion.

We may also see at Mr. Mitchell's stables the world's champion Shire
stallion, "Dan Patch,-' the only draft horse in the world that won first prize
at the International Exhibition three years in succession. He cost ten thou-
sand dollars, and he weighs two thousand four hundred and ten pounds and
he is as active as a coach horse. His services are given to the surrounding
country at a mere nominal sum, in order to benefit the breed of horses in this
region.

In 1910 there was added to the coach horse department the champion
hackney stallion, "Prick Willow Carnout," and three imported hackney
mares, the best that could be bought in England, regardless of price. In
selecting the live stock for Ceylon Court farm, price has not been considered,
the main object being to secure the best of everything. Probably there is
more high priced stock on Ceylon Court farm than any other in America.

In iyn further improvements were made, such as the building of a
modern garage of concrete, with an addition containing electric dynamos for
running lathes, drills and other necessary machinery. Air. Mitchell pur-
chased, in that year, the Batisford farm adjoining his land on the southeast
and on this extensive improvements are now going on. it being Mr. Mit-
chell's intention to make this an experiment farm for the benefit of the people
who may be near enough to profit by it.

ALBERT S. ROBINS< IN.

The people of Linn township and southern Walworth county are too
familiar with the career of Albert S. Robinson for the biographer to call

'I attention to his record either than to give the salient facts in the same,
for here he has spent his entire life and has gained a prominent place in the
esteem of the people, and is universally respected in the business world, fair
dealing being his watchword in all transactions. He is optimistic, looking
nil the bright side of life and never complains at the rough places in the road,
knowing that life is a battle in which no victories are won by the idle and
indifferent, but that the rewards worth while are to the diligent and courag-
eous nf heart, lie is the representative of one of our worthy old pioneer
families, the Robinsons having been well known here since the time when

'/-H^i^i^L^^- i

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 609

this country was a vast forest, with few settlements ami when the fertile soil
lay, for the most part, untouched by the plowshare. The several members of
the family have taken an active part in the upbuilding of the locality in every
way possible.

Albert S. Robinson was born in Linn township, this county, on Febru-
ary 3, 1855. and is the son of Samuel and Jane (Reed) Robinson. The
father, who was born in Massachusetts, was reared in Chenango count).
Xew York. He came to Walworth county. Wisconsin, in 1844 and purchased
land in Linn township, south of Lake Geneva, but he did not settle there until
1S46. He was married before leaving Xew York to Freelove Thornton, who
died in Xew York, leaving one son. Irving Robinson, now living in Linn
township, this county. Samuel Robinson was again married in [848 to Mrs.
Jane Marshall, widow of Horace Marshall. She was born in the town of
Ovid, Seneca count}-. Xew York, in 1808, and when twelve years of age she
moved to Genesee count}-, Xew York, with her parents, and there grew to
womanhood and was married. She came to Walworth count), Wisconsin, in
184O, with her first husband, who died soon afterwards. To Samuel Robin-
son and wife two sons were born. Charles, the elder, was drowned in Lake
Geneva when but four years of age. The other son is Albert S.. of this
review. The death u( Samuel Robinson occurred on February 5, 1897, his
wife having preceded him to the grave on December 29, 1893.

.Albert S. Robinson grew to manhood on his father's farm, and there
assisted as much as he could with the general work when a bo) and he
received his education in the local public schools and the high school al Lake
Geneva. He continued farming on the home place for some time after leaving
school. From 1890 to 1910 he was secretary and manager of Lakeview
creamer}-, which he had helped organize and the large success of which was
due mostly to his capable management, lie has made farming his chief life
work and has been very successful at this hue of endeavor. He is now the
ner of two hundred and seventy acres of fertile and well improved land,
which yields abundant harvests under his skillful superintendence, lie has
always kept a good grade of live stock, and he has a large pleasant home. I [e
has been connected with the Farmers National Bank of Laki 1
it- organization and in [911 he was elected presidenl of the same, which
position he still hold-, managing its affairs in a manner thai much

credit upon his ability and to eminenl satisfaction of all concerned,— in
fact it- ever-growing prestige is due in no small measure to his able mana
ment and rare business acumen. He ha- been ver) successful in a busim

(39)

6lO WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN'.

way and has accumulated a competency. He deserves a great deal of credit
for his success, being a fine example of a virile, persistent, cautious, broad-
minded, self-made American. He came up from the pioneer log cabin in
which he first saw the light of day. He built his present fine residence in
1895. It i> (Hie of the commodious, modern and attractive homes of the
county, and here he has many of the comforts and conveniences of life that
are seldom found on the farm. His large barns and other substantial out-
buildings show that in farming as well as in other affairs he is thoroughgoing
and progressive.

Mr. Robinson was married March 2j. [888, to Mrs. Sarah Towslee,
widow of George Towslee. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Louisa
Sutton, and was born in St. Lawrence count}-, Xew York, and there spent
her childhood, coming to Lake Geneva about 1872, where she joined her
sister, who had resided here for some time. She was married in Lyons, this
county, to George Towslee, who died in Iowa, after which event she returned
to Walworth county, his death having occurred in 1882.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, namely:
Blanche Alice. Miles Albert and Hugh Irving.

Fraternally, Mr. Robinson belongs to the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and the Modern Woodmen.

Personally, Mr. Robinson is a "plain, blunt man," like Shakespeare's
Brutus, but withal a man whom it is a pleasure to know, for he can be trusted.
confided in and depended upon, — in short, he is a man's man — strong, cool,
courageous, calculating and honorable.

IK (RACE S. RICHARDS.

In the death of Horace S. Richards, Walworth county lost one of its
most valued citizens. Much of his long and useful life was spent within its
borders, although he first saw the light of day in faraway bleak Xew Eng-
land. In America, it has been truthfully said that labor is king, and the
sovereignty that the liberty-loving people of this country acknowledge is that
of business. The men of influence in this enlightened age are the enterpris-
ing, progressive, representative men of industry and commerce and to such
ones advancement and progress are due. Mr. Richards was one who had the
mental poise and calm judgment to successfully guide and control large
business affairs, and at the same time he had a keen appreciation of the

WALWORTH COUXTV, WISCONSIN. 6l I

ethics of commercial life, so that lie not only commanded the respect of his
fellow men for his uprightness, but also excited their admiration by his
splendid abilities. So, after a most commendable career, he has gone to
"join the choir invisible of those immortal dead who live again, in minds
made better by their presence."

Air. Richards was born at Burlington, Vermont, April 21, [831. He
was the son of William and Susan (Stafford) Richards. The family moved
to St. Lawrence county. New York, while he was a child and there he grew
to manhood. When he was about fourteen years old he began working in
the woolen factories there, and for many years he followed this work in one
branch or another.

Air. Richards was married in March, 1856, to Harriet Martha Hodge,
daughter of Alilo and Lilias (Robertson) Hodge. She was born in Pots-
dam township, St. Lawrence county. New York. The parents of the mother
of Lilias Robertson were named Webster (closely related to Daniel Webster I
and they reared Lilias from early childhood, her mother having died when
she was very young. Alilo Hodge was the son of Benjamin and llanna
(Smith) Hodge. They came to Wisconsin about 1855 and located in Wau-
shara county, where thev lived a number of years, and they died in this
county. Lilias Hodge, Airs. Richards' mother, died in New York. Alii"
Hodge came to Wisconsin and located at Mukwonago, where he was mar-
ried again and spent the rest of his life.

After Air. Richards' marriage he remained in New York until the com-
mencement of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Ninety-second New
York Volunteer Infantry, and after a year in the service he was seized with
a serious illness and was discharged for physical disability. After his dis-
charge he and his wife and children came to Wisconsin. His health was
very poor and he came here believing that the change would benefit him. He
located at Mukwonago, where he worked in a carding mill. Later he moved
to Lake Geneva, where there was a larger mill, and here he was employed a
number of years. After the mills ceased operation he followed tin- carpen-
ter's trade for a few years, but his health continuing to fail, he retired from
active work. Air. Richards took an active interest in public affairs and took
a keen interest in politics, lie was a Republican

Six children were born t" Mr. and Airs. Richards, namely: Herbert,
who lives in Lake Geneva, and who married Jennie I. allelic, i- a painter by
trade; George Frederick, who lives in Beloit, married Josie (Holland)
Downs, and they have one son, George Frederick, Jr.; Charles married Nora
Withie and lived in .Michigan until his death, in February, [895; Minnie is

6l2 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

the wife of Joseph Ellis and lives in Zeinla, this county, where he has a hard-
ware business, and they have two sons, Allen and John ; John, the fifth child
of the subject and wife, is a professor in the State University at Madison;
be married Mabel Wilson; Lillian is the wife of J. Melvin Johnson and lives
at Madison, where Mr. Johnson has an official position with the American
Tobacco Company.

The death of Horace S. Richards occurred on July 2~, 1909, after a
well spent and honorable life, in which he won the esteem of all with whom
he came into contact. He was well known throughout this county, having
come to Wisconsin in 1863, and to Lake Geneva in 1866.

MISS HELEN MARTIN.

The life history of the estimable and popular superintendent of schools
of Walworth county. Miss Helen Martin, most happily illustrates what may
be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out noble purposes.
It is a story of a life whose success is measured by its usefulness — a life that
has made the world better and brighter. Her career has been dignified and
womanly, her manner unaffected and her actions, springing from a heart
charged with love and altrustic sentiment for humanity, have been a blessing
to all who have come within range of her influence. She is a representative
of one of the sterling pioneer families of this county, and is the second
woman to bold the office of county superintendent in Walworth county, the
first having been .Miss Lillian Webster, now the wife of Charles Greene, who
served one term. The office of count)- superintendent is not a political office
in Wisconsin ami the election is held in April. There were three candidates
in 1909 and Miss .Martin prosed an easy winner.

Miss Martin was born in Spring Prairie township, this county, and tbere
die attended the district sjchools; later the family moved to Elkhorn and she
was a student in the public schools there, and was graduated from the high
school. She then spent three years in the University of Wisconsin, after
which she taught in the schools of Elkhorn with a great degree of success
until elected county superintendent. She lias in her charge one hundred and
four country schools and fourteen graded schools, of which seven are high

> Is, ni fact ad the schools of the county, excepl those of Whitewater

and Lake Geneva, are under her jurisdiction. She lias given eminent satis-
faction in tbe discharge of her duties in this important office and her course
has been highly a immendable.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 613

Miss Martin's father. Charles Martin, was born in Delaware county,
New York, November i_\ 1818. He learned the carpenter's trade when a
young man, which he continued after coming to Walworth county, \\ iscon-
sin, in 1844. building several houses in Spring Prairie township. In 1845
he married Elizabeth Martin, a cousin, who was horn in Hartford county.
Connecticut. After their marriage they turned their attention to farming.
Mrs. Martin passed away in 1850. leaving one daughter, Delia. In 1854
Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Caroline Fowle, who was born in
Wyoming county. Xew York, and Iter death occurred on January 30. [891.
She was the daughter of Samuel and Harriet (Ingraham) Fowle, who moved
with their family to Walworth county, Wisconsin, about 1840 and settled
among the pioneers in Darien township, where Lawson school house now
stands, and some ten years later the parents moved to Iowa.

The death of Charles Martin occurred in 1906. He was an active mem-
ber of the Spring Prairie Baptist church, and for a period of twenty years
he was superintendent of the Sunday school there. He was also a member
of the Walworth County Agricultural Society. He was a wide reader and
kept well informed on current topics of public interest.

Delia Martin, mentioned above, became the wife of Emery D. Williams,
a native of Jefferson county. Xew York, horn January 6, 1841. lie enlisted
in 1861 in Company I, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in
which he served gallantly as a private for four years. After his marriage
he moved to Carroll county, Missouri, where his death occurred in Decem-
ber, 1879, leaving three children: Alice, now deceased: Ira M. and Charles
A., both living in California. Mrs. Williams returned to Elkhorn in 1880.

Four children were born to Charles Martin and his second wife, two of
whom died in infancy, and a son died when sixteen years old, leaving Helen,
the subject, who makes her home with her half-sister. I lelia.

Miss Martin's great force of character and ripe scholarship, together
with her ability as an organizer, enabled her to bring to her work the results
of her professional experience with marked effect, and it was not long until
the schools under her supervision advanced to the high standing of efficiency
for which they are now noted. Many things tending to lessen the teai I" 1
labors and at the same time make them effective have been introduced; the
course of study modified and improved, the latest and most approved ap-
pliances purchased and everything in keeping with modern educational prog
re- tested, and. when- practical, retained. She takes a eresl in her

teachers, all of whom are selected with special reference to their ability to till
acceptablv the positions to which assigned. That the advantages of a liberal

614 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

education may be generally disseminated, she has encouraged young people
of the county to attend high school by giving them every possible consid-
eration. She possesses the personal charm and tact which make her popular
with the young and it is nothing unusual to see her on the street or in the
school-yard surrounded by a group of urchins. By entering into their spirit
and pastimes, sympathizing with them in their troubles, in short, making their
interests her own, she has become the idol, almost, of the juveniles of the
city, her being one with them rendering the teachers' work easy and adding
greatly to her own popularity, not only with the children but also with the
adult portion of the populace.

Unlike so many of her calling who spend their lives in the school room,
who become narrow and pedantic, Miss Martin is broad and liberal in her
views and has the courage of her convictions on all the leading public ques-
tions and issues, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought, and
having an acquaintance with the best general literature of the past and
present.

CHARLES I. PECK.

This well known citizen is an excellent example of the alert twentieth-
century business man of the United States, coming from an ancestry that
distinguished itself in pioneer days. When the country was covered with
almost an interminable forest of native trees, filled with wild animals, his
people came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and began to carve homes
from the primeval forests, build schools and churches and introduce the cus-
toms of civilization in the wilderness. They were willing to endure the
hardships that they might acquire the soil and the home that was sure to rise
and the) did a noble work in the several relations with their fellow men. By
a life consistent in motive and action and because of his many tine personal
qualities) Charles I. Peck, for man) years one of the leading agriculturists
and stock men of Lafayette township, has earned the sincere regard of all
who know him. ami is deserving of conspicuous mention in his countv's
historj along with other representative citizens who have the interests of
this nature-favored locality at heart.

Mr. Peck was born in Lafayette township, this county, at Spring Prairie,
on August i |. [847. lie is the son of J. W. and Adaline E. (Randall) Peck,
both natives of the state of Ww York, the father's birth having occurred in
[818 and the mother's in 1823. The) Spent their earlier years in their native

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 615

state, and in 1836 came to Ohio, thence coming to Lafayette township. Wal-
worth county. Wisconsin, in 1836, buying one hundred and thirty-six acres at
Spring Prairie where he built a hotel, known as Peck's Corners. He then went
north about two miles and established his home. In i860 he moved to the
farm now owned by his son, Charles I., of this sketch, becoming the owner
of eight hundred and sixty-six acres of valuable land in Lafayette town-
ship, and other parts of Wisconsin and an aggregate of eighteen hundred
acres here and in Iowa and Nebraska, being one of the largest land owners
and one of the most substantial and influential citizens in this section of the
state. He was very active in the affairs of the early times and was a leader
in his community, winning the admiration and esteem of all who knew him
as a result of his industry, public spirit and exemplary character. Politically,
he was a Democrat and took an active part in political affairs. He was an
extensive sheep dealer. He was chairman of the board of supervisors,
though he was never a seeker after public office. His wife was a consistent
member of the Baptist church.

Five sons and one daughter were born to Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Peck, all
living but one. The death of the father occurred in 1876, his widow sur-
viving over thirty years, dying in 1907.

Charles I. Peck, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on the
home farm, where he assisted with the general work during crop seasons,
attending the public schools in the winter time, later the Elkhorn high school.
Early in life he took up general fanning and stock raising for a vocation and
this he has continued with almost uninterrupted success, now owning one of
the finely improved and fertile farms of the county, consisting of four hun-
dred and eighty acres in Lafayette township, lie is also interested in land
in California, he being one of live men who are interested as a company in
the development of thirty-six hundred acres, and he is also one of a company
of twelve men who are operating twenty-seven hundred acres of land, being
extensive lemon raisers, in which thej an- vei uccessful. He is a director
in the Santa Paula Land i >mpany, 0 ck in a building and loan com-
pany, is a director and vice-president of the Sulphur Mountain Springs < Com-
pany, owns a hotel at Ventura, California, and §tock in one at Santa I 'aula.

Politically, Mr. Peck is a Democrat, but he has never been an aspirant
for public honors, preferring to devote his attenl to his lai

agricultural and horticultural operations, lie has been a clo e obsi rver and
a deep student of these sciences and is thoroughly up to date in these lim
He and his wife are members of the Lafayette Congregational church.

6l6 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Peck was married in 1873 to Fannie E. Sewell, a lady of many
estimable characteristics and the representative of an excellent old Walworth
county family, her birth having occurred in Lafayette township, the daugh-
ter of Jirah Sewell and wife, early settlers in this county, who became well
established here through their industry and thrift.

The union of Charles I. Peck and wife has been blessed by the birth of
four children, three sons and one daughter, the latter dying in infancy : the
sons are Jeddiah, now deceased; Hiel Manley, who lives on the homestead
here; and Clyde Edward, who makes his home in California.

Mr. Peck owns a beautiful home at Santa Paula. California, where he
now resides, leaving the management of his property in Lafayette township
to his son. He is interested in five banks (director in three and inspector) in
California, also in lands in South Dakota and California.

Mr. Peck"s extensive business interests are the legitimate fruitage of
consecutive effort, directed and controlled by good judgment and correct
principles. He has forged his way to the front over obstacles that would
have discouraged men of less courageous mettle, gradually extending the
limits of his mental horizon until he is today fully abreast of the times, a
progressive, broad-minded, capable man of affairs. Taken as a whole, his
career presents a series of continued successes rarely equaled by men from
Walworth county. Strong mental powers, invincible courage and a deter-
mined purpose that hesitates at no opposition have so entered into his com-
position as to render him a dominant factor in the business world and a
leader of men in important enterprises. He is essentially a man of affairs,
sound of judgment, of rare business acumen, far-seeing in what he under-
takes, and every enterprise to which he addresses himself has resulted in
liberal financial returns.

ALFRED JOHN SMITH.

Although England has not sent so many of her people to Walworth

count) as many of the other nations of Europe, yet those who have honored

us with their citizenship have become conspicuous in view of the fact that

the) have been enterprising ami progressive, valued citizens in every lespect,

having, while advancing their individual interests, not been neglectful of the

ral good. Of this worth) band the name of Alfred John Smith, of

1 leneva, the able foreman of Ceylon Court, is deserving of especial

in a volume of 1 In- nature of the one at hand.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 617

Mr. Smith was born in London. England. March 28, [866, and there
he spent his boyhood and attended the common schools. He is the son of
James J. and Emily (O'Neil) Smith. He continued to reside in his native
city until he was about seventeen years old. In September. [883, he emi-
grated to the United States, and spent some time in various places in the
Southern states, finally coming to Chicago in [891, where he secured a
position as assistant in a greenhouse, which he retained for a period of six
years, giving entire satisfaction. In his native land he had mastered the ins
and outs of gardening, having spent the time from the age of ten years t<>
the time of his emigration to America engaged in that line of work, taking
up the various branches of horticulture, and in Chicago he gained still further
experience, until he is now a master of his line. He is a deep student as
well as a keen observer and has kept well informed on the progress of horti-
culture and general gardening, especially as affecting this country and lati-
tude.

In June. 1903, Mr. Smith came to Ceylon Court. Lake ( reneva, as head
gardener, and he has since had full charge of the grounds, greenhouses and
gardens, one of the "show places'' of the county, a complete description of
which is to be found on another page of this work. But those who have
seen Ceylon Court know the inadequacy of mere words to describe its beauty
and need not be reminded of Mr. Smith's taste and knowledge in such work
and of his faithfulness to the same.

Mr. Smith is a member of the Gardeners and Foremen's Association of
Lake Geneva, which is composed of the men who look after this line of
work for the fine homes about the lakes here. Mr. Smith i^ now servi
his fourth term as president of the association, which has recently erected a
large and attractive building on Broad street, Lake Geneva. The pronounced
success of this important organization has been due very largely to his
efforts. He is also a life member of the Wisconsin State Horticultural So-
ciety, of which he was vice-president for two years, discharging the dul
of this office in a manner that won the hearty commendation .0' all cor
cerned.

Mr. Smith was married in [899 to Hannah Brennan, of o tyo,

Ireland, and to this union one daughter, Hannah, wa born, her birth occur-
ring in January, [900, at which time the mother died, ami in August, 1005.
Mr. Smith was again married, his last wife having been known in her
maidenhood as Martha Sobbe, daughter of Joseph and Mar} Sobbe. She
was born, reared and educated at Lake Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are
both members of the Catholic church and he is also a member of tin
lie Order of Foresters and Knights of Columbus.

6l8 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Smith is a busy man. with a business way of doing things, yet finds
time to give attention to the sociable side of his nature, and he is known as a
frank, just and obliging gentleman, and an authority on all horticultural
subjects.

GUSTAVE MEISTER.

Another of the progressive Germans who, coming to Walworth county
in the days of its ascendency, cast his lot with us and thereby has benefited
himself, his neighbors and acquaintances, is Gustave Meister, of Lyons town-
ship, a man who, owing to his commendable traits of character and his per-
sistent habits, would succeed in any community.

Mr. Meister was born in Pommern, Germany, August n, 1857, and
is the son of Christlieb and Charlotte (Kuger) Meister. He grew up on a
farm in his native land, and there he married, in 1882, Lena Schmidt, daugh-
ter of William and Frederica (Freitag) Schmidt, and three children were
born to them in the old country, Herman, Anna and William. In 1887 the
family emigrated to the United States and located at Lyons, Walworth
count}-, Wisconsin. Mr. Meister worked on the railroad for about two
years, then worked four years as a farm hand for James Brett, then for four-
teen years he rented Judge Buckbee's farm, then began fanning for himself.
In 1902 he purchased a farm in section 19, Lyons township. He is now the
owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres, which he has
kept well improved and where he carries on general farming and stock rais-
ing successively. He has a pleasant home and keeps an excellent grade of
stock. There were no improvements on the place except the house, and he
built barns, outhouses, fences, and in many ways improved and beautified the
place, and there is no more attractive place than his between Geneva and
Springfield.

Three children have been born to the subject and wife since coming to
America, namely: Frank, [da and Carl. The subject's children are all
married except Carl. Herman married Bessie Morgan and they live a short
distance north of the village of Lyons, where he rents a farm and operates it
for himself; they have three children, Clarence, Dorothy and Gladys. Anna
married Andrew liartelsou and lives on a rented farm near the subject, and
they have live children. Herbert, Frances and Frank (twins). Ailleen and
Walter. William married Amelia Dorn and lives on the Buckbee farm near
his father's home, which he rents, lie lias "lie son, Gustave. Frank married

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 619

Freda Pagel, has one daughter, Florence, and lives on a rented farm a short
distance west of the village of Lyons. Ida married Walter A. Papenfus and
they rented the home farm and are living with her parents. Carl works for
them on the farm. The Meister family belongs to the German Lutheran
church at Lyons.

The subject is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accom-
plished, having started in life with nothing and having a large family to
support. He has been frugal, industrious and economical and is now well-
to-do.

WILLIAM FURNISS BEST.

William Furniss Best, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, was born at Brid-
port, county of Dorset, England, October 30, 1867. J lis parents were
Richard Henry Best and Ellen (Furniss) Best. His father was in the prod-
uce and commission business and Mr. Best grew up in the business with
his father and was with him till the father died in 1888. William F. Best
remained in England till 1889, when he was encouraged to come to America,
having heard much of the country here from his brother-in-law, whose home
was in Walworth county along the shore of the Lake Geneva, and who was
then back in England on a visit.

Mr. Best came to Lake Geneva and soon had quite a circle of friends
and acquaintances with whom he became popular in a social way. Having
such means of support that he could be idle if he wished to, the young man
did what nearly all young men would like to do at the age of twenty t"
twenty-three — he looked more to the pleasures of society and enjoying life in
good style while he could, and did not engage in any gainful occupation 1
some time. Older heads looked on with misgiving ai hi"- idleness. .Mr.
Best, however, rose above the handicap of having "nothing in do and sum
cient money to do it with." after he had three years at ii. In [893 he began
to show his true mettle when he took a place in the greenhouse on Mr.
Leiter's lake shore estate. He continued at such work till [902, learned a
great deal about the work and showed that he was t<i he depended upon. In
1902 he took charge of the greenhouses owned b) the Lake Geneva Flo
Company, who then had about twenty thousand feet under glass, lie re
mained in charge of the work there till the floral company sold nut aboul
three vears later, when through a chain of peculiar circumstances he was
induced to go into the piano business at Lake Geneva. In this he made a

620 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

success right from the start. He sold thirteen pianos in the first thirteen
days, and since then has sold hundreds of them in Walworth county, and in
a modest way has prospered. In addition to his piano business he occasion-
ally buys and sells a piece of real estate, as an investment.

December i, 1889, Mr. Best married Loretta Bolsley, daughter of Theo-
dore and Augusta (Harkness) Bolsley. She was born and reared in Lake
Geneva. Her parents, it is believed, came from the state of New York. Mr.
and Airs. Best have three daughters, Ethel Ellen, Mabel Charlotte and
Maudie Marie, also one son, Lloyd Furniss Best. Mr. Best is a member of
the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Mystic Workers. He has made his
home among us for about twenty-three years, and we have seen him grow
in those desirable characteristics of solid worth, his conduct in all the rela-
tions of life entitling him to the respect and esteem of his fellow men. He
was elected in 1910 to the office of justice of the peace. In England this
office is held by the nobility, without compensation, the idea being not that
of profit to themselves but that they shall honor the office by the courage and
fairness of their rulings. Mr. Best has performed his official duties here
in the same spirit, and shown those qualities that are so essential in any court,
if respect for the law is to be upheld. He was again elected in -1912 and is
now serving his second term.

AUGUST LUEDTKE.

Few farmers of Walworth county carry on their work with any greater
degree of science than August Luedtke, of Lyons township, for he is a close
student of everything that pertains to his work, and he is deserving of a
great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, having come here from
a foreign shore with no capital, but with what amounted to more — a willing-
ness to work, an ambition to succeed, and a strong constitution, lie was
born in Pommern, Wultendorf, Prussia, Germany, on October q. 1855. He
is the son of Fred and Louisa (Blaedan) Luedtke, the father having been
broughl up mi a large farm in the fatherland, but afterwards became a
shepherd.

When the subject was eight years of age the father and mother ami their
children emigrated t>> America and settled near Burlington, Wisconsin, where
they followed farming, later buying a farm in sections 12 and 13 in Lyons
township, Walworth county, and here the parents spent the rest of their lives,
and on this farm the subject grew to manhood.

WAT. WORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 621

August Luedtke was married on July iS. iS-s. to \nna Louise B.
Schmidt, daughter of William and Caroline (Bushen) Schmidt. She was
born and reared in Wheatland township, Kenosha county, this stale. Her
parents were from the same locality in Germany in which the subject was
n. Her parents came to Burlington township, Kenosha county, Wiscon-
sin, and here spent the rest of their lives. Four children have been born to
the subject and wife, namely, Cora, Louis, Emma and Florence.

The subject has spent bis Hfe engaged in farming on the home place.
having operated the same ever since his marriage. He has an excellent farm
of one hundred and twenty acres which he has placed under a high grade of
improvements and cultivation and where he has made a good living and has
a pleasant home.

Mr. Luedtke has been a member of the township board of supervisors
of Lyons township for two years. He and his family are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church at Burlington.

JOHN C. BRENNAN.

Another of the sterling sons of the old Empire state who has come to
Walworth county and here found a pleasant home and a welcome from our
citizens, and thereby has benefited himself and them, is John C. Brennan. a
successful farmer of Linn township. lie was burn in Chenango county,
Xew York, March _\ [865, and he is the son of John and Bridget (Quinn)
Brennan. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm in Xew York. Upon
reaching manhood he came west and located in Linn township, this county,
and has lived here ever since. In his boyhood he worked oul foi several
years. About 1894 he began farming for himself and in [903 lie purchased
the farm which he still owns in Linn township, sections 23 and 24. Mis
place consists of two hundred and eighteen acres of excellent land which he
has placed under splendid improvements and a high state of cultivation, and
here he carries on general farming and stock raising "ii an extensive scale

Mr. Brennan was married in [893 to Anna Barlow, daughter of Ed
ward and Margaret (Creighton) Barlow, the father born in Linn township,
this county, November it. 1^42. being the son of John and Catherine
(Smith) Barlow. |bhn Harlow and wife were both born in Ireland, and
they emigrated to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in an early day, being among
the first settlers of Linn township. I d ard Bat to maul 1

622 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

and farmed most of his life. He married Margaret Creighton, daughter of
Peter and Ann Creighton. She was born near Providence. Massachusetts.
Her parents were also from Ireland, coming here probably in 1843, spending
the rest of their lives in this county. Mr. Creighton bought a farm in sec-
tion 5, what is now the Dillenbeck farm, and there he lived until late in life,
then "sold out and moved to Lyons, where he and his wife spent their last

days.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barlow: Anna, who married
folm Brennan, subject of this sketch; Katie, wdio died when about twenty-
four years of age: Lillian is the wife of John Murphy, of Linn township;
John, who is farming in the east side of Linn township; Edward died on
December 28, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Brennan have one son, George.

Mr. Brennan has been a member of the board of supervisors for about
thirteen years, filling this office to the satisfaction of all concerned, and he
has been a member of the county board for about eight years. He and his
family belong to the Catholic church.

OLIVER H. WALKER.

The life record of Oliver H. Walker, well known citizen of Lake Geneva,
Walworth county, has been replete with success, because he has been very
careful of his successive steps in the daily affairs of life, being careful not
to do anything that would later require undoing. "Be sure you are right,
then go ahead." has been, in substance, his motto, at least it would seem so to
one at all familiar with his career, which is worthy of careful study by the
youth at the beginning of their careers or by the man who is discouraged
farther on the highway of life,

Mr. Walker was born at Plainfield, Otsego county. New York, Decem-
ber 8, [843, being the scion of a family prominent in business circles in Lake
Geneva from the early days. He is a son of Vustin and Dorcas (Burdick)
Walker, the mother having been born probably in Connecticut and she lived
in Otsego countv. New York, until her marriage. Her mother died in the
East and her father came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and settled in
Linn township. Austin Walker and wife were married in Xew York and
they lived in that state until 1851 when they moved to Walworth county.
Wisconsin, reaching here in the spring of that year, bavin- cine by way of
the Great Lakes to Kenosha. There were no railroads in this country at thai

WALWORTH COUXTV. WISCONSIN. 621

time. They came by wagon from Kenosha to this county, locating in I. inn
township, where the father purchased eight) acres of land q! James Bener-
dick, near the center of the township, south of what was called the Big Foot
road. The family lived there about three years, then moved into Lake
Geneva and in 1854 Austin Walker entered the grocery business, also handled
boots and shoes, later. After a time the hoot and shoe business outgrew the
grocery department and he closed it out, continuing only as hoot and -hoc
merchant. Here he remained in business until his death and was quite suc-
cessful, becoming the possessor of considerable town property, built a greal
many houses and various business properties and thus for year-, was one of
the influential men in the upbuilding of Lake Geneva. 1 1 is death occurred
in 1895; his wife, surviving him a number of years, died on September 10.
1906. having reached the advanced age of ninety-four years. Their family
consisted of seven children, six sons and one daughter, namely: Billings A.
lived most of his life in Lake Geneva; Charles E., who owns and operates
a fine garden in the northern part of Lake Geneva, also owns considerable
rentahle property. In [859 he and three others drove overland to California
with ox teams, when there was not a house from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to
Salt Lake City, Utah: they were from April [9th to ( )ctober uth making the
trip to Carson City, Nevada, experiencing many hardships and privations,
having many thrilling adventures. At one place they were compelled to pay
seventy-five cents a pound for hoth flour and bacon. He returned in [862
and engaged in the dry goods, boot and shoe business in Lake Geneva, selling
out in 1S69, and then he engaged in the commission business in Chicago until
[87] when he returned to Lake Geneva. While in business here he had the
first stock of clothing in the city. He was a member of the hoard of super-
visors for ten years. The third child bom to Austin Walker and wife was
George W., who enlisted in the Union army in the spring of [86] and died
the following autumn of typhoid fever: Oliver II.. of tin- sketch; Uexander
S. lived and died in Lake Geneva; Napoleon Decatur is unmarried and live-
in Lake Geneva; Mary L. is the wife of Joseph Scheneck; they lived in San
Francisco several years, but now make their home across the bay from th<

( (liver H. Walker grew to manhood in Lake Geneva, ami he was clerk-
ing in the store of his father on the day of his fifteenth birthday, and from
that day until the spring of [896 he remained in the .tore, covering a period
of thirtv-seven years, during which time he became one of the best known
merchants in the county, enjoyed a large trade and was regarded as on,- ..1
the citv's most enterprising men of affairs. I le is still well known, but a very
large number of his friend- and acquaintances of the earlier years have pas
from view over life- -oat divide.

624 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Walker has retired from active business and looks after his rental
properties in Lake Geneva. His home is on the lake front, and for recrea-
tion he enjoys fishing in the lake.

Mr. Walker was married on June I, 1865, to Caroline P. Johnson, of
Linn township. She was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. June 20, 1841,
and was the daughter of James and Sallie (Staples) Johnson. Her people
moved to this county in 1S43 and located in Linn township about four miles
from the city of Lake Geneva. The subject and wife attended the same
school in the country and grew up together. James Johnson was born Aug-
ust 10, 1805, in Darby, Pennsylvania, and her mother was born January
17, 1806, in Freetown, Massachusetts.

Three daughters and one son were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker, named
as follows: Frederick Oliver died in the spring of 1879, as did also Caroline
Louise; Jennie died early the following autumn, their ages having been about
four, seven and ten respectively ; Rose M. is at home with her father in Lake
Geneva.

The wife and mother was called to her rest on Friday, August 11, 191 1.
She was a worthy member of the Congregational church in Lake Geneva and
\\ as a favorite with a wide circle of friends. She was the last of her father's
family residing in this county. Mr. Walker is also a member of the Congre-
gational church.

FATHER JAMES NICHOLAS.

The well known and popular gentleman whose name introduces this
biographical review has accomplished much toward ameliorating the condi-
tion of his fellow men in Walworth county, often laboring with disregard
foi his own welfare if thereby he might attain the objeel sought — to make
.some one better or happier. Such a life as his is rare in this mercenary, work-
aday age, and is eminently worthy of emulation, being singularly free from
all that is deteriorating or paltry, for his influence is at all times uplifting,
and thousands of people have been made better for having known him. and
yet he is a plain, unassuming gentleman, caring nothing for the plaudits of
men, contenl to know that he is following the footsteps of the Man of
Gallilee and doing his will as best be can.

! ather James Nicholas, priest of the parish of Elkhorn, \\ isconsin, was
born in Limerick City. Ireland, \uur 9, 1863. lie is the son of William and
Sarah (Fitzgerald) Nicholas, lie -pent his boyhood as a student in public

FATHER JAMES NIC! IOLAS

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 625

schools and academies. About 1879 ne decided to take an ecclesiastical course
and prepare for the priesthood. He accordingly entered the National College
of Maynorth and in 1887 was ordained to the priesthood. He was at once
appointed to the diocese of Milwaukee. Upon coming here he was assigned
to the parish of Elkhorn, which has been his only assignment, for he lias re-
mained here continuously to the present time.

One not of his church who -peaks from personal knowledge and voices
a general impression, says of him: "Father Nicholas, though an uncom
.promising servant of the church and thoroughly a priest, has many non-
Catholic friends who appreciate his qualities as a citizen and neighbor, rlis
services as a speaker are given freely on Memorial Sundays, the annual meet-
ing of the County Soldiers' Association, and other special occasions. He is
familiar with the history of hi- adopted country and is loyal to our institutions
His public addresses are carefully prepared, showing depth of thought, ver-
satility, a true conception of life and its immensity, and he is regarded as an
earnest, logical, entertaining and not infrequently eloquent speaker."

Father Nicholas is a man of splendid physique, and would attract atten-
tion in any gathering, and he is a good mixer, genial, obliging, Friendly, and
hence well liked by all classes.

The local Catholic church ha- grown steadily under hi- charge, and in
1905 a splendid new church edifice was erected, and it rank- well with other
churches of this denomination throughout the state.

JOHN GlIAIORK SKF.KLS.

A name familiar to the people of Walworth county is that of John Gil
more Skeels, of Lake Geneva, known as a man of high attainments and pra<
tical abilitv as an educator, which has been his principal life work, although
he is now engaged in business. He achieved an extraordinary measure of
success in his profession because he worked for il pei atly and in channels
of honest endeavor. His prestige in the educational circles of southern \\ is
consin stands in evidence of his ability and likewise serves as a voucher for
intrinsic worth of character. He has used his intellect to the besl purpo 1
has directed his em along legitimate courses and his career has been

based upon the wise assumption that nothing save industry, perseverance,
sturdy integrity and fidelity to duty will lead to succe

(40) '

626 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Skeels was born in Benson, Vermont, on January 3, 1852. He is
the son of William Norman Skeels and Betsey ( McCotter) Skeels, the father
born in Whitehall, New York, in 1812. and died on April 24, 1893: the
mother was born at Orwell, Vermont, on May 7, 1814, and her death occurred
on March 21, 1856. William Skeels, the paternal grandfather, was born in
1778 in Woodbury, Connecticut, and he died at Whitehall, New York, Aug-
ust 22, i860. His father, Samuel Skeels, was born at Woodbury, Connecti-
cut, May 29, 1755, and he died in Benson, Vermont, about 1814. He and
his two brothers were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. He spent most of
his life at Woodbury. His father, Samuel Skeels, Sr., was born February
25, 1723. He served under Lord Howe in the French and Indian war and
died while in that service, in 1759. Samuel. Sr., was the son of John, the
second, who was baptized in 1678 and whose death occurred on May 25,
1727, having been born and died in the town of Woodbury, Connecticut.
John, the first, was born in Reading, England, in 1643, and was a signer of
the Covenant, and, because of religious persecution, he left England in 1670,-
finally settling at Woodbury, Connecticut, and his death occurred in 1721.

The name Skeels was found away back in Danish legendary history,
both before and after the Danish invasion of England, and as the Skeels fam-
ily all come from around London, where the Danes settled, it is practically
certain that the family is of Danish origin. Nearly all of this branch of the
Skeels family have been farmers and soldiers. The name is sometimes
spelled Skeele, and still others spell it Skeel.

When William Norman. Skeels, father of the subject, was a young man,
he and a brother came to Wisconsin and located farms, when the country was
still a wilderness, lull Indians and chills and fever proved to be too much for
him and he returned to Vermont, and in the town of Benson was united in
marriage with Betsey McCotter, who was a native of Orwell, but then mak-
ing her home in Benson. Her death occurred in 1856, and in 1858 he mar-
ried Mrs. Rebecca (Symons) Buckingham, who was born at Tavistock. Eng-
land, Oil Jul) 17. 1820, and died at the home of the subject in Lake Geneva.
Wisconsin, on March 24, [909, when nearly eighty-nine years old. The
subject's father died in Benson, Vermont, April jj. 1803.

