USA > Wisconsin > Clark County > Biographical history of Clark and Jackson Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each, and engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 11
USA > Wisconsin > Jackson County > Biographical history of Clark and Jackson Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each, and engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 11
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C. WAGE was born in Pennsylvania, April 16, 1841, son of J. D. and Susan Wage. He came to Wisconsin with his father in 1856, and settled in the town of Grant, then Lynn. The father bought 320 acres of land there, paying for it ten shillings per acre. He was killed in Wisconsin in 1866, in a logging fallow, by a stick which he was hauling catching in the ground and striking him on the head, and he is buried in Grant Township. The subject of our sketch lived with his parents until he was twenty- two years old, when he began working on a farm at $20 a month, being thus employed when the war broke out. At Black River Falls, December 30, 1863, he entered the service of his country, enlisting in Company I, Fourteenth Wisconsin Regiment. He was in the Red River expedition, participated in the action at White River, Arkansas, at Nash- ville, Tennessee, and a number of other en- gagements. He was a faithful soldier and was honorably discharged October 9, 1863, after a two years' service. He then returned to Wisconsin, and was engaged in logging abont two years.
October 3, 1869, Mr. Wage was united in
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marriage with Ruth E. l'ayn, born February 28, 1852, in New York; came to Wisconsin in 1857 and to Clark County in 1867. Soon after his return from the army Mr. Wag- bought eighty acres of land in Grant Town- ship, Clark County, living there until 1877, when he sold and bought in Pine Valley, where he now lives, two and one-half miles south of Neillsville. Mr. Wage is a Repub- lican, and is one of Clark County's worthy citizens.
HARLES W. CHRISTIAN, clerk in the Sterling Lumber Co.'s store, and also a mail carrier of Sterling, was born in Jefferson County, New York, June 30, 1844, the son of Moses (deceased) and Re- becca (Bailey) Christian, the former a native of Mohawk Valley, New York, and the latter of New Jersey. Of the parents' eleven chil- dren, four still survive: Melvina, now Mrs. John Baker, of Spirit Lake, Iowa; John B .; Angeline, now Mrs. Abraham Castellion, of Hortonville, Wisconsin; and Charles W., our subject. The latter came with his parents to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, in 1849, when the Indians and wild animals were nu- merous, and it was then dangerous for a person to be out after dark. They settled in the openings and succeeded in clearing a farm. Mr. Christian was a soldier in the late war, in Company H, Twentieth Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, served three years, and was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; Van Buren, Vicksburg, Ya- zoo City, Atchafalaya, Louisiana; Fort Morgan, Franklin Creek, Spanish Fort and others. He never lost but three days for dis- ability, and then ran away from the hospital to rejoin his company.
After the war Mr. Christian returned to
Fond du Lac County, thence to Hortonville, Wisconsin, in 1867, and in 1872 removed to Greenwood, this county, where he worked on a farm until the fall of 1875. In that year he came to Longwood, where he clerked in a store and liotel until the spring of 1879, and then came to Withee, settling on the south- east quarter of section 10, township 28, range 3 west, which is still his home.
He was married July 7, 1865, to Samantha Bradford, a daughter of Andrew Bradford, of Fond du Lac County. They have three children: Charles, Frank and Captolia. The mother died March 21, 1890. Mr. Christian is a member of the G. A. R. and I. O. O. F. fraternities; was School Clerk two years, Constable two years, and politically is a Re- publican.
FORACE S. CHASE, a worthy agricult- urist of Clark County, has been a res- ident of Wisconsin since his fifteentli year, and will be here allotted space in this biographical record of the county. He was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, in the town of Stockholmn, June 13, 1836, and is a son of Theodore and Huldah (Osgood) Chase. Theodore Chase was born in New Hampshire, near Swanzey, and was a son of Abner Chase. He was reared in Vermont, served in the war of 1812, and was a shoe- maker by trade; he was also interested in farming; he took up his residence in St. Lawrence County, New York, early in life, and there passed the remainder of liis days. His death occurred in 1840. His wife was married a second time to Mr. Hart, of St. Lawrence County, New York, and both were killed by a runaway team about the year 1871.
Horace S. Chase is one of a family of ten children: John F., Frederick, Huldah, Philan-
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der, Caroline, Charles E., Emroy, Minerva and Lorenzo E. He was reared in the connty in which he was born, received his education in the common schools and acade- mies. When he first came to Wisconsin he worked on a farm during the summer season, and devoted his winters to teaching school. He was occupied in this way until 1868, when he came to Clark County and purchased a tract of eighty acres where he now lives; he cleared and improved about twenty acres, and has a comfortable home.
