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 18
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 18
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LVAH BALLOU, one of the pioneers of Clark County, Wisconsin, was born February 13, 1834, in the old Bay State, the son of Martin and Prudy Ballon. He received his education in Massachusetts and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He came West in 1855 and for a time made his home in Harri- son, Calumet County, Wisconsin. Clark County has been his home since 1876. While in
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Calnmet County Mr. Ballou was married to Amanda Foster, and of their four children three are living.
When the war broke out the subject of our sketchi entered the service, enlisting in 1861, in Company C, Tenth Wisconsin Infantry. Shortly after his arrival in the Sonth he was taken sick and spent three months in the hospital. On account of disability he was discharged the following year. During his brief service lie was instrumental in captur- ing a spy who was afterward executed.
Mr. Ballou owns a good farm on section 11, Levis Township, four miles from Neills- ville, that he has cleared up from a wilder- ness. He has been a hard-working man all his life. He is a stanch Republican and a most worthy citizen.
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ILLIAM VOLLRATH, of section 13. Warner Township, range 3 west, Clark County, was born in the Prov- ince of Rliine, Prussia, November 23, 1856, the son of John and Mary (Kremer) Voll- rath, both natives of Germany, the former born December 11, 1814, and the latter August 22, 1818. They were the parents of three children: Philip, Maggie and Will- iamn. The mother died December 1, 1881, in this county, hers being the first death in this township west of Black River.
William Vollrath, our subject, came to tlie United States in September, 1867, and first lived in Franklin, Herman Township, Slie- boygan County, this State, until the spring of 1870, when he settled in Warner Town- ship, Clark County, which has ever since been liis home. In 1881 lie settled on his present farm of 120 acres, one-third of which he has since cleared, and where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He
has also worked in the pineries twelve winters.
Mr. Vollrath was married April 18, 1881, to Augusta Decker, a native of Germany. They have two children: Berthia and Jolin. The mother died January 30, 1883, and De. cember 1, 1883, the father married Anna Harrian, a native of Boliemia. By this mar- riage there are three children: Maggie, George and Clara. Mr. Vollrath has been Town Treasurer for years; Supervisor four years, and is now filling the office of Town Clerk. He is also agent for the Lynn Farm- ers' Mutual Insurance Company. He is a Republican politically, and a member of the German Reformed Church.
OHN SULLIVAN, a successful farmer of Jackson County, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in May, 1832, the son of Jeremiah Sullivan, a native of the same county. The latter came to the United States in 1842, and located in Baltimore, where lie subsequently died. In Ireland his occupa- tion was that of fariner, but after coming to this country he was occupied principally in working on railroads. Our subject's mother, nee Mary Cobonrn, was born in Ireland, where she died. Our subject, their sixth child, was reared on a farm and educated in Cumberland, Maryland. In 1846 he went to work for a railroad contractor, and con- tinued with him until about 1849, when he went to St. Louis, and then came to Chip- pewa Falls, Wisconsin, where lie followed various pursuits. In 1856 he came to Jackson County, Wisconsin, and located in Albion Township, where he now resides. He owns eighty acres of land on section 9, where he carries on general farming. He also owns some town property. Politically he is a
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Democrat, and has held several minor offices. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
Mr. Sullivan was married June 30, 1878, to Mary C. Morrissey, who was born in Mont- gomery County, New York, February 26, 1848, the daugliter of James and Katharine (Fitzpatrick) Morrissey, who came from Ire- to this country in early life, and subsequently came to Irving Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin. They are both members of the Catholic Church, and the father is a Demno. crat politically. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have had five children, namely: Mary E., John, Ursella, Frank and Katherine, all of whom are living but Ursella, who died at the age of eight months.
- ARON OLDHAM, an early settler of Clark County, Wisconsin, resides on a farm in section 10, Levis Township. He was born in Derbyshire, England, Sep- tember 19, 1838; his parents had eight children, he being the only surviving one; his father removed to Canada and engaged in farming, which occupation he followed liis entire life.
At an early age Aaron began to show a spirit of independence by providing for him- self. He came to the United States when a mere boy and obtained employment in a calico factory at Lowell, Massachusetts, where he remained nine years, and during that time became skilled in his trade; his education was obtained in the night schools, which were provided by that institution for its em- ployés; he also availed himself of the nse of the library, and thereby formed a taste for reading which has clung to him through life; he has been somewhat of a student all his life, and keeps himself thoroughly posted on the current events of the day.