John Gilmore Skeels, of this sketch, grew to manhood in Vermont, lie
attended the Wuvi & Burton Seminary at Manchester, that slate, later went
to Barre Academy, at Barre, Vermont, from which institution he was gradu-
ated in the year 1873, This early training lias been supplemented by much
home Study, and among other accomplishments he has learned surveying.
When ,1 young man he fanned during the summer months and taught school

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 627

in the wintertime, when the farming season was over. On Vpril 17. 1S77.
he came to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where he remained about three years.
Upon coming here he gave more attention to teaching, farming only during
the summer months when there was no school. From Lake Geneva he went
to Allen Grove, where he taught two years; from there he went to Sharon
and remained about eighteen years and was principal of the Sharon schools
thirteen years, with an intermission t>\ two years during which he was county
superintendent, having been elected in the fall of [884 and taking office in
January. 1885. He resigned in September. [886, returning to Sharon as
principal of the schools there, finding the work there more to his liking and
also the salary was larger. While at Sharon he served one year as village
supervisor. He gave up school work in 1893 "n account of his father's
death, and went East to look after his father's estate, remaining there part
of the year, then returned to Sharon and continued his school work until
1897. when ill health compelled him to give up teaching. lie was engaged
in business until 1899. after which he taught one year at Darien. then spent
a year in business at Whitewater and two years at Lake Geneva, after which
lie returned to Darien and organized the high school there. While at that
place he was induced to apply for a position to establish and conduct a high
school at Spooner, Wisconsin; he received the position and remained there
two years. From there he went in 1906 to care for his step-mother, who was
then in failing health, and also because his own health was failing. lie re-
turned to Walworth county and has lived here ever since, having a pleasant
home in Lake Geneva, having been engaged in the insurance business, and
also has done a great deal of surveying. He has filled the position of city
engineer for the past year, lie is assisted in bis work by his niece, Be
M. Palmer.

Mr. Skeels has been successful in whatever he has attempted, and as an
educator in his line he has had few equals in this part of the Badger state.
He is both an entertainer and instructor and as superintendent inaugurated
modern methods and placed everything under a superb system. His servici
have been in great demand and he ha- been popular with both pupils and
patrons wherever he has labored in this connection.

Mr. Skeels was married on June 3, [884, to Minerva F. Alexander,
daughter of Balthaser and Juliet (Fuller) Alexander. She was born in

Linn township, this county, where she grew to womanh 1 and received her

education in the public and hen- lived until her marriage, Her

father came from Germany, and lived for some time near Rochester, Ni
York; there he and Juliet Fuller were married. She was the daughtei

628 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

John and Minerva Fuller. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander came to Wisconsin
about 1845, locating first at Xew Berlin, near Milwaukee. About 1850 they
moved to the country and located about five miles south of the city of Lake
Geneva, Linn township, Walworth county, and here they established a good
home and spent the rest of their lives there.

Mr. Skeels and wife are members of the Congregational church in Lake
Geneva ; be joined this denomination when a boy in Vermont.

Personally, Mr. Skeels is a plain, unassuming, broad-minded, genial
gentleman who wins and retains the confidence and respect of all with whom
he comes into contact. He believes in meeting the world, man to man,
looking neither down nor up. but valuing a man for his true worth, know-
ing that a person is, after all, what he does, not what he says or dreams.

BYRON S. PALMER.

One of the highly honored citizens of a past generation in Walworth
count)' who led a life of industry and uprightness which resulted in material
success and in winning the esteem of his associates was the late Byron S.
Palmer, formerly of Linn township. He was born at New Baltimore,
Columbia count)', New York, February 15, 1852, and he was the son
of Robert and Alary (Schemmerhorn) Palmer. Robert Palmer was born in
Albany county, New York, September 27, 1823, and was one of nine chil-
dren of Joseph S. and Poll) ( I 'aimer) Palmer. During his boyhood he went
with his parents to Columbia county and while living there was married to
Mary Schemmerhorn, of that count)-. She belonged to one of the old fam-
ilies of New York, and her grandfather. Judge Schemmerhorn, was one of
the prominent and highly esteemed citizens of that stale in its early develop-
ment, Joseph G. Palmer, grandfather of Byron S. Palmer, was born in
Dutchess county. Xew York, \]>H1 28, 171)4. lie was a soldier in the war
of [812. He came to Walworth count). Wisconsin, in 1S53 and here spent
the resl of his life, dying in January, 1X07. at the age of seventy-four years.
Joseph (i.'s father was born in eastern Connecticut, November it. [768, but
he spent the greater part of his life in Dutchess count). Xew York, where he
settled in an earl\- day and there his death occurred in 1799. He married
Man Gillette, who was of a Connecticut family. The I'almer family is of
English origin and they emigrated to America soon after the settlement
began in Xew England.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 629

Robert Palmer, father of the subject, farmed in the East until in May,
[853, when he came to Geneva township, Walworth county. Wisconsin, and
bought a farm on which he spent the rest of his life, dying May 5. [894, at
the age of seventy years, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1S80.
Their family consisted of six children. Byron S., of this sketch, Frank,
Joseph. Arthur, Eugene and Charles, but the only one now living is Arthur,
of < ieneva township.

Byron S. Palmer came to this county with his parents and here he grew
to manhood and attended the public schools of Geneva township. When
twenty years old he started out for himself as a farm hand. In [873 he was
united in marriage with Climena Alexander, daughter of Balthaser and
Juliet (Fuller) Alexander. The father came from Germany to New York
and lived near Rochester. There he married Juliet Fuller, daughter of John
and Minerva Fuller. These parents came to Wisconsin about 1S45 and lo-
cated first at New Berlin, near Milwaukee, and about [850 came to Walworth
county, locating in Linn township, about five miles from Geneva, where they
spent nearly all of their subsequent lives. The father's last days were spent
with Mrs. Palmer on their farm west of Zenda where his death occurred
on January 19, 1891. The death of Mrs. Alexander occurred in 1804.

In 1876 Mr. Palmer bought a farm in Geneva township and lived there
five years, then sold out and bought a one-hundred-and-eighty-acre farm in
section 28, Linn township, and made his home there until late in life, engaging
successfully in farming, dairying and stock raising. He was a man who took
considerable interest in the affairs of his community and he served nine years
as clerk of the school board and was also a member of the board of super-
visors.

Four children were born to Mr. and .Mrs. Byron S. I 'aimer, namely:
Walter A., part owner of the home farm, married I bleu Sheldon, of Lake
Geneva, and they have two sons, Frank and Robert; Clarence 'bed April jj.
1909. when thirty years old; Bertram also owns part of the homestead and
is operating the same with his brother. Walter A.; Bessie, who lives with bet-
mother in Lake Geneva, was graduated from the State Normal School a1
Whitewater, and has for some time been successfully engaged in teaching;
recently she has been assisting her uncle. John G. Skeels, in his work as sur-
veyor and civil engineer in ami about Lake Geneva, and she is often seen
in the field carrying on the work like an old time surveyor.

Through hard work and indomitable industry, Byron S. Palmer ac-
quired a competency and in the summer of [909 moved to a beautiful hoi
in the city of Lake I I where his death occurred on April 8, 1910. I

life was characterized by industry, honesty and integrity.

63O WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

DR. SALTER ROBERT HOST.

If true to his profession and earnest in his efforts to enlarge his sphere
of usefulness, the man who spends his life in an effort to alleviate human
suffering in any way is indeed a benefactor of his kind, for to such men as
Dr. Walter Robert Host, well known dentist of Lake Geneva, are entrusted
the comfort and safety and in some cases the lives of those who place them-
selves under his care and profit by his services. It is gratifying to note in
the series of personal sketches appearing in this work that there remain
identified with the professional, public and civic affairs of Walworth county
many who are native sons of the county and who are ably maintaining the
prestige of honored names. Of this number Doctor Host is one of the
worthy scions of an old and influential family here, and is regarded as stand-
ing in the front rank of professional men, having gained wide notoriety in
his chosen calling while yet young in years, and at the same time established
a reputation for exemplary character in all the relations of life.

Doctor Host was born in the town of Lyons, Walworth county, Wis-
consin, on July 31, 1884. He is the son of Julius S. Host and wife, a com-
plete sketch of whom will be found in the life record of Ernest Host on
another page of this volume.

Walter R. Host lived in his native village until he was nine years old,
then moved with the family to Lake Geneva where he lived until he was
eighteen years of age, having attended the graded schools in the meantime,
after which he took a position in his brother's meat market for a time. He
went to Wheaton, Illinois, when he was eighteen and took a preparatory
course there, completing the course in the academy and later took some col-
legiate work. He entered Northwestern University in Chicago in 1907,
entering the dental department, where he made an excellent record and from
which he was graduated in the year 1910. He had shown such exceptional
aptitude for this line of worl< that he was retained a year at the university
as instructor, then began practicing his profession, although urged by the
university authorities to remain with them, lie came to Lake Geneva in
lul\, [911, and is building up a large and constant!) growing patronage.
lie has an exceptionally well equipped office, perhaps the best and most
thoroughly up-to-date of its kind in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee.
Among his appliances seldom seen is the Pelton porcelain Furnace, heated by
electricity to twenty-seven hundred degrees Fahrenheit, for making porcelain
inlays, bridges and crowns, also a Clark improved machine for administering
nitron- ii 1 and oxygen, a combination for prolonging the anesthesia. The

WALWORTH COl \n. WISCONSIN. 63]

operating chair is also a model of comfort ami inviting appearance, equipped
with a special seat for little folks and all very admirabh, adapted to the work.
It is equipped with an adjustable light of great power that can be focused
directly on the work and various other modern improvements which enable
the operator to do the highest class work known in dentistry.

Doctor Host has a natural mechanical skill and talent for artistic carv-
ing. His recent experiments, investigations, studies and experience with the
best advanced methods render him able to properly handle the highest class
work and of the most difficult character. Hi- patients come from the sur-
rounding cities in all directions from as far as Janesville and Edgerton. Ik-
has succeeded in building up a large practice in Lake Geneva in a short time,
his work in the university having given him an excellent reputation to starl
with.

Dr. Host was married on February 15, [91 1. to Mane Teresa DeGrasse,
a native of Detroit, Michigan, and the daughter of a prominent family.
Joseph A. and Alice J. ( Carr) DeGrasse. She is a lady of talent, culture and
refinement and has long been a favorite with a wide circle of admiring friends.
Trior to her marriage she was widely known as a reader for public entertain-
ments, having toured all over the United States and Canada with the Schubert
Symphony Club, winning fame as a raconteuse second to none of her com-
peers. Her repertoire included. "If 1 Were King." '"Sermons from ( )ur
Secular Literature" (a lecture recital 1. "MacReth" (a lecture recital). "An
Evening with American Authors," "One Hundred and Fifty Stones for the
Children's Story Hour," "An Evening of Scotch, Irish. Negro and Children's
Dialects." selections from Shakespeare, Browning. Tennyson, Burns, Long
fellow. Whittier, Homer, Lowell. Riley. Field, Dunbar, Maurice Thompson
and many others.

Of her work E. II. Purcell, manager of the Schubert Concert Company,
had the following to say, which is certainly criterion enough for her eminenl
satisfaction with that popular and widely known company:

"Miss Marie Teres.i DeGrasse combines a most excellent ability with a
charming personality. She is a most estimable ady, and one of the

best all-around readers now before the public. In the man) engagements
she has filled for me. she lias never failed to iiplclc and pel f©

faction. In the many years of my managerial experience ii lias seldom been
my privilege to recommend 50 highly a young aspirant for Lyceum honors.
She is equally successful in classic tragedy or minor comedy, and 'looks the
part' in all she interpi

632 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Having had occasion to attend an evening's entertainment given by Miss
DeGrasse, Preston W. Search, well known educator, author and lecturer, of
Des .Moines, Iowa, wrote to her as follows:

"I was very much pleased, indeed, by the fine rendition of beautiful selec-
tions you gave us at Carbondale. 1 particularly admired the high character
of your program, for it is not everyone who will attempt, or can bring out,
before a popular audience, the rich fullness of a Browning. Your interpre-
tation was admirable, your reading very effective. I shall think of your
interpretation when I stand once more, this fall, in the Florentine Casa de
Guido. Permit me, as a stranger in the audience, to express to you my
personal appreciation of a very delightful evening."

Many press notices and testimonials of a like character were received
by Miss DeGrasse from all over the country, proving beyond doubt her strong
elocutionary ability and charming personality — a complete master of the diffi-
cult art of expression In fact, she was for some time a teacher of expres-
sion with the Chicago Kenwood Musical College and the Wheaton Musical
Institute, the latter at Wheaton, Illinois, and was exceptionally successful
in training her pupils in voice building, enunciation, expressive analysis,
repertoire, deep breathing, muscle building, story telling, literary analysis,
English, gymnastic dancing and rhythm, relaxing and statue posing.

To the Doctor and wife a winsome and attractive daughter has been
born, Helene Marie Host, whose childish prattle add- sunshine to their
pleasant home.

Doctor 1 lost and wife are worthy members of the Catholic church and
faithful in their support of the same. He also belongs to the Knights of
Columbus, and is at this writing engaged in organizing a local lodge of this
order, lie is a young man of pleasing personality, affable, obliging, energetic
and enthusiastic for his work, and he and his estimable wife have won a host
of friends since taking up their residence in Lake Geneva.

m:i<\i/i k I) \\ IDS) >X.

Among the citizens of Walworth county to whom i- vouchsafed an
honored place in local history is the late Ebenezer Davidson, of Lake Geneva,
who, through an extended period, was prominentl) connected with the agri-
cultural interests of this locality, and who is deserving of special mention in
a work of the nature of the one iu hand, for those who have fought and

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 633

suffered for the state and nation in which their lot is cast are certainl) worth)
of having their names perpetuated, and their posterity will turn with just
pride to these records of the founders and preservers of a prosperous, united
nation.

Ebenezer Davidson was hum at New Hartford, New York, on Septem-
ber 13. 1846. He was a son of Rev. Hugh and Jane l Hamilton) Davidson,
the father burn on May 8, 1803, and he was the son of Joseph and Isabel
(Crawford) Davidson. Joseph Davidson was the sun of Hugh and Mar)
(Connell) Davidson. Isabel Crawford was the daughter of William Craw-
ford. The parents of the subject of this sketch were both burn and rear
in Glasgow, Scotland, where their ancestors for generations had lived. They
came to America in 1S40 and lived at Xew Hartford, New York, later mov-
ing to Utica, thence to Brainard Bridge, about twelve miles from Ubany.
The father was the superintendent of a cotton and woolen factoiy at (Jtica
and also at Brainard. In 1849 Hugh Davidson and Janus M. Davidson, his
son, by his first wife, Elizabeth McNaughton, came west and the father pur-
chased a farm in Geneva township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, north ol
Como, which farm has been in possession of the family ever .since, now
owned b) Ebenezer Davidson. The family came here in [850 — thus the sub-
ject saw the development of the county through a period of sixty-two years,
in which he took much interest. Hugh Davidson lived on his farm here until
his death. He was a local minister in the Methodist church and did a greal
deal of good among the pioneers. 1 le was a man of many fine traits, scrupu-
lously honest, charitable, always ready to help someone in nerd, and he had
a lively and' cheerful disposition. His death occurred, on July 26, [895.

Ebenezer Davidson lived on his father's farm until he went into the
Union army on January t_>. [864, enlisting in Company F, Fourth Wisconsin
Volunteer Cavalry. He proved to be a most faithful and effii enl soldier
and he was in the service until he was honorably discharged on March 27,
[866. He was at the capture of Mobile and Spanish Fort, th mpanied

the army through Alabama and Georgia, to Macon, then back to Shreveport
in July, 1865. thence into Texas ;md put in the winter along the Rio Grande,
watching Mexico and Maximilian.

After his career as a soldier, Mr. Davidson returned home and farmed
the homestead. When the family first located here there was ten acres of
unimproved land. This was increased to two hundred acres, nearly all under
cultivation and an excellent state of improvement. The land is producti 1
and he was very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser There
were no railroads here when the Davidsons located in the county, and, in

634 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

fact, there were few good dirt roads ; they could drive uninterruptedly across
the country to Elkhorn. The father of the subject frequently hauled his
products to Milwaukee or Racine with oxen, the trips each requiring four
or five days, often selling his pork for two dollars per one hundred pounds.

In 1874 Ebenezer Davidson went to Eureka, Nevada, and engaged with
the mine operators as receiver and time-keeper for the Eureka Consolidated
Alining Company. While there he served in the Nevada state militia and
was paymaster of the Second Brigade under General Sabin, and later under
General Conklin.

Mr. Davidson returned to Walworth county in 18S5 and resumed farm-
ing, which he continued with his usual success until 1895. His father hav-
ing died in July of that year, the son left the farm in August following and
located in Lake Geneva where he had a pleasant home and where he resided,
until his death, March 18, 1912. He had been a member of the firm of Bur-
ton. Denison & Davidson since the tall of 1903. They have built up a large
and growing business as wholesale dealers in flour, feed and grain.

Air. Davidson was married on September 23, 1869, to Ellen A. Stevens,
of Toledo, Ohio. She is the daughter of James and Betsy (Scott) Stevens,
and she was born in Geneva township, this county, in 1849. When she was
three years old her parents moved to Toledo, Ohio, where they had previously
resided. They were natives of Herkimer- county, New York, the father of
German and the mother of Scotch ancestry. Air. and Airs. Stevens spent
the rest of their lives in Toledo.

Two daughters have been born to Air. and Airs. Davidson, Florence,
who married D. II. Cramer, who lives at Globe, Arizona, where he is con-
nected with a mining company. They have one son, Harold Davidson
Cramer. Mabel died in infancy.

Ebenezer Davidson was always an ardent Republican. While in the
army in [864 he was only eighteen years old, yet he voted for Lincoln, as
tlid most of the soldiers, whether of age or not. I le belonged to the Grand
Army of the Republic, and fraternally was a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, also the Masonic order, having attained the thirty-
econd degree, and he belonged t.> the Knights Templar, lie was many
time- commander of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and
the po>t in Nevada, and he lias been a frequent delegate to the national en-
campments. At the time of his death he was commander of the post at
Lake ( lelleva.

Mr. Davidson was mayor 'if Lake Geneva for a period of si\ years,
during which tune Ik- did much for the permanent good of the city. Me

w VLWORTH COl NTYj WISCONSIN. 635

was president of the Walworth Count) Agricultural Societj in [893 and again
in 1911. filling this important post in a manner that broughl Forth the praises
of all concerned. He was also alderman here for several terms, and Ik- has
held a number of the township offices, lie was well known ami highly
esteemed, frank and straightforward in his relations with the world, a man in
whom the people had every confidence- a worthy son of a worthy sire, from
whom he seemed t" have inherited man) praiseworth) qualities.

Joseph Davidson, grandfather of the subject, came to America in 1S47.
joining other members of the family at Xew Hartford, New York, and he
came west with his son. the Rev. Hugh Davidson, and lived on the farm here
until his death, in 1861, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. When
Hugh Davidson came here he started a Sunday school in North Geneva
which he kept going during the rest of his life. He had been reared a
Presbyterian, but there were none of this denomination here so he joined the
Methodist church and became a local minister in the same. He was born
in 1S03 and his death occurred at the age of ninety-three years; his wife.
who was born in 1S07. lived to be ninety years old. They were a grand "Id
couple, and were highly esteemed by all who knew them.

EUGENE RITTMAN.

The Rittman family has long been one of the highly respected and suc-
cessful representatives of the farming element in this section of Wisconsin,
one of the worthy representatives of the present generation being Eugene
Rittman, of the vicinit) of Springfield, Walworth county.

Mr. Rittman was born at Munster, Kenosha county, this state, Novem-
ber 25, 1861, and is the son of Frank Rittman and wife. I le grew up < >n the
home farm and was educated in the public schools, lie remained under his
parental roof-tree until his marriage on January jo. [891, t" Regen Homan,
daughter of Bartholomew Homan, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in
this work. Since his marriage he ha- lived on the home farm near the village
of Springfield, where he owns one hundred and seventeen acres of excellent
land, which he has kept well improved and .ill cultivated, lie and his
family are members of the Catholic church. He and hi- h chil

dren, namely: Frank, born December .}. [89] : Margareth, born June 4, [893;
Eugene, born May [8, [896; John, born December [3, [899, and Mary,
February II. 10

636 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Frank Rittman, mentioned above, was born in Westphalia, Germany.
March 17, 1830. He was the son of William Rittman and wife. His mother
died when he was a child, in the old country, leaving four children, Frank.
Henry, Gertrude and Elizabeth. The father remarried. When Frank was
sixteen years old the family emigrated to America, locating first in Burling-
ton, Racine count}". Wisconsin, buying a farm there, but later moved into the
city of Burlington.

In 1855 Frank Rittman married Josephine Wehmhoff, daughter of
Henry and Gertrude Wehmhoff. She was born in the city of Dorsten, in
Westphalia, and in 1845 came to America with her parents. They located
in Wheatland township, Kenosha count}', where they lived until her marriage.
Before his marriage Frank Rittman owned a farm in Kenosha count}' and
there he and his wife lived until [880 when they sold the farm there and
bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 5, in the northwestern part
of Lyons township. He afterwards bought forty acres more, making two
hundred acres in all. About 1889 he also bought another farm at the eastern
edge of Springfield, one hundred and seventeen acres.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rittman. namely:
Eugenia married Ferdinand Blanke and lived between Lyons and Springfield
until her death, on February 24, 1910. leaving seven children: William died
when two months old; George died in infancy; Eugene married Regina
Homann and they live on the farm adjoining Springfield, and they have five
children: Josephine is at home with her mother; Frank died in infancy; Emil
lives on the home farm with her mother and Josephine and his brother Frank;
the latter is unmarried and was next in order of birth; Ida died in infancy.

Frank Rittman. father of the above named children, died in November,
iQog. lie was a member of the Catholic church and all the family adhere
to this faith.

ROBERT CLARK COIJIi.

The lite of the late Robert (.'lark Cobb was so replete with honor and
duty well performed that it mighl well be held up as a model to the youth
standing at the parting of the ways, whose destinies are matters for future
years to determine. lie was of a sterling \cw England ancestry and many
"i their noble traits seemed to outcrop in him, rendering him a man of cour-
age, stability of character and public spirit, whom to know was to honor and
esteem.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 637

Mr. Clark was born in Pawlet, Rutland county, Vermont, May .^. [825.

He was the son of Joshua and Betsey 1 Clark 1 Cobb. The immediate sub-
ject of this biographical memoir lived in Vermont until he was twent) years
old. and there received his educational training, and he was employed by his
father in his woolen factory and later clerked in a store; his mother died in
Pawlet. About 1845 Robert C. Cobb came west and located in the village
of Lake Geneva and was for a time clerk in the hotel here. On April [3,
1847, he was united in marriage with Sallie llulett. of Pawlet, Vermont.
She was the daughter of Daniel and Betse] (Woodworth) llulett. He re-
turned to New England for his bride, then came back to Walworth county
and engaged in farming in Bloomfield township, on what is now known as
the Hinspeter farm in the west side of Bloomfield township. He entered part
of this land from the government, and bought part from his brother-in-law,
Abraham Edgerton. He made his home there until about [868, when he
sold out and unwed to the city of Lake Geneva, buying a block of ground
west of Madison and north of Dodge street. Here he built a commodious
and attractive residence for those days and sold the rest of the ground in
city lots. He purchased the rest of the farm at the northwest part of the
village of Lake Geneva, about 1870, and lived there, engaged in farming.
He had seventy acres or more wesl of the Northwestern depot, and also an-
other farm about half a mile farther northwest, the two farms adjoining,
two hundred and twenty-five acres southeast of the Elkhorn road, extending
from North street to Duck creek. He sold this laud about [886 to John
Burton, and a few years later most of it was laid out into city lots and i- now
nearly all covered by the residences of the city, being known as Columbia
addition. Mr. Cobb then bought land on the south side of Geneva strei
running one-half block west from Madison street and built a home there in
which he spent the resl of his life. Mis famil) consisted of two chil-
dren, Ellen Maria and Harry Elbert. The former married John Melvin
Wilson, May 7. [872, he being in the lumber business at East Saginaw,
Michigan, at that time. Mr. Wilson was born in Alden, New York. One
daughter was born to lnm-di' and wife. Florence < obb Wilson, who is now
living in Lake Geneva with her mother, Mr. Wilson having died on August
21, [907, at Cincinnati, ( ►hio. \fter his death Mrs. Wilson returned to Lake
Geneva and now lives at the home left by her father.

Harry Elbert Cobb, mentioned above 1 engaged in the hardware busi-
ness in Lake Geneva, bavin led T. C. Smith, his former employei
He married Sylvia l Bowen) Smith, daughter of Timothy t '. Smith and wif<
To Harry E. (obb and wife two children ha born, Robert (lark and

638 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Elbert Smith. Mr. Cobb has been in the hardware business since 1892 and
his store is well patronized. He is active in the Republican party, and. fra-
ternally, is a member of the Masonic order, blue lodge and chapter.

The death of Robert C. Cobb, subject of this sketch, occurred on Aug-
ust 14, 1900, and his wife followed him to the grave on June 28, 1906.
They were excellent people and enjoyed a wide circle of friends here.

CHARLES H. NORTH.

Those who belong to the respectable middle classes of society, being
early taught the necessity of reiving upon their own exertions, will be more
apt to acquire that information and those business habits which alone can ht
them for the discharge of life's duties, and, indeed, it has long been a notice-
able fact that our great men in nearly all walks of life, statesmanship, busi-
ness, art, literature, military and many other phases of our complex civiliza-
tion in America, spring from the virile middle classes. This is not to be
wondered at when we study the subject in its true light, for they have the best,
purest blood, their ancestors having led more wholesome lives and been higher
minded and more self-reliant, more willing to undergo such hardships as are
always necessary to reach the coveted goal. One of this worthy class is the
subject of this sketch.

Mr. North was born on December 12, 1864, at Genoa Junction. Wis-
consin, lie is the son of Frederick and Julia (Killicut) North, the father a
native of England and the mother of New York state. The father was about
ten years old when he emigrated to the United States, and he grew to man-
hood in New York and received his education in the common schools there,
and there he was married. I le moved to Black Earth, Wisconsin, in an early
day, and about 1S5S came to Genoa Junction, buying a farm there which he
operated successfully for about fifteen years, then moved to Geneva town-
ship, this county, and continued farming. A few years later, he retired from
active work and moved i" Elk City, having accumulated a competency by a
life of general farming, and lie spent the rest of his days in Elk City.

Nine children were born to .Mr. and Mrs. Frederick North, two of whom
died in infancy, namel) : Melvin; Sarah i> deceased; John: Ida: Carrie is
dei eased ; Charles, Bertha.

Charles II. North grew to manhood "ii the home Farm and there he as-
sisted with the general work when of proper age. lie received his educa-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 639

tion in the common schools of his home community. He has devoted his
lite principally to agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner of a choice farm
of one hundred and seventeen acres in Darien township, two and one-half
miles west of the town of Darien. lie engaged in farming there about six
years, finally selling out and buying a home in Delavan at No. 114 North
Seventh street. He now lives in Janesville, Wisconsin, lie has a pleasant
home and has laid by a competency tor his old age through his early industry
and good management.

Mr. North was married to Laura N. Foster, on December -'5. iNNn.
She is the daughter of Alro M. and Minerva 1 Mainard) Foster, both natives
of the state of New York where they spent the earlier years of their lives.
They became the parents of seven children, two of whom are now deceased,
namely: Mrs. Lidia Davis, Edward, Madison, Mrs. Lilly lluey. I. aura \\,
wife of the subject. Mr. Foster's life work has been that of a carpenter and
millwright. To Mr. and Mrs. North three children have been horn, namely:
Mrs. Ida Rutledge, born January 11. 1888; LeRoy, born January [6, [890;
Freddie, born September 17. 1900, died in infancy.

Mr. North was reared in the Baptist faith, from which he has not de-
parted. Politically, he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Loyal
Americans.

WILLIAM C. KINYON.

After many years of consistent and unremitting endeavor William C.
Kinvon is now living in the town of Sharon, taking life easier than formerly,
for there was a time when he worked as hard in the fields in both crop
season and out as any man in Walworth county, for he believed that "in the
sweat of a man's face he should eat bread" and he was trained to do his
full share of the world's work by his worthy father, one of the sterling pio
neers who came out of the Easl to assisl in bringing about the 1 ran -format ion
of the West in the early days, and it is to such strong chai 1- he that

we of today of this fair Middle \\ 1 nuch.

William C. Kinvon was horn in I' iunty, [1 m April

1855. He is the son of Joseph Tracey Kinvon and Luanda 1 Kinnej )
Kinvon, both born in the • New York, in which they spent their child-

hood years. It was in [844 that the father of the subject came to Illinois,
locating on the Wisconsin state line. He engaged in farming all his life
until one year of his death. He was successful in establishing a good home
in the new country. He finally came 1 unty.

64O WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

William C. Kinyon, of this sketch, was reared and educated in Boone
county. Illinois, and early in life he took up farming for a livelihood and
continued the same successfully. He owns a most excellent farm in section
31, Sharon township, which he placed under good improvements and kept
well tilled. In 1900 he moved to the village of Sharon. His farm of two
hundred acres lies in the southwest corner of Sharon township. He merely
looks after it in a general way, keeping it rented.

Fraternally, Mr. Kinyon is a Mason. He was married to Katherine
Piper, daughter of George Piper, of Sharon township, a retired farmer.
The subject's wife died in 1902, without issue.

Mr. Kinyon is now and has been for the past seven years treasurer of
the Sharon Township Insurance Company.

JOHN H. HOFFMAN.

A representative of one of the sterling old families of Bloomfield town-
ship. Walworth county, is John H. Hoffman, a man who has not permitted
the wanderlust spirit to lure him away from his nature-favored home country,
like so many of his contemporaries have done, and he has therefore won
success in his chosen life work and has been of much benefit to the people of
this vicinity by his judicious course and his public spirit.

Mr. Hoffman was born in this township, November 14, 1S54, and is the
son of Michael and Minnie (Kimball) Hoffman. The father was born in
Germany, near the city of Berlin, in 1817, and when fourteen years old he
ran away from home and came to New York city, arriving there with only
twenty-five cents in his pocket. He walked out into the country on Long
Island and at eleven o'clock at night climbed into a farmer's wagon to ride.
The farmer employed him, and he stayed in the state of New York eight
years, then came to Burlington, Wisconsin, and began working on the farm
of Captain Booker, with whom he remained eighl years, then came to Bloom-
field township, Walworth county, and married, continuing to reside here until
his death, in 1899. His wife, known in her maidenhood as Minnie Elizabeth
Kimball, was the daughter of August Daniel and Margaret Elizabeth (Jung)
Kimball. The father was born on July 4, 1801, in Saxony, Germany, and the
mother was the daughter of John Adam Jung. August D. Kimball was a
blacksmith in Germany. He emigrated to \mericn in 1X47 with his wife and
nine children, the trip requiring seven weeks. They settled in Bloomfield

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN, 64I

township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and there has been the home of the
Kimballs ever since.

Ten children were horn to Michael Hoffman and wife, all of whom grew
to maturity, but only six of them are now living. The) were named: Carrie,
wife of Herman Bunth, lives at Waverly, Iowa; Emily, who married Lathrop
A. Udell, lived at Wilmot, Wisconsin, until her death: Frank lived in
Bloomfield township all his life and remained unmarried, dying when about
thirty years old : Ida, who married Peter Balass, lived in Bloomfield township
until her death; John 11., of this -ketch; Jennie is the wife of Edwin Bailey
and they live in Minnesota: Richard lives in the eastern part of Bloomfield
township, where he owns two hundred and forty acres: he has been town-
ship treasurer for five years and he is a member of the board of supervisors;
he makes a specialty of raising draft horses, fine Hereford cattle and Shrop-
shire sheep; he married Ella Gifford and they have lour children. Doris,
Kenneth. Lucile and Gladys; Lewi- Hoffman lives in Michigan; Martha mar-
ried Patrick McCabe and they live in Ohio; Stella is the wife of Harry Ma
theson and they live at Glen Ellen, near Chicago.

Michael Hoffman, father of the above named children, died in Febru-
ary, 1901, and his widow survived until March 24, 1009.

John 11. 1 1 off man grew up 011 the home farm in Bloomfield township,
and he spent about a year near Rock fori 1. but with the exception of that he
has lived here all his life, lie worked out by the month until he was twenty-
eight years old, then married and bought a farm. It was in iNS_» that he was
joined in wedlock with Adell Maynard, daughter of Xorman ami Mary
(New) Maynard. She was horn in Bloomfield township, this county. Her
mother was from Cornwall, Addison county, Vermont, and her father was
from Xew York state, having been horn at I lampion. Washington county.
These parents were married in the East, and the) came to Bloomfield town-
ship, this county, in the fall of [850, locating in the wesl pari of the town-
ship. Five years later they bought a farm in Linn township, and about three
years after that her father died, after which event the mother and children
moved to Lake Geneva, in [859.

A year or two before his marriage, Mr. Hoffman boughl a farm of om
hundred acre- mar Bloomfield (enter and there he has since made his home,
having developed an excellent farm, making numerous improvements. For
-onie time he raised good horses and made mone) at it, hut later turned In-
attention to dairying, hog raising and general farming, and he ha- been ■
successful a- a stock man a- well as general agricttltur

nr children have been born to the subject and win Leroy, l larence,
Howard and Wilford.

1 -11,

642 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Hoffman lias been a member of the township board for fourteen
years, and was chairman of the same for three years. He lias been a member
of the school board nearly ever since his marriage and was clerk of the board
man) years. He is active in public affairs and stands high in his community.

EZRA GIFFORD.

The life sketch of the late and well remembered Ezra Gifford is closely
identified with the history of Walworth county, for here he spent the major
part of his useful, industrious and honorable life, beginning his career in the
pioneer epoch of the county, and throughout the years which later came and
went until he was summoned to his reward he was closely allied with its
interests and upbuilding. His life, being one of unfailing activity, was
crowned by success, and at the same time he won and retained the confidence
and good will of all who knew him by his clean life and fair dealings with
his fellow men in all his relations with the world.

Mr. Gifford was born in Albany, Xew York, April 30. 1843. He was
the son of Constant and Letitia (Moore) Gifford, the father a native of
Albany, Xew York, and the mother was born in Canada, probably Montreal.

The subject came with bis parents in 1S47 to Wisconsin, the family
settling in Bloomfield township, Walworth county, and here he grew to man-
hood and received such education as he could in the early schools of the com-
munity. When the Civil war came on he proved his loyalty to his country
by enlisting in Company K. One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois Volunteer
[nfantry, and be served faithfully tor the Union. On January 1, [867, he
was united in marriage with Mariette Chapin, daughter of John Chapin and
wife, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. After their marriage
the) moved to Jessup, Blackhawk county. Iowa, and lived there about two
years, later returning to this county and established their home near Delavan,
moving to Boone county, Iowa, six or seven years later, and they lived there
several years, later spending about two years near Ackley. Iowa. The) then
came to the center of Bloomfield township. Walworth comity, and went on a
Farm that hail been owned by Mrs. Gifford's brother, W. I). Chapin, and here
they resided for about twenty years, carrying on general farming successfully.

Seven children were born to Ezra Gifford and wite, namely: May mar-
ried J. \\ . Conn and lives at Camas, Washington; Ella married R. K. Hoff-
man and lives in Bloomfield township, this county; Lillian married Lewis A.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Kimball, also of Bloomfield township; Charlie C, who lives on a farm in
Bloomfield township, married Delia Rowe, daughter of \-a Rowe; Cora
married F. M. Higgins, and the) live in Lake Geneva; George M., who lives
on the home farm in Bloomfield township, married Mattie (.leas. m. daught
of Fred Gleason; Jennie is the wife of 1 [ervey Rowe and they live in 1 [arvard,
Illinois.

Ezra Gifford -pent most of the last twenty years of his life in Bloom
field township on the Chapin farm near Bloomfield renter and led an active
life, retiring from farming in the spring of [905 and boughl a home in Lake
Geneva. During the following fall and winter he and Mrs. Gifford traveled
extensively in the West, visiting Kansas, Idaho, Oregon and Washington,
making a tour of the Yellowstone Park and visiting the Portland Exposition,
returning home in April. [905. lie was making extensive plan- for improv-
ing his farm and city property when he was seized with his final illness, and
his death occurred on May 21, [906. He was universally loved and re-
spected. While positive in his opinions, he always had consideration for the
feelings of others and never injured anyone. He was modest and retiring
in disposition, but always active for the betterment of the community in
which he lived. His integrity was beyond question, lie was a loving hus-
band and kind father, well worthy the respect which he enjoyed from all who
knew him. He was a member of the Masons, and until late in life belonged
to the Independent Order of ' ><M Fellows. He had also been a member of
the Grand Army of the Republic while living in Iowa, lie was much at-
tached to his home and family, and was a good and useful man.

BARTHOLOMEW HOMAN.

To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our great
country is due to the honesl industry, the sturdy perseverance and the wise
economy which so prominently characterizes the foreign element that has
entered largely into our population. By comparison with their old country
surroundings, these people have readily recognized the fact that in Km
lie the greatest opportunities for the man of ambition and energy. And
because of this main have broken the ties of home and native land and have
entered earnestly upon the task of gaining in the new world a name and
competence. Among this class may be mentioned Bartholomew Homan, who.
by reason of indefatigable labor and honesl effort, has not onl) acquired a
well merited material prosperity, bul also richly earned the highesl esteem
of all with whom he has been assoi iated

644 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. 1 Ionian was born in Leimich, Hinfeld, Hessen-Cassel, Germany, on
August 24, [821, and he is the son of Joseph and Katherina (Flori) Homan.
He was reared in his native country, living on the farms of his community,
in the labor of which he was employed during his youth. His father died
when Bartholomew was seven years old, and he began to do for himself at
an early age. Having heard much of the wonderful possibilities in the
republic across the sea, he emigrated to America in 1847, locating first in the
state of Xew York. In [849 he removed to Wisconsin, landing at Milwau-
kee. Later he came to Lyons township, Walworth county, and here sought
employment, finally securing work on the large farm of John Spoor, an early
settler living east of the village of Lyons. Later he rented a farm, in the
operation of which he prospered, so that in the early fifties he was en-
abled to buy a tract of forty acres, around what is now known as Indian
Knoli. between Lyons and Lake Geneva. Not long afterwards he bought
a farm of eighty acres in the center of the south edge of Lyons township.
His industry and good management was rewarded and from time to time he
added to his original eighty acres to the extent of one hundred and sixty-two
acres, making a total of two hundred and forty-two acres in one tract, and
this has been his family home ever since. The place is well improved in
every respect, being one of the most fertile and productive farms in Lyons
township, its present condition being due to the intelligent and wisely directed
efforts of Mr. 1 Ionian, who, during his active years, gave practical direction
to the operation of the farmstead in all its departments.

Coming here in [849, he has been a witness of the development of this
locality from a wild and virgin tract to one of the best agricultural sections
of Wisconsin, in the transformation of which he himself bore a definite part.
lie has always had a deep interest in the upbuilding and development of the
entire community and lias not withheld bis support from any worthy move-
ment lor the public welfare. Thus he has gained a high position in the
esteem oi his neighbors and fellow citizens who appreciate his worth as a
man.

While living in Xew York state. Mr. I Ionian was united in marriage
with Ottilia Vogel, who also was a native of Hessen-Cassel, Germany, near
Mr. I Ionian's old home, and who came to America in the same company of
emigrant- a- lie To this union were born seven children, as follows: Caro-
line died m her second year; Katie is the wife of Oscar Kress and lives at
St. Joseph, Tennessee; Joseph, who was born on Februar) [4, [852, is en-
gaged in farming with his brother John: Mary, who died in [902, was the
wife of Joseph Merten and left -i\ children, (Ottilia, Julia. Edgar, Joseph.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 645

Theresa and Frederick. Theresa is at home with her father: Margaret lives
with her brothers, Joseph and John; Regene is the wife of Eugene Rittman,
a farmer on the east side of Springfield, and they have five children. Frank,
Margaret. Eugene, John and Mary. John, who was born September i_\
1866, is farming with his brother Joseph, as told above.