August 15, 1861, when the dark war cloud of the Rebellion was hanging over this na- tion Mr. Chase enlisted as a private in Com- pany A, First Wisconsin Cavalry, and served until January 17, 1864, when he received a gun-shot wound at Dandridge, Tennessee. This rendered him unfit for service, and he was in the hospitals of Knoxville, Nashville and Louisville until October 20, 1864, when lie was sent home. His wounds were of a very serious nature, being in the neck, throat and leg, and he is still suffering from them. After coming from the war he resumed his place in the school-room, and tanght until six years ago. Among the other misfortunes with which he has had to contend since com- ing to the State was the loss of all his house- hold goods by fire. It is indeed a brave spirit that can withstand the perils of battle, the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and the rav- ages of fire with undaunted courage.
Mr. Chase was elected Clerk of Weston Township in 1870, when it covered about one-third of the county. He has been Clerk of York Township since 1875, and for fifteen ycars has served as Justice of the Peace. Politically he is a Republican; fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F.
On August 25, 1860, he was united in the holy bonds of marriage to Miss Eliza E. Pickens, of Bristol, Kenosha County, Wis
consin. Mrs. Chase was born in Erie County, New York, June 16, 1842, and is a danghter of John and Dinah (Sherman) Pickens, na- tives of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Chase are the parents of six children: Lorenzo II., de- ceased; Oliver P., Philander E., Robert I., and two who died in infancy.
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EORGE LESLIE, a carpenter and farmer of Thorp, Clark County, was born in Lockport, Niagara County, New York, July 26, 1829, the son of David Leslie, de- ceased, a native of County Derry, Ireland. He was brought by his parents to Canada when a small boy, and afterward to Vermont, where he married Mary Storm. They then moved to Ontario, thence to Niagara Connty, New York, settling in Lockport, in 1845 to Milwaukee, in 1848 to Greene County, Wis- consin, later to northern Iowa, and subse- quently to Kansas, where the father died, in Coffey County, in 1872. The parents had seven children, five now living, viz .: Mar- garet, John, James, George and William. One daughter, Jane, died at the age of thirty-seven years. She was married to Samnel H. Shaff, of Milwaukee, and left four children. Margaret was married to James Holmes, of Lockport, New York.
The subject of this sketch remained in Mil- waukee, engaged in teaming, for three and a half years, and in the fall of 1848 came to Green Connty, Wisconsin, where he cast his first vote for Z. Taylor. He remained there until the fall of 1849, when he returned to Milwaukee, spent the winter there, and in May, 1850, returned to Green County. In June of the same year he went West with three companions to Fayette County, Iowa, taking six yoke of oxen, crossed the Missis -
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sippi River at Dubuque, and pastured their cattle in the streets of that city. He re- mained two years, and during that time helped locate the county seat, West Union, of Fayette County. In 1852 he returned to Green County, where he was engaged in breaking prairie by the acre for two years, then farmned a few years, and in 1859 removed to Harrison County, Missouri, where he bought a farm, intending to remain there, but was driven out by the drouth of 1860. He next went to Chickasaw County, Iowa, where he spent the winter; but, having lost everything in Missouri by the breaking out of the war in 1861, he returned to Green County and engaged in farming. In 1880 he came to Thorp, where he has since worked in the pineries, in the saw-mills, at carpen- tering, and at various other occupations. He also owns a house and four and a half acres in Thorp.
Mr. Leslie was married December 25, 1854, to Catherine E. Teneyck. a daughter of Borent Teneyck, deceased. They have had seven children, six of whom still survive: Buenavista, Mary E., Loretta J., George F., Edith M. and Hannah L. In his religious faith Mr. Leslie is a First-Day Adventist, and in his political views a Prohibitionist.
NTHONY E. REDDEN. of section 36, Weston Township, Clark County, was born in Carleton County, Ontario, Can- ada, August 28, 1858, the son of Daniel (deceased) and Ellen (Fitzpatrick) Redden; the former was a native of Ireland, but came to Ontario when a young man; the latter died in October, 1889. Of their nine children, seven still survive, namely: Eliza, Jane, James, Mary, John, Anthony and Ella. Eliza was married to Lewis Jarvais, who died
about 1885; his widow now lives in Ontario. Ella married Menford Elliott, of Preston, Kingsbury County, South Dakota. The family moved to Renfrew County and lived there some time.