Mr. Oldham was married, in Massachu- setts, at the age of twenty-three years, to Anna Hardman, a native of England. Their union has been blessed with six children, all now living; he has taken great pains to edu- cate them and fit them for honorable positions in life. Mr. Oldham came to Clark County the 26th of July, 1869, and took a homestead claim of 160 acres, located four miles and a half south of the present site of Neillsville. By hard work and with the assistance of his mnost estimable wife he has improved a good farm and made a comfortable home.
The early pioneers of Wisconsin, as well as those of other States, had their hardships and privations, together with many pleasing ex- periences. Mr. Oldliam relates in a vivid manner incidents connected with his first set- tlement here. The first house they lived in was constructed by themselves, the roof being covered with split bark. Provisions were high in those days, and economy had to be prac- ticed in many ways. Besides working on his farm Mr. Oldham has been employed in the woods and logging camps of the State inore or less since his residence here. Politically he is a Republican.
OHN SANDERS, of section 26, Hixton Township, Clark County, was born in Pittsford Township, Rutland County, Vermont, September 11, 1834, the son of Leonard (deceased) and Charlotte (Jones) Sanders, natives of Vermont; the former was born in the year 1802, and the latter now lives at Black Creek, Wisconsin, at the age of seventy-nine years. The parents had seven children, four now living: Harriet, now Mrs. Dixon; John, the subject of this sketch; Michael, and Charlotte, the wife of E. Welsh. One son, Ransom, died at the age
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of seventeen years, and George died in the Union army during the late war.
John Sanders came with his parents to Wisconsin in 1847, settling in Watertown Township, where they were surrounded by wild animals and Indians. In the fall of 1871 he came to this county and settled on his present farm, which then had but nine acres cleared, and a small log cabin. There was no turnpike north of Cawley Creek, and Mr. Sanders paid a dollar a hundred to get his goods from Neillsville. He now owns 120 acres of land and his wife eighty, fifty- one of which is cleared.
He was married July 10. 1858, to Martha A. Mead, a daughter of Vanranselaer Mead, de- ceased. (For further particulars of the Mead family, see sketch of W. H. Mead in this work.) They have three children, two of whom are now living: John E. and Ransoin L. One son died in infancy. John married Annie Borman, lives in Withee Township, this county, and has four children: Bernard, Etta, Ransom and an infant son. Ransom works in the pineries and at other occupa- tions. Mr. Sanders has been a member of the Methodist Church since sixteen years of age. During the late war Mr. Sanders en- listed, bnt was rejected by the examining board. He is a Republican politically, bnt votes for the inan instead of party.
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AMUEL H. ESCH, physician and sur- geon, has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Neillsville since 1885. He is a native of Sparta, Monroe County, born in the year 1859, and is a son of the Rev. Henry Esch, an early settler in the connty. When he was a lad the family removed to Milwaukee, the Rev. Esch having been appointed to the pastorate of a church in
that city. Later they left Milwaukee and lived in several different places, as the father's work necessitated. During a period later on they again resided in Milwaukee, but when Samuel H. was thirteen years old they re- turned to Sparta. There young Esch took a course in the high school, and while yet a youth determined to adopt the medical pro- fession as his calling in life. At that time he evinced his strength of character and cour- age, for the family finances did not warrant anything more than an ordinary education. He was obliged by the labor of his own hands to earn thie means to carry liim through a medical training, and accordingly secured a position as railroad express messenger, which he held for several years. Before he began his stndies he assisted a brother, John J. Esch, who was acquiring a legal education at the Wisconsin State University. This brother, who is now a prominent attorney at La Crosse, in turn aided the Doctor when he was studying,
The route as express messenger lay be- tween Green Bay and Chicago, and in the latter city Dr. Esch secured a preceptor who directed his studies, which he pursued the last year of his employment in this capacity. He entered Rush Medical College in the fall of 1883, and was graduated in the spring of 1885. He then located at Sparta, forming a co-partnership with two prominent physi- cians, the firm name being Gage, Beebe & Co. This relationship existed until his re. nioval to Neillsville; for a time after coming here he was associated with Dr. W. B. Morely, now of St. Paul, Minnesota. He practiced alone until May, 1888, when he formed a partnership with Dr. William Lyman. By his ability and skill as a physician, and his untiring industry, he has established a lucra- tive practice. He and Dr. Lyman are con- stantly increasing their patronage, and are
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ever on the alert to gain information npon the best methods and latest discoveries in the science of medicine. Dr. Esch has made a special study of the eye and ear in connection with his general work.