Joseph and John Homan remained on the paternal farmstead until [897,
when they formed a partnership and bought five hundred acres of choice land
two miles east of Lake Geneva. The) at once established their home there
and applied themselves to the cultivation of this tine tract of land, in the
operation of which they have met with well deserved success. In the spring
of 191 1 they purchased an additional forty acres, making their total hold-
ings five hundred and forty-four and one-half acre>. comprising one of the
most valuahle bodies of agricultural land in Walworth county. They are
numbered among the practical and progressive farmers of their community
and have earned the high regard in which they are held. As before stated,
their sister Margaret lives with them and preside- over their home.

The mother of these children passed away in [906. She was a woman
of many commendable finalities and was beloved by all who knew her.

Bartholomew Hpman and all members of his family are stanch adherents
of the Catholic church and in their lives they strive to carry out the benefi-
cent teachings of the mother church.

Jul |\ MATHESON.

John Matheson was bom in tin' town of LaFayette, Walworth county,
Wisconsin, on the 17th day of September, 1K44. and died at Elkhorn, in
Walworth county, on the 17th day of November, [890, his death being due
to a complication 0 es. At intervals after the Civil war he had chronic

diarrhoea. In the winter of [SH'jand 1 K90 he was exhausted physicallj and
mentally, due to years if hard labor and the carrying of he; nd iriei

responsibilities, lie contracted a cold as a result ot exposure, which 51
into pulmonary trouble of a permanent form. He grew constantl) worse,
and all efforts to restore him to health were unavailing. He left a widow.
Mary A., who died at Elkhorn, June 26, [907; .1 son, Alexander E., and a
daughter, Lulu M. Both son and daughti mow living, I

Janesville, Wisconsin, and the latter at the old home in Elkhorn.

646 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Matheson was of Scotch ancestry and was most proud of the fact.
He had many traits of character which suggested that ancestry. His father
and mother were both born in the Highlands of Scotland. They came to
this country in early days and settled in the town of LaFayette, where they
reared their family and hewed out life's success, a portion of the time in the
midst of the trying conditions of pioneer days. He responded to President
Lincoln's call for volunteers and went to the front in 1862, enlisting August
21st. He was a member of Company I, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry. He served during the war and was mustered out August 23. 1865.
He engaged in business at Vernon and Eagle in Waukesha county, Wiscon-
sin, and at Mayhew, East Troy and Elkhorn, in Walworth county. He was a
man of large executive capacity, and was successful in business. At the time
of his death he had his business well organized and was preparing to take
more time for rest and travel. He appeared to realize that his mam- duties
were exhausting his strength and that he must find a way to get relief from
his numerous activities. Ever since the war he had worked so hard and had
given his time so unstintingly to the interests of society that he early ex-
hausted the strength which, if it had been conserved, would doubtless have
carried him to a ripe old age.

Mr. Matheson was busy in many departments of life. He took a con-
stant and active interest in public affairs, in the Grand Army of the Republic,
in Masonry, in the church — in short, his generous disposition and his capacity
to accomplish results led him to have a part in most all of the activities that
related to the welfare of Ins fellowmen. He was a member of the county
board of Walworth county a number of years, a portion of the time as chair-
man of the town of Troy, and later as a representative of the board from
.the village of Elkhorn. lie was prominent in the councils of the ('.rand
Army of the Republic and held many positions of trust and responsibility in
the Masonic fraternity. I lis striking characteristics were his great industry;
his executive and business ability; 1 lis warm-hearted generosity; his sincerity
and frankness, with a hatred of insincerity, pretense, and shams; his genial,
joyous disposition and democratic spirit, which made him host- ,,f friends;
bis wide interest in the affairs of life; and his rugged integrity and truthful-
ness. Withal, he possessed great will power. So strong was it that no task
seemed too much for him. lie was not easily daunted with difficulties. He
had a rare faculty of pursuing the even tenor of his way with outward calm
when confronted with difficulties that seemed nigh insuperable. He was
possessed of a temper that was by nature easily aroused, but his mature
Strength and the discipline of life gave to him an almost perfect control oxer

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 647

it. Another trait which was striking, and mention of which must not he
omitted, was his loyalty to his friends and Ins disposition to trust a friend to

the utmost until his confidence in the friend was betrayed.

The writer of this memorial sketch feels not only a sense of filial duty,
but has great pleasure in taking from the golden casket of memory a few
treasures. He presents this memorial in a spirit of gratitude and affection,
that we may set down these facts relative to his father. 1 le recalls with satis-
faction and thankfulness the trust reposed 111 him in his hoyh 1. youth and

early manhood, and hears witness that his father always treated him with
the utmost generosity, favored him with all the responsibility he was capable
of hearing, and ever extended to him the fullest measure of confidence. To
the writer his father gave the largest freedom and placed very little restric-
tion upon his movements, requiring only that he should he truthful, clean
and man!) .

The writer ventures to mention a few incidents bearing upon his rela-
tions with his father, and they are cited for the purpose of giving a clearer
insight into the father's character. In [876, while the father and mother
were attending the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, the boy, with too
many lire crackers, vvas the cause of the destruction by lire of a barn and its
contents. The bo) did not know just what would he the attitude of the
father upon the latter's return. When he did return, instead of complaint or
accusation, he simply said. "Well, my hoy. you had had luck. You must In-
more careful next tune." Such treatment made a profound impression on
the boy and left effects that will never he erased; whereas a word oJ CO
plaint or some form of punishment soon would have been forgotten.

Again, when the young man was at . in the earl) part of his

course, he wished to accept the invitation to join a fraternity. The father
objected, or at least professed to object. In this the son acquiesced, and
abandoned his cherisl ining the fraternity of his choice. Ann

a ]\-w weeks the father wrote that he had his mind, having made some

investigations, and was perfectly willing that the sou should join. Later in
the college course the son made up his mind to lake the important Step of
joining the church. The father obji

claiming that the son was not sufficiently matured in his thoughl and judg
ment to do such a vital thing. The son wrote to his father in a spirit of
deference that, while he was sorr) to disagree with him. he had made up
mind to take the step, and was bound to do it. In both instance the father
was testing the son. In the first there was no question "i principle involved;
it simply related t" the pleasure and ence oi belonging of

648 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

young men. In the latter, in the mind of the young man. at least, there was
a question of principle which involved the most significant things in life and
character. In the one case he willingly conceded to his father's wishes and
in the other he insisted on the right to follow his own judgment and con-
science; and in both cases, in the light of subsequent knowledge, he is cheered
with the assurance that the father was pleased with the outcome.

There have been many regrets in the intervening twenty-one years since
November 17, iXijo. Many mistakes would have been avoided if the father's
experience and counsel had been available. The writer cannot but think how-
many joyous days he would have had in his father's company and how they
together might have visited foreign lands, particularly the land of his High-
land forebears. But these things were not to be and were otherwise ordained
by the all-wise Providence, whose judgments are altogether just and right.
There remain precious recollections and the consciousness of a companionship
that mere bodily absence does not destroy. We can recall the confidences and
experiences of the past; we can reflect upon the characteristics of those who
have passed beyond, and enjoy the blessed communions and sacred memories.

During the last days of his life the father talked much of his parents
and the humble home on the farm in LaFayette. Thus he had hallowed re-
membrances of by-gone, days. Likewise do we now recall the events and
experiences of the past in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving. And so one
generation is united with the other, and the fathers and mothers pass along
to the coming generations those memories and experiences out of which are
sublimated our Christian civilization.

HENRY WILLIAM AYERS.

It is the custom with many farmers, even in this day of known advantage
of putting all corn and hay raised on a farm into stock, to sell the grain which
they raise and only deal to a limited extent in live stock. Time has shown that
this course is unwise, and those farmers who still stick to that obsolete custom
are tin- losers. It is found that the best results arc obtained from making the
^alc of live '-lock the first consideration, and it is not necessar) to point out that
most of the successful farmers have adopted long ago this practice. Aside
from the improvement of the farm and perhaps the dealings in farms, it is
probably the fact that the great majority of the wealthiest farmers have
obtained all nor nearh all their wealth from dealing in live stock. < )ne of the

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 649

leading stock men of Walworth county is Henry William Ayers, whose fine
cattle have carried his name to remote sections of the country, and which are
greatly admired, owing to their superior quality, wherever they arc exhibited.
It would be hard to find a better judge of the bovine family than Mr. Aver-.

The subject was born in Rochester, Racine county. Wisconsin, July 23,
[855. He is the son of Maurice L. and Lutheria 1 Akin) Ayers, the father a
native of Monroe county, New York, and the mother of Vermont, his birth
having occurred in i8ro and hers in 1826. The father came to Rochester,
Racine county. Wisconsin, in 1839, thence to the town of Burlington, that
county, where he kept a hotel, then returned to farming, which had been In-
occupation in his early life. He owned one hundred and sixty acres near
Rochester which is still in possession of the family, where his son Edward
now lives. Maurice I.. Ayers came to Spring Prairie township, Walworth
county, in 1857, and purchased the farm now owned by the subject of this
sketch, consisting of three hundred and three acres of as valuable land as the
township affords, and here he became one of the substantial and influential
farmers of the locality, developed a fine farm and established a pleasant home
and here he spent the remainder of his life, dying in [884, his widow surviving
until 1807. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are living.
Politically, he was a Democrat and was active in political affairs, representing
his locality in the < leneral Assembly in [849, making a splendid record, lie i-
remembered as a man of many sterling characteristics and he enjoyed the good
will and respect of all who know him.

Henry William Ayers. of this sketch, was reared on thi home farm, where

he made himself useful during his boyl 1 day-, and he was educated in the

public schools of hi- home community. Early in life he turned his attention t<>
farming, and he now owns the homestead of three hundred and three acres,
and for twenty years he ha- been a breeder of line live stock, lie has kepi
the place well improved and well tilled, adopting all the modern method
agriculture and everything shows thrift, good management and prosperity.
lie built a large, convenient barn some lime ago, and ha- kepi the buildings in
od shape, lie farm- on an extensive scale, bul the breeding of Brown
Swiss cattle i- hi- specialty. He now ha- a herd of eighty, all registered, of
which there i- no liner in the state, and owing i" their superior qualities the)
find a very ready market whenever offered for -ale. He has been a frequent
exhibitor at the state fair and other fairs, and hi- -• ery-

w here thev are shown. Mr. Ayers also mak< dairying, and

exceptionally well equiped for thi- line of endeavor, lie ha- taken mam
ribbons at the various state fairs where he ha? had his fine cattle.

63O WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Politically, Mr. Avers is a Democrat, and fraternally is a member of the
Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Ayers has never married. Personally, he is a man of pleasing pres-
ence, straightforward in his relations with his fellows, a good mixer and a
keen business man. but plain and unassuming in all relations of life.

EDW1X EUGEXE PALMER.

The life record of the late Edwin Eugene Palmer, for many years one
of the leading citizens of Geneva township, should not be permitted to perish,
for in it may be found many valuable lessons. He was a man who believed
in carrying the Golden Rule into his every-day life and while laboring for
his individual advancement and the good of his immediate family, never to
neglect his duties as a citizen, and he therefore did much for the general up-
building of his locality and won the esteem and admiration of all who knew
him.

.Mr. Palmer was born in Greene county, New York, in the town of New
Baltimore, May 24, 1849. He was the son of William S. and Angeline
(Palmer) Palmer, the mother having been born on April 3, 1820, at Rens-
selaerville, New York, and she was the daughter of Joseph and Polly
( Palmer) Palmer, they being no relation. Joseph G. Palmer was the son of
Jacob and Alary ( Gillette) Palmer, the former the son of Thomas and
Jennie (VanDusen) Palmer. Polly Palmer, who married Joseph G. Palmer,
was the daughter of Robert and Eunice (Algar) Palmer. Robert Palmer
was the son of Gideon and Jane (Williams) Palmer, who were married, it
1 believed, in 1744.

William S. Palmer, father of the subject of this sketch, was the son of
Ezra and Polly (Sleight) Palmer, the latter being born in Dutchess county,
New York, and she was of Dutch ancestry. Her mother was Catherine
Sleight, She was Edwin Eugene Palmer's great-grandmother and she
gave him a little pitcher that her husband, Ezra, gave her on their wedding
trip. It is at least one hundred and fifteen years old, and is now the property
of Mrs. Palmer. She also has a chair left by the mother of Joseph Palmer.

Polly Palmer, who married Joseph Palmer, and who was the subject's
maternal grandmother, was a sister of Ezra Palmer, the subject's paternal
grandfather and they were children of Robert and Eunice Palmer. The
first of the family to come here were Joseph and Polly Palmer in [853;

WALWORTH. COUNTY, w im ONSIN. i.;i

they settled in the northeastern part of Geneva township where E. C. I'etrie
lives at present. Joseph G. Palmer was a soldier in the war of iNu. His
family consisted of ten children.

William S. Palmer and family came here earl) in \|inl. 1865, and For
six months lived on the farm now occupied by !•'.. C. I'etrie: then, in the
following August, bought the farm in sections to and 11. which 1- still in
the Palmer family. When William S. Palmer purchased this place it was
only half fenced, and had on it only a log cabin, and much of the land was
grown up in hazel brush. They lived there seven years and improved the
place, finally building a good new house, and there the) spent the rest of
their lives and became active ami influential in the pioneer life of their tune.

Two children were born to William S. Palmer and wife. Edwin Eugene,
of this sketch, and Jennie, who died in [864, when two years "Id.

Edwin Eugene Palmer grew to manhood on the home farm and on
December 31. 1873, he was united in marriage with Frances Chadwick, who
was born in Liverpool, Onondaga county, New York, August 17. [852, the
daughter of Warren Reid Chadwick and Jane 1 Hamlin) Chadwick, the
former having been the son of John and Susannah (Reid) Chadwick.
Susannah Reid was born in \ew York, but her parents were from Scotland.
The birth of Warren R. Chadwick occurred on February [8, 1818, in Schuy-
ler, Onondaga county, New York. Jane Hamlin was born in Clay township,
that county. June 15. [832, and -he was the daughter of David and Luanna
Judd (Orvis) Hamlin. David Hamlin was burn in Connecticut and was
an "Id schoolmate of Henry Ward Beecher. Luanna J. < )rvis was also
in Connecticut.

John Chadwick was the son of John, Sr., and Eunice (Murray) Chad
wick. It is said that Eunice Murray was of French ancestry. John Chad-
wick, Sr.. was descended from one of three brothers who lived in England and
who emigrated to \merica in an early day. They had an elder brother who
inherited the estate and was a knight and he died unmarried, leaving a vast
estate.

Frances Chadwick came here in [859. Her parent- had preceded her two
years, having located at Geneva, and she lived with them until her marriag
Mr. Palmer. Her father died in O '879, and her mother is now living

in Pontiac, Illinois, with her -<>n. Walter. Mrs, Palmer has two brothers,
Albert of < hicago. and Walter of Pontiac. She also has a sister living in
Pontiaci Mr-. Jennie Braga, wife of A. J. Braga : she also had a sister, Hatl
who died May 9, [883.

652 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

After Edwin Eugene Palmer and wife were married they lived on the old
Palmer homestead for thirty years, successfully engaged in general farming
and stuck raising, then moved to the city of Lake Geneva early in January.
1904.

Mr. Palmer had taken an abiding interest in the affairs of the township
and county, and he held a number of local offices, from a sense of duty.

Four children were born to the subject and wife : Kate E. : William Ed-
win, a sketch of whom appears in this work: Jennie May, who married
Eugene Woolsey, lives at Hawkeye, Iowa, and they have eight children,
Clarence Edwin, Warren George, Aimee, May Angeline, Eunice, Mabel, Ruth
and a baby girl ; Walter Chadwick Palmer was the youngest in order of birth
1 if the subject's children.

The death of Edwin Eugene Palmer occurred on December 27, 1907,
after a successful, honorable and useful life. Since then Mrs. Palmer has
lived with her daughter, Kate, and son, Walter, in Lake Geneva.

Fraternally, Mr. Palmer was a member of the Modern Woodmen, Spring-
field Camp, and his was the first death in that lodge, and the summons came to
him just eighteen years after he had joined this lodge. He was also a consis-
tent member of the Baptist church. Mrs. Palmer is a worthy member of the
same.

JOHN CHAPIN.

No life is more interesting than that of the old pioneer, for in the day
when the wilderness oi the West was conquered there were men of iron
mould, men who wei\- fearless, courageous and self-sacrificing, who were
willing to undergo hardships in order that succeeding generations might be
benefited, h is doubtful if such a class of people live today. One of these
worthy characters was John Chapin, one of the first settlers of Bloomfield
township, Walworth county, who was prominent in the affairs of the county
in its history-making days, and a man whose record should be preserved.
I Le was born March 29, 1 790, in the town of I leath. Franklin count} . Massa-
chusetts. Family tradition says thai he was a descendant of Samuel Chapin,
who was one of the firsl settlers of Massachusetts, probably coming from
I ngland on the "Mayflower."

John Chapin grew to manhood in his native stale and there he was mar-
ried in [813 to Clarissa Patterson, who was horn in the same town as Mr.
Chapin, on September 28, [793, To this union eleven children were born,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 653

nine oi whom came to Bloomfield township, this county. The youngest,
Mariette, was bom in the town of Bloomfield, in February, [841. She grew
to womanhood here and married Ezra Gifford, a -ketch of whom appears
elsewhere in this work; he is now deceased and his widow lives in Lake
Geneva. William I). Chapin was the oldest of the family. The other chil-
dren were. Jonathan Patterson, John, Jr., Jacob, Clarissa Jane. Belinda,
Diantha, Emily, Lyman and Monroe. Mrs. Gifford, mentioned above, is the
only member of the family now living.

William I). Chapin came to Lake < Geneva in the spring of [837 and made
a claim in the present town of Bloomfield in the summer of the same year
His brother, John, Jr., came in the fall .if the same year. They were thus
among the earliesl settlers. John Chapin moved with his family to the town
of Bloomfield in the fall of [838 and settled on the southeast quarter of sec-
tion 6. At that time the land hereaboul had not keen placed on sale by the
government. Mr. Chapin bought out a squatter's claim to the land, and in
the following spring, when the land was placed on the market, entered it from
the government. He and his wife were two of the thirteen charter members
of what is now the Congregational church in Lake Geneva, then organized as
the Presbyterian church. lie was a deacon in the church for a greal many
years and was an influential man in the affairs of his community. The death
of John Chapin occurred on December 29, [865, at the age of seventy-five
years anil nine months. The death of his wife occurred on \pril 23, [873,
in the seventy-ninth year of her age. Of their children. William I), lived
until within ten years of his death in Bloomfield township, where he owned a
farm of nearly three hundred acre-. Hi- death occurred in Lake Geneva in
April, [904. Mis. Clarissa Jane Ledington, Mrs. Belinda I oster, Mr-. Emily
Woldron, all died in [881, within six weeks of each oilier. J. Patterson
moved to Nebraska and died there. John settled in Bremer county, [owa,
where he died. facob also died in Iowa. Lyman was a soldier in the Civil
war in an Iowa regiment and he died in Iowa. Monroe was a soldier in the
Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war and he
died in Minnesota.

fohn Chapin. of this -ketch, was a man of courage and bravery, yet
ed peace, and he would hear an insult quietly. He was not easily swerved
from his course, being a man of strong character: 1 1 -. and alwai ided

the right. He wa- a -tint of the S n<\ trained up his |ai

family to respeel the Lord's day. and he wa- a faithful attendant on his
church, rain or shine. He bore hi- full -hare of the hardships of pionei
life uncomplainingly, and he was well known among the early settlers and
highly respected by them.

654 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ALEXANDER E. MATHESON.

Alexander E. Matheson was born in the village of Eagle, Waukesha
county, Wisconsin, on the i lth day of July, 1868. Thereafter he went with
his parents to Vernon, in Waukesha count}', Mayhew, East Troy and Elk-
horn, in Walworth county, Wisconsin. Me lived in Elkhorn until July, 1894,
when he went to Janesville. Wisconsin, to commence the practice of law.
Since that time he has lived continuously in Janesville. He was educated at
district schools in the towns of Troy and LaFayette in Walworth county, at
the high schools in East Troy and Elkhorn, and finally at Beloit Academy and
Beloit College, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, in 1890. He was
the valedictorian of his class in college. He received the degree of Master
of Arts from Beloit College in [893. Soon after leaving college his father
died. This compelled him to enter business, and he remained at Elkhorn
for two years, managing the affairs of the Matheson Trading Company at
that place. In 1892, owing to the selling of the business of the Matheson
Trading Company at Waukesha. Wisconsin, and the coming of his uncle.
George Matheson, and his friend, John Dunphy, to Elkhorn, he was able to
enter the Law School of the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 1892 to
pursue the study of his chosen profession. He graduated from the law de-
partment of the university with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1894.
He immediately went to Janesville, where he became a member of the law firm
of Fethers, Jeffris, Fifield and Matheson. He remained with this firm one
year, lie then formed a partnership with John M. Whitehead and Samuel
M. Smith, under the firm name of Whitehead, Matheson & Smith. After
two or three years Mr. Smith left the firm to pursue other activities, and the
firm has since continued under the name of Whitehead & Matheson.

In .Mr. Matheson's young manhood, for a long time, he was unable to
determine whether he would enter the legal or the ministerial profession.
lie had a strong desire to be a preacher, lie finally chose the legal pro-
fession for two reasons: first, because one of his father's ambitions for him
was that he might be a lawyer: second, because be believed that a Christian
man. living a consistent. Christian life, ami speaking for the ideals of the
church, could accomplish more as a layman than as a minister in the pulpit.
Xext to his home he looks upon the church as his leading interest in life.
lie is a member of the First Congregational church of Janesville, and active
in all its departments, lie is also active in many phases of religious work
not organically connected with the church.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 655

Since lie became of age Mr. Matheson has been active in Masonry. He
has held numerous offices and positions in the various branches, grades and
orders of Masonry. In [909 he received the thirty-third degree in Boston.
At the present time he is grand master of the -rand lodge of Free and Ac-
cepted Masons of Wisconsin. Since attaining manhood he has tried to per-
form his duties as a citizen and has always been more or less active in
political affairs, although holding but one public official position, that of
alderman in the city of Janesville for two years, lie has endeavored to
keep in close touch with Beloit College, for which institution and its tradi-
tions he has a profound admiration and strong affection. For years he lec-
tured upon international law to members of the senior class 111 the college,
and at the present time he is a member of the board of trustees.

In September, 1804. .Mr. Matheson married Georgia I.. Hubbard (daugh-
ter of Henry A. Hubbard), who lived at Elkhorn, Wisconsin. They have
two children. Marion Barbara, born August 23, [896, ami |bhn Hubbard,
born May 2, 1908.

FRANCIS X. ABBOTT.

The career of Francis X. Abbott, a public-spirited citizen of Geneva
township, Walworth county, has ever been such as to warrant the trust and
confidence of those with whom he has come into contact, for he has ever
conducted all transactions on the strictest principles of honor and integrity.
His devotion to the public god is unquestioned and arise, from a sincere
interest in his fellow men.

Mr. Abbott was born in Warren county, Pennsylvania, May |. [850. He
is the son of film and Sarah ( Herrick) Abbott, the former having been the
son of Xavir and Elizabeth (Stevens) Vbbott. Xavir Abbott was in the war
of 1812. When the subject of this sketch was four years old the family moved
to Chautauqua county. New York, and lived then- on a farm until tXofi. in
which year they moved west, locating aboul .1 mile from Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
After living there a year the father bought a farm a mile north of ' omo and
there the parents spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying on Vug
23. 1889, and the mother on January 4. [892. Both wen- members of the
Baptist church. The father was a quiet, home man. an industrious and highly
respected citizen.

Francis X. Abbotl remained on the home farm until March. [903. He was
educated in the public schools. He was second in order of birth in a famil)

656 WALWORTH cnl \TY, WISCONSIN.

four children, one son and three daughters Emeline, who married Lyman
James and returned to Xew York, where she died, leaving six children. Mar-
ietta, the third in order of birth, married Albert Densmore; they live at
Elkhorn ami have one child. Ethel. Jane, the youngest child, married Floyd
Gray; they live at Como and have two children, sons.

On May 4, 1879, Mr. Abbott was married to Alice S. Goodrich, daughter
of Harvey Curtis Goodrich and Sarah Emma (Dalrymple) Goodrich. She
was born, reared and educated in Geneva township. When a young man her
father came to Walworth county from Troy, Vermont, and here he was
married to Sarah E. Dalrymple. a native of Chautauqua county, Xew York.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Abbott, namely: Ivy,
who married W. E. Palmer, lives three miles northeast of Como, and has three
children, Beulah Eileen, Alice Alveretta, and Edwin Eugene. Betha Abbott
married George McCormick; they live in Lafayette township and have one
child, Ethel Mavis. John, who is the youngest of .Mr. Abbott's children,
married Ella Belle Randall, daughter of William and Bertha Randall.

Politically, Mr. Abbott is a Republican and he has always been active in
politics, ami has been a frequent delegate to state conventions and active and
influential in the same. He has been clerk of Ceneva township for over twen-
ty years, which is certainly a criterion of the confidence which his neighbors
repose in his ability and integrity. He has held various other offices in his
community, always with ability and credit. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Modern Woodmen and the Mystic Workers, and is prominent in each. He
and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

HENRY II. WHITE.

In the following paragraphs are briefly outlined the leading facts and
characteristics in the career of a gentleman who combines in his makeup the
elements of tin- practical man of affairs and the energy of tin- public spirited
citizen, and all who come within range of his influence arc profuse in their
praise • >! his admirable qualities. The high regard in which he is held b\ all
classes indicates the possession of attributes and characteristics thai fully
entitle him to the respect and consideration of his fellow men.

Henry II. White, the present popular, and efficient postmaster at Lake
Geneva, was born in Spring Prairie township, Walworth county, on Max 21,
[865. He is the son of "Edgai and Eli abeth (Moore) White, the father bom

HENRY H. WHITE

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 657

near Lake Champlain, Vermont, the sun of David and Amelia (Bowker)
White. Edgar White came to Wisconsin in [856 and located first in Lyons
township, working as a hand on the Humphrey farm. About [860 he was
united in marriage with Elizabeth Moore, daughter of John Adam Moore
and wife. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and she came to this
county with her parents before 1850 and located in Spring Prairie township,
where Mrs. White lived until her marriage. Edgar \\ hite made his home
in Lyons town-hip. where he had a farm and there reared his family, con
sisting of nine children, eight of whom are living, one having died in in-
fancy. They were named as follows: Edgar, Jr., lives in Elkhorn; Seymour
lives near the old home in the northern part of Lyons township; Edward lives
in East Troy; Henry H., of this sketch: Mary married James Boden and
they live in the eastern part of Spring Prairie township; John lives at Spring-
field, this county: Louise married John Matteson and they live in Geneva
township; Edwin lives in Palmyra.

Henry H. White spent most of li is boyhood on the home farm in Lyons
township and there he attended the common schools, later going to school at
Burlington. After leaving school he spent three or Four years on the home
farm, then took a contract for carrying the mail from Springfield to Lake
Geneva. He also purchased the stage line in [892, which he has been operal
ing ever since and has also carried the mails between the abo d towns

since that date. In [906 he bought a large farm at the northern edge of Lake
Geneva, comprising two hundred and thirtj two acres. In [903 he built the
south half of the Diamond Mock on Broad street, twi bj eight) seven

feet, three floors and a basement, this being one of the most substantial bu
ness houses in Lake I lene a In 1904 he built a large handsome residence on
Wisconsin street, near Broad street, where he no He has been

very successful in a financial way and 1 rprising men of the

city honored by his n

Mr. White is a pr< 1 Republican, long ad e in the ra

parte. In 1904 he was alderman and wa for mayor. In mm 1 he

appointed postmaster of Lake Geneva, takin on September tith

following, and he is discharging the e in an able and faithful

manner, eminently satisfactory to the people and the d 1 nt.

Mr. White was married to Maude Dodge, daughter oi Eugene and
Sarah (Relyea) Dodge, ch of wh( 1 this work,

She was born in Lyons township, this county. Mr. and Mr-. White have i\\<>
children, Herbert Relyea, who is in charge of his father- farm at the northern
edge of the citv of Lake 1 leneva, and Lorna Sarah.

I 42 l

658 WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.

Mr. White is president of the Lake Geneva Publishing Company, pub-
lishers of the News, which is one of the influential and steadily growing
papers in this part of the state. Besides owning his property and the stage
line at Lake < leneva, he also has a house, several town lots and other valuable
property at Springfield, this county.

Fraternally, Mr. White is a Royal Arch Mason, a Modern Woodman
and Knight of Pythias, having been banker of the Modern Woodmen camp
at Lake Geneva for the past six years.

H. T. HALVORSEN.

It is interesting to note from the beginning the growth and development
oi a community, to note the lines along which progress has been made and to
take cognizance of those whose industry and leadership in the work of advance-
ment have rendered possible the present prosperity of the locality under con-
sideration. The Halvorsen family, of which H. T., of Whitewater township.
Walworth county, is a very creditable representative, belong to that class of
enterprising citizens who promote the general good of a community and they
are therefore worthy of a place in the history of the same.

H. T. Halvorsen was born on the old homestead in this township, March
22, 1852. He is the son of Tosten and Jane (Linos) Halvorsen, both born in
Norway, where they grew up and were educated. The father left that land in
[846 and emigrated to Walworth county, Wisconsin, the mother not coming
until 1849, 'n which year she reached Dane, this state. The father got posses-
sion of a farm before he was married and on this they began housekeeping
and soon had a comfortable home, their place of one hundred and sixty acres
in Whitewater township making them a very comfortable living, but they
worked very hard in developing it, for the land was new and the country-
roundabout a wilderness. Here they spent the balance of their lives, the father
dying in October, 1909, having survived his wife many years, her death occur-
ring in 1N74. The} were the parents of six children, five of whom are living.
Politically, he was a Republican and a member of the Lutheran church.

H. T. Halvorsen, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm where he

worked hard when a boy and received what education he could in the early

1 hools of the home district. He has devoted his life to general farming and

ing live -lock, lie has a very productive and well-improved farm of one

hundred and twentv acres.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONS 659

Politically, Mr. llalvorsen is a Republican and for three years lie served
his township as assessor. He and his family are members of the Lutheran
church.

Mr. Halvorsen was married in 1879 t0 Anna Nelson, who was born in
Lagrange township, this county, the daughter of Nels and Martha Nelson, a
highly respected family here. To the subject and wife seven children have been
born, namely: Nettie. Theodore, Jessie (deceased), Emma. Arthur. Alice
and Howard.

\Y. V. B. HOLLOWAY.

In all the relations of life W. V. B. Holloway, one of the most progressive
of the younger generation of farmers of Sugar Creek township, Walworth
county, has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has
been brought into contact as is abundantly evidenced by his retention for a
period of fifteen years as township clerk, during which time he has discharged
the duties of this important office in a manner that has proven his integrity as
well as ability. His capable management of his own business interests and his
well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life have brought him well
merited success, demonstrating what one may accomplish, often in the face of
obstacles, by rightly applied energy and perseverance.

Mr. Holloway is the scion of one of the worthy old families of Sugar
Creek township and here be was born on December 23, [872, and here he
has been content to spend his life. He is the son of James and Mary B.
1 Bray) Holloway, both natives of England, the father born in Devonshire,
August 18, 1839, and she on March 29, 1845. 'n Cornwall, England.

The father came to Canada in an early day, and the mother accompanied
her parents, Walter and Rachael (Baker) Bray, to Wisconsin when she was a
girl. The Bray family settled in Troy township, later moving to Sugar Creek
township where they bought a farm and here they spent the rest of their li.

The parents of the subject were married in < rreen Baj . Wisconsin, in [870
and they began life on a farm in Sugar < 1 nship, this county, which he

rented, then moved to Troy township where they lived three By hard

work and economy they had gotten a start and so bought a farm in Sugar
Creek township and on this they remained nine years, then moved to Rock

nty, this state, and lived there five years, after which they lived in Wl
water one year. Tb ' to Suga hip in [894 and

bought sixty-seven acres and there lived until 1903. in which year they moved

660 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

to the home of their son-in-law, Gerden Olsen, with win mi they remained two
years. James Holloway then moved to the town of Millard, this county, where
his death occurred on August i, 191 1. In politics he was a Republican and
was active in local affairs. He held the offices of township assessor and town-
ship supervisor for a number of years. He was a man well known and highly
respected for his public spirit and upright life. His widow is still living. They
were the parents of two children, namely: W. V. B., of this reviews and
Lizzie R., wife of Gerden Olsen, and the mother of one child. Willard J. Olsen.

\Y. V. B. Holloway was reared on the home farm and educated in the
public schools and in the high school at Whitewater, Wisconsin. Early in life
he turned his attention to farming. He is now the owner of forty acres in
Lagrange township, and besides this he works the homestead, and as a general
farmer and stock raiser he has met with encouraging success all along the line.
Politically, he is a Republican and, as stated above, is the present incumbent
of the township clerk's office. Religiously, he belongs to the Methodist Epis-
copal church.

On February 3, 1903, Mr. Holloway was united in marriage with Lorena
G. Taylor, a native of Lagrange township, this county, her birth having
occurred here on January 25, 1882, and she is the daughter of Charles H. and
Nellie 1 Wishart ) Taylor, both born in this county, the father on June 22,
1853, and the mother on May 10, 1851. They are now living at Heart
Prairie, Lagrange township, Walworth county. To Mr. and Mrs. Holloway
one child, Alice Marie, has been born, the date of her birth being April 29,
1906.

CHARLES H. BAKER.

Charles II. Baker, of Lake Geneva, is a man whose life has become an
essential part of the history of this section and he has exerted a beneficial
influence in the city honored by his residence, as has also his wife, the former
in business circles and the latter in educational affairs. .Mr. Baker's chief char
acteristics seem to be fidelity of purpose, keenness of perception, unswerving
integrity and sound common sense which have earned for him the esteem of
the entire community.

Mr. Baker, like mam of our leading citizens, hails from the old Empire
state, his birth having occurred at Seneca Falls, New York. He is a son of
Hon. Charles M. and Martha (Larrabee) Baker, the father having been one
of the most prominent men of this county. His complete sketch appears on
another page of this work.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Charles H. Baker came to Walworth county with his parents when two
years old, and was thus a true pioneer, for the country was wild and settlers
few at that period. The family settled at Lake Geneva, and there young
Baker lived until he was fourteen years old. He then went to Chicago and
lived about three years, then spent a year in Beloit College, in the academic
department. He had decided to take up mechanical engineering, and the next
two years were spent in a locomotive ami marine works in I ietmit and Boston
along the line of his studies. He also spent some time in Hamilton College,
now Colgate University, at Madison, New York. He next spent about ten
years on the Pacific coast in mining engineering. From there he went to
Mexico in the interests of a mining company in the state of Coahuila. He
then spent a year in Europe, trading in almost ever) country, studying his
chosen lines of engineering. Returning, was a year in the employ >>i the Gug-
genheim Company, in Mexico. Later he was employed by the Topia Mining &
Smelting Co., of Durango, Mexico, remaining with them about ten years, as
general manager. He became an expert in his line and his services were much
in demand. During his wanderings in the West, he retained the old home-
stead at Lake Geneva, and he has lived retired in this city of recenl years,
although he sometimes makes a trip as a mining expert.

Mr. Baker was married in 1907 to Marietta B. Smith, of Racine, Wis-
consin, a lady of talent, culture and refinement, whose charm of manner has
made her a favorite with a wide circle of friends. She was graduated from the
University of Wisconsin at Madison, and took post-graduate work in the
University of Chicago. She is a musician of marked ability.

Before coming here Mrs. Baker spent a summer in Europe, during which
she gave particular attention to what would be of special interest in her chosen
subject of literature.

She came to Lake Geneva about 1903 to fill a temporary vacancy in the
high school, hut the position became permanent and her services were of such
a high order that she was later offered the position of principal, which she
accepted and the duties of which she has dischargi n a manner

that reflects much credit upon herself and to the eminent satisfaction of all
concerned. She has brought the local high school up to an equal place with the
best in the state, and in the school room die i> an enthusiastic instructor. She is
broadly educated and has kept well abreast of the times in all that pertains to
her profession. She has been active in public affairs at Lake Geneva, and she
is a member of the library board. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the
Baptist church.

662 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Charles H. Baker was one of a family of four children, namely : Edward
L., who became captain of Company E, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,
during the Civil war: he is now deceased and is buried at Lake Geneva; Rob-
ert II.. who became a prominent politician, was a member of the Republican
state central committee and a man of influence at Racine; for thirty years he
was a partner of J. I. Case, the welbknown threshing machine manufacturer;
Mary L., deceased, was the wife of Col. George Brown, a prominent attorney
of Providence, Rhode Island, commanded the Ninth Regiment, Rhode Island
Volunteers, and at one time was a member of Congress.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker are prominent in the life of Lake Geneva and their
pleasant home is the mecca for a host of warm friends.

ALBERT E. PETERSON.

( )ne of the progressive twentieth century farmers of Lagrange township.
Walworth county, who ranks among the best of his fellow tillers of the soil is
Albert E. Peterson, a native son, and the representative of a good old family,
and here he has spent his life. "His sober wishes never learned to stray,"' for
he knew that no better place could be found for his chosen line of work, and
succeeding years have brought to him increasing success.

Mr. Peterson was born in this township, on the farm where he still lives,
on July 24, 1869. He is the son of Erick and Anna (Churchill) Peterson,
both natives of Norway. The father was born at Voss, Burgin, May 13, 1831,
and the mother in Nomadoln, Kongsberg, May 15. [837. They spent their
childhood in their native land, emigrating to America when single, be being
about twent) years "Id, and she was twelve years of age when her parents set-
tled in Muskegon. Erick Peterson came alone to Walworth county in an early
clay and located on the farm now in possession of the subject, lie was married
in LaGrange township, May .}. [856. The father of the subject's mother
wt nkcd m Racine county for some time, finally coming to Walw orth county and
bought a farm just west of the Peterson place and there spent the rest of his
life.

Erick Peterson first bought forty acres here. This he improved and added
to until he had a fine farm of over one hundred and sixty acres. The place was
timbered with the exception of fifty acres of marsh, covered with willow. Ik-
cleared .mmI improved the land, erected substantial buildings and here spent the
rest of his life. I le was a well-educated man and was very active in the early-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. < ' .1

day church work here, being a strong Lutheran, advocating the Norwegian
church of Scaponong. His family consisted of five children, one of whom

preceded him to the grave by cue year; the rest are living, as is also the
mother, who makes her home on the old place.

Albert E. Peterson, of this sketch, was educated in the public schools and
when but a boy he assisted with the general work on the home place and here
he has continued to work. He has met with a large measure of success through
his close application and his nent, and he owns nol onl) t he-

home place of one hundred and sixty acres, but also another place of equal size.
He has kept his land under a fine state of improvement and cultivation, besides
erecting fine buildings. Everything about his place not onl) indicates good
management, but thrift and prosperity. He carries on general fanning, stock
raising and dairying on a large scale, and each year finds him further advanced
than the preceding.

Politically, Mr. Peterson is a Republican and he has been supervisor of his
township for the past three years, which office he has filled in a worthy and
satisfactory manner. lie belongs to the Lutheran church.

CURTIS H. SHERMAN.

The occupation of farming, to which Curtis 11. Sherman has applied his
time and attention since reaching his majority, is the oldest business pursuit of
mankind and the one in which man will ever be the most independent. < >f
course when this is said reference is made to civilized man, because hunting
and fishing were the primitive pursuits of man before he reached the civilized
state.

One of the most scientific farmers of Whitewater township, Walworth
county, is Curtis H. Sherman, who was born in Qfcrtlandt county, New York,
May 5, [840. He is the son of Erastus and Rho twiek) Sherman,

the father born in 1 m August 23, 1798, and the mother born in

Saratoga county, New York. May 21, 1X02. They came to Walworth county,
Wisconsin, in 1844 and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Whitewater
township, later added eight-seven acres and here the father of the sub'
developed a good farm, on which he spent the rest of his life, dying |mi<- 22,
1866, his widow surviving until June 6, 1870. Their famil
children, three of whom are living. In politics the elder Sherman w.i
publican and a member of the Episcopal church.