The subject of this sketch came with his widowed mother to Clark County, Wisconsin, in 1883, settling on his present farin of 240 acres, most of which is improved. He has been engaged in logging camps mnost of his time since, but is now turning his attention to farming and stock-raising. Religiously he is a member of the Catholic Church, and politically a Republican, although in no sense of the word a politician.
RANKLIN DOWNER was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, September 26, 1825, and is a son of Solomon and Martha (Huntingdon) Downer, natives of the same county and State. The paternal grandparents were natives of Con- necticut, and the paternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. The maternal grandparents were born in Nova Scotia. Solomon Downer and wife were born, reared and married in Vermont, and there they lived and died. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; he was a farmer by occupation, and accumulated considerable property. There were seven children born to this worthy couple: Wooster, Jason, Chester, Susan, Franklin, Albert and Alice. The three eldest are dead.
The subject of this notice passed liis child- hood and youth in his native county, and there received his education in the common schools; he made the most of his opportuni- ties for acquiring an education; for a few years later we find him occupying the posi- tion of schoolmaster in the village of Chat-
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ham, Massachusetts. There he remained for four years, and in the season he was not en- gaged in teaching he followed cod-fishing.
It was in the year 1854 that lie bade fare- well to the scenes of his earlier days, and started out to seek his fortune in the great West. He came to Wisconsin, and after one year he entered 160 acres of land, section 15, Hixton Township, and immediately set about improving it, and reducing it to a state of culture; he has not been idle all these years, and now has eighty acres which he plants every year. During the late civil war he embarked in the mercantile trade at Hixton, and carried on the business successfully for eleven years; at the end of that time he dis- posed of his interests there, and has since devoted his energies to agriculture. The breeding and raising of live-stock has re- ceived more or less attention from this pro- gressive farmer, and this branch of the business has been handled with good results.
Being a man of wide information and lib- eral views, Mr. Downer is independent in his politics. He has held inany of the local of- fices, and has given entire satisfaction in the discharge of the duties attached thereto.
May 9, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Hewitt, of Neillsville, Wis- consin. She was born in the State of New York. She passed from this life in the year 1886, aged forty-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Downer are the parents of two children: Lillie M., born June 10, 1865, and Solomon J., born December 6, 1871.
ZRA TOMPKINS, a farmer, residing on section 27, Pine Valley Township, two miles from Neillsville, was born Jnly 13, 1838, in Millville, New York, son of John and Sophia Tompkins, both natives of
that State. He attended the district schools of the county in which he resided, but his educational advantages were limited, as the greater part of the year lie was compelled to labor for the support of those who were de- pendent upon him. When a mere boy he began to lay the foundation for his own for- tnne. His first work was in the lumber business on the Kennebec River, where he received only seventy-five cents per day. After being thus employed for several years he came to Wisconsin, in 1856, and settled at Wedge's Creek, Clark County. The same year he came to Clark County, where for two years he made his home with his brother, both working in a lumber camp.
January 20, 1857, Mr. Tompkins married Alice A. Maxwell, who was born at Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, New York, in 1839. Three children have been born to them: Fred Bee, Effie Carr and Morton L. They are all being educated in the district schools of Clark County. When he was married our subject had but little means; but with a cheerful companion to share with him the burdens and joys of life, he went to work with renewed energy to make a home, and he is now the owner of a nice eighty-acre farm. In the early days of their house- keeping their furniture was of a rude sort, but the happiness of that pioneer home was none the less genuine on that account. Wooden benches answered for chairs, and the table on which their daily food was spread was made of rough lumber that Mr. Tomp- kins dressed himself.
In the spring of 1883 Mr. Tompkins went to California with a view of purchasing land, but decided that it would prove an unprofit- able investment for him. He returned to Wisconsin the same year, and expects to make Clark County his permanent home. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in poli-
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tics is a Republican. His father and mother are botlı deceased.