Our worthy subject was united in marriage in July, 1886, to Miss Louise Baldwin, of Sparta, and one child has been born to them, Gretchen.
ILLIAM J. FLANAGAN, superin- tendent of the Bright farm, one section 19, Green Grove Township, Clark County, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, December 25, 1853, the son of Thomas and Margaret (Smith) Flan- agan, natives of Ireland. The father came to the State of New York when fifteen years of age, and has ever since resided in St. Lawrence County. He is a blacksmith by trade, but is now retired from all active busi- ness. The parents had ten children: Eliza, Maria, Edward, Louise, Mary, Emily, Will- iam, Charles, Frances and Lillie.
William J., our subject, was reared to farm life and received a common-school education in his native State, where lie was also en- gaged in farming. He came to Jackson County, Wisconsin, in 1877, where he ran a ferry-boat at Irving for three years; next he was engaged in farming and working in the pineries for three years of William T. Price; he then farmed for himself two years. In the spring of 1865 lie came to this county, and soon afterward became superintendent of liis present farm. The place consists of 250 acres of cleared land, and 1,700 acres of hard- wood timber land. His residence is a fine, large frame, two stories, containing seven rooms. There are also two large frame barns, one is 46 x 64 feet, with twenty-two-feet posts,
and the other is 46 x 80 feet. There are two large warehouses, an office, a blacksmith shop, with sleeping apartments overhead for the hired men. There is also a fine large wind- niill, milk-house, and a liog-house 24 x 24 feet, which is supplied witlı water by under- ground lead pipes. Mr. Flanagan and one other man take care of 200 head of stock, all of which are of a high grade. He also owns a farm near Melrose, in Jackson County, Wisconsin.
Mr. Flanagan was married December 25, 1882, to Ella Brewer, who was born in Cuya- hoga County, Ohio, November 6, 1853, the daughter of Harvey Brewer, of Jackson County, Wisconsin. They have had two children, only one of whom survives: Alta L., born September 12, 1887; the other died in infancy. Mr. Flanagan now holds the of- fice of School Treasurer. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Greenwood.
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LE MATHISON, of section 26, Hixton Township, Clark County, was born near Larveve, County of Ironsburg, Norway, October 19, 1849, the son of Mathis Gulexon, a native of the same country, who still lives on the old homestead. Ole is the eldest of four children, of whom one brother and a sister are living; Andrine Mathison, who married but did not change hier name; and Mathis Mathison; both of the children live in Norway. The father had one son by a former marriage, who, if living, is a sailor.
After coming to the United States, our subject first stopped in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, for four months, then went to Waukesha County, where he remained until the fall of 1870, engaged as a farm land, In the fall of that year he came to Black River Falls, and a few days afterward to this
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county, where he worked in the pineries four winters and three summers for Bright & Withee, after which he became their foreman. In the spring of 1868 he settled on his pres- ent farm of 280 acres, 160 of which is located here and 120 acres near Thorp, and thirty- five is cleared.
Mr. Mathison was married January 12, 1886, to Mary E. Buyatt, a native of Black River Falls, born August 16, 1866, the daughter of William Buyatt, deceased. They have two children: Bertha J. and Oscar. Religiously Mr. Mathison is a member of the Lutheran Church.
OHN BOLGER, a successful fariner of Jackson County, was born in Irving, this county, March 8, 1855, the son of John Bolger, who was born in Wexford County, Ireland, in 1823. About 1845 he came to this country, and in 1854 settled in Jackson County, and at his death owned 600 acres of land in the town of Irving. Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously a inember of the Catholic Church. Our sub- ject's mother, Mary (Bolger) Bolger, was born in Kilkenny County, Ireland, and is now living with her son Jamies in Irving, Jackson County. She is a daughter of John and Margaret Bolger, both natives of that country, and members of the Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Bolger had five children, namely: Mary A., John, James, Margaret and Mary A. Only two are still living: John and James.