664 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Curtis H. Sherman was four years of age when his parents brought him
to Wisconsin, and he grew to manhood in Walworth county, attended the rural
schools, also the high school at Whitewater. He has devoted his life to agri-
cultral pursuits and has lived to see the county develop from its forests to a
fine agricultural section. He is the owner of one hundred and eleven acres,
which he has kept well tilled and well improved, it being a part of the old home-
stead. In connection with farming and stock raising, he makes a specialty of
dairying.

Politically, Mr. Sherman is a Republican, but he has never been an office-
seeker. He is a member of the Methodist church.

On August 29, 1862, Mr. Sherman was united in marriage with Harriet
E. Hull, daughter of Lomas Hull, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
work. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman :
Lillie May and Lullie Belle, twins, were born on October 18, 1863 ; the former
married Alfred Pitt and four children were born to them, Ernest H., Curtis
H., Clara B. (deceased) and Leota M. The death of Mrs. Pitt occurred on
February 1, 1898. Lullie Belle married Dr. M. -J. Bagley, of Whitewater,
and two children were born to them, Frank C. and Mark J. (deceased). The
death of Mrs. Bagley occurred on March 18, 1889. Roy Ravella Sherman,
who was born September 19, 1872, was reared on the farm and educated in
the public schools and he now manages the home place. Politically, he is a
Republican and a member of the Methodist church. He was married on
June 5, 1901, to Bessie Bloxham, who was born in Lima, Rock county. Wis-
consin, in 1873, the daughter of George and Emma (Watson) Bloxham,
both natives of England, and there they spent their early lives, finally coming
lu Rock county, Wisconsin, and they now live retired at Whitewater. One
child. George Curtis, has been born to Roy R. Sherman and wife. His birth
occurring on December 30. 1907. Mary E. Sherman was born on October
24, r88i, was educated in the public schools and she lives at home.

TAMES CONSTANT REYNOLDS, M. D.

It is not always easy to discover and define the hidden forces that move a
life of ceaseless activity and large professional success; little more can be done
than t" note their mani testation in the career of the individual under considera-
tion. Doctor Reynolds has long held distinctive prestige in a calling which
requires for it^ basis sound mentality and rigid professional training and thor-

WALWORTH COl NTY, WISCONSIN. 66

ough mastery of technical knowledge with the skill to apply the same, without
which one cannot hope to rise above the mediocre in administering to human
ills.

Dr. James Constant Reynolds, of Lake Geneva, Walworth county, was
born in Exeter, Green county, Wisconsin, July 17, 1849. This town, now no
longer on the map, was at that time a mining town of probably twelve hundred
inhabitants. He is the son of Dr. Benoni O. and Mary J. (Smith) Reynolds,
a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

The family moved to Elkhorn, this county, in [854, and have lived in
Walworth county, nearly ever since. The subject bad the advantages of a
liberal education, having attended the common schools and Racine College
about two years, also Beloit College about two years. Desiring to follow in
the footsteps of his father in a professional wa\ he entered Rush Medical
College at Chicago, from which he was graduated in [870. lie went to Can-
ton, South Dakota, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for
aboul five years, after which he took a course at Bellevue Hospital, Xew York.
He then came to Lake Geneva, Walworth county, in [876, and this locality
has been the arena of his endeavors ever since, during which time he has built
up a large and lucrative practice, taking a position second to none of his com-
peers in the medical profession in southeastern Wisconsin.

Doctor Reynold-, is an active Republican and has been honored 1>\ his
party with various offices. He served several terms as a member of the village
board of Lake Geneva and in 1884 he was elected a member of the General
Assembly of Wisconsin, and made such a creditable record that he was in
t886 re-elected 1>\ a big majority, lie there made his influence fell for the
eral good and won the hearty commendation of his constituents and all
concerned by his wise and judicious course. During the thirty-eighth Assem-
bly he served as chairman of the committee on railroads. In 1888 he was
elected to the State Senate for four years, and again distinguished himself asa
public servant, discharging his duties in a manner that reflected much credit
upon his abilitv and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned irrespective of
party alignment. While state senator he was chairman of the committee on
town and countv organizations and he was a member of the joint committee
on claim-, lie was a di ■ the Republican national convention in 1000

that nominated Mck'inley and Roosevelt, and lie had the honor of being
appointed a member of the committee to noti : 1 Roosevell of hi, nom-

ination. Doctor Reynolds was one of two ph. a miners appointed by the

governor to make examination of all the soldiers from Wisconsin during the
Spanish-American war. He was a member of the battleship committee, a

666 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

committee of three appointed by the governor of this state to select the person
to christen the battleship "Wisconsin," and to convey the ten-thousand-dollar
silver sen ice sent to the ship at the Pacific coast and present it on behalf of the
state of Wisconsin.

Doctor Reynolds is a member of Geneva Lodge Xo. 44, Free and Accept-
ed Masons, also the State Medical Society. The Doctor was married in May.
1883, to Mrs. Carrie S. Blanchard, daughter of John A. and Rachael (Cald-
well) Carson. This union has been graced by the birth of one son, Benoni O.
Reynolds, who attended college at Racine and is now a student in Northwest-
ern University, preparing for the ministry. Doctor Reynolds and family are
members of the Episcopal church.

BENONI O. REYNOLDS.

The name of Dr. Benoni O. Reynolds for many decades was one of the
best known in Walworth county, where he was esteemed by all classes and
where so much of his useful and honored life was spent. He was born in
Semponius township, Cayuga county, New York, July 26, 1824. He was the
son of |olm and Nancy (Hay) Reynolds and the grandson of Benoni Rey-
nolds, who was born in Wales, from which country he came to America in
colonial days and took part in the war for independence, as a private in the
Thirteenth Regiment of Albany County Militia, and also served in the Sixth
Regiment of Dutchess County Militia under Colonel Graham of New York.
For many years he lived at Marcellus, that state, and his death occurred when
he had nearly attained the century milestone. Nancy (Hay) Reynolds was the
daughter of a Revoutionary soldier, who came to this country from Germany,
and he, too, lived to a ripe old age.

When thirteen years of age Dr. Benoni O. Reynolds was bound out to
learn a trade, and for a time he worked in a cooper shop, but, not liking the
work, he ran away and began life for himself. After two years' experience
teaching school he began the study of medicine, later taking the course at Rush
Medical College, Chicago, and there was graduated in 185 1, and about ten
1 ars later he was graduated from the ( )phthalmic College of Xew York. 1 te
practiced for some time at Hunt>\ ille, Ohio, then went to Wisconsin and began
practicing in and near Racine in [848. He enlisted for service in the Mexican
war, but was not called to the front. In iNyi he located in Elkhorn and made

WALWORTH COTJM i \ . \\ [S( O? 667

his home in this county until his death. He took up his residence in Lake
Geneva in 1866 and here he soon acquired an extensive practice. In 1861 he
was commissioned surgeon of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry and he served
with distinction in that capacity until the close of the war, in 1865. The
estimate of his ability as a surgeon in the army is shown by the following
order of Brig.-Gen. J. R. West, chief of the cavalry division: ''The operating
staff will consist of Surgeon B. O. Reynolds, of th( I 1 1 Wisconsin Cavalry,
and Surgeon W. W. Bailey, of the First Missouri Cavalry, and no operation
shall be performed without their sanction and direction, and in all doubtful
cases the board of operating surgeons shall consult together and a majority
shall decide upon the expediency and character of the operation." In 1863
Doctor Reynolds was appointed medical director on the staff of General
Ewing. While in southwesl Missouri in [862 he was taken prisoner by
Colonel Coffee's command and after being held ten days made his escape
through the Confederate lines on a night when Coffee's camp was attacked bj
Union cavalry. At the battle of Prairie Grove, in the Fall of [862, his skill
as a surgeon was put to the test. General John C. Black was so badly wounded
that an eye witness said lie looked .1- if there was hardU enough left of him to
call for the services of an undertaker, but Surgeon Reynolds took charge of
him, and out of a mass of gaping wounds and splintered bones reconstructed a
man who later was of fine personal appearance.

Doctor Reynolds was married on March 30, 1848, to Mary J. Smith, of
Trumbull county, Ohio, the daughter of Dr. John and Sarah (Buttles) Smith.
In 1861 she was graduated from the Women's Medical College and during
the war she enjoyed an extensive practice wink- her husband was awaj in the
army. She is a woman of unusual attainments and force of personality. To
the Doctor and wife two children were horn, James C, whose sketch appears
elsewhere in this work, and Willis S., who was graduated from the < Incago
.Medical 1 ollegi and who is now cashier of a hank at Hurley, \\ isconsin.

Dr. B. O. Reynolds died at his home in Lake Geneva, January 19, 191 1, in
the eighty-seventh year of his age. He was a member of McPherson Post of
the Grand Army of the Republic and a companion of the Loyal Legion. He
always to^k an abiding interest in public affair-, and was an ai I lublican

and well-known in state and county politics. He once represented his home
district in the Assembly and was also in the State Senate for sc ms, and

for eight year- he was a member of the state board of health. As a public
ant he performed his duties in an able, tious and commendable

manner, winning the hearty approval of all concern' e of pai

alignment. ITe was a member of the national hoard of health, of thi

(,(„S WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Medical Association, and of the National Medical Association. He was also
prominent in the Grand Army of the Republic. As a physician he had few
equals and no superiors in this part of the state. Mrs. Dr. Reynolds is still
living at Lake Geneva, now eighty-eight years of age.

JULIAN M. CAREY.

Read back the pages of history until you are lost in the hieroglyphs and
obscurity of the dim past; walk back through the dark corridors of time from
the magnificent civilization of today until you find yourself musing on the
world's first battlefield ; scan the characters of every great commander, and
throw your brightest light on the motives of every soldier, and the impartial
historian will then tell you that in all this gloomy concave of war, in all this
cavernous darkness of suffering and death, in all the sacrifice that humanity has
offered upon the sanguinary field of Mars, no character so pure, so noble, so
unselfish — so heroic has yet been given the world as the American citizen
soldier, fighting, suffering, dying to lift up a fallen race, to preserve the integ-
rity of a free nation, and to make immortal the flag painted by the finger of
destiny and illuminated by the stars of heaven. When the dreams of the far-
flung legions of the grand army of the early sixties have been terminated by
"the angel with the backward look and folded wings of ashen gray." the future
generations will find their dream was true, and turn and look down the- mist-
shrouded aisles of the past to their record of glory, and with a sacred tear and
a proud thrill of memory, will be glad that their old age was filled with peace
and plenty, and that the republic which they saved was generous with her
defenders, and that they faltered not at death, for they carried the everlasting
love of their fellow men with them, and reached the mystic goal where no
furloughs are given, and none are wanted, and where the password is "Eternal
Peace and Rest."

( )ne of this great bust, who is yet active in life's varied affairs, is Julian
M, Carey, an honored resident of Genoa Junction, lie was 1x>rn in Cayuga
county, New York, June 2, 1844. and he is the son of David W. and Jane E.
( Rand 1 Carey. The father was born in Columbia county. New York, in [808,
and he was the son of Amos !•'.. and Carissa (Barnes) Carey, the former
born in Cherry Valley, New York, in 1790. Amos E. Carey was a soldier in
the war of [8l2, and he received a land warrant for his services, and located
in Lee county, Illinois. 1 le sold this land to a Mr. Loverage, an early resident

WALWOR I'll '"i \ i \ , w [SCONS! \.

of this count)", southeast of Lake Geneva. Amos and David VV. Care) came
to Wisconsin in September, [846, and settled in Bloomfield township, section

5. The subject was then two years old. HC recalls, as he grew older, seeing
deer run across their farm, and lie remembers their first Christmas dinner in
this county. David W. Carey had two brothers, but they did not locate here.
Amos Carey lived hen' until [853. His wife died in 1852 and the following
year he went back east and married again, remaining there until his death in
1858. Jane E. (Rand) Carey was the daughter of John Rand and wife. It is
believed her parents came from Holland and through them she was one of the
heirs of the famous estate that claim- the Trinity church property in Mew
York City. After Amos Carey sold out he returned east. David W. Carey
and family moved to Kenosha county in 1853 and farmed in Wheatland town-
ship. His wife, mother of Julian M. Carey, died there in 1855. That broke up
the home. There were six children. Milton !'... Victorene, Julian M.. Isadore
L.. Therese A. and Edwin, who died in infancy.

The father of these children went to California and the children scat-
tered : only two of them now survive, Therese and the subject. The former is
the wife of Thomas Norton, a native of Kentucky, and they now live in
Chicago.

Julian M. Carey was offered a home in Illinois with his father's sister
He lived there about seven years, until the spring of 1862, when he returned to
Bloomfield township, this county, and worked on a farm east of Lake l
When the 1 all came for troops to suppress the Rebellion he enlisted on Septem-
ber 2, 1862, in Company C, Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
They were sent to Kentucky on garrison duty where they remained until in
February, 1863, then went down the Ohio and up the Cumb ! to n n
force Rosecrans. They went from Nashville to Franklin and from there on a
reconnoitering 1 on. He en prison* ch 25, 18

to Libby prison, and after being kept there about a month, in April he was sent
to Parol Camp, Benton Barracks, St. Louis, and there nged in June,

1863. He was sent back to Tennessee and did garrison duty at Murfreesboro
and around Nashville until April [9, [864, when he was ordered to join Sher-
man's army, and on May 2d started on the famo< -ia campaign. There
was hard fighting almost continually. The brigade containing the Twenty-
1 >nd Wisc< msin Regiment, under Brigadier ' kneral < '< burn, has the distinc-
tion of having received the surrender of the city of Atlanta. After the capture
of Atlanta they went on with Sherman on his march to the sea, taking Savan-
nah, December 10, 1864. then on through the Carolina! to Goldsboro wl
they were when Line. In was assassinated. From there they went to Rail

670 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

in pursuit of Johnson, and from there they went north to Washington, having
marched and covered all the distance in that world-famous campaign in thir-
teen months to a day. Mr. Carey was eighteen years old when he enlisted and
he was just past twenty-one when he was honorably discharged after taking
part in the Grand Review in Washington. He was mustered out at Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, June 28, 1865.

After the war Mr. Carey went to Illinois and engaged in the harness
business at Chemung, remaining there eighteen months, then gave it up and
worked around there until the winter of [869 and 1S70, when he went to
Kansas and Missouri, in May. 1870. he joined his father at Georgetown,
Eldorado county, California, and worked at gold mining two years. Return-
ing to Chemung, he remained there a year, then came back to Walworth
county, locating again in Bloomfield township. In August, 1873. he began
clerking in a general store. In March, the following spring, he bought the
store from the widow who owned it, buying the stock on credit, giving his
personal note. He continued the business successfully and paid off the note in
due course of time, and he has been in business ever since, having expended
his operations in many lines. About 1884 he bought the mill at Genoa Junc-
tion and was in the flour business until 1910 when he sold the mill, but he still
carries on the flour and feed business in addition to his general merchandising.
On February 14, 1898, the same day the battleship "Maine" was blown up in
Havana harbor, he installed an electric light plant for lighting in Genoa Junc-
tion, which he ran by water power in connection with the mill, lie also built
an ice house about 1891 and shipped ice, later selling out to the Knickerbocker
Ice Company. He has also been in the coal business ever since coming to
Geneva. In September, [909, he bought a farm at the cast end of ( ienoa
Junction, part of it extending across into Illinois.

Mr. Carey was married on January 28, 1874, to Adelia By water, at
Chemung, McHenry county, Illinois, where she had taught school seven terms.
She was born in Cayuga county, New York, and she came to Illinois with her
parents when young. Her Father had enlisted in [862 as a soldier in the Civil
war and was killed at Vicksburg.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carey, of whom Maj died
when eighteen months old; Eddie died in infancy; those living are, Grace I.,
wife of John R. Sibley, who is with the Reitz Lumber Company, in Chicago;
Myrtle J. married John II. Moore, who is with the Knickerbocker Ice Com
pam and lives in Chicago, where he has a position of great responsibility;
David William is in partnership with Mr. Carey in the store, and he is unmar-
ried ; Blaine, who is also unmarried, is operating the Farm F01 his father:

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. Il_l

Alice married Arthur Maine, and he has charge of the canning department for
the Borden Condensed Milk Company at Genoa Junction: Sherman is attend-
ing the State University at Madison; Bernice I., is at home and is in school;
Winifrede, the youngest daughter, is also at home and in school.

Mr. Carey is a Republican and he has served several terms on the school
board, also was town clerk. He has taken an active part in county and state
politics at various times.

Mr. Carey joined the Lake Geneva lodge of Masons in 1S65 and he held
his membership there until the lodge was organized at Genoa Junction, when
he became a charter member of the latter. In 1879 he built the store building,
with the Masonic lodge hall above. He and his wife belong to the Methodist
church.

Although sixty-eight years old, Mr. Care) is exceptionally well-preserved
and is as vigorous as most men at fifty. He has long been regarded as one of
the leading citizens of Genoa Junction and has done much for the good of the
town. He is a plain, obliging, hospitable gentleman who stands high in his
communitv.

JOHN T. TOBIN.

The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modes! estimate
of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the
verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the pari
his neighbors and fellow citizens. The life of John I- Tobin, one oi the
successful young farmers of Lagrange township, Walworth county, has been
h as to elicit just praise from those who know him best, having spenl his
life right here at home engaged in the pursuits for which nature and training
havi suited him and is a creditable representati if our much

respected old families.

Mr. Tobin was born on the old homestead in this township, March 9,
1876 He is the son of William and Bridget (Dooley) Tobin, both natives of
Ireland, the father born in 1828 and the mother in [851. When nineti
years of age the father emigrated to the United States and settled in New
York. In [857 he came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, settling in I
grange township in [859, and here he and his brother, Patrick, bought I
hundred and ninet res, which thi r the father of the

subject added sixty acres makiti Farm of two hundred and t1

acres, which he c »ntii to operate until his death in [903. His ividov

6/2 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

still living on the old homestead. Politically, he was a Democrat, but not an
>! • rr-seeker. He was a member of the Catholic church.

Five children were born to Air. and Airs. William Tobin. named as
follows: John T., of this review; Ella, wife of Ernest Stallman, of Sugar
Creek township; William is with the subject on the home farm; Joseph M.
was graduated from the Elkhorn high school and then took three years in
the State University at Madison and he is now in the office as bookkeeper for
the Pullman Car Company, of Chicago ; Francis T. was graduated from the
Elkhorn high school and he is now a student at the Marquette school in
Milwaukee.

John T. Tobin, of this review, received a diploma from the country
school, later attended the Elkhorn high school. He has devoted his life to
farming on the homestead and is still here, operating the same with his
brother as mentioned above. Politically, Mr. Tobin is a Democrat and he is
now serving his fourth term as township clerk.

LEWIS A. KIMBALL.

Among the men of influence in Bloomfield township. Walworth county,
who have the interest of their locality at heart and who have led consistent
lives, thereby gaining definite success along their chosen lines, is Lewis A.
Kimball, one of the leading farmers and stock men of the southeastern part
of the county, where he has a valuable and highly productive farmstead,
which he manages with that care and discretion that stamps him as a twen-
tieth-century agriculturist of the highest order.

Mr. Kimball was born in this township on March [3, [869. Me is the
son of John Casper and Christine (Runkle) Kimball, both natives of Ger-
many, the father born in Saxony. November 29, 1830, and died October 21,
1908, at the age of seventy-seven years, ten months and t\\ entj two days. 1 fe
-rcw tn manhood in the fatherland and from there sailed to America in [856,
landing on our shores Jul) 17th, alter a voyage of nine weeks on a sailing
vessel He came west with the pioneers of Wisconsin and located in Bloom
field township. Walworth county. In [862 he was able to bu) a farm, on
which he resided until his death, Ins well improved place lying in sections 9
and 10, Bloomfield township. In [863 he married Christina Runkel, who was
born in Grolsheim, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, in [840. She came to
Vmerica with her brother in [860 : m < 1 located in liloomfield township, this
county, and here she lived with John Full's family and attended school.

IT)
J

u.
O

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LEWIS A. KIMBALL

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 673

Five sons were bom to Caspar Kimball and wife, two of whom died in
infancy; the eldest lived to be about five years old; Lewis V. of this sketch;
Philip, who has a part of the home farm, and Henry, who is farming in this
township and a sketch of whom appear- elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Kimball was a hard working man. who met his man) obstacles with
a stunt heart and a stead) purpose and he succeeded in establishing a good
home and a valuable farm was developed by his close application, lie was a
lover of home and family and trained his children in a ( foristian manner. I le
was a tender hearted, kindly, forgiving, obliging gentleman whom everybod)
respected and admired — always ready to aid any. me in any trouble or need
His wife lived until January 25, [909, being advanced in war- when called
to her reward. She was a woman of beautiful character, neighborly, chari-
table and a true helpmeet to her sterling husband for over forty-five years.

Lewis A. Kimball, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm,
where he assisted with the work in the crop seasons, and he received hi- edu-
cation in the common schools of hi- district and the high school at Lake
Geneva. On January 8, 1891, he was united in marriage with Lillian Giffbrd,
tlaughter of Ezra P. and .Marietta (Chapin) Giffbrd, a sketch of whom ap
pears elsewhere in this work.

For three year- after hi- marriage, -Mr. Kimball continued on the home
farm, then bought a farm m the southwest quarter of section 17. Bloomfield
town-hip, and lived there five years, then rented for about nine year-, pan of
the time on the Moore stock farm and most of the time in Mel lenry county,
Illinois. In 1905 he bought the farm of one hundred and thirty— i\ acres
where he now lives in the southwestern quarter of section 10. 11 has

developed a good farm, well improved, and ha- been ver) successful in his
varied operations. 1 le ha- a commodious and attractive dwelling, from which
;- a splendid panorama overlooking Pell- lake, but he did not move here until
March 1, 1908. In 191 1 he completed a large, convenient and. in fact, unus-
ually fine barn, substantially built ol com rete blocks, with concrete floors, and
modern in every appointment In connection with general farming, Mr.
Kimball keeps a good grade of live stock, being a breeder of Holsteii
and Poland-China hogs, all registered.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mr-. Kimball, namel) Eunice
May, Edna Gertrude, Ruth Helene, Arthur Giffbrd, and two who died m
infancy.

Mr. and Mr-. Kimball belong to thi ional church in Genoa

Junction and they stand high in all circles in the community, their pleasant
home being known a- a tality and their many

friend-.

(43)

6/4 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

B. T. BAUMANN.

A list of Walworth county's honored and successful families would be in-
complete were there failure to make specific mention of the well-known farmer
and representative citizen whose name introduces this biographical review, for
In- life has been one of industry, honor and public spirit, resulting in good to
everyone with whom he has had dealings, whether in business or social life.
He has won success because he has persevered in pursuit of a worthy purpose,
gaining thereby a satisfactory reward, and setting an example not unworthy to
be emulated by others, especially the young and the discouraged.

B. J. Baumann, well known farmer in the vicinity of Burlington, Wiscon-
sin, was born in Racine county, this state, on March 26, 1876. He is the son
of Peter and Dina (Giebel) Baumann, both born in Germany where they spent
their childhood, emigrating to America when young, he coming to Racine
county, Wisconsin, in 1854, she having preceded him there in 1850. and there
they were married. The father's death occurred on June 30, 1897. His
widow survives, being now advanced in years. Ten children were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Baumann, eight of whom are living. In politics the
father was a Democrat, and in religious matters a devout Catholic.

B. J. Baumann, of this review, was reared on the home farm, and there
assisted with the general work when a boy, and he received his education in the
common schools in Racine county, and early in life he directed his attention
to fanning for a livelihood, which he has followed to the present time, having
been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He is now the
owner of one of the choice farms in Spring Prairie township, Walworth
county, consisting of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, which he has placed
under a high state of improvement and cultivation, and he makes a specialty
oi dairying, keeping well informed <>n this and all matters pertaining to his
chosen life-work. Ik has a very pleasant home and maintain- a good set of
outbuildings on his place.

Politically, Mr. Baumann is a Democrat and more or less active in local
party affairs. He is at present school treasurer. In religious matters he
belongs to St. Charles Catholic church, being a liberal supporter of the same.

Mr. Baumann was married in 1903 to Emma Keesman. who was born in
Racine countv, Wisconsin, on August 23, 1876. She is the daughter of Frank
nid Elizabeth (Fishman) Reesman. both born in Germany, from which
country they emigrated to America in early life, locating in Racine county.
tl 1- Ftate. the father in [851 and the mother in [844, and there thev were

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 07;

married, and to them three children were born, two of whom are living at this
writing. Mr. Reesman was twice married, his first wife being known in her
maidenhood as Elizabeth Ran. by whom eleven children were horn, throe of
whom are living. The death of Frank Reesman occurred on April 4, 1907.
His widow is living in Burlington, this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Baumann five
sons have been born, all of whom survive, namely: George Francis, Ralph
William, Elmer Bernard. Waldo Joseph and Mark I lain.

SEYMOUR AMOS COOK.

One of the most active, thoroughgoing and enterprising farmers of
Lagrange township. Walworth county, is Seymour ^mos Cook, who has
been contented to spend his life in his native community, wiselj deciding that
no better opportunities could be found for the young man of energy and
determination, and he has met with success as a fanner here.

Mr. Cook was born in Whitewater township, this county, on August 21,
i860. He is the son of Alvin Wesley Cook and Luanda (Safford) < 00k,
both natives of Xew York, he born in Jefferson county and she in
Allegany county. Alvin W. Cook came to Lagrange township, Walworth
countv. Wisconsin, in 1845, a,ul m '*4'' Lucinda Stafford came and here the)
were married. Eight children were born to them, three of whom are living.
Mr. Cook spent his life on a farm here, owning one hundred and thirty acres.
Politically, he was a Republican and he was assessor for twenty-seven yea
in succession, and later he was again incumbent of this office for thre<
He was well known and influential in his community. He and his wife w<
members of the Methodist church.

Seymour A. Cook was reared on the home farm where he began work-
ing when quite small, and he attended the rural schools in his district, \bout
twelve years of his life have Keen spent engaged in merchandising, ai whi
he was successful, but for some time he has followed farming, in which he is
still engaged, owning fifty-seven acres. He makes ;i specialty of breeding
Chester-White hogs, for which he finds a very ready marl

Tn political matters. y|r. Cook is a Republican and he has been more or
less active in local affairs. He was township clerk for about ten and

he is now serving his fourth yi chairman of the town hoard. \- a

public servant he has been most faithful and given the utn tion.

6~6 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Air. Cook was married in 1885 to Yira Hoklen. who was born in
Lagrange township, Walworth county, the daughter of Nathaniel Hoklen, an
early settler of Lagrange township, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook
one daughter and one son have been born. Raymond, died, aged eleven months.
Edith L. is now the wife of George T. Packard, of Whitewater.

WALTER CURTIS.

Among the earnest and enterprising men whose depth of character has
gained him a prominent place in the community and the respect and confidence
of his fellow citizens, is Walter Curtis, farmer and stock raiser of Geneva
township. A man of decided views and laudable ambitions, his influence has
ever made for the advancement of his kind and in the vocation to which his
energies have been given through a long lapse of successful years he ranks
among the representative farmers of the community.

Mr. Curtis was born December 16, 1854, in Lake Geneva, then a mere
village. He is the son of Lewis Curtis and wife, a sketch of whom appears
elsewhere in this work.

The subject grew to manhood in his native town and attended the semi-
nary there. When only seven or eight years old he assisted his father in the
postoffice, the elder Curtis having been the first postmaster at this place
under Republican administration, retaining the office eleven years, the com-
mission having been signed by Lincoln, the subject remembering when it was
received. As the buy grew older he also assisted his father in his store and
on his farm. Lewis Curtis kept a drug store, also bandied farming imple-
ments. He had bought land when he first came to Lake Geneva.

Walter Curtis gave his entire attention to farming after reaching man-
hood. IU- was married on March 15. [883, to Caroline Esther Foote, of
Crawfordsville, Indiana, a daughter of Lucien Andrew Foote and Susan
Greer (Sunderland) Foote, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
volume. She was bom at Clayton, Indiana, but lived at Rockville until she
was twelve years old. then accompanied the family to Crawfordsville, where

her father had a 1 k store, and afterwards for about eighteen years was

deputy county clerk of that county, holding the office under both the Re-
publicans and Democrats, because of his efficiency, lie was a gallant soldier
in the Civil war. 1 See his sketch in another part of this work. )

WALWORTH COUNTY, Wh 677

After his marriage Walter Curtis and his wife took up their abode OH
one of the Curtis farms along the north shore of Lake Geneva and here they
established a comfortable home, and he has been very successful as a general
farmer. Mr. Curtis is a Prohibitionist and take- an active interest in pro-
moting the principles of his partv.

Six children have been born to Walter Curtis and wife, live of whom are
living, namely: Florence Belle married John Brooks and the) live mi land
belonging to Mr. Brooks, near the city of Lake Geneva; they have three
children, Elizabeth May, Elliott Lucien and Caroline Bmogene. Lucien
Humphrey Curtis married Agda Brandt and lives mi the Curtis farm, luina
Foote Sunderland Curtis died when seven and one-hall years old Const nice
Elizabeth is teaching in the public schools. Lewis William is on the farm
with his father. Walter Hiram is at home and attending school.

Mr. Curtis and family belong to the ( 'ongregational church. They stand
high in the community in all circles.

GEORGE DEL WAN PEARCE.

Throughout an active and interesting career duty has ever been the
motive of action with < ieorge Delavan Pearce, one of the old settlers and
well-known agriculturists of the southern part of Walworth county, and
usefulness to his fellow men has bj no mean- been a secondar) considei
with him. Thus strong and forceful in his relations with In- fellows, he has
gained the good will and commendation of his associates and the genei
public, retaining hi- reputation among men of integrity and high chai u
and never losing the dignit) which is the birthright of the true gentleman

Mr. Pearce was born at New Hartford, Oneida county, New York,
January 26, [832. He is the son of William and Amy (Dodge) Pearce. He
is descended from Nathan and Abigail ( Spink 1 who were marrie

ler 8, 17.24, and they lived in Rhode Island, probablj near Providence.
Nathan Pearce was a minister of the Baptist church His famih consisted of
nine children, of whom the youngest, William, was born September 12, [745,
old style c; (September 23, new style), al Providence. He was a mem-

ber of the New York State Militia during the Revolutionary war, and hi
service along the H iver. His wife, Chloe Carey, was born on June 6,

1740. married March 2, [766, and died Septem 778 Her lather was

also a minister. Six children were born to Williai bj his first wife.

678 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

His second wife was Lydia Birdsall, who was bom August 20, 1757, married
February 7, 17 — , and to this union four children were born, William being
the eldest, and he was the father of George D. Pearce, of this sketch. William,
father of the subject, was born June 15, 1784, in Dutchess county, New York.
He married Amy Dodge, May 18, 1809. She was born in Dutchess count}',
New York, April 18, 1789, and in that county the parents of the subject lived
about [816 when they came to Oneida county, New York. They became the
parents of thirteen children: Lorenzo Dow being the eldest, and George
I )elavan, of this review, was the twelfth in order of birth. The eighth child
was Jonathan Howland Pearce. He lived in Walworth probably seven or
eight years before and during the war, returning to New York in November,
1N04. A Mster. Eliza, married Justus Moak, September 7, 1853, and came
to Wisconsin in the fall of 1854 and they lived at Watertown, where he was
postmaster for a number of years.

George D. Pearce lived in Oneida county, New York, until in April,
1854. On April 18th of that year he was united in marriage with Emily
Jane Baker, daughter of James and Ann ( Brakefield) Baker. She was born
in Oneida county, New York, June 3, 1836. Her parents came from Lon-
don, England, and they were natives of Maidstone, county Kent, England.
They came first to Philadelphia later moving to Oneida county, New York,
not lung before Mrs. Pearce was born, and they moved to Walworth county,
Wisconsin, about 1858 and after a short residence with Mr. Pearce moved
to Waukesha county, where Mrs. 1 laker died, after which Mr. Baker returned
to Walworth and lived with his son, Benjamin Baker, who then farmed at
what is now part of Walworth village. When Benjamin moved to Minnesota,
M 1 . Baker moved there and spent the rest of his life in that state.

The day of their marriage George 1 ). Pearce and wife started for Wis-
consin. After spending three months at Delavan, he bought a farm of eight
acres in section 20, Walworth township. Walworth count), also bought forty
acres near the lake, lie paid sixteen dollars an acre for the land, getting
half a crop. 1 le got one dollar and fifty cents per bushel for his wheat dining
the Crimean war and in a few years he had a good start in the new country.
Mr then bought sixty-six and two-thirds acres in the northwestern half of
section 20. Walworth township. Me remained on the first eighty ten years,
then sold it and bought where he now lives in 1864. His present fine farm is
in section 18. Me became the owner of over one hundred and eighty acres
and here he has lived ever since. Me has lived in only three different houses
in his life, one in New York, one in section 20, this township, and the one
which he now occupies, lb' never owned a firearm and never saw a list tight.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 679

Within a month after he located in Walworth township he was railed on
to contribute to the erection of the First Baptist church, and he did so, and he
has been an earnest member of the church tor years. He has been a deacon
for thirty or forty years, and he was clerk of the church for thirt) years.

Eight children were born to Mr. and .Mrs. lVarce: .Mary Hart, bo
April 4, 1855, married James Al. Weeks. November 10, 1S75. and she lived
at Delavan about live years and two years at Darien, then went to Pipestone,
Minnesota, where they lived seven years, then returned to Delavan and
spent ten years. Mr. Weeks was a merchant, was born February jo. [849,
and died in December, 1906, his wife preceding him to the grave on Ian;:
29, 1904. They were the parents of five children: George, who died when
seventeen years old; Grace, who married Will Harris..!,; Mary, who married
Frank E. Wire, lives in Denver, and they have four children. Justin, Marian,
Dorothy and a baby girl that died in infancy; I idle Weeks married Frank
Roland and lives at San Antonio, Texas: Pearl Weeks is living at Walworth
with Mr. Pearce. Theodore I I.urd Pearce, born August 29, 1S57, lived on
the home farm until he was grown, then worked a yeat at the I leaf and Dumb
Institute, after winch, he spent some time in Dakota and Minnesota, then
returned to the home farm, after which he rented a farm in Sharon township
and lived there about two years; on October iS. [881, he married Carrie I.
Teeter, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Joyner) Teeter; she was bom in
Sharon township, this county, her people having cme here from Schoharie
county. New York, in the early days, her parents being descended from the
early Dutch of New York. After his marriage Theodore H. Pearce rented
another farm, on which he remained a season, then bought .1 farm in Boone
county, Illinois, and lived there ten years; in- owned tin- farm, \ftcr selling
it he bought eighty acre- in Sharon township, this county, but did not live on
it. having moved to the farm owned by his wife'- father, where hi tied,

taking care of the old people, until January, [898, when be moved to Franklin
county, Tennessee and bought one hundred and thirty-six acres on which
he farmed. His wife died on August 17, 1899. In September. [900, he
returned to Wisconsin, driving a team all the way; he fanned two years on
his father's place, then purchased it and ha- since farmed for himself. Six
children were burn to Theodore II namely: \lma. who married

I). M. Eden--, of Tent lives at Tweedie, Washington, near Spokane;

they have two children. Walter Robert and Carrie Talitha; Mr. Edens I
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres there. Fern Maj Pearce married
William D. Sutton and they also live near Tweedie, Washington, where Mr
Sutton has one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, and they have one

680 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

daughter, Mary. Sarah Emily Pearce married Howard Flores and they live
in Denver, where he is an architect and fruit grower, and they have one
daughter, Ina. Grace Emma Pearce is attending college at Beloit in her
senior year. Lawrence Bernard Pearce, horn November 6, 1895, died U1
infancy. Edith Georgia Pearce is attending school. Theodore H. Pearce
was again married on September 19, 1901, to Mildred P. Moore, daughter
of McChesney and Nancy (Hawkins) Moore. She was born in Franklin
county, Tennessee, where her parents both died. Four children were born
of this marriage, Mildred Alice, Theodore Arvin, Dorothy Irene and Elna
Louise.

Emily Baker Pearce, third child of George D. Pearce, of this sketch,
was born July 2, i860. She married Herman R. Adams, December 15, 1881,
a broker in Denver, and they have one son, Royal, born November 30, 1882.
He married Mattie A. Yoxall, October 1, 1907, and they have two children.
Royal H. and Marjorie Eleanore.

George Benjamin Pearce, next child of the subject, was born September
23, 1863. He married Effie E. Lloyd, October 1, 1889. He lived at Janes-
ville until his wife died in March, 1907, leaving two children, Rexford
DeWitt and Malvern. After the death of the wife and mother. George
Pearce moved to Whitewater and there he has since engaged in gardening
and fruit growing; he has recently moved to Lima Center.

Grace Anna Pearce. the next of the subject's children, was born October
11. [866. She married William J. Peets, August 4, 1886, and lived in
Waupon and Walworth. Mr. Peets, who was a civil and mechanical engi-
neer, died February 6, 1892, leaving two children, Wilbur J.. Jr.. and George
Kenneth Peets, both now attending the technical department of Cincinnati
University. Mrs. Peets married Rev. Joseph Jenkins, NTo\ ember 22, 1898.
He is a minister in the Baptist church, having been pastor of the First
Bapt is! church at Walworth seven years and at Toulon, Illinois, for seven
years, lie is now at Macomb, that state. They have one daughter. Emily
May.

William llciin Pearce, the nexl of the subject's children, was born
August 31. 1S71. He married Dora \\ Christianson, September 22, 1897,
and they live at Lima ("enter. Rock county ', \\ isconsin, where he lias a general
store, but lie formerly engaged in farming; they have five children. J. How-
1. Herman, Anders, Emily and Percy. Frankie James, seventh in order
nf birth "i' George 1 >. Pearce's children, was born March 5, [874, and died
in infancy. Charles Sumner, the youngest of the children, was born Septem-
ber 10, 1S77. lie married on June 21, 1909, Vivian Coats, of Corsicana,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 68l

Texas, and they live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he is interested in the
Johnson Soap Works, and he has an active part in its management. They

have one daughter. Jane Pearce.

The subject's children have all received excellent training and the) are
well situated in life, and are highl) respected wherever the) live.

FR \\K CUSACK.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has long enjoyed prestige
as a leading citizen in the community in which he resides, and as an official
against whose record no word of suspicion was ever uttered. For many
years Mr. Cusack has been an important factor in the histor) of Walworth
county. His prominence in the community is the legitimate result of genuine
merit and ability, and in every relation of life, whether in the humble sphere
of private citizenship or as a trusted official with main responsibilities resting
upon him, his many excellencies of character and the able and impartial man-
ner in which he has discharged his every duty have won for him an envied
reputation as an enterprising and representative self-made man. In Mr.
Cusack's veins flows the blood of a long line of sterling Irish ancestors, in
fact, he himself is only of the second generation of this great people in the
United States.