OMER M. ROOT, County Clerk of Clark County, was born in Chenango County, New York, June 22, 1846, tha son of George and Mary (Bnsh) Root, also natives of Chenango County. The father has been a farmer all his life. His parents, Mil- ton H. and Sarah (Clark) Root, were natives of Massachusetts, but moved to Gnilford, Chenango County, New York, in an early day, where they were engaged in farming and stock-raising, and where they lived nntil death. The father was quite a politician; was captain of a military company, and was a member of the Masonic lodge. He reared a family of six children that grew to manhood and womanhood. His father came from England and settled in Massachusetts. Our subject's grandfather on the maternal side, William Bush, a native of Massachusetts, was engaged in farming and hotel business, which he followed through life. Our subject's father had a family of fonr children, three of whom are now living: Homer M., Mrs. Mary J. Barber, of Chenango County; Mrs. Frances W. Duffy, of New York city; and Mrs. Sarah E. Barber, now deceased. The father belongs to the Republican party ; is a Mason and Odd Fellow; and both he and his wife were mnem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a deacon.
Homer M. was reared on the home farm, received a common schooling, and tanght school in Chenango and Broome counties for five years. In 1869 he came West, locating at Greenwood, Clark County, Wisconsin, where he worked in the woods. during the winters and farming in the summers for four years, at the end of which time he went into
business for himself. He owns sonte valu- able timber land in Clark County, and has been extensively engaged in logging on Black River and its tributaries. Mr. Root was elected Town Clerk of the town of Eaton in 1874, which office he held in that town and the town of Warner ten years; was District Clerk four years, and was elected to his pres- ent office in 1888. He is a Republican politically, and attends the Unitarian Church. He is a man who stands higli in the county, and takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the county or State.
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AMES PERRY, Postmaster of Pine Hill, is one of the oldest settlers of Jackson County, having resided here since 1841. He was born in Goshen, Co- Inmbiana County, Ohio, June 13, 1819. His parents, Basil and Rachel (Hazen) Perry, were natives of Maryland and New Jersey respectively. They were married in Colum- biana County, Ohio, where they spent the greater part of their lives. They had born to them six children: John, Margaret, Rebec- ca, James, Hannah and Thomas.
James was the fourthi born; he was reared in Columbiana County, Ohio, and passed his youth after the fashion of mnost farmers' sons. He acquired his education in the common schools, and while he had not the opportunity which the State gives the chil- dren at the present day, he fitted himself for the ordinary duties of business life. In the year 1840 he left his childhood home and went to seek a home in the West; he re- mained in the State of Illinois for a few months, and then came to Jackson County, Wisconsin, where he lias resided almost continuously ever since. After coming to the county he turned his attention to the
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Inmber business, and worked in the pineries along the Black River for a number of years. Later on he built a saw-mill, which he oper- ated until 1848; this mill was located near Neillsville, Clark County, and commanded a generous patronage from the surrounding conntry ; also built and operated saw-mills in Jackson Connty.
In 1871 Mr. Perry abandoned the lumber business, and turned his attention to farming; le purchased eiglity acres of land on section 21, town 20 north, of range No. 4 west, in Manchester Township, and Iras placed sixty acres under good cultivation. He is a man of excellent business qualifications, and is fully abreast of the times on all public qnes- tions. In politics he is in sympathy with the Farmers' Alliance party. He has held many of the township offices, and in Febru- ary, 1884, he was commissioned Postmaster of Pine Hill, and faithfully discharges the dnties of the office.
Mr. Perry was united in marriage, in 1847, to Miss Lydia Edmunds, of Henderson County, Illinois. This union resulted in the birth of three children: George M., Sarah L. and James D. The mother died in 1855, and Mr. Perry was married a second time, uniting with Mrs. Eliza J. Ireland, March 22, 1859. Mrs. Perry was born in Canada, Au- gust 31, 1825, and is a daughter of William and Lydia A. (Seaton) Jay, natives of Eng- land and Canada respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have had three children: Charles M., Ida M. and William H.
RASTUS MACK was born in the Do- minion of Canada, August 31, 1824, and is a son of Daniel and Pollie (Chard) Mack, natives of the State of Con- necticut. Although born in the United
States, the parents were married in Canada, and passed their lives there. Daniel Mack was a farmer by occupation; in the war of 1812 he took an active part, discharging lis duties as a soldier faithfully and well. He and his wife were botlı respected members of the Baptist Church. They had born to then eight children: Daniel, Lewis, David, James, Nicholas, Erastus, William, and a daughter who died in infancy.