The subject of this sketch was reared and educated on a farm in Irving, this county. He lived with his father until the latter's death in 1880, and now owns 350 acres in section 22, most of which he inherited from his father, and where he carried on general
farming and stock-raising. Politically he is a Democrat, and is a member of the Town Board.
Mr. Bolger was married January 31, 1882, to Loretta Crawley, who was born in this county, September 29, 1860, the daughter of Michael and Deborah (Graham) Crawley. The parents were both natives of Ireland, but came to this country in an early day, and sub- sequently located in Jackson County, Irving Township, where the father died, and where the mother still resides. He was a farmer by occupation, and both were members of the Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Bolger have five children, viz .: John R., James M., Charles R., Hugh J. and Archie W.
RA C. BARR, a blacksmith of Longwood, was born in Zorra, Oxford County, On- tario, August 16, 1842, the son of George (deceased) and Martha (Richardson) Barr, the former a native of New York State, and the latter of Ontario. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was taken by his parents to Ontario when two years old. They had nine children, six of whom survive: Ira, Esther, Annie, Caleb, Abraham and Ransler.
The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and received his education in the common schools of his native county, where he also learned his trade when a young man. He removed to Lapeer County, Michigan, in January, 1865, where, and at other points in the same State, he lived several years, work- ing in the saw-mills in the summer, and in the blacksmith shops in winter. He came to Greenwood, this county, in 1878, and remained until 1886, and in that year removed to Longwood, where he has since followed his
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trade. He also owns four and a half acres of land in this place.
Mr. Barr was married November 11, 1870, to Charlotte Fusee, born Angust 10, 1848, the daughter of Anthony and Lonisa (Mc- Nally) Fusee, the former a native of Paris, France, and the latter of Lower Canada. They were the parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom still survive, viz .: Sarah, Louis, Charles, Mary, Charlotte, Adelia, James, Frank, Jane, Jeanette and Emma. The two deceased, Margaret and Melissa, liad married, and left families. The father left his native country when fourteen years of age, and settled in Lower Canada. He now resides in Fargo, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Barr had seven children, four of whom are now living: Anthony, George, Jessie and Albert. Socially Mr. Barr is a member of the I. (). O. F. fraternity, and politically a Re- publican. Both himself and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
RS. EMMA MILLER has clearly demonstrated what can be accom- plished by a woman of energy and intelligence. By the many excellent traits of character she possesses and by her busi- ness management and tact she has won recog- nition from the community in which she makes her home.
Mrs. Miller was born in Bradford Connty, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1847. Her parents were New York people, her mother's ancestors having come to this country from Germany. She came West thirteen years ago with her consin and located in Neills- "ville, Wisconsin, where she remained four years. Previous to her marriage to Mr. Phillip S. Miller, she was employed as manager in his hotel. Ten years ago he re-
moved from Neillsville to Merillon, where he conducted the hotel which he bought of Mr. Hoson, until the time of his death, in 1887. His widow succeeded him in the business and managed the establishment in such a way as to relieve the property from all in- cumbrances. She settled up the estate her husband left and paid off all claims on the same, doing it in a manner that gave entire satisfaction to her debtors and reflected credit on herself. She has run the hotel until the present, except for two months, when it was rented. She also owns another nice property in Merillon.
TOHN H. BAILLET, superintendent of the Sawyer farm, section 28, Hixton Township, Clark County, was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, January 28, 1827, the son of Francis E. Baillet (de- ceased), a native of Baltimore, Maryland He was for nine years clerk of Cattaraugus Conuty, and was also deputy clerk several terms. He came to Wisconsin in 1868, and soon afterward settled in Black River Falls, where he died a few years ago. Our sub- ject's mother, nee Elizabeth Horton, was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, De- cember 27, 1800, and now lives in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She is blind, but otherwise en- joys good health. Of the parents' eight children, five still survive, namely: John H., George W., Lydia J., Frank and Pamelia One son, Harry, died when twenty-one years of age.