Frank Cusack grew to manhood on the homestead here and he assisted
with the general work about the place when of proper age. lb- received his
education in the public >cho<>ls of Darien. Earl) in life he turned his atten-
tion to farming for a livelihood and has been very successful as a genera]
farmer and stock raiser, being now the owner of one of the choice Farms in
sectioii 22, Darien township, consisting oi one hundred and sixt) acres, which
he has placed under excellent modern impi nts and on which he has a

pleasant home and a good set of outbuildings. In connection with g<
farming he is mal I dairying, foi which he is well equippi

every way. and has a good grade of co

Mr. Cusack was mar; February 3, [902, to Elizabeth Flynn,

daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Stewart) Flynn, a highly resp
family of Darien township, this county, where the) :. ome very well

established through their enterprise and honorable deali)

I;rank Cusack. fanner of Darien township. Walworth county, was born
on February 14. [872, in this township, am n content to spend his

682 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

life right here at home. It would have been hard for him to have found a
better place. He is the son of Patrick and Ellen (Sullivan) Cusack, both
natives of Ireland, where they spent their earlier years and went to school and
from there they emigrated to Canada in 185 1 and engaged in farming until
1857, in which year they moved to Darien township, Walworth county, Wis-
consin, and there he worked out as a farm hand until 1870, in which year he
father purchased a good farm in Darien township, which he improved and
on which he spent the balance of his life, dying in November, 1906, and there,
on the old homestead, which he left in excellent condition, his widow still
resides.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Airs. Patrick Cusack, named as fol-
lows: Alary, now Airs. Moran; John; Nellie is deceased; M. E., James,
Julia ; Frank, of this sketch ; Agnes is deceased.

To Air. and Mrs. Cusack two children have been born, namely : Eliza-
beth, born February 7, 1903; and Loretta, born July 13, 1905.

Politically, Mr. Cusack is a loyal Republican and more or less active in
local party affairs. He was assessor of his township for a period of eight
wars, tilling this office in a manner that won the hearty approval of all con-
cerned. He is at present treasurer of the Darien high school. He is a mem-
ber of the Equitable Fraternal Union, an insurance order, and the Modern
\\ [men and the Knights of Columbus. Religiously, he is a faithful mem-
ber of the Catholic church.

WILLIAM EDGAR MASSEY.

"Earn thy reward; the gods give naught to sloth," said the old Greek
sage, Epicharmus, and the truth of the admonition has been verified in
human affairs in all the ages which have rolled their course since his day.
William Edgar Massey, farmer of Linn township and scion of one of the
worthy old families of Walworth county, has, by ceaseless toil and endeavor,
attained a large degree of success in his chosen calling and has gained the
respect and confidence of men.

Mr. Massey was born near his present home on February _', 1869. He
1- tlic .son of William and Mary 1 I >cl.mc\ 1 Massey, the father born near
I ork, in count \ Limerick, [reland. When about eighteen years old he and
his three brothers, George, Charles and John, and their mother emigrated
lo America, the father having died in Ireland. The mother and her four
sons firsl spent a few years in New York and other points in the East, then

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 683

William Massey came to Linn township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and
here worked nine years for General Boyd, being about twentj two years old
when he came here. After nine years he purchased a farm of eight) acres,
later buying sixty acres additional, and made his permanent home mar the
center of Linn township. He was married in [86] to Mar) Delaney, dan-li-
ter of Thomas and Elizabeth 1 Brown) Delaney, both born in Ireland. Thomas
Delaney being from county Kilkenny and his wife from Munster. Eliza etl
Brown came to America when twelve years old with her parents, George and
Ann Brown, this family settling in Lyons township, this county, being among
the pioneers. The Browns and Delaneys both came to America in the thirties
and located first in Michigan, where they spent two or three years, and there
Thomas Delaney and Ann Brown were married. Then Thomas Delane) and
his brother-in-law, John Brown, and James Curran, another brother-in-
law of Delaney's, came to Wisconsin on a prospecting tour and located in
Walworth county, Thomas Delaney entering two hundred acres from the
government in section 33, Lyons township, in [840, his land being li
three miles east of Geneva. Mr. Curran entered land near there also, and the
Browns entered land three miles farther east.

The family of Thomas Delaney consisted of the following children:
George. Ann. Mary, .Margaret. John, William. Thomas, Jane, Dennis, Eliza-
beth, Patrick Henry, James and Valentine.

Thomas Delaney and wife spent the rest of their lives on the land they
first secured here and there reared their large famil) and died there, and
there Mar) lived until she married William Ma^ey. After his marriage
William Massey purchased his farm in Linn township, and there spenl mosl
of his life and reared his family of nine children, who were named as follows:
Elizabeth, Elen, George, Martha. Gertrude, Cecily, William, Frank and Emma
("not named in the order of birth).

In 1904 William Massey retired from farming and he and Ins wife
moved to Chicago where hi- death occurred in [906. Mrs. Masse) now makes
her home with her daughter, Ellen, wife of G ician;

Elizabeth is the wife of Thomas W. Slavin, of G township; G

married Margaret Doyle and has a good farm in Linn township; William
Edgar is the subject of this sketch; Frank married Frances Reilli
Chicago, and lives on the farm left by his father; Emma married Gi
Kenney and lives at Janesville, Wisconsin; Martha 1- a Sister of Mercy in
a convent in Milwauki G trude liv< lorado; Cecil) married Arthur

Moynihan.

684 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

William E. Massey grew to manhood on his father's farm in Linn
township and was educated in the local schools. On February 22, 1898, he
was united in marriage with Mary Tulley, daughter of Andrew and Mary
(Ouincannon) Tulley. She was born at Delavan and lived in Lake Geneva
most of her life. Her parents were natives of Ireland. Mary Ouincannon
was the daughter of Michael and Bridget Ouincannon, very early settlers
near Lake Geneva. Mrs. Massey' s mother died when she was five years
old. Her father is still living near Delavan, where he is engaged in farming.

William E. Massey and wife have three children, namely: Earl Will-
iam Joseph, born March 12, 1S89; Mary Genevieve, born February 6, 1901 ;
Katherine Evelvne, born April 28, 1903.

For four years after their marriage William F. Massey and wife lived
on the farm now owned by George Massey in section 21. After four years
there he bought the farm where he now lives in the northeast quarter of sec-
tion 21, Linn township, adjoining the brother's farm, where he had rented
before buying a farm of his own. lie has been very successful as a gen-
eral farmer and stock raiser. The subject and family belong to the Catholic
church at Lake Geneva, and fraternally he belongs to the Catholic Order of
Foresters.

LUCIEN ANDREW FOOTE.

The life record of such a man as the late Lucien Andrew Foote, for
mam years one of the prominent citizens of Montgomery count}. Indiana,
is worthy of perpetuation on the pages of history, for in it may be gleaned
many valuable lessons, for he was a man of sterling characteristics of head
and heart and left behind him a heritage of which his descendants and friends
may well be proud. He was the son of Andrew Foote, who was born at
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on December 15, 17S0, and he was a son of Thomas
and Jane Foote. Wording to family tradition, four generations before An-
drew Foote the Eamih came from Wales to Ireland between the years [680
in [690. The ancestor in the third generation before the subjeel was born
during the siege of Londonderry, [690. His son Thomas afterwards re-
sided in Rapho, province of Lister, and there reared his family. One of his
s.nis. Thomas, father of \11drew Foote, emigrated t" America in 1774.
landing in Philadelphia and married Janet Roan at Middleton, Pennsylvania,
in [778 and they settled in Carlyle. that state. \ln.ut 1 7S 1 • they moved to
Baltimore, Maryland, where they resided a number of years, then returned

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

to Carlisle, then in [793 moved to Ohio and there he spent the rest of his
life, dying in Adams county in 1806, when fifty-two years old.

Thomas S. Foote, son of the above named gentleman, married Mary
Tweed, daughter of Archibald Tweed, of Clermont county, Ohio, lie was
an attorney-at-law. Archibald Tweed married Jeannette Patterson in Penn-
sylvania and in 1798 moved to what is now Ripley county, < >hio, and reared a
large family, one of whom, Jane, married \ndvew Foote. Ancestors of the
Tweed family lived in the north of Scotland, the name having probablj
originated from the Tweed river, or ;; a Andrew and Jane 1 Tweed)

Foote were the parents of Major Foote. The mother was born December 7.
[787. Susan Greer Sunderland Foote, mentioned above, died on April 1,
t858.

Maj. Lucien A. Foote was horn in Batavia county, Ohio, December n>.
1S24. In April. [833, he moved with the family to Indiana, locating at
Rockville. where the father engaged in the general merchandise business.
Lucien acquired such education as lie could in the common schools and he
assisted hi- father in his business when a boy. < >n March 9, [849, he started
with a party overland to California. At thai 1 m< all we-t of the Mississippi
river was a vast wilderness. The trip with ox team- required nearly -i\
months, they arriving there in September. Major Foote located in Placerville
and remained there two year- engaged in mining, then returned to Rock-
ville. Indiana, where, on December 31. [851, he was united in marriage with
Susan G. Sunderland, a daughter of John and 1 Page) Sunderland.

She was born in Rockville in [833 and her death occurred on April 1. 1858,
in that town. Her parents were- pioneers 111 Parke county, Indiana.

Three daughters were born to Major Foote and wife: Mrs. Howard I'
Proctor, of Chicago; Mr-. William (I. Stevens, of Versailles, Missouri; and
.Mr-. Walter (urn-, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. About two years after the
death of his first wife the Major wa- united 111 marriage with Amelia Ann
Holt, of Madison, Wisconsin, who now survives him and lives with Mr-.
Walter Curtis, of Lake Geneva.

In October. 1859, Major Foote wa- elected auditor of Parke county.
Indiana, and he served in that capacity until the Civil war broke out. when he
recruited a company and was elected captain of i ompanj V Fourteenth In
.liana Volunteer Infantry. He resigned on accoui rj and 1

.,;,,.,]. enlisted ' ' nty-eighth Indiana Volunl miry.

He wa- captured with part of the regiment in .Uniontown, Kentucky, Sep-
tember 1. [862, and sent home on .-, parole. Kfter his exchangi

in Company <>. « >ne Hundred and Thirty-third Indiana \

686 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

teer [nfantry, and was commissioned major of that regiment. He was a
splendid officer and won the admiration of his men and superior officers.

In March, 1865, the Major moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and
engaged in the book and stationery business several years. For more than
sixty years he was a very prominent Mason, reaching by gradual succession
the highest office in the gift of the order, grand master of the grand lodge.
and was one of the most widely known and influential men in the order in
the United States. He was a charter member of McPherson Post, Grand
Army of the Republic, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, also a charter member of
the Loyal Legion of Indiana, and at the time of his death he was chaplain of
the order. He lived to be nearly eighty-six years old, his death occurring at
the home of his daughter, Mrs. Walter Curtis, near Lake Geneva. Wiscon-
sin, December 1, 1910, after an unusually active, honorable and useful career.

The Major was an intimate friend of many celebrated people of his day
and generation. In a copy of "Ben-Hur," written by Gen. Lew Wallace, his
fellow townsman at Crawfordsville, Indiana, we rind the following written
by the great author himself: "Major Foote asks me to write my name here,
and as I am an ancient friend of his, I can refuse him nothing. Lew Wal-
lace, February 1, 1889."

HENRY KIMBALL.

At the outset of his career Henry Kimball, farmer and stock raiser of
Bloomfield township, Walworth county, realized that the foundation of all
achievement is earnest, persistent labor, so he did not seek any roval road to
the goal of prosperity and independence, but began to work earnestly and
diligently to advance himself, and the result has been most satisfactory, and
while still young in years he has become owner of an excellent farm and a
comfortable home and takes lus place in the ranks of those men who. while
bettering their own condition, lend a helping hand to public improvements
as well and is therefore entitled to the esteem of their fellow men. This
Mr. Kimball can certainly claim.

The subject was born on the farm where he now resides in the northern
part of Bloomfield township, Walworth county, June jo. 1878. He is flu-
son of Caspar J. and Christina Kimball, and is a brother of Lewis A. Kim-
ball, a sketch oi whom appears elsewhere in this work, and in which will be
found the Kimball ancestry. However, suffice it to say here that bis father
was born in Saxony. Germany, and bis mother in Grolsheim, Germany, near

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. < N~

the city of Worms, and they spent their childh I days in the fatherland,

and when migrated to America and married in this country. The

father came with the pioneers to Walworth county in the fifties and here be-
came well established through thrift and industry.

Henrj Kimball grew to manhood on the home Farm and when young he
worked out by the month three or four years. He was married in 1902 to
Freda ['faff, daughter of Carl Louis Pfaff and Bertha 1 Kuempel 1 Pfaff. She
was born in Wernshausen, Saxe-Meiningen, German}'. She came to America
in 1882 with her parent- and the resl of the family. They located at Mauston,
Juneau county. Wisconsin, and lived there until her marriage. Mr. Pfaff i- a
successful fanner, still living in Juneau county.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. I leiin Kimball, three of whom
are living at this writing, namely: Marian died when about nine months "Id;
Thedora, Helen and Louis are at home.

After his marriage Mr. Kimball took up farming for himself on the old
homestead and has lived here ever since, lie owns one hundred and twentj

acres of excellent land, which he ha- placed under g 1 improvements and

cultivation, hi- labors being annually repaid by bounteous harvests, due to his
skillful management and hi- close attention to hi- work For a time he car-
ried nu butter making, but found it detrimental to hi- health and abandoned
the same. Mr. Kimball is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal
church.

HOB \RT M. II \T( II.

Hobart M. Hatch, one of the most progressive and painstaking agricul
turists and stock raisers of Linn township, Walworth county, 1- a worthy
representative of the great middle class of Anglo Saxons from which tin- true
noblemen of our republic spring; for ii 1- a fact patent to all contemplative
minds that those who belong to the respectable middle class o( society, being
early taught the necessity of relying upon themselves, depending upon their
own exertions, will be more apt to acquire that information and those busi-
ness habits which alone can fit them to discharge life's duties in a commend-
able manner, and. indeed, it has long been a noticeable fact that our
men in nearly all walk- of life in America spring from tin

Mr. Hatch was horn in the central part of Linn township, Walworth
countv. Wisconsin, on the farm where he now live-. Ma\ 3, 1861. and Ik- In-
been contented fe in hi- home community, lie i- the son ,,f

688 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

Seymour Norman Hatch and Mary ( Stoneall ) Hatch, a complete sketch of
whom appears elsewhere in this work.

-Mr. Hatch grew up on his father's farm and there assisted with the
general work when quite young. He received his education in the public
schools here, also the seminary at Lake Geneva. His father had one of the
finest farms in the southern part of the county, consisting of seven hundred
acres, and Hobart M. Hatch was placed in charge of the place while yet a
young man, managing it in an able and satisfactory manner. With the ex-
ception of one year spent in California, he has spent his life on the home-
stead and is regarded as one of the most up-to-date and skillful of our general
farmers. His judgment of live stuck is also equal to that of any of his con-
temporaries in the county.

Mr. Hatch was married on September _>_'. iS.qS, to Mary Grimm, daugh-
ter of John Chalmer Grimm and Lillian Amanda (Eshelmannj Grimm. She
was born at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and from there moved to Cleveland,
where she lived most of the time up to 1897, when she came to Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin. Five children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Hatch, namely :
Helen May, Lester Franklin, Dorothy, Seymour Norman and Donald Hobart.

Mr. Hatch has been a member of the town board, and he and his family
licking to the Congregational church. He is a progressive Republican and is
a member of the Republican county committee, also chairman of the central
committee for Finn township. He is regarded as a local leader and wields a
patent influence in public affairs. He is a man of broad ideas and is of
genial and obliging address, so that he enjoys the confidence and good will of
all with whom he has come into contact, his honesty of purpose being un-
questioned.

HARRY ELMER COCROFT.

The gentleman to whom the reader's attention is now directed was not
favored by inherited wealth or the assistance of influential friends, but in
spite of these, by perseverance, industry and a wise economy, he lias attained a
comfortable station in life, and is well and favorably known throughout
\\ alworth count} as a result of the industrious life he has lived here for many
years, being regarded by all who know him as a man of sound business princi-
ple-, thoroughly up-to date in all phases of agriculture ami stock raising and
as a man who, while advancing his individual interests, dors not neglect his
general duties as a citizen.

WALWORTH ( .'i N l\, U [S< ONSIN. i ,S. |

Harry Elmer Cocroft was born in Rochester, Racine county, Wisconsin,
on March 7, 1807. the son of Joseph E. and Ann (Woodhead) Cocroft, an
excellent old family, long influential in the affairs of southeastern Wisconsin,
a complete sketch of whom will be found an another page ><i this work.

Harry E. Cocroft, the present efficient superintendent of the famous
Ceylon Court farm near the city of Lake Geneva, has devoted his life to
agricultural pursuits with marked success, having received excellent training
on the home farm, where he grew to manhood, assisting with the general work
during the crop seasons, and in the winter time he attended the neighboring
schools. When twenty-one years old he left home and went to North I >akota,
where he spent two years in charge of a big farm. 1 [e then accepted a posi-
tion with the American Express Company at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and
was with this company until 1901, becoming one of their most faithful and
trusted employes. In that year J. J. Mitchell, well known Chicago capitalist
and horse man. began developing Ceylon Court farm near the shores of ]
Geneva, and Mr. Cocroft was employed by him. After three months in a
subordinate position, he was put in charge of the farm and directed the im-
provements, also bought all the live stock for the place. Mr. Mitchell having
trusted everything almost entirely to his judgment, Eie has also had the
hiring of the men who work on the farm, and has a large force under his
direction. He drew up the plans and specifications for the buildings (1
scribed elsewhere), which are regarded by all who see them a-* models of
their kind, and they were built under his supervision. And he is -till work-
ing on plans for future improvements.

Although Mr. Cocroft was compelled to 1 school when only eleven
years old and take up the work of a man, which he ha- continued ever sin
he has found time to do a gr< 1 of home stud) and 1- therefore a -elf-

educated man in the most liberal terms, being familiar with various branches
of literature, science and art, familiarizing himself especially with all pha
agricultural, horticultural, stock raising, landscape gardening and architectun .
and after his daily work he has often late into the night, in f;

ever been a profound student.

Mr. Cocroft was married in [891 to Catherine Moon, of Lake Geneva,
the daughter of William and Margaret l Moon, a highlj respected

family of this coi To the subject and wife I ■ daugh-

ter were born, namely : Llo ett, Glen Earl and Marguerite. The'/

and mother passed to her rest in [901, and in [904 Mr. I !ocrofl was united in
marriage with Clara Griniger, of Like Geneva, daughter of John and Mar)
1 ( iie-ie 1 Griniger, an excellent German family, the pa the

f44)

69O WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

empire, having emigrated to Lake Geneva in early life, first living, however,
near Vienna, Wisconsin, where their daughter, Clara, was born.

Mr. Cocroft is a quiet, practical man, obliging and thoroughly enamored
of his work, consequently does it exceptionally well and he can claim a wide
circle of friends throughout this locality.

ALMON L. PETERSON.

The record of Almon L. Peterson, a successful farmer of Whitewater
township. Walworth county, is that of an enterprising gentleman whose life
has been very intimately associated with the material prosperity and moral
advancement of this locality during the most progressive period of its history,
and he has always been found on the right side of questions looking to the
development of his county in any way.

Mr. Peterson was born in Richmond township, this county, on April 4,
i860. He is the son of Oliver H. and Mary (Halderson) Peterson, both
natives of Norway, the father born in 1830 and the mother in 1829. He
came to Walworth county. Wisconsin, in 1849 witn ms parents. John and
Carrie (Valley) Holden, the father dying the second day after landing, and
he was buried in Richmond township. His widow subsequently married John
Arveson, whose death occurred in i,S;_'. and in 1879 sne passed away. She
was burn in 1795. Mary Halderson came to Walworth county in 1841; and
the parents of the subject were married in Delavan, this county. Their
family consisted of seven children, four of whom are living. Oliver H.
Peterson devoted his life to farming and became the owner of one hundred
and fifty-four acre-. His death occurred in 1909 and his wife died in 190S.

Almon L. Peterson was reared on the home farm and received his edu-
cation in the public schools of his township and the Whitewater Normal. He
has continued farming from boyhood and he purchased one hundred and
fortv acres in Sugar ( reek township, which he later sold, then came to White-
water township, three miles east of his former place, and purchased one hun-
dred and seventy-six acres, known as the "Big Spring" farm. Here he has
been mosl successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, carrying on dairy-
ing and breeding Jersey cattle.

Politically, Mr. Peterson is a Republican, and he was-assessor of Sugar

Creek township for a year, and was also a member of the school board for a

ir. lie was assessor in Whitewater township tor three years, and was

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 69I

township chairman one year, filling these various positions with much credit
and satisfaction. He belongs to the Methodist church.

Mr. Peterson was married on January 23, [895, to Laura Larsen, who
came to Wisconsin in 1S71. She is the daughter of Peter and Mary 1 Ras-
mussen) Larson, both born in Denmark, where they were reared. About
[858 they emigrated to America, and soon came on to Xeeiiah. Winnebago
county. Wisconsin. Her father's death occurred in Oconto county, tins state,
in 190S. and his widow is still living there. To the subject and wife two
children have been horn, namely: Ira I.., born May [3, [896, and Almon
Harold, born March to. iNgS.

EDWIX GEORGE PRICE.

It is sate to say that Bloomfield township has no more painstaking tiller
of the soil than Edwin George Trice, a \er\ creditable representative of one
of the old families of Walworth county, and a descendanl of thrifty Germans,
many of whose estimable qualities seem to have outer ipped in him.

Mr. Price was horn in this township October 20, (859, and here he has
been content to spend his life. He is the son of Caspar and Christene
(Kessler) Price, both nan..- of Saxony, Germany, where they grew up and
were married, making their home near Schmalkalten, Schpringstille, until
1852, and there two of their sons, twins, Godfrey and Ferdinand, were born.
In [852 the famil\ emigrated to New York, and -pent one year in Pennsyl-
vania, then came to Wisconsin and located in section 15. Bloomfield town-hip.
Walworth county. There were no railroad- here at that tune and even the
wagon roads were Fi M\ kept. People traveled mostlj on fool or

horseback. Here the parent- of the subject spenl the resl of their livi

[fre; Price married Julia Chapin, daughter of John Chapin, and he fanned
in Bloomfield township most of his life, and his death ! at Genoa

Junction in the winter of [902. Ferdinand Price married Bertha Steffen, of
Simache, Pommern, Germany, daughter of Fred and Wilhelmina Steffen; he
is farming in the west part of Bloomfield town-hip on his own farm, and he
has a family; Caspar Price died Octobet 6, [883, in I ntieth year, and

!i ife, Christene Price, died on May 3, [893.

Edwin C. Price, of this -ketch, grew to manhood on the home farm in
Bloomfield township and lived there in

1883. to Wilhelmina Krause, daughter of August and Gt ell) Krai

692 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Price was born near
Berlin. Germany. Her mother died in the old country, from the results of a
conflagration in which their city, Deutsch Kronin, was nearly wiped out. The
mother and her child, only three hours old when the fire started, were exposed
to the cold, which was too severe for them to bear. The father had already
made preparations to come to America, and after the death of his first wife
he married again and came on to the United States, bringing YVilhelmina and
her brother, Julius Edward Krause, now of Lyons, this county.

Edwin G. Price bought the farm where he now lives at the time of his
marriage, this place consisting of one hundred and six acres in sections 17
and 20, Bloomfield township. The place was without improvements, not
even a fence on it. Air. Price has, through years of close, persistent work,
brought it up to a high standard of improvement and cultivation, and is suc-
cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising.

For nine years Mr. Price was treasurer of the school board, also served
as clerk of the board for some time. He has never been an office seeker or a
politician, preferring to devote his attention to his farm and home. He raises
fine cattle, formerly keeping full blooded Holsteins, and he now raises reg-
istered Jerseys, his tine stock being greatly admired by all.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Price, the oldest, Emma,
dying when thirteen years old, on January 24. 1897 : Carrie, who has remained
single; Louis, who married Dagmar Langkilde, daughter of Carl and Rosa
Langkilde, of Bloomfield Center; Louis lives at Genoa Junction, being em-
ployed in the Borden milk plant ; Ethel, Chester and Edith Price, the younger
children of the subject, live at home. Mr. Price and family all belong to
(he Lutheran church at Lake Geneva.

WALTER EDWARD LEDGER.

The enterprise of Walter Edward Ledger, well known farmer ami stock
raiser of Linn township, Walworth county, has been- crowned by success, as
a result of rightly applied principles which never fail in their ultimate effect
when coupled with integrity, uprightness and a congenial disposition, as they
have been done in the present instance, judging from the high standing of
the subject among his fellow citizens, whose undivided esteem he has justly
won and retained. I le is the scion of one of the early families of tins town-
ship, members of which have lived to take a more or less conspicuous part in

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 693

the transformation of the same from the wilderm nturj ago to

the present, with its fine farms and pleasant homes, and the) have not only
aide. I in the material development, but have also done their full -hare in
promoting- the civic and moral welfare of the community, being known as
advocates of wholesome living, both in public ami private life, and the man)
admirable characteristics of the elder Ledgers seem to be fostered in the
subject.

Mr. Ledger was born on the farm where he now lives in Linn town-
ship, Walworth county. Wisconsin, on l krtobei _><), iN(>S. lie is the son of
Thomas and Fannie (Shepherd) Ledger, both natives of England, the father
born in Lincolnshire, and there they spent the earlier year- of their lives. It
was about 1850 when Thomas Ledger emigrated to America, lie visited
many parts of the country before settling permanently, and lie spent con-
siderable time in Michigan, also came to Walworth count). Wisconsin, for a
while, then returned to England about three years after hi- arrival on our
shores, and while on this trip he and Fannie Shepherd were married. Soon
afterwards they returned to the United State- and purchased fort) acre-.
the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter ol section 23, I. inn town-
ship, comprising the farm where In- son, Walter 1 . ol this -ketch, now
resides, and here he established hi- home and -pent the rest of hi- life, en-
gaged in general farming, in which he prospered from the first, and he added
to his original purchase until he became the owner of two hundred and forty
acres of excellent land.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mr-. Thomas Ledger, namel)
John William lived in Linn township, south of the Ledger homestead and
owned a farm of one hundred acres, and here hi- death occurred on Septem-
ber 27. 1890, leaving a wife and two children: Nellie married A. < i. Palmer
and they live in Geneva township, this county; Maria, who married Henrj M.
Turner and lived in Illinois, just aero-- the 5tate hue south from her home,
died in April. [886; David owns and operates a lai rm in the southwi

ern part of Geneva township; Susan, who married T. II. Speaker, lives in
Richmond, Illinois; Charles lives in Rdckford, Illinois; Frances, who mar-
ried Frank Brev iter and lived in Geneva township, this county, ed,
as is also her husband: Walter Edward, of this -ketch, was the youngesl of
the family.

Politically, Thomas Ledger, the father, was a Republican, and he took
an active interest in public affair-, and at om time he was a member of the
town-hip hoard of supervisors. His death ; in \pnl. [908, at an

advanced age. his wife having preceded him to th( iv< Sept mber, [89

694 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Walter M. Ledger grew up on the home farm and he received his edu-
cation in the common schools of his district. He early turned his attention
to agricultural pursuits and he has spent his life on the homestead, which he
has managed with a skill little less than his able father before him, keeping
the land well tilled and improved so that it has increased in value rather than
been depleted.

Air. Ledger was married to Eva C. Weter on October 18, 1893. She
was born in Linn township, this count)', and is the daughter of Mahlon Eber
Weter and Cordelia ( Mickle) Weter. Both parents came from Oneida
county, New York. Mrs. Ledger's paternal grandparents, Palmer and Jane
(Palmer) Weter, were also natives of the East, and her father, Mahlon
Weter, came to Wisconsin with his father and step-mother when he was nine
vears old, his own mother having died in New York. The Weter family
came here probably as early as 1845 and located in section 23. in the south
part of Linn township, and there the Weter home remained for many years.
Palmer Weter remained there until late in life, then moved to the village of
Sharon, where he spent the rest of his days. There Mahlon Eber Weter
grew to manhood and was married to Cordelia Mickle. She was the daughter
of lohn and Polly (Nutt) Mickle. She was born in Oneida county. New
York, and she came here with her parents about the same time the Weters
came here. The Mickle family located in section 31, in the southwestern
part of Linn township and there established the permanent home of the fam-
ily. Upon their arrival they had an opportunity to locate on Bloom Prairie,
but. like must pioneers, they selected a place where timber and water were
plentiful, but it was in the hills and rougher land, similar to what they had
been used to in the state of New York. After Eber Weter was married he
bought a farm adjoining his father's, in sections 32 and 33, a little of it
across the line in Illinois, owning one hundred and twenty acres there, and
this place continued to be his place of abode until 1903. when he moved to
the village of I [ebron, Illinois.

Mrs. Ledger was one of a family of six children, namely: Emma, wife
of Howard Connie, lives just across the line in Illinois, just south of Zenda;
David lives near Hebron. Illinois: Eva, wife of Walter E. Ledger; Albert
lives in lllinos. near his father's farm; I 'aimer lives on the old homestead:
Alice is at home with her parent-.

After his marriage Waller E. Ledger, of this sketch, continued farming
on the old home place, as he had done for two or three years previously and
he has continued farming. He has been \en successful a- a general farmer
and stock raiser, always keeping a good grade of live stock, and he is making
a specialtj of dairying, for which he is exceptional!) well equipped.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 695

Politically, .Mr. Ledger is a Republican and he is more or less active in
political affairs. He is a member of the township board of supervisors and is
also treasurer of the school board.

Besides his farming and dairying interests, Mr. Ledger is a director in
the Farmers National Bank of Lake Geneva and a director of the .Mutual
Fire Insurance Company of the town of Geneva, a company doing business
in Geneva, Lyons, Linn, Bloomfield and Delavan townships.

Four children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Ledger, named as fol-
lows: Albert William. Walter Mahlon, Maria Cordelia and Eunice Mary, all
attending' school, two in the Lake Geneva high school.

Fraternally. Mr. Ledger is a member of the Masonic order, the Royal
Neighbors and the .Modern Woodmen, lie and hi- wife belong to the Linn
and Hebron Presbyterian church.

JOSEPH ST< INE \I.L.

There are always lessons of extraordinary interest to he gained through
the perusal of lite records such as that ol the late Joseph Stoneall, for mam.
years one of the honored and influential citizens of Walworth county, and now
that he has gone to the land of the Mystic Beyond, In- memory i- reverenced
by a host of friends who yet linger on "tin- brink and shoal of time."

Mr. Stoneall was horn in Wilkeshire, England, about twent) mile- from
Bath, probably in the year 1817. He was the -on of Richard Stoneall and
wife. The mother died in England while Joseph was a youth. When be
was about twenty years old he and hi- father and two sisters and brother,
George, came to America. Another brother, Henry, and a cousin and cousin's
wife had previousl) voyaged to our shores and it Geneva, Illinois. In

[840 Joseph Stoneall and his father came 1- the eastern part of Linn town-
ship, this county, and built a small house, when Man came and kept house
for them. She afterwards married Seymour Match, i.e. .rue St' >m-.ill re-
mained at Geneva, Illinois, and died then-. While there a nurseryman sel oul
a large stock of nursery tree- on In- land, under an arrangement for l<
or renting, but he never came back, and Mr. Stoneall tended it and furnished

to the entire locality, supplying many orchard- here in the earl)
The family experienced many hardships during the first year or two -1 their
residence here. They had been tailor- in England and were without experi-
ence as fanners. They were prodigious walker- and when the) came here

696 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

from Geneva, Illinois, they walked all day without food. The country was
sparsely settled, mostly by young men "keeping' batch," and they found it
difficult to get anything to eat. They walked about sixty miles the first day.
About 1852 they bought a farm in the southeastern part of Linn township.
It was new land and all overgrown with hazel brush. This they cleared and
finally had a good farm. Richard Stoneall died about 1859. In 1861 Joseph
Stoneall married Mrs. Lucy (Rowe) Everson, widow of Hiram Everson. Jr.
She was the daughter of Lucian and Lucy ( Stillwell) Rowe, and she was
born in Onondago county. Xew York, and there she lived until the death of
her first husband, January 8. 1857; by her first marriage one son was born.
Herbert Everson. who now lives in Sioux Falls. South Dakota. In June.
1857, she came to Genoa Junction, this county, ami she lived in that vicinity
with her brother, Franklin Rowe. Daniel Rowe, her uncle and an old pioneer.
also lived in that neighborhood. After her marriage she made her home on
the farm in the southeastern part of Linn township. Mr. Stoneall cleared the
ground, built a house and continued to improve the place, building a better
house in 1880, and he proved to be one of the best farmers in that part of the
county. Three sons and one daughter were born to them: Martha Louise,
who married Xavnard Cornne, lives in Lake Geneva; Seymour Joseph lives in
Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Franklin Lewis died when three years and eight
months old ; George Edward married Anna Rodeweg, of Saybrook, near
Bloomington, Illinois, and they have three children, Winifred Elaine, Bernice
Althea and Rex Milfred; George E. is running the farm; they have two hun-
dred and twenty acres, of which sixty acres lie across the state line in Illinois.

The death of Joseph Stoneall occurred in 1897. He was a member of
the Finn Hebron Presbyterian church, now known as the Hill church.
although he was reared an Episcopalian. Mrs. Stoneall is a member of the
1 1 ill church ; she still makes her home on the farm where she has resided since
[861. Mrs. Stoneall's parents moved to Joliet, Illinois, when she was four
years old; they lived there two years and there the father 'died : then the
mother returned to Xew York state with her eight children, and lived there
until the children grew to maturity and married. The father had left a sec-
tion of land in Michigan and that was the mother's support. She came west
shortl) aiter Mr-. Stoneall came, probabl) in [865, and lived among her chil-
dren. She was born in [800 and -he 'lied in iNNj. at the age of eighty-two
years.

I leorge Edward Stoneall was born near where he now lives in Finn town-
ship. Walworth county. Februarj 23, [869, and there he grew up on his
father's farm and attended the home public schools and the high school at

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Hebron, Illinois. He was married in the fall of [894 to \nna Rodawig, of
Saybrook, Illinois, daughter of William Rodawig and wife. Her father was
horn in Prussia and came to Illinois about [850 and spenl mosl of his life near
Saybrook.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stoneall, 1 ghters,

Winefred and IVrnice. and a son. Wilfrid. He and his wife belong to the
Presbyterian church. Mr. Stoneall ha-- two hundred and twentj acres of fine
land on which he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising,
lie is well known in this part of the count) and is a man of honest prin

AUGUST KRAUSE.

Another of the excellent German citizens who has long been a resident
of Walworth count) and by his thrift and honorable dealings has benefited
himself and family and the community as well, is August Krause, whose
pleasant home is to be found in section 32, ( leneva township, in the picturesque
community at the head of Lake ( omo.

.Mr. Krause was horn in the city of Deutsch Kronin, Germany, Augusl
15, 1834, and 1- the -on of Ferdinand ami [Catherine Krause. lie .grew up

in hi- native community and worked on the farm- there. I le married Augusta
Tell, who was horn and reared in a village near that 111 which her husband
was reared. Four children were horn to them. Edward and Wilhelmina
living and two who died in infancy. Within three hours after the birth -1
one of the children, in February, [868, the cit) was being destroyed b)
and many hundred- were left homeless and destitute. Mrs. Krause died from
the effects of the cold and exposure. Mr. Krause had already planned to
come to America. He later married hi- first wife'- sister, Amelia, and
brought her and his two children to the United States, locating firsl at Burling
ton. Wisconsin, and lived there until [872. He then came to Walworth
county and boughl fifty-eight acre- where he now lives, and tin- ha- hem
their home for forty year-. Twelve children have hern bon m here

in America, three of whom died in infancy; William died in March, r8<
when nineteen years old: Frances, who married William Gardner, died in
February, [893, I- 1 little daughtei named I vho mar

ried Georgi ! tnd lives at Walworth, ha- one -0.1 and two daughti

Emma married William Gardner, former husband of her deceased sister,
Frances, and the-, live at Willian d one daughter;

698 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Frank lives on a farm in Linn township, near his father's home, and he mar-
ried Amelia Larsen and they have one sun and four daughters; George, who
lives at Williams Bay, married Lena Lindquist and they have one son and
two daughters; Henry, who lives near Williams Bay, married Frances Henne
and they have one daughter; Fred and Otto are at home with their parents.

Of the children by Air. Krause's first marriage, Julius Edward lives in
Lyons township on a farm of his own; he married Lizzie Weyerauch and
they have live suns. Wilhelmina Krause married Edward G. Price, a farmer
of Bloomfield township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Krause and family belong to the Lutheran church at Elkhorn. In
the early days after the Krause family came to this county they experienced
the hard times that beset the early settlers, but bore their privations and hard-
ships bravely and by perseverance succeeded. The chinch bugs completely
destroyed their first crops. Employment was hard to find and the family was
in dire straits for a time. The father was a brick mason as well as a farmer
and he helped erect many of the buildings in Lake Geneva.

JOSEPH EPWORTH COCROFT.

The history of England has always been one pervaded with intense
interest, especially to America, where a certain kinship is felt, for it has to do
with a sterling face of people, possessing admirable qualities of heart and
mind anil ever vigilant to push the car of civilization on to the edge of things,
tdnbe rircumnavigators and empire builders, — even if the most sanguinary
methods had to be resorted to. for they have ever had in mind the ultimate

g 1 of the race. We of America owe much to this hardy people. Wherever

the) have taken up their work in our states we find a thriving, law-abiding
community. And it is of a scion of such praiseworthy people that the biog-
rapher now essays to tell in a brief histroy.

Joseph Epworth Cocroft was born in Yorkshire, England. May 9, i8_m.
the sun of Charles and Mary Cocroft. lie spent his boyhood in his native
country, emigrating to America when twenn one years "Id. reaching his
majority while on board the ship, the old-fashioned sailing vessel requiring
si\ weeks to make the voyage, lie came on west, locating at Rochester,
Wisconsin, where he made his home for over forty years, lie worked on
the farm, in a saw -null and other kinds mi" employment among the pioneers,
finalh saving money enough out of his earnings to buy a farm there of one

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 699

hundred nineteen and one-half acres and there he made his home until in
.March. t88o, when he moved to Spring Prairie, Walworth county, where he
purchased a farm of seventy-seven and , medial t" acres and there he lived until
November, 1891, when he retired from the active work of the farm, moved
into the village of Lyons, where he has since made his home. He had been
very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.

Mr. Cocroft was married at Rochester, this state, to Ann Woodhead,
also a native of England, and the daughter of William and l.ydia (Tinker)
Woodhead, her father having been born on \pril i. 1785, and the mother
on March 1. [789.

Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. ( ocroft, namelj :
Mary, who married Stuart Harris, lives at Alhambra, ( alifornia, where Mr.
Harris is regarded as one of the most substantial citizens, financially, of the
place; Charles, who'married Ida Cooms, lives at Lake Geneva, where he is
engaged in poultry raising; William, who married Minnie Tompkins, lives
in Minnesota; Allen married Cora Watkins and lives at Weyerhauser, Wis
consin, where he is engaged in the lumber business and owns 1 ible

land; Horace, who married Anna Bell, lives in Burlington township, Racine
county, this state, where he is engaged in farming; Nettie married Edward
Smith and they live in Racine; Walter, who married Rose Kingston, lives in
Lake Geneva and has charge of the fine horse- of ' ieylon < ourl farm; Martha
married George Ballack and they live on a farm in Dover township, Racine
count}-; Susannah married C. F. lleadington and they live in Chicago, win
-lie has a large physical culture class, which she teaches h\ mail. She re-
quires a large staff of assistants and her pupils are to he found throughout the
Union. Her business is conducted under her maiden name and is widely
known. Her husband i- a successful hanker and merchant; Emma ( ocroft,
who married Dana Albee, lives in Waterford, Wisconsin, he hem- a retired
farmer; Harry is foreman on the farm of J. J. Mitchell tgo million

aire, his position being one of much responsibility (see hi- -ketch in tl
volume) : Lydia, the youngesl of the family, died in infancy.

The mother of the above named children was called to her resl on
ember 14. [869, when forty-four years of age. She 1- rememben
woman of man) virtues, a true helpmeet and a faithful

foseph I I icrofl was again married May 30, [877, to Mr-. Ann
(Jeakins) Lewis, widow of J. B. Lewis, She laughter

Burford Jeakins and wife. born at Battle, S Ei tnd,

her mother dying in that country when Mr-. < ocroft was foul and

the latter came to America with her father about 1X41 and an

700 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

dence in New York City they came to Racine, Wisconsin. Here the father
died, leaving the daughter, Ann, orphaned at an early age.

