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 24

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 436


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 24
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 24


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44


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las sold his interest to his brother Thomas. When he first came to this county Mr. Doug- las took up 1,100 acres of land in Melrose, and after selling the mill he went back to this land. He furnished the inaterial for a steamboat, which he ran abont three years, and again went to his farm, where he has since remained. He now owns 300 acres in sections 17 and 20. He received his natural- ization papers in 1840; politically he is a Republican. He joined the Methodist Epis- copal Church in 1840.


He was married in September, 1852, to Louisa Hnrd, who was born in Vermont, and died in Melrose, Jackson County, Wisconsin, at the age of sixty-one years. She was a danghter of Norman Hurd, also a native of Vermont, who came to Jackson County in 1855, where he died at the age of sixty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas had seven children, two of whom are now living-John and Archibald. In 1868 he was married to Mrs. Mary Pardon, by whom he had one child-Mary J.


FRED SCHMIDT, a farmer of section 27, Mayville Township, was born in Germany, March 14, 1848, the son of August Schmidt, deceased. The father brought his family to the United States in 1853, settling in the town of Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, in the dense woods, among Indians and wild ani- mals. He cleared a good farm, but in 1877 removed to Winnebago Connty, where he died the next year. The parents had six children: Fred, Christian, William, August, Adolfine and Fredrica. All live in Clark County, except Christian, who resides in Sheboygan City.


The subject of this sketch was reared on a


farm, and received a common-school educa- tion. He came to this county in 1880, and settled on his present farm of eighty acres, on the northeast corner of section 27, and has since cleared twenty-eight acres. He has been a member of the Side Board two years, and is now chairman of the same. Ile is a member of the Evangelical Association at Dorchester. Mr. Schmidt was married De- cember 23. 1872, to Ida Colberg, a daughter of Christian Colberg, of Sheboygan County. Of their six children four survive: William, Charles, Bertha and Elsie.


OSEPH RINGROSE. - Prominent among thie early pioneers of Jackson County we find the name that heads this sketch. Mr. Ringrose has been a resi- cent of Wisconsin for forty years, has been an eye-witness to the many changes that have taken place here, and is loaded with many pleasing reminiscences connected with the early settlement of this country. IIe first located in Merton, Waukesha County, in 1850, and remained there four years and a half. He has always been of an industri- ous nature, was variously employed at differ- ent places, and although he received small wages, lie saved what lie made, and by the time he came to Jackson County, in 1855, he had $500. He then located on the farm where he now lives, in section 11, Garden Valley Township. At the time he settled here they had to go forty or fifty miles to Sparta for a good market: there was no grist mill nearer than twelve miles, and deer and other wild game were plenty. Mr. Ringrose built the house in which he now lives. He states that when he first went to housekeep- ing they had bnt one bed. Many were the obstacles they liad to encounter in those


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days, but they met them bravely, overcoming them in trne pioneer style, and are now en- joying the fruits of their labor. Mr. Ring- rose's parents both died in England.


Mr. Ringrose was born in Yorkshire, Eng- land, May 17, 1828. November 16, 1856, he was united in marriage with Jane Turnell, daughter of Thomas Turnell. Her parents both died in Garden Valley. To this worthy couple nine children have been born. All have been well educated, three having at- tended college after finishing the common schools. Two of the children are married, one of whom resides in Milwaukee. Mr. Ringrose has been Treasurer of the School Board for nine years, and has also served as School Director.


EORGE RALSTON, a prominent farm- er of Jackson County, was born in Sullivan County, New York, April 20, 1842, the son of Archibald Ralston, who was born in Rensselaer Connty, same State, in 1807, and died in Sullivan County, at the age of seventy-three years. He was a farmer by occupation. In the early days he was a Whig, but afterward became a Democrat. Our subject's mother, nee Elizabeth Mc- Naugliton, was born in Rensselaer County, New York, in 1809, and died in Sullivan County, at the age of sixty-two years. They were both members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. They were the parents of ten children, viz .: Margaret A., Douglas, John II., Martha J., David S., George, James A., Mary E., Seth and Harriet, five of whom are still living: Margaret A., John H., Martha J., George and Harriet.