Erastus was reared on a farm in Canada, spending his time in the labors incident to agricultural life. In 1856 he left lris native place and came to Wisconsin, locating on the land he now owns. He purchased it from the Government, paying $1.25 per acre. At that time no hand had touchred the pri- meval forest, and the difficulties attending its removal and the clearing of the land must not be lightly estimated. There was only one house at Neillsville, and there were no roads. Mr. Mack and lris brother Daniel cut the road to his place six miles through the timber. The first cabin they erected was constructed of logs and boards cut from the timber, and afterward a log house was built that furnished a comfortable shelter for many years. As his means increased, and he began to reap the reward of his efforts, Mr. Mack built a modern dwelling, and erected large and convenient barns for the storing of the products of his land. His farm now consists of 120 acres, seventy-four of which are clear. He began in life with nothing but pluck and energy for capital, but they have served him better than other commodities more fleeting, and he has won for himself and family a com- fortable home and means for a good living.
In the year 1844, August 12, Mr. Mack was married to Miss Maria Hughs, of Canada. She was born in Wiltshire, England, Decem- ber 25, 1824, and is a daughter of Joseplı and Elizabeth (Lock) Hnghs, natives of Eng-
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land. Her parents emigrated to America in 1831; the mother died at Montreal before they had reached their destination, and the father is now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Mack have had born to them thirteen children: Nehemiah, Elizabeth, Hannah, Nicholas, Wesley, Joseph, Eli, Adalaide, Albra, Charles, Edith, Leslie, and one child who died in infancy. All the chil- dren excepting Nicholas and Leslie are mar- ried. The father and inother are honored and consistent members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
HARLES FOOTE was born in England, the son of Samuel and Hannah Foote, both natives of that country. He came to America in 1852, and in 1854 located in Clark County, Wisconsin, on a farm in sec- tion 24, Pine Valley Township. His early education was received in his native land, and when he came to the United States he was entirely withont means. For a time he worked in Racine, Wisconsin. He was en- gaged in lumbering, working in a mill and farming up to 1861. In that year he en- listed in Company I, Fourteenth Wisconsin Regiment, and participated in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth and other important en- gagements. Mr. Foote served his country faithfully and was always found at the post of duty. He was honorably discharged in 1866.
In 1866 he was united in marriage to Maggie Ross. To them five children have been born: Frank, Nellie, Grace, Blanch and Oscar. One child is deceased. The others are receiving their education in the high schools. Since the war Mr. Foote has been engaged In farming in Clark County. He owns a farm which is located two miles east
of Neillsville and which is well improved. He is regarded as one of the best citizens of the township.
MIL POPPE, of section 11, Weston Township, Clark County, was born in Mosel Township, Sheboygan Connty, Wisconsin, October 20, 1856, the son of Adolph Poppe, a native of Saxony, Germany. He came to the United States when forty years of age, settling in Sheboygan County, where he died December 1, 1879. Our sub- ject's mother, nee Yetta Derke, now lives in that county, at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of seven children: Christopher, Ernest, Angusta, Oswald (de- ceased), Emil, Charles and Hermann.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a common-school edu- cation. He came to this county in the fall of 1888, settling on his present farm of 120 acres, twenty-six of which is cleared.
He was married October 4, 1880, to Chris- tine Sife, a daughter of Joseph Sife, of Dale, Wisconsin. They have three children: Jo- sephine, Tilla and Christine. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and the former is a Democrat politically.
OSEPH C. MARSH, one of the enter prising business men of the county, was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1852, and is a son of Nelson and Rocelia (Taylor) Marsh: the father was born in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and his wife was also a native of the " Keystone " State. Our subject was the eldest of a family of seven children; he was only five years of age when his parents re-
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moved to Wisconsin; here lie passed his youth, acquiring his education in the com- mon schools and at Oskaloosa (Iowa) College; he was one of the early educators, having taught both in Clark County, Wisconsin, and in Iowa. After following this profession for a number of years he turned his attention to the lumber business, and in 1882 put in op- eration saw-mills both at Heathville and Spokeville, this county; this industry has flourished under his wise direction, and he now owns an extensive mill at Spokeville in whichi many building materials are manu- factured. It is indeed gratifying to see en- ergy and industry thus rewarded. In addition to his milling interests, Mr. Marsh owns a mercantile business at Spokeville, and is also Postmaster of the place. He lias occupied several public offices, displaying always that ability and sound judgment which have chiar- acterized his private dealings. He affiliates with the Republican party and belongs to Master Lodge, No. 163, A. F. & A. M.
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