Mr. and Mrs. Cocroft are both remarkably well preserved, and they
find employment by working about the home, especially with their flowers, of
which manv varieties are to be seen about their house. They are hospitable,
obliging, genial and have a host of warm friends wherever they are known.
Although now seventy-five years old, Mrs. Cocroft has all her faculties and
is as active as most women at forty ; she is a lady of refinement and their
pleasant home in Lyons is often the gathering place for the many admirers of
this fine old couple, who fully enjoy their declining years, which are passing
serenelv awav.

WILLIAM H. WHITING.

( )ne of the well remembered and highly esteemed citizens of Walworth
county of a past generation, who performed exceptionally well his allotted
task and then fell serenely into that sleep which wakes not to toil, leaving
behind him a rich heritage, not only in material things but in a good reputa-
tion and an honored name, was William II. Whiting, than whom it would
have been hard to have found a more genial, whole-souled, high-minded,
public-spirited man within the boundaries of this county; therefore, it is with
pleasure that he is given specific mention in a volume of the province of the one
at hand.

Mr. Whiting was born in Hudson, Columbia county, New York, August
15, 1813. ilis father died when the subject was an infant, and soon there-
after the mother moved to Albany, and there the subject grew to manhood and
received his education, with the except inn of short intervals spent at the
academies of Hudson and Kingston, New York. In 1829 he became a pupil
of the engraving linn of Rawdon, Clark & Company, of Albany, which city,
with Philadlephia, was at that time the headquarters of bank-note engraving.
Ilis father had also been an engraver, a pupil of the celebrated Gideon, Fair-
mon, of Philadelphia.

On the [8th of August, [834, Mr. Whiting was married in the cm of
Albany to \l;n\ Jane Christian, a native of that city. Messrs. Rawdon, Clark
& Company, having taken in ether partners, decided to move their establish-
ment t<> New York City, and the linn name was changed to Rawdon, Wright.
Match & Edson, and in the spring of [836 Mi'. Whiting followed them and
continued in their employ until 1 S47 : however, he had been admitted a-- a

WALWORTH COl NTY, WISCONSIN. ~" I

member of the firm several years previously. In [842 DeWitt C. Hayes and

Mr. Whiting bought four hundred acres of land, in the southwestern pan oi
Bloomiield township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and in [844 Mr. Whiting
made bis first visit here. He bad caused to be erected a small house on his
land in 1843. In the spring <>\ [847 he and his I'ainiK came From New York
to bis farm here and began building the brick house where he made his country
ue. There the family resided until 1S51 and in August of that year Mr.
Whiting returned to New York and became a member of the bank-note en-
graving firm of Wellstood, Hanks, Hay & Whiting, and he remained a mem-
ber of that tirm until the American Bank Note Compan) was formed, and
absorbed all the other firms. As secretary of that company he remained with
the same until 1861, then returned to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and n
sumed charge of his farm again and became verj well established here. He
was elected one of the trustees of the American Hank Note < iompany, in which
capacitv he served for several year-. 1 le was regarded as an expert in In- line.
and was one of the best known engravers in the United Stale-. Ill- son
Robert was born "ii his farm here, and here the death ol 'he wife ami mother
occurred on November 28, 1879.

The death of William II. Whiting occurred July 9, [886.

Mr. Whiting was a devoted churchman, and he was one of the stanch

supporters 01" the little Episcopal church at Bl ifield township, in which he

took a deep and abiding interest. Me was an able lay reader and he held
services there ami taught the Sunday -chool for many years. He was the
idol of a large circle of worshipers there and the especial friend and companion

of the children of the neighborh 1. to all of win. 111 1 1 ndeed a true and

helpful friend throughout bis life.

EDWARD MILLER.

\- ..ue reviews the historj of Wab iunty ami looks into the past

to see what peoples were prominent in it- early development, he will find that
for the past three-fourth- of a century the Germans I con

nected with the progress and advancement of tin- section of the state. Wild
was the region into which they came. It- foresl in their primeval

strength, the prairie land was -till unbroken, and the Indian- -till roamed
through the dense woods, seeking the deer and 1. e which could >>e

bad in abundance. The Miller family, win' ie, yel figured

702 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

in the latter-day development of this sectiun of the state, and Edward Miller,
for a period of thirty-seven years a carpenter and builder at Genoa Junction,
is a connecting link between the pioneer epoch and the present, having spent
most of his life here and thus been identified with the history of the county,
having ever manifested the characteristic thrift of the emigrants from the
great empire of northern Europe.

Mr. Miller was born near Berlin, Germany, July 26, 1846. He is the
son of William and Louise (Laulauff) Miller, natives of Germany, where
they grew up and were married and made their home until in October, 1855,
when they voyaged across the wide Atlantic to our shores, landing at She-
boygan, Wisconsin, having continued their westward course on the Great
Lakes. They settled on a farm about eight miles from that city and there
resided until their son, Edward, was about fifteen years old. then moved
just north of Hebron, McHenry county, Illinois, on Hebron Prairie, where
the subject worked out on a farm, remaining four years at one place. He later
came to Genoa Junction, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he worked at
different things, finally learning the carpenter's trade. On April 14, 1874,
he was united in marriage with Anna Kaskan, daughter of Herman and Eliza-
beth (Bocker) Kaskan. She was born at Burlington, Wisconsin, but her par-
ents were from Bourse-Steinford, Westphalia, Germany. They had been
schoolmates there, and came to America at the same time, in 1S51, single,
and both located near Burlington, Wisconsin, and here they were married
about 1856. They later moved near Slades Corner, where they maintained
their home for over thirty years, then came to Genoa Junction, where they
spent tin- rest of their lives, the mother dying in January. [897, and the father
in July, [899.

Mr. Miller's parents moved to Genoa Junction about [873 and here --pent
tlie rest of their lives, the father dying in April. 1 Sj< j. and the mother in
November, 1901.

After his marriage Edward Miller turned hi- attention exclusively to
carpentering and building ami has followed it ever since, having been in the
business over thirty-seven years, as before stated, at Genoa Junction, during
which time he erected many of the dwellings, business houses and barns of
the community which will long stand as monuments to his skill as a builder.
having in fact, erected most of the houses in Genoa Junction and nearly all
the big barns and large buildings in. general over the surrounding county.
I h- has long enjoyed the reputation of building the best barns ever constructed
in the countv, ome of them models in ever) respect.

WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN. ~'\\

Six children have been born to Mr and Mrs. Miller, namely: Emma died
when nine months old; William, who was born on \pril 28, [876, in Genoa
Junction, married Sadie Reynolds, and the\ have one son, J. Edward; William
was a carpenter with his father until [901, when he went into the general
merchandise business at Genoa Junction; Mar} married Luther Knell, of
Genoa Junction, and they have one son, Edward; Elizabeth married Mahlon
Toyton, of Genoa Junction, and they have two daughters, Gladys and Frances;
Anna died when two and one-half years old; John Henry died when two years
and twi 1 months 1 W

Mr. .Miller was reared in the Lutheran church, hut he is not narrow in
his religious views and contributes to the supporl of all denominations. Me
loves home and family and is honest and trustworthy.

TIMOTHY HOPKINS FELLl >WS.

it is always a pleasure when we can trace our ancestry hack through
several generations, especially if our progenitors have been men and women
of honor and usefulness, as were those of Timothy Hopkins Fellows, who
traces his ancestry hack to William, father of Ephraim, father of Ahiel, father
of Ahiel, Jr., the subjeel being the son of the latter and his third wife Dorcas
Hopkins, she the daughter of Timothy Hopkins. This is an old Connecticut
family, which settled in Wyoming Valley, or near Forty Fort. The subject
was horn on March [4. [812, and he came to Kalamazoo enmity. Michigan, in
1829 and he was married on December 1. [831, to Eliza \un Duncan, daugh-
ter of William and Ruth (Gilmore) Duncan, and they had eleven children.
The Duncans were of New I lampshire. The subjei t's sister, Emma, who was
born in 1816, married George Field; and other sister, Lucy, who was born
in [826, married Charles W. Sibley, son of John Sibley, and the) all settled
at Bloomfield, Walworth county. Wisconsin, in an early day, when the country
was wild and neighbors few, the subject settling here in [839, 1 ns 33

and 34, Bloomfield township, and here established a g 1 home through his

industry and perseverance, despite obstacle- and hardships.

Mr. Fel >ok a lively interest in the affairs of his community and he

was three times a member of the county board, and he was a member of the

General Assemblj in 1852 and there made his infli It for the good of

ity and the people in general. In 1 beal Dr. Hilton W.

and Moses Seymour, two strong men of that period, lb uch a

704 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

commendable record that he was chosen to represent the county at the next
session of the Legislature over Capt. Albert Y. Wheeler and Dr. Lewis N.
Woods. He was a keen observer and noted the trend of events and he had
rare ideas as to what was best for the new state at that time, when conditions
were all different to what we find today and he made a most satisfactory record
as a public man.

The death of Mr. Fellows occurred on November 5, 1894, after a suc-
cessful and honorable career, his wife having preceded him to the grave on
April 23, 1887.

JAMES S. REEK.

Upon the role of reepresentative citizens of Walworth county of a pas!
generation and prominent and highly esteemed men of affairs of the town-
ship of Linn consistently appears the name of the late James S. Reek, lie
spent his life in this township and gradually won his way into the affections of
the people through his genial address, his obliging and charitable nature and
his unswerving honesty, — in short, he possessed those sterling qualities of
character which commend themselves to persons of intelligence and the high-
est morality. He was a public-spirited man, delighting in the upbuilding of
his native community in any way possible, and his support was not withheld
from all laudable movements looking toward the general welfare of his neigh-
bors and friends and the inhabitants of the county which knew his parents in
its early history, for the Reek family was attracted to this community when
it was sparsely settled and undeveloped.

Air. Reek»was born in Linn township, this county, on November 18, 1850.
He was tlie son of John, Jr., and Amelia (Bennett) Reek. John Reek. Jr.,
was the son of John Sr., and Mary ((iarside') Reek, lie was born in Che-
shire, England, August 12, 1813, there grew to manhood and married Amelia
Bennett, and when twenty-two years "id he emigrated to America. I le located
at Taunton, Massachusetts, where he worked as a carriage maker for eighl
years, then moved to Linn township, Walworth county. Wisconsin, and here
established his permanent home, literally hewing it out from the heavj woods
covered th< 1 ounty in those early days.

lames S. Keek, of this sketch, was a man of determination and correct
habits and established a good credit at once, and in due course of time lie
was well established, owning three farms in sections 20 and 21, Linn town-
ship, aggregating five hundred and twenty acres. He became one of the most

MR. AND MRS. JAMES S. REEK

THE NEW YORjr .

A8TOA, LEN«X

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 705

successful and substantial farmers 111 the southern part of the county. Ik
believed in employing progressive methods and leaving no Stone unturned
whereby he might advance his interests and those of the locality, and thus
he became one of the wealthiest farmers of Linn township, lie was one
the promoters of the Co-operative Creamery, whose large success was at-
tributable to his advice and influence in no small degree, and he was treasurer
of the same until 1894, when it was discontinued. He devoted much of the
last six or seven years of his life to buying and shipping live stock, doing an
extensive business, — in fact, was one of the most extensive dealers in the
county, shipping about one car load of stock to markel a week, leaving the
active work of the farm to his sons, believing that be was doing the right thing
to develop their abilities, by such a course.

Politically. Mr. Reek was a Republican, and was active in party affairs,
being one of the local leaders, lie was elected a member of the board
supervisors in 1887, which office he held for many years.

On December 25. 1881, Jamc- S. Keek was united 111 marriage with
Julia Kaye, daughter of Abram and Harriet 1 Brayshaw 1 Kaye: She was born
and reared on the farm where she now lives m Linn township, this county,
having never resided anywhere else. Abram Kaye was bom 111 England 111
[809 and there he grew to manhood, emigrating to America in [840, but
soon returned to his native land. In [842 he brought his family to the
United States, locating in the city of Baltimore, where be remained three
years, then moved to near Philadelphia, where the) -pent three wars. The
father was a grader of wool in a woolen null, but the work was hard and con
fining and his health failed under the -train, so be came west and bought a
farm of two hundred and forty acre- in I. inn township, Walworth count).
Wisconsin. Here be became well established and here in- death occurred on
April 21, 1875. '''s wife, known in her maidenhood as Harriet Brayshaw,
was the daughtei of John and Mary (Stock) Brayshaw. She was born \pnl
1 ;, [81 1. She -pent her old age with Mrs. Reek, dying at thi ced age

of ninety-two years, in [903. When Abram Ka 1 here he bought one

hundred and sixt) acre-, for whii liar- and fift) cents pei a< re,

later buying eighty acres more, for which he also paid two dollars and fifty
cent- per acre in 1848. ' II clearing had been made, the land being

mostlj covered with den h had a small cabin on it. so Mr. Ka

had to do a great deal of hard work before he could make a crop, but he 1 ••
severed and in due 1 ' time had a fine farm and a 'able hoti

706 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mrs. Keek was the youngest of a family of ten children, five of whom
were born in England, the other five in America. The eldest was Arthur.
who founded Kaye's Park along the south shore of Lake Geneva, and was a
prominent man, well known all around the lake and the southern part of the
county, being successful in a financial way; his death occurred in 1893, leav-
ing a family. The other brothers and sisters of Mrs. Reek were, Addin.
1 [amnion, Mary, who became the wife of Robert Lightbody ; John B.;
Sara, who married Frank E. Baker; Harriet, who became the wife of William
Matthews; Abram, William J., and Julia, widow of the subject of this sketch.

Six children were horn to Mr. and Mrs. James S. Reek, named as
follows: Nettie Mabel, Lillian Ethel, James Bennett. Alice K.. Robert Arthur,
and Harriet, the last named dying in infancy. The others all attended the
Lake Geneva schools. Alice is now in the State University at Madison and
Robert is in high school at Lake Geneva.

The death of James S. Keek occurred on September 24, [911, after
several months illness. Me had lived a very active and industrious life. He
was a man of rare business ability, managed well and made few mistakes.
Being scrupulously honest in his relations with his fellow men. he won and
retained their good will and confidence. While interested in public matters,
he was not ambitious to hold public offices or be a leader of men. preferring to
spend bis time with his family and give his attention to his business interests.
Me had the reputation of being a kind and indulgent father and husband, an
obliging, genial neighbor and a man of fine ideas and many commendable
attributes of bead and heart.

CHARLES INCH.

This well remembered pioneer and prominent citizen of Walworth county
who is now numbered "with them thai sleepeth," was a native of the state of
\'ew York, which has been the cradle of much of our western civilization and
upon which the commonwealth of Wisconsin has largely drawn lor its most
enlightened, enterprising and progressive citizenship. Early in life Mr. High
established those habits of industry and frugality which insured his success
in later wars. Coming here when the ciiuntrx was wild and undeveloped, he
secured raw land which, with the able assistance of his estimable life com-
panion, he soon extended the area m|' cultivable land and in Aw course m|
time Found himself upon the high road to prosperity with a line farm in Ins
possession and mam of the comforts and conveniences ol life surrounding

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

him, — in fact, he was one of the large land owners of the count) and on<
our most substantial and influential citizens for many years, and. having exem-
plary habits and being public spirited, doing much for the permanent g 1 of

the locality, his name is eminently deserving of a conspicuous place in his
country's hist

Charles High was horn in Herkimer county, \ew York, Maj to, t£
He grew to manhood in his native state and received such educational train-
ing as the early times afforded. He emigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in
an early period and there he and William Doughton built the first saw-mill.
He was a millwright by trade, which he learned when a young man in \'c\\
} ork. He became very successfully established in business in Milwaukee and
while living there lie was united in marriage with Xanc\ Bartlett Knife, a
native of Manchester, New Hampshire, horn there mi September o. [818.
She was descended from John Rolfe, who married the celebrated Pocahontas,
the Indian maid:, in the early days of Virginia, told of in colonial history.

In 1841 Charles High came to Walworth county and here he entered
land in Bloomfield township, section 20, and lived there a number of years.
lie was very successful as a general farmer and an extensive dealer in live
stock. He made one shipment of tat cattle, aggregating ten thousand dollars.
He had put these cattle in the stable and fed them all winter, lie u;b one
of the largesl Stock men of his day in this part of the state and no small
amount of his fortune was obtained in tin- manner. By close application,
the exerc^e of sound judgment and honest dealings with hi- fellow men. he-
prospered witli the increasing years and became the owner of thirteen hun-
dred acres of valuable land.

Mr. High was twice married. Four children were born of the first union,
one of whom died in infancy: the other three were. Eugenia Christina, now
Mrs. William K. Slade, of Canton, South Dakota; Anna Mary, wife of Albert
Pierce, of Hudson, South Dakota; Martha Alice, who married Robert Whit-
ing, now living on the old homestead.

The mother of these children passed awa\ "ii March 17. 1872, at the a
of fifty-three years, and Charles High was subsequently married to Margaret
eck, from mar Alden, Illinois.

- High built a new home, large and attractive, just east of his tir-t
home and there he spent the rest of his life, dying there on February 8, 1X77.
at the advanced age of sevent} seven years, after a useful, industrious and
well spent life, a life which resulted in much good to the community, in 1
to all with whom he came into contact.

/OS WALWORTH COUNTY., WISCONSIN.

. SEYMOUR NORMAN HATCH.

\\ onderful indeed has been the transformation of Walworth county
since it was first beheld by the late Seymour Norman Hatch, one of our
earliest pioneers and for ninny years an influential and highly honored citizen,
for when this sterling character cast his lot here he found a wide-stretching
wilderness, still the domain of the various tribes of Indians of this section of
the Union, and also the haunts of various species of ferocious creatures of
the earth and air. But he was not a man to be disheartened at seemingly
insurmountable obstacles, — in fact, being a man of courage and farsighted-
ness, he underwent the hardships and trials incident to life in a new country
and enjoyed it better than being hampered by the civilization of the old Em-
pire state, from whence he came. He was a man whom all admired for his
sterling honesty, his courage, his hospitality and his public spirit, and he is
eminently deserving of a permanent place in his county's history.

Mr. Hatch was born at Leroy, Genesee county, New York, on April 12,
181 7, and there he was reared to manhood. He was the son of Hervey and
Amy 1 Seymour) Hatch, the latter being the daughter of Zadock and Naomi
(Munger) Seymour. The father, born April 30, 1757, enlisted at Water-
bury, Connecticut, for service in the Revolutionary war, through which he
served with much credit. He was a son of Steven and Mehitable (Hickox)
Seymour, of Waterbury, Connecticut, he having been born in 1718. Steven
Seymour was a son of Ebenezer Seymour, who was the son of Richard Sey-
mour, who was born in Farmington, Connecticut, in 1682, and in 1668 he
was the leader of a pioneer colony to what was then termed "the great
swamp." now Kensington. Richard Seymour was the captain of Fort Sey-
mour, built for protection of the settlers from Indians. He was the son of
Richard Seymour, Sr., who emigrated to America in 1639 and settled at
Hartford, Connecticut, and in 1650 became one of the founders of the town
of Norwalk, in which he spent the rest of his life.

Hervej I latch was the son of Timoth) and Abigail 1 Porter) Hatch, he
having been born in Vermont in 1792. Abigail Porter was the daughter of
Moses and Sarah (Kelham) Porter, the father a soldier in the Revolutionary
war, who fought at Hunker Hill, Long Island and Saratoga and was at the
surrender of Burgoyne He was a selectman at Powlet in 17S5 and [787,
and was a deacon in the Congregational church.

Herve} Hatch's father, Timothy I latch, was born on May 7. 1764. He
devoted his life to farming in Genesee county. New York. He was a captain
of militia, and was senior warden in the Episcopal church for a period of

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. /OQ

twenty-seven years. His father, Timothy I latch. Sr., was born June -•-'.
[728, at Tolland. Connecticut. His father was also named Timothy, and he
was born at Falmouth on 1 Ictober [9, [695, and his death occurred at Kent.
Connecticut, on March 30, [766. In May, 1741), he was commissioned cap-
tain of the "training band" by the General Assembly at Hartford, Connecti-
cut. He was a justice of the peace for mam years and was moderator of the
town; he was a man of large wealth and was very influential in his locality.
The last named Timothy J latch was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth
1 Eddy) Hatch, he a native of Falmouth and she of Tisbury. Benjamin Hatch
was a cordwainer. He was burn at Falmouth on September 7. [855, and was
the son of Jonathan and Sarah 1 Rowley) Hatch. The father was born in
England about [625 and he came to America with his parents, Thomas and
Grace Hatch. He lived to be nearly one hundred years of age. Thomas
Hatch was the ancestor of the famil) of this name in America. He emi-
grated to Boston. Massachusetts, in 1030. or at least nol later than 1634;
his wife, Grace, was of Welsh de-cent. He was born in the county of Kent.
England. He became a freeman of the Massachusetts Baj colon) in [634,
and in 1639 he became one of nine original purchasers of Yarmouth town-
ship, Plymouth colony, in Cape Cod. In 1040 he tx n equal or joint
proprietor with about twenty-live other men .if the township of Ham-table,
and there his death occurred in [661. fie became well-to-do for that early
day.

The mother of Seymour X. Hatch died while he was young. Me
to manhood in the state of New York, and when he reached hi- majorit) he
came west and located in I. inn township, Walworth cunt). Wisconsin, in
[838, taking up eighty acre- of government land a'. mi; the northern shore of
the lake, on which he located. Then he went down into Illinois, where he
spent about four years, returning to Walworth count) in [842 and enti
another eighty acre- from the government, bordering the south si the

lake. Some years afterward- he bought one hundred and sixty acre- along the
south shore of the lake, and in time he became the owner of seven bundled
acres of very valuable land in this locality, and wa- one of the substantial
and influential mm of tin county, and hi In- bom.

in the beautiful lake country which he loved SO well.

Seymour X. Hatch wa- married to Mar) Stoneall, who n in

England, a daughter of Richard Stoneall and wife. Her mother died when
Mrs. Hatch was a child. The father wa- a tailor and followed hi- profession
in England. Abo„t [837 he brought hi- daughter Man and son Joseph to

710 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Geneva, Illinois, where the brother of Mrs. Hatch, Henry, and a cousin had
already located. In 1840 the father and Joseph Stoneall came to Walworth
county and settled in the eastern part of Linn township and built a small
house there, and the daughter and sister, Alary, came and kept house for
them. They underwent many of the hardships of pioneer life. In making
the trip here they walked all the way from Geneva, Illinois, in one day. Later
a nurseryman leased part of their land and set out man)- fruit trees, then went
away and never came back. Mr. Stoneall took care of the trees and later
they became the stock of a number of the finest orchards in Linn township.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Seymour X. Hatch, named as
follows: Louise E., wife of Isaac Moorhouse, lives in Lake Geneva: Emily
A. lives near the old home in Linn township: Norman Henry lives at Wichita,
Kansas; Harvey R. lives at Zenda and follows farming; Hobart M. lives in
the central part of Linn township; Mary is the wife of John Betts and lives
near the old home in Linn township; Clara died when seven years of age;
and George died when fourteen months old.

Mr. Hatch was active in public affairs and in the early days he held a
number of the township offices. He was a most valued citizen in the com-
munity which he honored by his residence for over fifty years. The death
of this sterling old pioneer occurred on August 12, 1899, his wife having pre-
ceded him to the grave on November 29, 1887.

The Hatch home was for a half century known as a place of genuine
hospitality and it sheltered many people, some distinguished in the affairs of
their country. The old people could relate many interesting reminiscences of
tlie earl) days.

DANIEL FAIRCHILD.

X(i compendium such as the province of this work defines in its essential
limitations will serve to offer lit memorial t<> the life and accomplishments of
the late Daniel Fairchild, for many years one of the leading agriculturists of
Walworth county, a man of indomitable perseverance and strong individuality,
and ye1 one whose enure life had not one esoteric phase, being able to bear
crutiny. His accomplishments bul represented the lit utilization
of the innate talent which was his. and the directing of his efforts along lines
good judgmenl and discrimination led the way. There was in him a

I character and a fidelit) of purpose that commanded the resped of

all. but greater than these was his honesty, and "an honest man is the noblesl
w 1 irk of ( ',, id."

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 71 I

Mr. Fairchild was born in section 17. in North Geneva, Walworth county,
Wisconsin, on November i. [851. He is the son of Nelson and Laura
1 Kinney 1 Fairchild, a complete sketch of whom appears on another page oi
this work.

The subject grev* to manhood on the home farm and there began work-
ing during the summer months when quite young. He received his educa-
u in the common schools in that district and in Elkhorn, and he began life
for himself by teaching school, which he followed successfull) for several
years. He began fanning for himself on forty aire- which he bought about
[876. In 1878 he purchased of his brother George the place which remained
his family home the rest of his life, in section 17. adjoining his Father's farm
on the east, and which place consisted of two hundred two and one half acres.
Being a man of excellent ability and very industrious, he improved his farm
and made it one of the finest farms in the county. He went into the dairy
business in connection with general farming and stock raising, making a large
success of all. lie was a practical farmer, but he also studied and investi-
gated, constantly experimenting, always seeking to improve his methods.
He was a leader in gardening and raising potatoes, lie paid much attention
t" In- fnu't> and berries, which showed the result of care and scientific culti-
vation in their unusually good quality. His dairy barn was inspected by ex-
pen Lfter he built it and the) pronounced it the finest in southern Wis-
consin at that time. It Stables fifty cows and ha- a capacity fur one hundred
and ninety-five tons of hay. and is provided with the latest approved system
of ventilation. I le raised his own cows, and he kepi thoroughly informed on
all points touching dairying, horticultural and agricultural work, both tech-
nical and practical. He built up a private trade in Chicago winch he supplied
for twenty years or more. Hi- place, known a- "Willow Glen Stock Farm,"
is "lie .if the attractive landed estates of the county. lt> large, convenient,
substantial buildings, well kept fields, bespeak the care and industry in it-

agement.

.Mr. Fairchild was a man who took much interest in the ipbuild-

ing of hi- community. He was a member of the town hoard for years and
was chairman for several years. When sixteen years "Id he united with
Baptist church at Elkhorn and throughout hi- life was .111 active worker both
in the church and Sunday school and 1m uperintendi the Sim

school for some time.

Mr. Fairchild was married in May, [878, to Edna Vincent, daug
Janis and Sarah \. (Waterbury) Vincent. She was born am at

Williams Bay, tin- county, and received her education in thi

712 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Her parents were from Onondaga county, New York, and they emigrated to
Walworth county. Wisconsin, in 1845, locating in section 31, one of the
choice vicinities of Geneva township, northeast of Williams Bay, overlooking
Lake Geneva. Mr. Vincent entered part of his land from the government,
and bought more adjoining, owning altogether two hundred and forty acres.
Jarvis Vincent's mother was known in her maidenhood as Phoebe Dean, and
she was a Quaker. The death of the former occurred on his home farm in
1891. To Jarvis Vincent and wife six children were born, five daughters and
one son, namely: Elizabeth married Hiram Cornwell and lived and died at
Rockford, Illinois; Oscar was a soldier in the Civil war, in the Fortieth Wis-
consin Volunteer Infantry, and his health was shattered by reason of his ser-
vice, but he survived and lived until May, 191 1 ; Phoebe married A. B. Calkins
and lives at Delavan, this county; Ida married J. W. Utter, of East Delavan,
and her death occurred about 1879; Edna is the widow of Daniel Fairchild, of
this sketch; Jennie, who has remained unmarried, lived with her mother in
Delavan until the killer's death on November 2, 1910, at the advanced age
of ninety-two years; she had retained her faculties to a remarkable degree.

Three children, two daughters and one son, were born to Daniel Fair-
child and wife, named as follows: Jessie Laura married Charles R. Burton
and lives near Delavan, and they have one son, Ralph Fairchild Burton, now
two years old; Jennie is at home with her mother; Burton D. married, in
February, 1910, Edith Gates, daughter of Charles M. Gates, a sketch of whom
will be found elsewhere in this work. They have a little daughter. Edna
Caroline. Burton Fairchild was eighteen years old when his father died, and
since then he has had charge of the home place and has shown that he is a
worth) successor of bis father, having kept the place well improved and well
tilled.

U.r.KRT HOCK.

( Ine would be compelled to cover a wide radius of territor) in southern
\\ isconsin to find a more painstaking tiller of the soil than Albert Hoge. of
Geneva township, but this is not to be wondered at when we learn that he
- imes of the thrift) Germanic race and thai his ancestors were all people who
believed in hard work and painstaking effort.

Mr. Hoge was born in Pommern, Germany, on September 3, 1807, and
is the sun of Christ and Rica Hoge. The subject spent his boyhood in the
fatherland, and when sixteen years old he emigrated to America, with his aunt.
to Harvard, Illinois. Vfter working out a year and a half, he had saved

w \l WORTH CO . U |m ONSIN. /I3

enough oul of his earnings to paj for the transportation of his father, mother
and brother, Hen. and sister, Freda, to America, which he accordinglj did,

and the family located near Harvard, [llinois, the parents tinalK buying a nice
home and lived there many y ears, the father dying in May, [908. The mother
is still li\ ing, making her home w ith her daughter Freda, who married Augusl
Prussing. Ben also worked and saved his money, learned the barber's trade.

which he now follows, and he, too, owns a good home.

Albert Hoge bought his farm in [899, bul rented his father-in-law's
farm for four years and then moved on his present farm in Geneva town
ship, Walworth county, section [9, in which he has eighty acres; he also owns
fort) acres in section 20. lie built a splendid residence here in mm i. and i>
now well fixed, having a well improved and productive farm, which he has
kept up to a high state of cultivation, lie handles a good grade of live stock.

Mr. Hoge was married in May, [891, to Annie Rader, of Geneva town-
ship, this county. She was born in Brandenburg, Germany, and when a child
was brought to Walworth county. Wisconsin, by her parents, William and
Dora (Brinkman) Rader. The) located in Bloomfield township, this county,
about 1S70. buying a farm there. After living there some time the) bought
a farm in Geneva township, near Como, and lived there twenty-five years or
more. The mother died a few years after coming to America, and the father
is now living near Cienoa Junction. Bloomfield township. One daughter has
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoge. Oleda. They all three belong to the
Lutheran church at Elkh

NELSON FAIRi HILD.

The death of Nelson Fairchild, a sterling pioneer of Walworth county,
was regretted by all who knew him. He was a man who regarded homi
as most sacred and friendship as most inviolable. Emerson says, "The way
to win a friend is to be one." and no man in the locality of which this biog-
raphy deals had more friends than the subject. Ik- was ;i man of sympa-
and generous nature, a pleasant companion, and especially congenial to
those who cultivated all that was highest ami best h his mem-

ory is cherished in the hearts of his man) friend-, and bis influenci
mains as a ble nediction to those among whom hi ' on the high-

way of life.

714 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Fairchild was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in April,
[822, and there he grew to manhood, emigrating to Walworth county in 1843
and bought the farm where Daniel D. Fairchild. his son, and who is mentioned
in tins work, was born, and here the permanent home of the family was estab-
lished.

Nelson Fairchild was one of a family of eight children born to Samuel
and Sallie 1 Alexander) Fairchild. The father was a farmer and he brought
his family to Walworth county in 1844. He lived a year in Spring Prairie
township, then made his home with his son Nelson, of this sketch, until his
death, in March, 1856, dying at the age of seventy-five; his widow died three
years later at about the same age. Samuel Fairchild was the son of Eleazer
Fairchild, whose parents were natives of Ireland, from which country three
Fairchild brothers emigrated to America in colonial times and founded the
family in America. Eleazer Fairchild went to Canada and served as an officer
in the British army, and he received twenty-one hundred acres of land for his
services. He died at the age of seventy-five years, having given his attention
to tin- management of his valuable land, which the city of Montreal now

COW1"-.

Sallie Alexander, mentioned above, was the daughter of David Alex-
ander, a native of Scotland and a tailor by trade. He also spent his last days
in Canada.

Nelson Fairchild spent his boyh 1 in his native county in New York.

and there attended tin- public schools anil learned the carpenter's trade, which
he followed there and in Wisconsin for many years, having come to Wal-
worth county in 1843, an<' m ' lS44 he boughl one hundred and sixty acres in
section 17, Geneva township, to which he later added twenty acres, and here
he engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising until his death.

in [903. I le was a g 1 manager and kept his place well cultivated and had

a gi 11 nl In line.

Mr. Fairchild was married on November 13, 1N47. to I. aura Kenney.
She was the daughter Daniel and Margarel 1 Lytle) Kenney, natives of Jeffer-
son and St. Lawrence counties, \\wv York, respectively. The death of Mrs.
Fairchild occured on Augusl 20, 1885.

To Nelson Fairchild and wile six children were horn, named as follows:

1 •■!■ VV. married Susan W'vlie. who died in August, iwm ; he was engaged

111 the lumber business at Manchester, Iowa, until recently, and he now lives

in I inn. Washington; Daniel 1).. whose sketch appears on another page,

of birth of the subject's family; Albert N. married Elma

Bra and he recently went to Everett, Washington, to engage in the lumber

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. ~ i •,

business with his brother, George \\ .: for a number of years he was a teacher
in .Milwaukee: Alson, who married Cora Bagley, was an excellent dentist, but
he is now engaged in the real estate business at Mechanicsville, Iowa; Samuel
lived at Marcelene, Missouri, for about twentj years, but he now resi
Ft. Madison, Iowa; he married Lou Williams; Mina married Eugene Barker,
of Delavan, and the) have two daughters, Elma and Ruth; he is a member
f the Barker Lumber Company, of Delavan.

C \IT. THEODORE V FELLOWS.

The Union soldier during the great war between the statas builded
than he knew. Through four years of suffering and wasting hardships,
through the horrors of prison pens and amid the shadows of death, he laid the
superstructure of the greatest temple ever erected and dedicatee! to human
freedom. The world looked on and called thoSe soldiers sublime, for it was

• to reach out the mighty arm of power and strike the chains from "II
the slave, preserve the country from dissolution, and to keep furled to the
breeze the only flag that ever made tyrants tremble and whose majestic stripes
and scintillating star- are -till waving universal liberty to all the earth. For
all these unmeasured deeds the living | will never repa) them. Pen-

sion and political power maj be thrown at their feet: art and sculpture ma)
preserve upon and in granite and bronze their unselfish deeds; history

may commit to books and cold type may give to the future the tale of their
sufferings and triumphs; hut to the children of the generations yet unborn
will it remain to accord the full m. f appreciation and undying remem-

brance of the immortal character carved out by the American soldiers m the
dark clays in the early sixties, numbered anion;,' whom was (apt. Theodore
A. Fellow-, for many decade- a highly respected citizen of Walworth county,
whose death occurred at his home al (.en. .a Junction. 01 in 10, 1912.

iptain Fellows was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Ma)
[836. He was the son of Timoth) Hopkins Fellows and Eliza \nn (Duncan)
Fellows. Tlu- lin< age of this ' William

who was horn in England aboul [609, who emigrated to America, making his
home at Ipswich, Massachusetts, > death. tradition

- it probable that he came to the New World aboul i<<
later. Hi- son, Ephraim, horn in [639, was a trooper in King Philip's

,75, under 'apt. Nicholas Page. His son, Ephraim, ha.! \hiel.

Sr., who lived at Canaan. Connecticut, his birth having occurred 01

y\6 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

29, 1734. Abiel, Jr., was horn in October, 1704, and he also lived at Canaan.
Connecticut; he was three times married, and had nineteen children, all of
whom lived and reared families of their own. His grandson is Captain Fel-
lows of this review. Timothy Fellows, father of the subject, was the son
of Abiel Fellows, Jr.. and his third wife, Dorcas Hopkins. He was born
March 14. 1812, in Luzerne count}', Pennsylvania. Abiel Fellows, Sr., was
a soldier in the Revolutionary war and he was granted six thousand acres of
land in Pennsylvania. Part of it was mountainous and apparently worthless
and he traded it off. Since then it has increased to wonderful values, in view
of the fact that rich veins of anthracite coal underlie it. Eliza Ann Duncan
was the daughter of William and Ruth ( Gilman) Duncan, of Ackworth. She
was descended from George Duncan, who emigrated from Londonderry, Ire-
land, in 1719 and settled in Londonderry, Xew Hampshire. Me married
Margaret Cross. William Duncan, son of George, born in Ireland in 1716.
came with his parents to America, and he became a captain probably in the
French and Indian war, for he was sixty years old when the American Revo-
lution began. His son. John, of Ackworth, Xew Hampshire, was a colonel in
the latter war, and he became a representative in the Legislature. His son,
William, was the father of Eliza Ann Duncan.

Timothy H. Fellows, father of the subject of this sketch, had gone to
Michigan in 1829 when he was seventeen years old and there he married
Fliza Ann Duncan. December 1, 1831, and to them eleven children were born,
five of whom died in infancy, Theodore A., of this sketch, being the third in
older of birth, lie was three years old when the family moved to Wisconsin
in the spring of 1840 and located in the southeast corner of Walworth county,
when the country was wild and without roads. Genoa Junction was not
started until eleven years later. The father had previously entered into an
arrangement with Daniel Rowe and Delmore Duncan whereby Rowe was sent
here to enter land, lie accordingly took up a large tract, including the water
power site at what is now Genoa Junction, and this the) afterwards divided.
Mr. Fellows' land was in secti'ons 34 and 35 along the south line of the count)
and state, and there he established the family home where he and his wife
spent the rest of their lives, lie not only engaged in farming, but also mer-
chandising for some time in the early days. He was the first chairman of the
town board of Bloomfield, after Geneva had been divided into four townships
and the I'.loomfield township was thus created. lie became prominent in
public affairs, influential in politics, and he was a representative in the Legis-
lature two different terms in the fifties. His death occurred in November,
[894, and his w i fe died 1 m April 23, 1 887.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

/ '/

l apt. Theodore \. Fellows grew up on his father's farm. He spent a
year at Cedar Park Seminary, Michigan. In [856 he married Jane V
Monear, daughter of William and Marcia (Christian) Monear. She was
burn mi the Isle of Man and came to America in [844 with her parents, who
located in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, later moving i" MtHenry county,
Illinois, nol far from the Fellow il the state line.

The subject and wife moved t<> Minnesota a tew months after their mar-
riage, where he prospected for claims and improved them, remaining there
two years, after acquiring about a half section of land winch he held for a
number of years. Returning to his father's farm, he remained there until
the spring of [86o, spending the summer of that year in the mountains of
what was then called western Kansas, later becoming 1 olorado rerritory, the
country then being a wild frontier. Returning to his home in Walworth
county, tin- Civil war coming on the meanwhile, he enlisted in Company K,
Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and he was soon seeing service in the
Army of the Tennessee, along the east side of the Mississippi river until after
the fall of Vicksburg, July 4. 1863, when he was moved about to the Gulf of
Mexico, then back to the departmenl oJ tin 1 umberland and again back to the
department of the Gulf. He was in the battle of Nashville, which i< men-
tii 'iied by hist' >riai;s a- being pi ---jlily the ci impletesl I 'nil m v ictor} of the war.
He was also at the capture of Vicksburg, Corinth and Spanish Fort, was at
Fort Blakely and Mobile May. thus seeing much hard fighting and strenuous
campaign work, in fact his regiment was in more engagements than an) other
from Wisconsin. At the battle of Corinth Mr. bellows was wounded and
he ever afterwards carried the bullet in his side. Me was also wounded in
the leg at the battle of Nashville, and was disabled two or three months. He
was made orderly sergeant when the company wa ized, having enlisted

as a private. He proved to be a faithful and gallant soldier, winning the ad
miration of his comrades and the confidence of his superior officers, con
quently his promotii gradual. In July, [862, he was commissioned

second lieutenant, and in the fall of tl ir he was commissioned first

lieutenant, and in [865 he attained the rank of captain.