George Ralston, our subject, the sixth child, was reared and educated on a farm in


Sullivan County, New York. He enlisted at Monticello, in the late war, as a private in Company B, One IInndred and Forty-third New York Infantry, and participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mount- ain, Bentonville, and many minor engage- ments. He was honorably discharged at Hart's Island, New York, July 25, 1865. After the war lie returned to Sullivan County, where he followed farming and Inmbering until 1872, when he came to Jackson County, Wisconsin. He owns ninety acres of farm land and fifty acres of timber, in section 18, where he gives considerable attention to rais- ing blooded horses in addition to general farming. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 161, at Melrose, and is also a mnem - ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


Mr. Ralston was married May 24, 1867, to Mary Hunt, who was born in Sullivan Coun- ty, New York, Angnst 7, 1833, the daughter of Jacob and Nellie (Wyncoop) Hunt, uatives of New York. The father was a carpenter by trade, and died in Pennsylvania, at the age of eighty-one years. The mother died in Sullivan County, at the age of thirty-nine years. Mrs. Mary (Hunt) Ralston is one of a family of eleven children, three sisters and seven brothers, nine of whom are still living. Five of her brothers enlisted in the Uniou army: Renben, in the Fifty-sixth New York, and served four years: John and Abrain C. in the One Hundred and Forty-third New York, and served each three years; Francis in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York, and served two years; and Jacob, also in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth and served one year, participating in a great many hard-fought baatles. Mrs. Ralston is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Melrose. Mr. and Mrs. Ralston have four children: Douglas, born April 3, 1868; John, born June 19, 1871; Clara, boru Sep-


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tember 21, 1873, and Addison, born Decem- ber 5, 1876.


HOMAS V. CARLETON, of Neills- ville, was born in Waldo County, Maine, January 14, 1820, the son of Levi (deceased) and Abigail (Colben) Carle- ton. The father was a soldier in the army in the war of 1812. His father and brother, Jonathan and John Carleton, came to the United States during the Revolutionary war, and participated in that struggle on the American side, while another brotlier, Colo- nel Carleton, commanded a regiment in the British army, and surrendered with Corn- wallis at Yorktown. Mr. and Mrs. Carleton had four sons and two daughters, three of whom survive: Thomas, our subject; George, of Los Angeles; and Adaline, now Mrs. Hutchinson, of Rockford, Illinois.


At the age of fifteen the subject of this sketch went to Aroostook, Maine, and during the war helped build a fort for General Scott. In 1846 the family removed to She- boygan County, Wisconsin, and settled in Linden Township, and the same year Mr. Carleton went as a volunteer soldier in the Mexican war, in Company C, First Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Wright. He participated in the battles of Buena Vista, Contreras, Churubusco, Te- liultepec and Molino del Rey, and helped capture the city of Mexico. After the war Mr. Carleton came to Sheboygan County, and worked in the flouring-mills there until 1861, when he entered the employ of the United States as recruiting officer, and raised four companies. In 1868 lie removed to Al- gona, Iowa, where lie was engaged as chief iniller in a flouring-mill until 1871, and in that year came to Neillsville. Here he was


first engaged in milling, but failing healthı caused him to retire, and since that time has held the office of janitor of the North Side public school in this city; he also draws a pension.


Mr. Carleton was married July 4, 1849, to Aurilla, daughter of Henry Burgess, de- ceased. They have five children: Ellen, Henry, Charles, Clinton and Nettie. All of the children live in this county, except Clin- ton, who resides in La Crosse. While in Sheboygan County, before the war, Mr. Carleton was Captain of an independent rifle company of State troops. He is now a member of the G. A. R. and Masonic orders, and is Tyler of the latter. Mrs. Carleton is a member of the order of Rebekah and W. R. C. 3