John H., onr subject, was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools of his native State. He participated in the late war, in Company D, One Hundred and Sev- erty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, enlisting February 13, 1864, and was dis-
Yours truly AughtPrice
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charged in June, 1865. He was in the siege of Petersburg, and helped make the charge that drove Lee's army ont of the city. Ile was Sergeant on detached duty mostly, and missed several of the hardest battles. His brother, George, was a Lientenant in the war, in the Thirty-seventh New York Regiment, served one and a half years, and was discharged for disability. Onr subject removed to Caroline Connty, Virginia, in 1868; returned to New York in 1870; and then came to this county in the spring of 1872. He first ran a hum- ber camp for Sawyer in township 26, near Greenwood, where he remained until Angnst, 1878. He was engaged in running Inmber camps every winter, and farming in the sum- mer. He cleared most of this farin, which consists of 260 acres. In August, 1878, he went to Gary, Denel County, Dakota, and took up a homestead, which he entered and proved np, where he was engaged in farming until May, 1890. IIe then returned to Wis- consin, and took charge of this farin. The Sawyer farm, of which he is foreman, con- tains many buildings, and among them are two large barns which are supplied with wa- ter from a wind-pump, so that the stock can all be watered without removing from their stalls.
Mr. Baillett was married in April, 1850, to Margaret G. Carpenter, a native of Cattaran- gns County, New York, and a daughter of Isaac Carpenter, deceased. They have had one child, Ellen, who died at the age of nine years. The mother died in September, 1851, and Mr. Baillet was again married, in July, 1854, to Olive B. Ackley, a native of Madi- son County, New York. They have had two children: Fred and George. The former died in Dakota, October 18, 1887, and the latter is a resident of Gary, Dakota. He is married to Luny Davison, and they have two chil- dren: Beverly G. and Nela E .. Mrs. Baillet 14
died October 24, 1887, just six days after their son. Her death was cansed by a nerv- ous shock at his death. Mr. Baillet never seeks office, but has been indneed to serve on the School Board. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., Odd Fellows and Masons. Mrs. Baillet was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which onr subject was formerly a member, and although he has not renounced Christianity he is a firm believer in the existence of spirits. He has had suffi- cient evidence to prove to him that his de- parted friends see and know what he does, as they have often communicated with him.
UGH II. PRICE, the only surviving son of the late Hon. Willian T. Price, was born at Black River Falls, Decem- ber 2, 1859. He received his education in the Union High School of his native town, and at the Wisconsin University. The ster- ling traits of the father have descended to the son, and while a mnere yonth he evinced capabilities that have won him a first rank in business circles. When a boy he was en- trusted with important responsibilities per- taining to the vast logging interests of his father, and npon the death of the latter he was well fitted to take full charge of the business.
The most notable event in the career of Mr. Price in his election, January 18, 1887, to the last session of the Forty-ninth Con- gress, to serve the nnexpired terin of his lamented father whose death occurred the 6th day of the preceding December. His nomination and election, while a tribute to the memory of his father, are an honor of which he is personally deserving. The vote cast was 12,238, Republican, against 5,209, Democratic.
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Mr. Price has also been called to fill vari- ous local positions of trust and honor ; he has been a member of the City Council, a mem- ber of the Jackson County Board, and Secre- tary of the Jackson County Agricultural Society. In 1888 he was elected to the State Senate of Wisconsin, representing the people of the Thirty-second District. In all the duties devolving upon him lie has exhib- ited more than ordinary ability; he is well informed on all public questions, and is in all respects a progressive citizen. He is un- married, and resides with his mother and sister in their beautiful home in Black River Falls.
ANE GATES is the widow of Daniel Gates, late of Clark County, Wisconsin. An outline of her life and that of her worthy husband is herewith given. Mrs. Gates is a native of New York, born De- cember 4, 1828. Her parents settled in Wis- consin at an early day and brought with them three children to this State. She is tlie old- est of the family, was educated in the com- mon schools of New York, and was married in Essex County, that State, April 23, 1848, to Daniel Gates. He was born in Washing- ton County, New York, but was educated in the common schools of Essex County. They reared a family of five children, viz .: Ade- laide, James L., Charley, Eddy and Nellie. All are married except one. Mr. Gates was employed in the iron works of Essex County, and for a time was a contractor in New York. He saved up $500, but when he came to Wis- consin in 1856 he had only $40 with which to begin life in the new State, and his family consisted of wife and three children. Here he worked on the bridge over Black River, and for awhile kept a liotel at the mouth of
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