After the war Captain Fellows went to [owa, in ng of [866 and

lived three and one-half years at I >es Moines, where hi 1 1 in the general

merchandise business In the fall of 1 x< .. > he went 1 n Kansas where

he followed farming and dealing in live stock, chief] !■

there about nun- years, lb- wet idville, • olorado, in [879, when the

mining excitement wa- on at it- height. There he •

leral merchandising, remainii about Returning

718 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Genoa Junction, Wisconsin, in December, [885, he remained here most of
the time since, engaged in general farming and stoek raising on his fine farm
in the edge of the village.

Captain Fellows was a member of the county board and also superviosr
of Genoa Junction. He was a member of the Masonic order, also the Grand
Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion.

The death of Captain Fellows' first wife occurred in January, 1004. and
in February, 1005, he was united in marriage with Peryl M. Creighton, daugh-
ter of Alfred and Julia (Jones) Creighton. She was born and reared at Ida
Grove, Iowa. Her parents formerly lived at Sioux City. Iowa, but they now
reside in Genoa Junction. The Captain's family consists of two children.
Theodore A. and Ma.xine Jeanette. Captain Fellows was a man of high
Standing in Walworth county or wherever he was known. He was noted
for his industry, courage and public spirit and his loyalty to friends.

WILLIAM EDWIN PALAIER.

I his well known farmer of Geneva township is a descendant of one of
our old settlers who was among the first to come to the wilds of southern Wis-
consin and undertake the task of clearing a farm and home from the dense
woods. When the Palmer family arrived here the clearings were few and
the homes far between, and all the members of the family were required to
bestir themselves in placing the wild land under cultivation and in establishing
a comfortable hi ime.

William Edwin Palmer was born on the farm on which he now lives in
sections i<> and 11, Geneva township, this county, his birth occurring on
February 2, 1878. lie is the son of Edwin Eugene and Frances Alveretta
I ( hadwick ) Palmer, a record of whom and their ancestors will lie found on
another page of this work; suffice it to say here that they did much toward
the early improvement of the county.

William E. I 'aimer, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm and there
made himself generally useful during the crop seasons when he became of
proper age, and during the winter months he attended the public schools in his
home district and received a fairly good education. lie has Spent his life on
the homestead, which be has kept well improved and well tilled so that it has
retained its original fertility. Me took charge of the place in January, [904,
and ran it on the shares until lii> father's death, the latter merely directing

WALWOB SJTY, WIS( ONSIN. 719

the operations in a general waj and advising the subject as to the besl and
time-tried methods of general farming and stock raising in which he had been
successful through a long life of industry.

Mr. Palmer of this sketch was manic, 1 on December 4, [901, to [va
\ iola Abbott, daughter of Frank Abbott and wife, a highly respected fan
of this county, a sketch of wh,om appears elsewhere. Here Mrs. Palmer grew
to womanhood and was educated. To the subject and wife three children
have been born, Beulah Ellen, Alice and Edwin Eugene.

For a time after his marriage Mr. Palmer worked out. then farme I one
year ,,11 Frank Abbott's farm, lie i- a kind, courteous ami industrious gi
tleman whom everybody likes, being a man of good character.

LAWRENCE C. KOHN.

The gentleman whose name introduces tin- sketch i- one of the pro
gressive business men of Walworth county, a man whose life has been led
along conservative and praiseworth) line- and. while laboring for hi- indi-
vidual advancement, he ha- never neglected hi- larger duties of citizenship.
He is a member of the well known firm of Kohn & Jennings, of Lake Geneva.

Lawrence C. Kohn was born near Ringwood, McHenry county, Illinois,

Liary [6, [875. lie i- the -1 in of John Kohn and wife, a complete sketch
of whom, appears elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Kohn was six year- old when he accompanied hi- parents t<> Wal-
worth county, in March. t88i. lie grew t<> manhood in Lake Geneva and
there attended the public schools and the high school. Vfter leaving school
he -pent a year in the grocery business, after which he went to Valparaiso,
Indiana, and took a course at the Northern Indiana Normal School. Return-
ing t<i Lake Geneva he worked for thirteen months in the dr\ goods store of
L W. Lone, then entered the employ of ( >. < , < olb; >\ I ompany in the shoe
and clothing department of their store. Me remained there over four years,
then he and fohn T. Jennings formed a partnership under the firm name -1
Kohn & [ennings, in March. [901, and the) have since operated one of the
popular -tore- of the southern part of the county. The) bought out the store
of I. W. Lone, Mr. Kohn's former employer, dealing in men'- and boys'
clothing, furnishings and shoes. Loth partn rted with nothing hut what

they had saved of their wages and by ban! work, careful management
square dealings thi built up a large and growing . enjoying a

72° WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

wide trade from the southern part of the county. They have a large and well
arranged store and always carry a complete, carefully selected and up-to-date
stock of goods. They are also the owners of the substantial brick business
block at the southeast corner of .Main and Broad streets, as good a location
as can be found in Lake Geneva.

Mr. Kohn is a public-spirited man. ready to boost the city's interests, and
he is at present a member of the board of aldermen.

Mr. Kohn was married on October 9, 1901, to Minnie Dopke. a sifter of
Charles Dopke, of Geneva township, a sketch of whom is to be found on an-
other page of this work. Mr. and Airs. Kohn have three children. Katherine
Caroline, Helene Marie and Mary Elizabeth. The subject and wife belong to
the Lutheran church and are faithful in their support of the same.

GEORGE T. TAPPEN.

One of the successful farmers and public-spirited citizens of Linn town-
ship is George T. Tappen, a man who has worked hard and managed well and
therefore has accumulated a sufficiency of material things to insure comfort
for himself and family and his old age against want.

Mr. Tappen was born at Rockford, Illinois, October 10, 1861. He is the
son of John Matthew and Eleanor (Baker) Tappen. the mother being a native
of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the father of Rhinebeck, New York. They
spent their early years in the East and were young people when they came to
Illinois. They were married at Rockford. later moving to McHenry county,
less than two miles south of Zenda. about 1863. In 1871 they went to Cloud
county, Kansas, where they spent the rest of their days, the father dying in
February, 1910, and the mother in July. 1904. They were industrious peo-
ple and became well established in the Sunflower state.

George T. Tappen, of this sketch, was nine years old when the family
went to Kansas, and there his father homesteaded government land on the
prairies, which the subject helped to develop and there grew to manhood. He
recalls a number of the interesting pioneer experiences, many of which were
similar to the pioneer conditions here thirty-five years earlier. He farmed '
on the home place until 1893, then came to Walworth county and worked out
at farm labor for some time. In the spring of 1895 he began farming for
himself in Linn township and he has met with uniform success as a result of
close application. In November, [906, he boughl a farm of hi. own and now

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. -J I

has one hundred and fifteen and one-half acres in sections [O and 15, Linn
township. He has a fractional forty acres in the southeast quarter of the
southeast quarter of section 10. also a fractional eighty in the cast half of the
northeast quarter of section 15. lie keeps his land well improved and under
a fine state of cultivation, and carries on general farming and stock raising
on an extensive scale.

Mr. Tappen was married on June 22. [895, to Hattie E. Medberry, of
East Troy, Walworth county. Mr. and Mrs. .Tappen have one adopted child,
Donald F. Tappen. His name before his adoption was Herman Schroeder,
his father having died prior to his adoption by the subject and wife.

Mr. Tappen is treasurer of the town of Linn, having held that office two
years. He has always been a Democrat, but is now a progressive Republican.
He is a member of the Modern Woodmen.

ELRY CHANNING PE I KM

Conspicuous among the representative agriculturists and stock nun ..1
Walworth county is Elry Channing Petrie, of Geneva township. He has
made his influence felt for good in his community, his life having been closel)
interwoven with its history for a number of years. His efforts have been
for the material advancement of the same as well as for the social and civic
uplift of his fellow men. and the well regulated life he has led, therebj gain-

e respeel and admiration of all with whom he has come into con
entitles him to representation in a work of the nature of the one in hand.

Mr. Petrie was born at ( ioncord, Jeffersi m county, Wisconsin, on I >< ■
ber 5, [855, and is the son of Josl D. Petrie, Jr., and Florinda 1 Holcomb)
Petrie. The father was born in Herkimer county, Xew York, and he came
to Wisconsin anion;; the lirst settlers, and entered land from the governmenl
in [efferson county, near Concord. He was the son of Josl and Anna

ter) Petrie. The family is of German descent. The subject's -rand-
father IVtrie was a general in the Revolutionarj war. and he had a brother.
George Petrie, who also was an officer in the patriot army. The former died
in the state of Xew- York.

lost 1 ). 1 'etrie came west in later life, his mother also making the trip and
ie -pc nt the balance of her life. Florinda Holcomb was born in Medina
county, Ohio, and was the daughter of Webster and Abigail ( Perkins 1 lb. I
comb. This family came to Concord. Jefferson county, during the forties,
among the very first settlers. Both Jos) I >. Petrie and Webster Hoi

J22 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

comb took up their land when this country was heavily timbered and settlers
were few. They went to work with determination, and in due course of time
had cleared the land, put it under cultivation and had good homes. They
underwent the usual hardships and privation of pioneers.

Jost D. Petrie was prominent in public affairs, and a loyal Republican,
lie was a member of the Wisconsin Assembly for two terms, in 1861 and
1867, where he made a splendid record, and he also held a number of other
minor offices within the gift of the people, always with eminent satisfaction
to all concerned. He moved to Oregon in [882 where he made his home
until his death, in June, 191 1, his wife having preceded him to the grave in
February, 1905.

Elry C. Petrie, of this sketch, grew to manhood at Concord, and he
attended the normal school at Whitewater. In 1880 he began farming for
himself on rented land. In 1890 he bought the farm where he now lives in
section 2, Geneva township. Walworth county, but he did not move here until
two years later. Since 1892 this lias been the scene of his labors, and he has
placed this excellent farm under a high state of cultivation and improvement
and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, being much
interested in raising Holstein cattle, and he keeps a splendid herd.

Politically, Mr. Petrie is a Republican, and takes an interest in public
affairs of his community and he is at present a member of the township
In i.'ird.

Mr. Petrie was married in [876 to Mary A. Ransome, daughter of
Harvey I. and Sallie Ann (Noyse) Ransome. She was born in Concord.
Jefferson count). Wisconsin, where she was reared and educated and there
remained until her marriage. Her father was from Cattaraugus county,
New York, and he took up land from the government, and was one of the well
known pioneers here. Her mother was born in Canada and she died when
Mrs. Ransome was a little girl.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Petrie, namely: Winnie C.
died when eight years old; Avery C. died in infano ; Merlon E. and Lottie E.
are at home with their father.

Mrs. I'elrie's death occurred in November, [892, and in November, [898,
he was united in marriage with Mrs. Nora L, Turner, widow of Frank Turner.
[( 1 ased. She was the daughter of John and Myra (Gott) Olp, and she was
born and reared 111 Lyons township, this county. Her parents came from New
N ork and settled here iii an early day. The father was born in Genesee county,
New York, and he was the son of Jacob ( )lp and wife, an excellent old family
there. To Mr. and Mrs. Petrie one child has been born, Josl C. Mrs. Petrie
had one son bj her first marriage, ( harles I.. Turner.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 723

RUSSELL HOLMES.

One of the best known and most progressive of the citizens of Genoa

Junction and vicinity is the present popular and able mayor of that village,
Russell Holmes, a man who leads an exemplary life and while laboring for
his own advancement newer fails to discharge his duties ;i< a public-spirited
citizen.

Mr. Holmes was born in Lake county. Illinois. February -'4. [851. H<
is the son of Thomas and .Maria 1 Roddel) Holmes, both natives of Lincoln-
shire. England, where they spent their youth and were married, emigrating
to America and settling in New York in an early day. Thomas Holmes was

left an orphan in his childh 1. lie finally came on to Illinois where he

spent man\ years, dying in t88o, his wife surviving until [895. Their family
consisted of nine children, of whom, three sons and one daughter only survive,
Riley, Frank and Mrs. Ida Louise Reynolds, all of Hebron, Illinois, and
Russell, of this sketch.

During the boyhood of Russell Holmes, the famil) moved across the
line into Wisconsin, first locating in Racine county, then moved to Kenosha
county, and in i S7 1 they moved to a farm in Mcllemw county. The subject
grew up on the farm and he has devoted his life to general agricultural pur-
suits, having begun farming for himself about [879 near Hebron, Illinois,
remaining there until March. [890, when he moved to Genoa Junction. He
began by renting a farm for two years, then bought a farm and there became
well established lie purchased a livery barn upon coming to Walworth
county which he ran two years, then boughl thirty-eight acres in the eastern
pan of Genoa Junction, within the corporate limits, and there he built a 1
home on the high ground in the eastern edge of tin- \ illage. \\ hen the \ illage
was incorporated in 1901 he was elected the firsl mayor, and he has since been
re-elected several times, in fact has held this office ever since with the excep-
tion of two years. The office came to him unsought, which shows his high
standing in this community. He has hem a n ienl public official, doing

much for the permanent good of the town and has done as much, if not m
for its development during the 01 more, 1

Prior to his ele I Genoa Junction 1m - a

member of the d, and he ha- also been treasurer of the school

board for the past seventeen y<

Mr. Holmes was married in [878 t.. I an
Illinois, daughter of Seldon < .. and Mary Street, and to this union one
was born. Rennie C., whose birth occurred on Maj 23, (882. He married

724 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Florence Simpson, of Genoa Junction, and they have one child, a daughter,
named Neva Evaline. Rennie Holmes and family live in a large handsome
home, next to that of his father, and he is engaged in carpentering and build-
ing, also farms and engages in the poultry business.

The parents of Mrs. Russell Holmes came from Orleans county. New
York, to Illinois in the spring of 1854, and located two miles east of the vil-
lage of Hebron, near the Wisconsin line, but there was no village when they
arrived there. Their house had been a wayside inn, and the railroad from
Chicago had not been extended as far as Walworth county. All this country
was vet in an undeveloped condition. Mrs. Holmes grew up in the house
where her parents first settled and lived there until her marriage. The death
of her father. Seldon G. Street, occurred in 1894. Her mother is still living,
making her home most of the time with Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. She is now
eighty-two years old and is in excellent health, being remarkably well pre-
served for one so much advanced in years.

Mrs. Holmes has one brother and two sisters: Henry Street lives on the
old home farm near Hebron. Illinois, and Mrs. Delia Bliss lives at Albia,
Orleans countv. New York; Mrs. E. B. Greeley lives in Alden, Minnesota.

WALTER A. WEST.

The name of Walter A. West is known to every one who has the slightest
acquaintance with the business history of Elkhorn and Walworth county.
For many years he has filled a large place in the industrial affairs of the city,
and as an energetic, far-seeing, enterprising man whose judgment and dis-
cretion are seldom at fault and whose influence makes for the substantial up-
building of the community.

Mr. West was born in Sugar Creek township, this count), on November
14. [856. He is tlie son of Stephen (lam. West and Martha A. (Lake)
West, the father a native of North Norwich, Chenango county, .Yew York.
lie ciinc tn Walworth county, Wisconsin, when about twelve years old. in
[838, with his parents. Stephen Gano West, Si\. and Rebecca 1 Pike) West,
and here in the midst of primeval surroundings the\ established a good home
through hard work and close application, the country then being a wilderness.
The West family came to New York state from Connecticut a number of
generations ago.

Martha \. Lake was born at Cooperstown, New York, and during his
childh 1 lived a near neighbor to James Fenimore Cooper, the great novelist.

WALWORTH COl NTY, WISCONSIN. 7-'5

She was the daughter of Nelson and ( Brandon | Lake, her maternal

grandmother having been a Knowlton, a daughter of Capt. John Knowlton,
a soldier in the American Revolution. The Lake family came west and lived
for a time in Illinois, and aboul [850 moved mi to Walworth county, Wi
sin, settling in the village of Troy, <>n what i- now known as the Schwartz
farm on Pickerill lake, later moving t<> Eagle Prairie, Waukesha county.
Stephen < i. West. Jr., and Martha A. Lake were married in 1852 and I
up their residence in Sugar (reek township, moving in the spring of [866 to
Elkhorn, buying a farm in the north edge of town where they spent the rest
of their lives, his death occurring on the last day of October. 1889, his wife
having preceded him to the grave in July. [884. Politically, he was a Demo-
crat, and he tilled the office of assessor for years, was a member of the school
board, and was also chairman of Sugar Creek township. He took a lively
interest in public affairs and was influential in the same.

Stephen G. West, Jr., was twice married, his second wife, whom he mar-
ried in the fall of [886, being known in her maidenh 1 as Hanna Merri-

fie-ld, who is now living at Beloit. One son was born to the second union,
Myron Chester West. L>\ the first marriage there were eighl children.
namely: DeWitt Clinton, who died at Perry, Iowa: Walter A., of this -ketch:
Helen R. is the wife of B. B. faylor and lives on a farm near Elkhorn;
Charles F. lives at < >ak Lark. Illinois : Stephen < lano 1- a ph) sician and surgeon
in Chicago: Arthur 1'enn died when fourteen year- old; llatlic 1- the wife of
Albert J. Reed, a furniture dealer in Elkhorn; Cora died when ten years old.

Walter A. West, of this -ketch. grev\ up on the farm at Elkhorn, and
he received his education in the public schools and the State University. Fin-
ishing school in [880, he was married on March r6th of that year to Lama R
hitch, .laughter of Zadock Martin Fitch and Julia 1 Barns) Fitch She was
horn and reared, at Elkhorn. Her parent- came from Brockton, Xcw York,
and located at Elkhorn about [850. The father of Mr-. Wesl conducted a
draying business for many years at Elkhorn.

For three years after his marriage Walter A. West engaged in fanning
in the north part of Elkhorn. On March [3, [884, he wenl into the butter
and cheese business, starting firs) as a partner of J. H. Hai I h ii busi-

ness grew rapidly and prospered and developed into the Wisconsin Butter &
Cheese Company, of which Mr. West is vice-president, and it- large bu
has been due in no small part to hi- influence. This company 1- gr •
mention on another page of this, work.

prom is,,,, ; . Mr. Wesl was state dairj commissioner In local

affair- he has been a member of the school board and he is also an alderman.

726 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

He is a loyal Democrat. Fraternally, he is a Mason, having attained the
thirty-second degree, and he belongs to the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles
of the .Mystic Shrine. He is past grand high priest of the grand chapter of
Wisconsin. He was grand high priest in igio. and has long been active and
popular in lodge circles. In religious matters he belongs to the Congrega-
tional church, of which Mrs. West is also a member.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. West, namely : Maurice
Edgar married Amanda Winters and lives at Fond du Lac. Wisconsin, where
he is engaged in the creamery business; Julia lives at home: DeWitt C. is a
student in the State University; Walter A., Jr., lives at home and is attend-
ing high school.

CHARLES MONROE GATES.

Earnest labor, unabating perseverance and good management are the
elements which have brought prosperity to Charles Monroe Gates, who was
born on the farm where he still resides in the southwestern part of Geneva
township, Walworth county, September 24, 1 861 . Every locality needs such
men — men of genuine worth, of unquestioned integrity and honor.

Mr. Gates has been content to spend his life in his home community and
lie is wideh known throughout the same. He is the son of Irwin Franklin
(iates and Charlotte Dewey (Spencer) Gates. The father was born in May.
[817. lie came from near Moscow, Xew York, in the early forties, and
located in Walworth county. Wisconsin. He was the son of Daniel and
Betsey (Fenton) (iates. The subject's maternal grandparents were Hiram
and l.ois (Mosley) Spencer. Their daughter Charlotte was born in St.
Lawrence county. New York. One of Irwin F. (iates' ancestors was a soldier
in the Revolutionary war and was wounded by a poisoned bullet. The father
of the subject of this sketch was about nineteen or twenty years old when he
came west. I le was a >toue mason, and he located first at Racine. Wisconsin,
then came to Geneva, Walworth count), and upon his arrival be spent his last
quarter for something to eat. lie worked at his trade for years. Soon after
he was twenty-one years oi age he bought the farm where the subject now
resides and made his home here the rest of his life. Merc hi' was married
and lie boughl the farm of his wife's father, who came here when the country
was first opened for settlement and entered tin- farm from the government.
Mr. Spencer was killed by a mad bull on the farm, after which his widow
moved to Elkhorn, where she spent her last days.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. j 2J

( hark-- M. Gates was the third in order of birth of a family of four
children, namely: Hiram Franklin lives in Rock county, Wisconsin; Charlotte
Sophia is the wife of C. J. Eaton and they live in Elkhorn; Bettie Lois mar-
ried H. \Y. Weed and they live in Saskatchewan, Canada. The father of
these children was a 1 >emocrat and active in the affairs of In- community. His
death occurred .in February <;. [908, hi- \\ ife ha\ ing preceded linn t ■ . the grave

on July 3. 1 both dying en the homestead, which they had di

through long years of labor, and on tin- farm, a- before intimated, their son,
Charles M., grew up and ha- -pent In- life, keeping it well improved ami well
tilled and the buildings in proper repair.

Mr. (late- i- a Democrat and he has been a frequehl holder of town-hip
offices, always discharging hi- duties faithfully. For eleven years he was
<>f hi- township and tin- is hi- fifth year a- chairman.

.Mr. date- was married on November 4. [883, to Ida Cornwell, and her
death occurred .in November 11. 1884. (hi November 11. 1885, he was united
in marriage with Edie Caroline Kreuger. She was born in Germany and was
brought t" this county bj her parent-. Frank and Elizabeth (Walhandt)
Kreuger. who have lived for many year- in Lafayette township. To Mi', and
Mrs. Gates three children have Keen horn, namely: Edith May. wife of Bur-
ton Fairchild, lived "ii the Fairchild farm in the central part of Geneva town-
ship; site ha- "lie daughter. Edna. Harry Monroe '.ate- married Mabel
White, and they live on a. farm two and 1 medial f mile- ni >nh of Williams Bay,
and they have two children, Edith and Donald, Frank Eugene Gates i- on
the home farm with his father.

Fraternally, Mr. Gates 1- a Mason. He i- industrious, diligent, kind and
straightforward in manner. Evervbody like- him.

GE( IRGE ( >LNEY Kl-.l I OGG

The present popular and efficient clerk of the circuit court, G
Olney Kellogg, of Elkhorn, ha- b of Walworth county's well known

citizen- for over two decade-, where he ha- sustained an envied reputation
in business and public life. Hi- energetic nature, strong determination, -a

and capable m brought t<> him success in Ii :

where unable t<> attain more than a med

victory. He is a man who ha-. In In- exemplar) life in all it- relations
hi- fellow men. earned the high esteem in which he i- universally held.

/28 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

Mr. Kellogg was born in Westmoreland. Oneida county. Xew York,
February 18, 1859. He is the son of Charles Horace Kellogg and Almira
(Olney) Kellogg, the father born in the same vicinity as was the subject.
April 15, [819, and in that county was also burn the subject's mother on
November 30, 1823, the daughter of James and Phoebe (Smith) Olney, he
born January 29, [789, and she on January 6, 1792. The parents of the
subject grew up in Westmoreland, Oneida county. Xew York, and there they
were married on March 10. [853. Charles H. Kellogg devoted his life to
farming. Politically, he was a Republican, and in religious matters a Congre-
gationalist. His death occurred in Oriskany Palls. Xew York. October 13.
1893. an<l the death of his wife occurred on May 19, 1894. Thev were the
parents of the following children: Charles Warren lived at Westmoreland.
Xew York : Fannie Maria is the wife of John X. Cole and also lives in West-
moreland; Harriet E. is the wife of Charles Byron Keith: Caroline S. died
in girlhood ; George Olney, of this sketch ; and Willis James.

The paternal grandparents of these children were Deacon Warren and
Rhoda 1 Case) Kellogg, the latter the daughter of Caleb and Rhoda (Mills)
Case. Warren Kellogg was born in Xew Hartford, Connecticut, finally
moved to Trenton, thence to Westmoreland, Xew York. He was a carpenter
by trade and was influential in church affairs for many years, being a deacon.
He was the son of Abraham and Sarah (Seymour) Kellogg, the latter the
daughter of John and Hannah Seymour, and was born July 12. 1750. Abra-
ham ECellogg was born in 1750, and was the son of Abraham Kellogg, Sr.,
and Sarah ( Marsh) Kellogg. She was the daughter of Jonathan Marsh, of
Hartford. Abraham Kellogg, Sr.. was the son of ("apt. Isaac and Mary
(Webster) Kellogg. The latter was born May 31, [697, and she was the
daughter of Joseph and Mary (Judd) Webster. Capt. [saac Kellogg was
born in Hartford. Connecticut. January 17, 1(11)7. lie was the first represent-
ative from that town to the Connecticut Assembly, and was elected to that
office twenty-three times. IK' was captain of the fourth Company, of the
Train Hand, lie was distinguished for piety, good judgment, firmness and
ability as a magistrate. I lis descendants are now a small nation, (.'apt. Isaac
Kellogg' s father, Deacon Samuel Kellogg, was born in Dudley, September 28,
[662, and he married Sarah Merrill, daughter of Deacon John and Sarah
(Watson) Merrill, of Hartford. Deacon Samuel Kellogg's father. Lieut.
Joseph Kellogg, was baptized in Great Leighs, England, April 1. [626. He
came to America among the early settlers and lived at Farmington, Connecti-
cut, in [651, In [659 be bought, lor seven hundred dollars, a tract of 'and,
now covered in part In the Advertiser building in Boston, which is now worth

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 729

more than one hundred dollars per square foot. He was a pioneer in several
towns, and was twenty-nine years in military service, heir,- a lieutenant in a
military company, ami was in command at some famous fights with the In-
dians, lie was the son of Martin Kellogg, of Lights, Braintree, England,
a weaver by profession. His father was Phillip Kellogg, son of Thomas and
grandson of Nicholas, of Dehden, in Essex.

George Olney Kellogg, the immediate subject of tin- -ketch, grew
manhood in New York state, on a farm. When about twenty year- old he
began cheese making, which he followed for a number of years. In [885 he
bought a cheese factory in the town of Westmoreland and went into the ! u
ness for himself, continuing there until the end oi thi year [888, and the first
of January, [889, he came to Whitewater. Walworth county, Wisconsin, and
the first of \pril went to Grant county, tin- state, where he boughl a cheese
factory, remaining there until the fall of [892, then returned to Whitewater
and engaged in farming and gardening near that city until [896. In [897 he
came to Elkhorn to take a position a- deputy sheriff and turnkey, serving under
F. A. McMillen, also under Seth II. Hollister, remaining in tin- office foui
years. Later he was an assistant at the count) farm for two years. In [903
he returned to Elkhorn, ami became deputy clerk under T. R. Morgan and
served a- deputy until October 1. 1005. at which time Mr. Morgan died, and
the subject was appointed clerk to till out the unexpired term, lie wa- elected
I', that office in [906, and re-elected in [908, and wa- elected for a third term
iii 1910, and i- -till holding the office of clerk of the circuit court. While
serving as deputy in that office he was also city marshal of Elkhorn

Politically, Mr. Kellogg is a loyal Republican, and he take- much interest
in pubh'c affair-, although he ha- never claimed to he a politician, and he is
always found willing to do in- part in the count) organization and. in fact, in
furthering any movement looking to the general public weal. \- a publi< -
cial his career ha- been highly commendable and ha- elicited the praise oi all
concerned, irrespective of party alignment.

Mr. Kellogg wa- married in [889 to Margaret Barns, daughter of Syl
\e-ter and Cornelia Celestia 1 Parker) Barns. Her death occurred in Wh
water, March 13, 181 | »on, \nio-, who wa- horn November 15.

[890; he i- now attending the State University at Madison.

Mr. Kellogg was again married No Louise

Purdy, daughter of Perry Lewis and Esther Win 1 Wilcox 1 Purdy. She v
horn in the town of Lyon-, between Lyons and Springfield. Her father was
from Delaware county. New York, and her mother i- -till living, making her
home with Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg. A sketch of Thomas II. Wilcox and fam-
ily appears on another page of tl is work.

730 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Kellogg is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and council,
and is a Knight Templar. He and his wife are members of the Order of the
Eastern Star, as is also Mrs. Kellogg's mother. Religiously, the Kellogg
family belong to the Episcopal church and are faithful supporters of the same.

ARTHUR CLOHISY.

The name of Arthur Clohisy, of Elkhorn, is deeply engraved on the
pages of Walworth county's history, for through many years he has been an
important factor in professional and political life, ranking among the leading
legal lights of the local bar. Absolute capability often exists in special in-
stances, but is never brought into the clear light of the utilitarian and practical
life. Hope is of the valley, while effort stands upon the mountain top, so
that personal advancement comes not to the one who hopes alone, but to the
one whose hope and faith are those of action. Thus is determined the full
measure of success to one who has struggled under disadvantageous circum-
stances, and the prostrate mediocrity to another whose ability has been as
great and opportunities wider. Then we may well hold in high regard the
results of individual effort and personal accomplishment, for cause and effect
here maintain their functions in full force. The splendid success which has
come t.i Mr. Clohisy is directly traceable to the salient points of his character.

.Mr. Clohisy is a native of East Troy township, this count)', and here he
has spent his life. He is the son of Mathew and Bridget Clohisy, natives of
Ireland, from which country they emigrated to the United States when young,
and after their marriage established the family home in Walworth county,
Wisconsin, becoming the owners of eighty acres of land. The father died

suddenly, leaving the widow with five small children. By g 1 management.

economy and perseverance she kept the family together and reared them in
comforf ami respectability. John is now a druggist in Mukwonago, Wiscon-
sin; Daniel, Matthew and [Catherine reside at Eagle, Wisconsin; and Arthur
of this sketch. The death of the mother occurred in 1SS5. and the "Id home-
stead is still the undivided property of the children.

Arthur Clohisy was reared on the home farm, where he began working
in the fields when quite young. He received his primary education in the dis-
trict schools and the village schools at Mukwonago, later attended the White-
water Normal School, lie then learned telegraphy, at which he worked for
snme lime, saving nn >nc\ enough to defra\ his expenses at Marquette College,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 7^1

Milwaukee. After spending a year in that institution, he was compelled to
give up his studies owing to failing health. He subsequentl) entered the Uni-
versit) of Wisconsin, where he made an excellent record, and was graduated
from the law department with the class of [894,

Thus well equipped for his chosen life work, Mr. Closhisy entered upon
his career, first spending a short time in a law office in Milwaukee, then, in
1895, he returned to Walworth county and opened a law office in Elkhorn,
where he has continued in the practice to the present time, being in partner-
ship for a short time with David Agnew, but he has continued alone the
major part of the time. He was successful from the first and has buill up a
large and growing clientele, and i- known as a painstaking, alert and able
lawyer, keeping fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to liis profession
and taking high rank among In- professional brethren in southern Wisconsin.

Politically, .Mr. Clohis) is a Republican and ha- been active in part)
affairs ever since coming to Elkhorn. lie was comity commissioner one
term, and was city attorney for three year-; lie was tor some time justice of
the peace, tilling this office in a manner that reflected much credit upon him
self and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, In- decisions being char-
acterized b) fairness to all parties, a deep insight into the principle- of juris
prudence and they seldom met with reversal at the hand- of a higher tribunal.

Ji )ll.\ T. JENNINGS

We are glad to give John '1'. Jennings, one of the successful young busi
tie-- men of Walworth county, a place in this work along with oilier enter-
prising citizen.-, for he ha- led an active and praiseworthy career. lie is a
member of the well known firm of Kohn & Jennings in Lake < leneva. I le wa-
in in Fayette, Wisconsin, on December to, [867, and he 1- the son of John
C. and Katherine Jennings. Both parent- wen- born and reared in England,
the father in Cornwall and the mother in Brighton. Earl) in life the) wen!
to Australia and thi md married. Later they went hack to I ngland,

and from there emigrated to the United State-, reaching her.- in July, 1867,
and -ettled on a farm in Lai county, Wisconsin, m

John T . of this review, wa- born and reared, and there they became very
comfortal.lv established. The father'- death occurred there on Octobei 11.
MM 1. at the advanced age of eighty-tv The mother survives and

make-, her home m Darlington, Wisconsin.

J2>2 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

When John T. Jennings was twenty years old, having grown up on the
home farm and made himself useful during the crop seasons there, attending
the local schools in the wintertime, he went to Darlington and began life for
himself by clerking in a general store, remaining there six and one-half years.
during which time he mastered the ins and outs of the business, and then went
to Beloit, remaining there in the Golden Eagle Clothing Store for six months.
He then came to Lake Geneva, Walworth county, where he worked in the
clothing, dry goods and shoe store of O. C. Colby & Company for five and
one-half years, in the men's shoes and clothing department, giving his usual
high grade service and satisfaction.

.Mr. Jennings formed a partnership with Lawrence C. Kohn, in 1901, and
entered the business for themselves in Lake Geneva, under the firm name of
Kohn & Jennings, and they have continued together ever since, building up a
large and constantly growing trade with the surrounding country. They have
a neat and well arranged store, carefully stocked with up-to-date goods.

Besides his store, Mr. Jennings has investments in some other enterprises,
and he has met with encouraging success in whatever he has turned his atten-
tion to. Like his partner, he started on his own resources and forged to the
front by his indomitable courage.

Mr. Jennings was married on May 10. 1899, l" Alda Hunter, of Rich-
mond, Illinois, the daughter of Robert Hunter and wife. The subject is a
member of the Masonic order, both the blue lodge and the chapter, also the
Knights of Pythias, having been a member of the latter for the past twenty
years.

|i MIX KOI IX.

The United States can boast of no better or more law-abiding class of
citizens than the great number of Germans who have found homes within her
borders and whom this country is always ready to welcome to its shores.
There have come to this country from the fatherland and other alien lands
men with limited financial resources but imbued with a sturdy independence
and a laudable ambition to succeed, and who have taken advantage of the won-
derful possibilities afforded here. Gradually, step by step, they have risen to
place- of prominence in various lines of activity. Of these there can be none
mentioned who deserves more favorable attention than the gentleman whose
name opens this biographical sketch and who has for many years been an hon-
ored and industrious resident of Walworth county where be is well known and
highly esteemed for his main commendable characteristics.

WALW0H I \ IV. WIS( ONSIN. 733

John Kohn was born at Rhine-Hessen, near Mam/, in the province of
Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, on February 2, (835, and he is the son oi
George and Katherine I Hebi) | Kohn, natives oi Germany. Their son, John,
of this review, grew to maturity and received his education in his native land
and remained there until 1S55 when he emigrated to the United Slate- and
stopped in Chicago, but took up his residence in Proviso, a small town in l ool
county, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. \tter remaining there
about a year lie went to Chicago and spent six months, then returned to Pro-

and that was his home during the next eight years, during which time he
followed the carpenter- trade.

In [863 Mr. Kohn was united in marriage with .Marie Weinheimer,
daughter of Fred and Katherine (Senft) Weinheimer. She was horn at

Yailertheim. Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and she grew to woman] d there.

emigrating to America when about twenty-one or twenty-two years of age.
She had a sister and hmther-indaw at Proviso, Illinois, and she came there
and made her home with them. About [865 Mr. and Mr-. Kohn moved to
Chicago where they spent about ten years, engaged in the milk business, and
during their residence there the big lire occurred. Besides the milk business
they had rental property, several apartment houses, and after the lire a cheaper
class of tenants filled the section of the city in which they were living and as a
result property values were so depreciated that Mr. Kohn traded hi- property
for a farm near Ringwood, McHenrj county, and soon moved thereto and
in farming for three yen- [n [880 he moved to Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin, -old hi- farm and bought the old Union house on Broad street,
south of the railroad. He changed the name of th igle hotel,

which he 1 ill \ conducted for a period often years, rendering il one

of the most popular hotel- in this famous resort region, finally turning 1;
to the management of his sons and retii 1 business, moving to hi- home

at the end of Geneva Street, lie afterward- bought a farm of two hill
acres, the Murphy place in Linn town-hip. Walworth county, lie imp
the farm. tantial new buildings and -old ii to John Murphy He

has heen ml in whatever he ha- turned hi- atention to and has

accumulated a competency, being a man of keen discernment, sound judgment
and up-to-date in his method-, at the same time living daily by th
Rule.

Twelve children have been horn to Mr. and Mr-. Kohn. -i\ of whom died
in infancy; those who grew up were; Phillip, who i- in business where hi-
father first started in Lake Geneva; he married Hattie Shieke and they have
three children. |ohn. who was in partnership with Philip in the hotel busi-

734 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ness, died December 15, 1909. after a very sudden illness, leaving a wife and
five children. Lawrence, who is in the firm of Kohn & Jennings, clothiers,
of Lake Geneva, married Minnie Dopke and they have three children: her par-
ents were earlv settlers of the vicinity of Elkhorn and Mrs. Dopke is now liv-
ing in Lake Geneva. Minnie, Mr. Kohn's fourth child, is at home with her
parents. Emma married Michael Quincannon, son of an old family who set-
tled near Lake Geneva many years ago. She now lives in Chicago where Mr.
Quincannon is a salesman for a wholesale grocery: they have two children.
Tillie Kohn married Ernest G. Host, who is in the meat business in Lake
Geneva, and enjoys a large trade: they have three children: his people are old
settlers in Walworth county.

Fraternally, Mr. Kohn is a Mason of many years standing. He has a
beautiful home and is there spending his declining years in quiet, surrounded
by the blessings of life as a result of his former years of thrift. He has never
been a public man, preferring to lead a conservative life, being a home loving
man.

AUGUST FREDERICK DESIXG.

The farmer is not the only necessary factor in a community. His pres-
ence is. of course, important, but so is that of the miller, the store-keeper and
the blacksmith, all having been necessary since the first settlement. At first
the old mills were run by water-power and in very slow time, then steam came
into use and wheat was converted more quickly into our flour and the great logs
faster into lumber; the first merchants kept their little stock of general mer-
chandise in a rude building of logs, now the elegant department store is found
almost in every town; the early-day blacksmith, like the brawny-armed Vulcan
in Longfellow's poem, stood "under a spreading chestnut tree," — now we find
him in a convenient building, equipped with every improved appliance to make
his labor easier and bis work more efficient. August Charles Desing, of Elk-
horn, knows both the old and modern wa\ of blacksmithing, this having been
hi> life work, and he is todaj one of the best known blacksmiths and wagon-
makers in this section of the state, manufacturing the famous "Center" wagon.
which, owing to its superior qualities, has ever found a. very ready market.

Mr. Desing was born in Brunu, Mccklcnburg-Strelitz. Germany, Decem-
ber to. 1858, and is the son of John and W'ilbelmina (Wilk) Desing, lie
was five years old when the Family emigrated to the United States in the fall
of [863. Alter spending about six months in Youngstown, Ohio, they came
on to Walworth count\. Wisconsin, locating in Spring Prairie township,

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 735

where the father bought a farm, having first worked oul for wages until lie
could buy land of his own. Later he bought a farm in North Geneva at the
edge of Lafayette township, the place lying in both townships, and tin-- was
the family home for about fort) years, they having become well established
here through their industry. A complete sketch of John Desing appear- on
am 'tlier page i »f this work.

August C. Desing grew to maturitj on the home farm here where he
remained until he was eighteen years of age, then began in [879 as an appren
tice in the blacksmith trade, serving three years, then worked a yeai a: journe)
man in Chicago. Returning to this county, he boughl the shop of a Mr.
Livingston at Elkhorn on Ma) 4. [883, and he has remained here to the
present time, having been in business in Elkhorn a- long as an) others in tin-
line, and his -hup. which stands exactly in the center of the county, is widel)
known and has been extensively patronized foi over three decade-, main of
his best patrons coming from remote sections of the county, for they know
they will receive prompt ami high grade service. In October, [886, Mr.
I >es'ing's sb ip « as destn lyed by fire. He - " in rebuilt it 1 in a much lai ger plan
and equipped it with up-to-date apparatus, lie had already added wagon-
making t<> in- blacksmithing, and named his product the "Center Wagon," by
virtue of the fact that it was made in the center of the county. lie has COn
tinned the business ever since, with ever-increasing prosperity ami success.
A year or two after the fire he took as a partner 1 1 Gaylord, who was with
him for a period of eleven year-. Since then the subjeel has continued alone.
Mr. Desing has long taken much interesl in public affairs, and has ably
served the people as alderman, trustee and supervisor of Elkhorn f..r a num-
ber of years, about eighteen term-, always with eminent satisfaction to all con
cerned. He was the first alderman elected in Elkhorn and for main years
he was an influential member <>\ the city council. When the city adopted the
commission plan ig the light and water plain he was a member of

that commission fur several years. In 1911 In- was appointed a member of
the hoard of education, and 1- -nil on the same Having been one of the
older members of the cit) governing todies, much responsibility was laid mi
his shoulders, he having been usually at the head of important committees, and
-nme times much depended upon hi- action, a- in the case of the settlemenl
the light plant qi but he ha- ever been a man of sound judgment, w

discretion and foresight, and had the general

at ,heart, consequently has given the people hie. which

they have fully appreciated, according him high esteem for the pi
course he has mrsued.

736 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Mr. Desing was married on July 5, 1883, to Nettie Bauermann, daughter
of Jacob and Catherine (Martin) Bauermann. She was born and reared in
Elkhorn. Her parents were natives of Germany and spent their early lives
in the valley of the Rhine, from which they emigrated to the United States
and located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, about i860. During the progress of the
Civil war Mr. Bauermann engaged in the shoemaking business here, when
shoemakers made shoes to order from actual measurements, as tailors now
make clothes.

Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Desing, one of win mi.
Nettie, the eldest, died when three and one-half years old; the others are living
and named as follows: Lillian, Arthur, Gertrude, George, Rena. Orma, Alene,
Ililmer and Marjorie.

Mr. Desing and family belong to the Lutheran church, of which he has
been a worthy member ever since he was fourteen years old. and he has been
a liberal supporter of the same. He stands high as a citizen and business man
and has a wide acquaintance throughout the county.

EDMUND DECATUR DENISON.

The life history of Edmund Decatur Denison, formerly superintendent of
the Lake Geneva public schools, is well worth emulation by the youth who
hesitates at the parting of the ways. As a teacher he has met with merited
success and in his capacity of principal his record presents a series of successes
and advancements such as few attain. He pursued his chosen calling with
all the interest of an enthusiast, is thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of
the work and has a proper conception of the dignity of the profession to which
his life and energies were so unselfishly devoted. I le is now engaged in busi-
ness.

Mr. Denison was born June 30, 1872, at Hanna, Indiana. He is the son
of George S. and Aurilla A. 1 Blackman) Denison, the father a native of Ohio.
The family came originally from England in 1631 and settled at Roxbury,
Massachusetts, the first of the immigrants being William Denison, and from
his son George is descended the present Denison family, members of which
have been more or less prominent in various walks of life. George Denison
returned to England and took part in the wars under Cromwell. He was
wounded at the battle of Naseby and was taken to the home of a Mr. Borodell
and nursed by his daughter Ann, with whom he fell in low and they were

EDMUND D DENISON AND SON. GEORGE E.

f§Sg&

JUd7.T**'. LtHax

'O,

*Ga

U£m

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. J^J

married. He returned to America and settled in Connecticut. It is a matter
of history that he was me exception the most conspicuous and daring

soldier of New London county. He bore the rank of captain and was called
the Miles Standish of the settlement. < Ine of his descendants, James I »< •
was a direct ancestor of the subject of this sketch. He was a captain in the
Revolutionary war and he died of smallpox while in the service.

George S. Denison. father of the subject, was the son of Wheeler B.
Denison, and he grew up in Ohio. He married Kurilla V Black] ; native

of that state and the daughter of Hiram and Clarissa ( Darrow I Blackman,
who came from Ohio at the time of the Mormon movement to Nauvoo, Illi-
nois, but after reaching that place they left the Mormons and went to LaPorte
county. Indiana, and established their home there. < .< orge S I >enison came to
Indiana with his parents and when the Civil war came on he enlisted in the
Union army and served through the same, being chief musician in the Twen-
tieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the early pan of the war and later in
the Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry. In 1865 he settled at llanna. Indiana.
and was living there when he married. His family consisted of two sons and
two daughters, namely : George H., now of Columbus, Indiana; Esther, wife
of Thomas Richardson, of Hanna. Indiana; Agnes lives at llanna with her
father; Edmund D., of this sketch.

The subject grew to manh 1 at llanna and there attended, the public

schools, preparing for college at the Academy of Northwestern University,
Evanston, Illinois, and there he lati ded Northwestern University, from

which he was graduated in 1899. In the fall of that year he came to Lake
Geneva, Wisconsin, and took a position as instructor in the high school. In
January, 1902. he went to Negaunee, Michigan, as principal of the high
school. For one term, in 1902 and njrrj, he was principal of the Ripon Col-
lege \cademv. From 1903 to 1905 he engaged in the flour and feed bus
at Lake Geneva in partnership with Warren E. Hurt. .11 and E. Davidson In
1905 he entered the high school in Lake Geneva as in I and

German, which position he held until \>>>>J. at the same I lining his

interest in the flour and feed business. In 1907 he uperintendenl

of schools of Lake Geneva, which position he held until 1911, when he re-
signed to give his entire attention to business, in which he is making a pro
nounced success.

To show something of the popularity of Mi Denison as a teacher hi
we quote the following from the press of]

the close of the school year in [91 1 : "Tie a public sch

(47)

73& WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

another year of successful work this week. The teachers and the pupils have
been faithful in their efforts to make the most of their time and opportunities
and the success of the year has been largely due to the spirit of loyalty and the
general interest manifest on the part of all concerned. Our schools have been
very fortunate in having a corps of earnest, efficient teachers, and the work
of our superintendent, Mr. E. D. Denison, has been zealous and painstaking.
He has worked to place the school on the higher plane, all the accredited lists,
and he has succeeded so that now there are no better schools in the state. The
fact that he has decided to sever his connection with our school is one of
general regret, lightened only by the fact that his influence for good upon the
pupils will continue to bear fruit in the future and their lives may be blessed
thereby."

Mr. Denison was married in 1904 to Bonnie Burton, daughter of John
E. Burton, of Lake Geneva and one of the prominent citizens of this section
of the state. His sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Denison at-
tended the University of Wisconsin and also spent two years at the Chicago
Art Institute. She has a pronounced talent as an artist, and her works have
well repaid her in a financial way. She is a lady of culture and refinement and
a favorite in social circles. To Mr. and Mrs. Denison two children have been
born, George Edmund and Alice Delphine.

Mr. Denison is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of
the commandery at Delavan. He and his wife belong to the Congregational
church at Lake Geneva.

THOMAS H. WILCOX.

An honored veteran of the Civil war and an esteemed citizen of Wal-
worth county is Thomas II. Wilcox, a man who ha-- established a reputation
for industry, honesty, prudence and public spirit such as few of his contem-
poraries have attained; a man of well defined purpose, he has not failed to
carry to successful completion any work or enterprise to which he ha- ad-
dressed himself.

Mr. Wilcox was horn in Morristow 11. New York, March 4. [845. Me is
the -on of Alonzo C. and Matilda 1 Stanton) Wilcox, the latter born at Fair-
field, New York, and was the- daughter of Elijah Stanton and wife, the for-
mer horn in Preston. Connecticut, in 1754. When fourteen years old he en-
listed in the colonial army and served through the Revolutionary war, and.
for a time he was the body servant of George Washington, lie was cap-
tured h\ the British, and was one of the unfortunates who suffered the hor-

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. J^'i

rors of the prison-ship, "Jersey," where he contracted the small-pox. Elijah
Stanton and his fellow prisoners wore reduced to the necessity of feeding upon
the vermin picked from their bodies, ^fter the war he settled near Little
Falls, Herkimer county, New York. In 1791 he married Lucy Goodel, daugh-
ter of Abijah Goodell, of Long tsland. She was born in [760 and her death
occurred in 1832. Their home was in Fairfield, Herkimer county, New York,
where their daughter. Matilda, was born, and there she lived until after her
marriage to Alonzo C. Wilcox. Three children were born of their marriage,
Esther Ann. now widow of Lewis Week-, of Elkhorn; Margaret Imanda,
wife of George F. Bresee, lived in Lyons until her death, September 29, [903;
Thomas H.. the immediate subject of this review.

The Stanton family has been traced back to Thomas Stanton, of Long-
bridge, Warwick county, England, in 1450. and from him in an unbroken line
of descendants to the fifth generation. Thomas Stanton, born in Warwick
county. England, in [616, left London in [635 in the merchant ship "Bona-
ventura" for Boston, by way of Virginia. He learned the Indian languages,
was a magistrate at Boston verj soon after locating there and was long an
invaluable aid to the authorities as interpreter to the Indians. He was a safe
counselor in difficulties with the red men. and in all land questions. He
served through the Pequod Indian war and was specially mentioned for brav-
ery. He was among the very earliest settlers of Hartford, and his name ap-
pears in the earl} public records there over sixtj times. He finally moved t"
Stonington before there was a village by that name, and there he also became
active in public affairs and with the Indian-. He served several terms in the
General Assembly of Connecticut. The death of Elijah Stanton occurred in
[847 at the advanced age of ninety-three years, his wife having preceded him
to the grave in [832.

Alonzo C. Wilcox emigrated to Wisconsin in [844 and bought the west
half of the southwest quarter of section 9, Hudson 1 now Lyons) township,
Walworth county, and in 1S45 he moved his family here, which remained their
home as long as he lived. He finally added a little more land to his original
purchase and he devoted his life to farming. His death occurred on I fctober
5, [891, his being the onl) death on thai farm in sixty-five years, although at
times two families lived together there. The death of In- wife occurred on
November 6, [887.

Thomas 1 1. Wilcox grew to manhood on the home farm and there worked
during his boyhood days. When the Civil war came on. he enlisted "ii Febru
ary 20, [862, in the Ninth Wisconsin Battery, Light Vrtillery. lie was in
orado and other part- of the West fighting against the Indian- most of the

74° WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN".

time, serving in New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri, remaining in the service
three years. He was never in the guard house or the hospital. He was only
seventeen years old when he enlisted, but he made a most faithful and efficient
soldier, according to his comrades. A tier being honorably discharged lie re-
turned to tlic home farm.

.Mr. Wilcox was married on July J. [879, to Phoebe Travis, daughter of
Nathaniel 1. and Julia (Griffin) Travis. She was horn in Lyons township,
this county. November 21, 1851. and lived there on her father's farm until
her marriage. Her parents came here from Genesee county. New York.
Her mother was born on October 27, 181 1, in Dutchess county, New York,
and was the daughter of Charles and Martha (Taylor) Griffin. She moved
with her parents to Oneida county. New York, in [823, and to Genesee county,
that state, in 1831. Xathaniel 1. Trau^ was horn on May 23, 1814, was mar-
ried on January 26, 1841, and he came to Lyons. Wisconsin, in 1850. buying
a farm in the northeast quarter of section 17, Lyons township, Walworth
county, very near the Wilcox home. Mrs. Wilcox was one of six children,
named as follows: Martha, unmarried, died when twenty-three years old:
Hannah died in [850, when seven years old; Francis, who was in the Civil
war with Mr. Wilcox, married Olive W'aile. October 6, 1808. and had six
children; his death occurred November 1. [901, when lift} -six years old. his
birth having occurred December 31. 1845, in Genesee county. New York ;
Adelbert, born May 22, 1849, ''ves nl Elkhorn; Phoebe is the wife of Mr.
Wilcox; Gilbert T., born February 5. 1855. lives on the home farm.

Francis Travis married Olive M. Waite, who was born September 5, 1849,
married ' >ctober 6, [868, and died Augussl 9, [89] : they were the parents of
these children: Vernon, born January _', 1870, who lives in Florida ami is
unmarried, travels a great deal; Milton M., born Jul} 9, [871, married April
9, [894; \\ ilhit !•'.. born May id, 1874, married April iS. 1807: Mabel ( )..
"in April 23, 1877. married March 5, igm ; Dwight R., bom September 1 1.
\Sji), married July to, 18117; Roy L, born March 9, 1884. died August 5,
[891 .

Adelbert Travis married Mary Kinnej on September 7. 1870: she was
horn in August, i84<). and died July 6, [894; the) hail these children: Martha
J., horn November i_\ [874, died December 28, 1875; Ira B.. born Wigust [8,
1877. died February 1. [899; Julia X., horn February 6, [880, married Rich-
ard Patton, and she lives in Lake Geneva; Bert 11., born September 25, 1887,
lives in Elkhorn; Emerj S. Travis, born November 26, 1801. also lives in
Elkhorn. Adelbert Travis was twice married, espousing Lucia Ranny on
September 1 7. 1895.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 741

Phoebe Travis was married on Jul) _•. [879, to Thomas II. Wilcox, of

-ketch. To this union Alonzo C. Wilcox was born February [O, 1880,
and he lives in Lyons, this county.

Gilbert Tra\ ris was l>->rn February 5, 1855, married on April 30, [879, to
Francelia Jones, who was born Maj 29, 1851, and they had children as
lows: ( >ne son, horn in [880, that died in infancy; Harriet ].. born Vugust 10.
[883, married. April 31 . 1907, to Frank Blanke; a daughter was hum July
28, 1887, died August ii, [887; Merle ('... born April 8, 1890; Lois, born
October 18, 1894, died April 3, [895; Le me, an adopted daughter, was born
< Ictober 4. 1S99.

Julia Travis, daughter of Adelbert, married Richard Patton and the>
have one son, Reginald. Mrs. Harriet Blanke, daughter of Gilbert Travis,
has two children. Wallace and Frank.

Milton Travis, son of Francis Travis, ha- these children: Mazelle M.,
Thelma E., Clive Xorris. Ainslie. Willett's children are. Mildred M.. Mar-
garet B.. Frank Gilbert and Ruth Winifred. D\\ e ildren are. Gerald
Dwight. Irma Laura. Richard Frank, Bernice Olive and Clarma Lucile (the
latter dying on July 5, 1908), Robert Emerson, Geneva Eleanor (als
ceased). Mabel, wife of Richard Spiegelhoff, of Lyons, has two children.
Ray Donald and Olive Blanche.

The Stanton family as a rule have been long lived. Matilda died at the

age of eighty-five; her sister was ninety-two and Elijah Stanton was ninety-

rs Samantha Xellis. of Naples. New York, another of the mother's

sisters, reached the age of one hundred and three years, and ver\ few of the

family died under seventj year- of age.

Alonzo C. Wilcox, father of the immediate subject of this -ketch, was
the son of Thomas and Margaret (Crippen) Wilcox. The subject's father

horn in Connecticut.

After his marriage Thomas H. Will lis -ketch, farmed the home-

stead for mam- years. He bought adjoining land until he had one hundred
and thirty-one acre- which he placed under high grade impro \t

father's death he bought out the other heir-, finalls selling the plai
March. 1911. after a successful career neral fanner and stock I

He had lived on the farm until [900. In Februarj of thai ed to

the village of Lyons where he bought a cozy home. I le has
office- litician. He was

eight 'vice in this

Grand Armv of the Republic, the Luther 1 Burlington.

742 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

ternally, he belongs to Burlington Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and
Elkhorn Chapter. Mr. Wilcox has traveled extensively in America, both in
the East and West, and has attended many national reunions of the Grand
Army of the Republic.

SMITH BAKER MORRISON.

Fealty to facts in the analyzation of the character of a citizen of the type
of Smith Baker Morrison, of Elkhorn, Walworth county, is all that is required
to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good
name of the community, because it is the honorable reputation of the man of
standing and affairs, more than any other consideration, that gives character
and stability to the body politic and makes the true glory of a city or state
revered at home and respected in other and distant localities. In the broad
light which things of good report ever invite, the name and character of Mr.
Morrison stand revealed and secure and, though of modest demeanor, with no
ambition to distinguish himself in public position or as a leader of men. his
career has been signally honorable and it may be studied with profit by the
youth entering upon his life work. He is regarded as one of the most expert
abstractors this county has ever produced, — in fact, his life record shows that
he has always advocated doing right whatever was worth doing at all.

Mr. Morrison was born at Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, on April 1 i . 1 858.
He is the son of Joseph F. and Mary M. (McPherson) Morrison. The latter
was born in Oneida county, New York, and she came to Fort Atkinson, this
state, with her parents, John McPherson and wife, when young in years. Her
father traded a forty-acre farm in Oneida county, New York, for one thousand
acres near hurt Atkinson, Wisconsin. His friends in New York thought he
was badly worsted in the deal, but when his Wisconsin land had been developed
n was \ er\ valuable and is today worth a very large sum.

Joseph F. Morrison came west with his parents from Colerain. Massa-
chusetts, when he was a buy, locating at Fort Atkinson in the early days, his
father having entered land from the government in that vicinity.

Smith IS. Morrison, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm, which,
being new land, furnished plenty of work for him, when he became of proper
igi and all the resl of the family, for developing a farm from the wild woods
of the Badger state was nol a task of weaklings, lie grew to maturity at
fort \tkinson and there he received his education, graduating from the high
school at Fori Atkinson, lie began life for himself by teaching school, in
which lie engaged in various parts of the county from the age of seventeen to

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 743

twenty-three, and he was making rapid progress as an able educator when he

abandoned the school room and purchased his father's farm, which he oper-
ated successfully for twelve years, keeping it well improved and well culti-
vated. Then he came to Walworth county and resumed teaching, having
charge of the school at Darien for a year. He then spent a year in a hard
ware store in Elkhorn.

Observing a good field for the abstract business in this county, Mr. Mor-
rison purchased a set of book- in [898 at Elkhorn and this he has continued
to the present time, having met with great success and building up a very wide
patronage. He succeeded Samuel Breese, Jr.. in this business. To this he
has added insurance and has a large business in this line also. He is known
for his painstaking care, accuracy, untiring perseverance and his obliging,
genial nature, which renders him popular with the masses.

Mr. Morrison was married on December t8, [879, to Alice F. Mack,
daughter of t i. lkuk and, wife. To this union two daughters have been born,
namely: Ethel, wife of Oscar I.. Heinze, lives in Milwaukee, and has one
daughter. Norma Jean: Mabel is at home with her parent-, and 1- now attend-
ing Stout Institute of Domestic Science at Menominee.

Mr. and Mrs. Morrison belong to the Congregational church. Fra-
ternally, he is a member of the Masonic order and his wife belongs to the
( trder of the Eastern Star.

HUGH \Mk.\M BURDICK.

Only those who come into personal contacl with Hugh Vbram Burdick,
of Lake Gene1 one of the worth} old families of Walworth county,

one of the popular and successful attorneys of this section oi the I '■
state, can understand how thoroughly nature and training, habits of thought
and action have enabled him to accomplish his life work and made him a lit
representative of the enterprising class of professional people to which he he-
longs. He is a fine type of the sturdy, conscientious, progressive \m.
of today — a man who unite- a high order with courage, p

clean morality and -Mind conn iroughly and well the work

that he finds to do and asking I no man for the performance of what

he conceives to be his simple duty.

Mr. Burdick was born in Linn township, this county, on March 4. 1864,
and 1- the son of Charles Herbert Burdick and Almina Maria 1 Baile) 1 Bur
dick. The father was born at West Edmiston, near the line between ' II
and Madison counties, New York, and when four years of age he came to

744 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Walworth count}', Wisconsin, with his parents, Solomon Champlin Burdick
and Martha M. ( Crandall ) Burdick. Solomon C. Burdick was born near
Westerly. Rhode Island. His ancestors had emigrated to that state about
1750 from England. Solomon was the son of Joseph Burdick. Joseph and
his brothers moved to the state of New York and located in different sections
of the same.

The Burdicks came from the East by way of the Great Lakes to South-
port (now Kenosha), thence to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, only three years
after the village had been platted. They purchased a farm in the northwestern
part of section 29, Linn township, and there established a good home which
they occupied for many years. Solomon Burdick was a cabinet-maker by
trade and he left much of the farming to his sons in order to follow his trade.
His death occurred about June 29. [890, at the age of seventy-nine years,
leaving three daughters and three sons, namely: Asbury Russell, Charles
Herbert, Byron Henry: Mary, who married first Clark Burdick and afterward
Morris Millard; Ordelia, who married James Smith, now lives in Lake Gen-
eva; Elicia Delphine, who first married George Williams, then Jacob Wahl.

• Charles H. Burdick grew up on the home farm. He was married on
June 4, 1861, to Almina Maria Bailey, daughter of Kiah and Emily (Ward)
Bailey. She was born in Hardwick, Vermont, and she accompanied her par-
ents to Walworth county, Wisconsin, about 1844. They located in section 1.
Walworth township, near Williams Bay and the Observatory, and there made
their permanent home. The Bailey ancestry is traced back to Richard Bailey.
who came from England in [636 and settled in Massachusetts and built the
first cloth mill in America.

< liarles 1 1. Burdick enlisted on June 8, [863, in Company F, Fourth Wis-
consin Volunteer Cavalry, as a recruit. His brother Russell served in this
compan) from April, [861, to after the close of the war. The former saw
considerable active service in raids and campaigns. He was honorably dis-
charged and returned home in [865, and he made his home for seven years at
Walworth, alternating cabinet-making and farming. He came to Lake Geneva
in [874 and assisted his father in a cabinet shop until failing health under-
mined his strength and he gave it up. He then turned his attention to news-
paper work and, in partnership with J. X. Burton, established the Lake Geneva
News. It was printed at Elgin and for several months they ran it as a dail) ;
in the fall it was changed to a weekly and was printed in Lake Geneva. Mr.
Burdick was also local correspondent for a number of large dailies and for a
time he was local editor of thi >rn Independent, I le gave up correspond-

ing for the press about [894 and spenl a year in Utah for his health, and subse

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 745

quently engaged in die real estate and insurance business, which he continued
successfully up to the time of his death. February 21, [903. Politically, he
was a Republican, and was city clerk for two terms.

Seven children were born to .Mr. and Mrs. Charles 11. Burdick, namely :

Wendell Herbert died when thirteen year- old; Hugh Abram. of this sketch;
Emma Dell Elizabeth married Charles F. Hill, principal of the Eas1 Side
school in Whitewater and is teaching manual training; Martha Afloine mar-
ried Joseph J. Bransby, superintendent of manual training in the New Trear
school at Kenilworth, near Chicago; Ralph Ma/en is an osteopath physician
at Tonopah, Nevada; Paul Champlin lives in Ogden, Utah, where he is em-
ployed as inspector of the Tclluride power plant; \letha died in infancy.

The first ten years of the life of Hugh A. Burdick were spent on the
farms of his grandfathers in Linn and Walwort to n lip He also spent
a year in Utah, but the rest of his life has been spent in Lake Geneva, in which
city he attended high school, from which he was graduated. Then he entered
the law i ci of John B. Simmons, and he also did a great deal of studying
at home, in fact, he is a student by nature and has continued to apply himself
isly to books, especially such as apply to his profession. He was ad
mitted to practice law on June 4. [889, hut he did not begin active practice at
once, having traveled for about two years in the employ of the Edward
Thompson Publishing Company, publishers of law books He then took up
the practice of his profession in the city of Lake Geneva, and here he has since
remained, having built up a large and lucrative practice and taking a high rank
among the best attorneys of this section of the stale. He has kepi well
abreast of the times in all that pertains to his profession ami has a reputation
for being an earnest, accurate, painstaking and trustworthy advocate and conn
selor, and in the trial of cases he is alert, cautious and a strong pleader In
December. [896, be was admitted to practice in the irl of I tab.

during the year which he and his father spent there. Since returning from
( 'tab be ha- practiced in I ,al lv.

Politically. .Mr. Burdick i~ a Republican ami he has long been an in-
fluential factor in local party affairs, lb -eric.' ui as ju | the
peace and hi tion was urged, but hi une district attorn
which office he held for I ITS lb- was alderman for in the
city of Lake Gene a; for thi he was a member of thi ird,
and he is at present a member of the wati I Ks
a public servant he has discharged hi I able man
ner. winning the confidence and hearty approval
of party alignment, but - irs his h .nal dutii

746 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

rendered it impossible for him to devote much time to public affairs. In 1909
he was appointed public administrator by Judge Lyon, and he has been quite
efficient in collecting back taxes.

Fraternally, Mr. Burdick is a member of the Modern Woodmen.

On June 4, 1896, occurred the marriage of Mr. Burdick and Grace Eliza-
beth Downing, daughter of John and Nancy Emily (Lewis) Downing. Her
mother's ancestry can be traced back through their residence in Indiana and to
Carolina. She was born in Rockford, Illinois, where her grandfather Lewis
settled in 1838 when the country was new. Three children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Burdick, namely: Glydewell Bailey, Hugh Lewis and Almina
Emily.

Mr. and Mrs. Burdick belong to the Congregational church. They have
a pleasant home which is a favorite gathering place for their many friends.

FREDERICK E. WORMOOD.

Holding distinctive prestige among the enterprising citizens of Walworth
county is Frederick E. Wormood, the popular and efficient cashier of the
Farmers National Bank, of Lake Geneva, whose record, here briefly out-
lined, is that of a self-made man who, by the exercise of the talents with which
nature endowed him, has successfully surmounted an unfavorable environ-
ment and risen to the position he now occupies as one of the influential young
business men of the locality. He is a creditable representative of one of the
old and highly esteemed families of Wisconsin, and possesses many of the
admirable qualities and characteristics of the sturdy people ui the old Empire
Mate, from which his ancestors came.

Mr. Wormood was born in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, November 10, 1879.
He is the son of Norman N. and Anna E. (Smith) Wormood, both natives
of Onondaga county, New York, and there they grew up. were educated and
married there, each representing excellent old families. The father was of
English descent ami was the son of Peter Wormood, who was born in the year
iSoo, and In-- father's mother was descended from Governor Bradford, of the
Pilgrims who came over mi the "Mayflower."

Norman X. Wormood and wife came to Lake Geneva in [876 and estab-
lished the family home here. The father has been a machinist, working at
bis trade up t" 1007, ami be now makes bis home near Syracuse. Xew York.
IMs family consisted of six children, named as follows: William died when

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 747

six years old; Frederick E. of this review : Harry (i. lives in Joliet, fllii
I-'. Arthur lives in New York; Blanche E. resides in Portland, Oregon;
Gertrude died in infancy.

Frederick E. Wormood grew to manhood in Lake Geneva and here he
received his education in the publii schools and the high school. He began
lire for himself by clerking in the Lake Geneva postoffice, where he rema
six years. On August u. [901, he accepted a position in the Farmers Na-
tional Bank as bookkeeper. I le did his work well and in March. [908, h<
made assistant cashier, and J. Leu Gavin took the place madi acant by the
subject's promotion. When E. I). Richardson, the cashier, resigned in Novem
ber, 1911, Mr. Wormood, having given the utmos! satisfaction a- his assistant,
was elected to the position of cashier, the duties Hi' which he is still dis-
charging in a manner that retlects much credit upon himself and to the entire
satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of the hank.

Mr. Wormood was married on June 6, C906, to Mary E. Brady, daughter
of Charles Brady and wife, a highly respected Walworth county family.
Mis. Wormood was hum a short distance west of Lake < ieneva, where her par-
ents still reside, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated 111 the
local schools. Mr. and Mrs. Wormood have one son, Frederick, Jr., whose
birth occurred on November u. on 17.

Fraternally, Mr. Worm 1 belongs to the Knight- of Pythias, and he and

his wife are members of the Catholic church.

Mr. Wormood has worked himself up by persistent, conscientious effort,

-lematic in all his methods, and he is well liked for his abilit; and never
failing courte

PHILLIP II. KOHN.

Perhaps no hotel man in Walworth county is more wideh known than
Phillip ll. i\ohn. of Lake Gem a, his attractive and comfortable place there
being popular with the traveling public, who has i ind Mr. Kohn an

ng, honorable ai - gentleman, a man who ha- the interest of his

city and community at heart and who ti' ortunity to advance the

general goo he same.

Mr. Kohn was horn in Chicago on March 28, 1866. He is the son of
John Kohn, long an influential citizen here h of whom appears on an

othei ork.

Phillip II. Kohn remained with his parents in Chicago until h(
eleven years old, when, in [877, they moved to Ringwood, locating on a farm
where the family remained about threi removing from there to

74§ WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Geneva on January 6, 1881. Among their earliest experiences here was the
great snow storm when for nearly a week all communication with the outside
world was shut off; trains were blockaded in the snow and the citizens traveled
over the tops of fences and the snow shoveled off the sidewalks made a ridge
so high that teams in the streets were obscured from view. Here the father
purchased the Northwestern hotel, and Phillip H. grew up in the business.
The hotel and saloon were both owned by the elder Kohn, remaining under
his management until 1891, when Phillip H. and his brother, John R., who
died in 1909, took charge of the business which they conducted successfully
until 1 901, in which year the two brothers leased the hotel part to George
Wheeler, and retired from the active management of the hotel, but they con-
tinued to run the saloon together until the death of John R. Kohn, and then
Phillip H. continued the business alone. He has been very successful in a
financial way.

Phillip H. Kohn was married in 1891 to Hattie Schiche. daughter of
William and Amelia ( Jaensch ) Schiche. She was born at Charlottenburg,
a suburb of Berlin, Germany. Her father was owner and captain of a boat,
and her birth occurred on the boat. Her father died in the old country, after
which event Mrs. Kohn and her mother came to America in October, 1887,
making a visit to Mrs. Kohn's brother, Charles Schiche, who was already liv-
ing in Lake Geneva, he having been sick at the time. He died a few weeks
later, and here his mother and sister remained with a sister of Mrs. Kohn's
mother, Mrs. John Kohn. Here Mrs. Kohn remained and was married to
Mr. Kohn in the spring of 1891. and in the fall of that year, her mother died
at the hotel.

Airs. Schiche was a woman of lovely character and was sincerely mourned
by her family and all who knew her.

Three children have been born to Phillip II. Kohn and wife, namely:
George I... born July 17, 1893; Philip Gordon, burn May 9, 1897; and Doro-
tln . horn ( )ctober to, [901.

\h\ Kohn and family belong to the Lutheran church in Lake Geneva.
Mr. Kohn was For man) years a member of the Improved < )rder of \<i--t\ Men.
and was also active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, subordinate
lodge a I Lake Geneva, the encampment at Delavan, and the Patriarchs Militant
at Janesville.

Mr. Kohn is known as a steady-going man of good habits, kind-hearted
and fond of home and family. He gives close attention to. his business and
enjoys an extensive trade, his place being noted for being well managed and
thoroughly orderly and law-abiding. He has the respect and esteem of all
w hi • know him.

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 749

M )ll.\ DESING

Biographies should not be published unless there is something in the life
and character of the individual worthy of emulation or imitation bj others
under the circumstances — certainly not for self-aggrandizement ; but sufficient
has been drawn from the life history of the gentleman whose name appears

>ve to .-how that there is something in the inner life of this man worthj oi
more than incidental mention. He began life practically at the bottom of the
ladder, which he has climbed to the top with no help but a brave heart, industri-

- hands, an intelligent brain, and a faithful life companion, and is a living
example of what may be accomplished 1>\ the foreign-born citizen in this
republic of the "sundown seas" by thrift arid perseverance, even under dis-
couraging circumstances; and now, as this worthy old German couple pass
down the outmost incline of life's rugged pathway, over beyond the cresl
hill that mark- the divide between youth and old age, thej rest secure in the
respect ami i of all who know them, because of the high ideals and hon

• Inch have actuated and controlled their liv
John Desing, for mam years a successful farmer in Lafayette township,
Walworth count}-, now living retired in his cozj cottage in Elkhorn, was born
in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, not far from Brandenburg, Germany, in 1830. He
is the son of Henry and Sophia 1 Wbdrich 1 Desing. Ill- boyhood was spent
a- a farm hand and a working man 111 the village of Brun II' was married
in 1855 to Wilhelmina Wilk, who was born in Brun, Germany, in 1831. She
i- the daughter of Carl and Sophia 1 Kardow) Wilk. and there -In- grew i"
womanhood and was married.

John Desing and wife went t" housekeeping at Brun and there con
tinued to reside for a period of eight years after their marriage, living on the
estate of Henrj von Oerzen, a member of the nobility and tin- owner of an
extensive estate. Seeing no hope of bettering their condition, they emigrated

\merica in 1863, and settled at Youngstown, < >hio, but remained there only
five months, then came on to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and located in
Sugar Creek township, where, in order to get a -tart. Mr worked

a- a farm hand, hi- wit', also working for wages The) economized and
labored persist ntly and finally rented a farm, ami in 1872 were able to bu
faini of one hundred and forty- four acres, forty-four acre- of which la) al<
the line of Lafa nship, in Gem a township, the balance, one hundi

:s, being in Lafayette township. Hen tablished their home,

ally improved the farm and madi al farming, laying

competency for their declinh ntinuing I ir a pei

bout twenty-seven years.

75<3 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Desing, one of whom
died in Germany when ten days old; the three living are, Charles, who is
farming in Lafayette township, where he has a farm of his own; he married
Lena Koeppen, and they have six children, four daughters and two sons,
Arnold, Hulda, Alvina, Alma, Lulu and Merton. August Desing. the next in
order of birth, lives in Elkhorn. engaged in business, and a complete sketch of
him appears elsewhere ; Minnie married William Koeppen and lives in Williams
Bay, where Mr. Koeppen maintains a restaurant; they have three children,
William, who is now twenty-four years old, and two daughters, Nettie and
Erna.

John Desing and wife moved into Elkhorn in April, 1899. retiring from
the active duties of life. They are faithful members of the Lutheran church.

JOHN AGERX.

Success has come to John Agern, a worthy citizen of Lake Geneva, lie-
cause he has worked for it along legitimate lines and has dealt honorably with
his fellow men all along the line. He is a man who has at heart the interests
of his count\- and state, having never cared to spend his days in other than
ihe Badger state.

Mr. Agern was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, April n, i860. He is
the son of Knute and Bertha Agern, both natives of Yalders. Norway, where
they grew up and were married, and from there they emigrated to the United
States in 1856 and settled at Manitowoc, following farming in that vicinity,
and. through their industry and close application, became very comfortably
established. Knute Agern met death suddenly bv drowning in the year [862
when Ins „,ii John, of this sketch, was a baby. There were six children in
this family, namely: Oliver, Carrie, Thomas and Bertha were twins, John
and Emma.

After the death of the father of these children the mother married Ole
Severson and the subject of this sketch lived with his mother and step-
father until he was fourteen years old, at which age he left home and
worked out at farm work, lie found it hard, but the discipline was good and
contributed, no doubt, to his later success. When about seventeen years old
lie went to Minnesota where he worked on a farm for two years, then spent
nearly two years as a traveling salesman for the McCormick Harvester Com-
pany. In November, [881, he went to Chicago where he spent the winter,
and in [882 he came to Lake I ieneva, Wisconsin, with C. C. Boyles and became

WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 751

foreman of his place along the southeastern shore of Lake Geneva. He re-
mained with Mr. Boyles for a period of twenty-six years, giving the utmosl
satisfaction, having been specially fitted for such work. In the fall of [907,
.Mr. Agern purchased the Barlow farm from Mr. Boyles and he lived there
successfully engaged in genera] farming and stock raising until June, [911.
He had lived on the farm all the time Mr. Boyles owned it. Upon the last
mentioned date Mr. Agern s 1 farm ami purchased three houses and

lots in Lake Geneva, two on Wisconsin streel and .me on ( hester street. He
lives in the latter, renting those "ii Wisconsin street which are very desirable
dwellings in e\ erj respect.

.Mr. Agern was married on November 2, 1884, t<> Emma Vkcrman.
daughter of George ami Elizabeth Ackerman. She was born and reared in

Chicago and lived there until her marriage. She received a g 1 education

in the -chools of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Agern t\\<> children have been
born, namely: Bertha Elizabeth and Florence Rosamond. They are both
graduates oi the Lake Geneva high school and Bertha E. i- now teaching in
the public schools of Linn township. Florence R. has also taught in the same
school. The latter married Matthew Patton, superintendent "t~ the E. E.
Jones place, along the lake shore, and they live near Burtons Bay.

Fraternally, Mr. Agern belongs t>> the Masons, the Knights of Pythias,
the Independent < )rder of < >dd Fellows and the Mystic VVorl

Mr. Agern is a man of fine physique and the possessor of greal bodil)
strength He is a man of frank, genial and generous nature, and of a home-
loving disposition. He is a purely self-made man. having started out in life
when but a mere lad with no one to assist him, and bj perseverance and grit
he has succeeded until todaj he is very comfortably situated.

ROBERT I. LE \X.

The office of biography is not to give voice to a man'- modesl estimate
of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to have upon the record tin-
verdict establishing his character bj the consensus of opinion on the pai
his neighbors and fellow citizen-. The life of Robert J. Lean, of Gene a
township. Walworth. county, has been characterized b) energy, pel
and broad charity as well as well defined purpose and 1- therefore well deserv-
ing of mention in these pag<

Mr. Lean was born in Cornwall, England, December 30, [852. lie is
the son of William and Ann 1 Knight) Lean, who brought him to \n
in August, [857. They settled first at Palmyra, Jefferson comity. Wisconsin.
where they remained about "'-. then -pent two or thri in Wan-

752 WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

kesha county, moving to Walworth county in 1866, locating on a farm in
LaGrange township, and here Robert J. grew to manhood and attended the
district schools. His father died here on February 28, 1874, leaving a widow
and four children, namely: William J., who lives at Lime Springs, Iowa;
Thomas E. lives at Whitewater, this county; Frank died in June, 1874;
Robert J., of this review.

Thomas E. and Robert J. Lean worked the home farm together until
about 1900, the subject remaining on the home place until 1894, in March of
which year he bought a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres one
mile east of Elkhorn, which was known as the "Cedar Lawn Farm," and here
he has continued to reside, developing the same into one of the finest farms
in this part of the county. Passersby do not fail to notice the well-kept con-
dition of the place, the broad, attractive lawns, the fences, with turned posts
nicely painted, the inviting shade trees and shrubbery, the substantial, com-
modious barn and outbuildings and the cozy home, finished in hard wood and
equipped with modern conveniences, such as hot water heat, etc.

Mr. Lean has made somewhat of a specialty of Shropshire sheep, and
formerly he raised Durham cattle, but how keeps Holsteins. He keeps well
informed on agricultural and stock-raising topics, has many books treating
on botb, as well as a carefully selected general library. He has been a good
manager and has applied himself closely to his work. He has been a director
in the State Bank of Elkhorn ever since it was started, he being one of the
organizers, and since January, 191 o, he has been vice-president of the same,
discharging the duties of the position in an able and satisfactory manner.

Mr. Lean has long manifested a lively interest in local public affairs,
being one of the leaders in the Republican party. He has field various offices
in Lagrange township and has been chairman in Geneva township, and was
president of tfie Walworth Count)' Agricultural Society in 1892.

On December 10, 1884, Mr. Lean was united in marriage with Lucelia
Ann Horton, daughter of Morris and Elizabeth (Frost) Ilorton. tfie father
born in England July 12, 1826, and her mother was born March 2^, 1824.
Mr. Horton was an early settler in Whitewater, in which cit\ Mrs. I. can was
born and was educated.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lean, namely: Floyd Horton
Lean, born November 2, 1885; Kan Frank Lean, born March 27, 1889;
William Harold Lean, born December 14, 18(17. The wife and mother was
called to her rest on March 7, 1909.

Fraternally, Mr. Lean is a member of tfie Masons, and the Modern
Woodmen, ami the < (rder of tfie Eastern Star at Elkhorn.

pp~—

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