OHN B. McMILLAN, M. D., Merrillon Wisconsin, was born in Detroit, Michi- gan, Marchi 27, 1860. He is a son of James and Margaret McMillan, the father a native of Scotland, and the mother of New York State. He is the second born of a family of five children. He received his edu- cation in the public schools of Detroit, and also attended the University of Toronto two years, graduating afterwards in Toronto Nor- mal School, receiving a teacher's perpetual diploma. Then he taught in the public schools of Ontario, Canada, and in a high school of that province, being engaged in that profession five years. He attended the Detroit Medical College, was elected treas- urer of the senior class, and was honored by the students of the Detroit Medical College, in 1888-'89, by being appointed president of the Literary Society. After finishing his ·course and receiving his diploma, he engaged in the practice of his profession in Jackso


1


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County, Wisconsin. He located in Merrillon in 1889, and is rapidly acquiring the confi- dence of the people among whom he lias cast his lot. He has been very successful in establishing a practice here, giving his special attention to surgery. He is a mein- ber of the K. of P. Politically he is a Re- publican.


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BEN G. GOWER was born in Somerset County, Maine, February 18, 1833. He received his education in the district schools of his native State, and when a small boy was taken from school to drive an ox team for his father who was engaged in logging and working in the woods. He was twenty years old when his father died, leaving a family of fourteen children. During his life Mr. Gower was a representa- tive man in the community where he resided. He was a strictly temperate man, was a member of the Church Board at Hartland, was a preacher of the "Christian Band," and was twice elected to the General Assembly of Maine.


After the death of his father, which occurred in 1854, Eben began working for himself, and also assisted in the support of his mother and the children. He spent three years in the woods, on the river and in a saw-ınill, after which he came west and located in Jackson County, Wisconsin, where he was employed in the woods, his first win- ter here being very severe and cold. During that winter, while on Cunningham Creek in Clark County, the ice broke through witlı him and he froze his feet so badly that he feared it would be necessary to amputate one of them. However, the doctor said he could save the foot by taking off three toes, which he did. When he had completed the surgical


operation, having done it without assistance, the doctor remarked to his patient, " You have the darndest grit of any man I ever saw."


When he came to Jackson County, Mr. Gower had $250 that he had saved up by hard labor. Since his first winter here he has been engaged in farming. In 1862 he bought a farm, upon which he now resides. It is one-half of section 24, Garden Valley Township, and was almost a wilderness at the time of purchase. By his industry and good management it has been cleared up and developed into a fine farm.


Mr. Gower was married in 1856 to Sarah Aun Stephens, the daughter of a Wisconsin pioneer, who settled in Marquette County and lived there until his death. She is one of a family of five children, and obtained her education in the district schools of Marquette County. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gower, eight of whom are Jiving, all having had the benefit of good educational advantages.


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UGUST F. SCHMIDT, proprietor of the Dorchester Broom-Handle Factory and Feed Mill, was born in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, February 3, 1858, the son of August and Wilhelminie (Distelhorst) Schmidt, both natives of Germany, who came to this country in the early part of their married life. They had ten children, six of whom still survive, namely: Freder- ick, Christian, William, Frederica, August and Adalvine.


August F., our subject, was reared on a farm, and received his education in the high school of Plymouth, Wisconsin. He engaged in farming to some extent, and also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed


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about twelve years. In 1878 he came to Dorchester, and with the exception of six months in 1887 spent in Taylor County, he has since resided here. In 1887 he estab- lished his present business in the village of Chelsea, but the next year removed the plant to this city, where he has a successful trade.


Mr. Schmidt was married November 25, 1877, to Bertha A. Kolberg, a daughter of Christian Kolberg, of Sheboygan Falls. They have three children: Ida M., Anna A. and Sarah A. Mr. Schmidt is now serving his second term as Assessor, and is also Notary Public. He is a member of the Sons of Temperance and the Evangelical Association.


ULLIVAN HUGOBOOM, a lumber- man, farmer and liveryman of Dor- chester, was born in Perrysburg, Catta- raugus County, New York, July 15, 1834, the son of Hosea (deceased) and Sally (Sulli- van) Hugoboom, both natives of the State of New York. The father, a farmer and lum- berman by trade, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father, John Hugoboom, a native of New York, was also a soldier in that war. The latter's father, a native of Germany, came to America with a brother when a young man, and both entered the Revolutionary war on the American side. They perhaps never met again, as there aro two distinct races of Hugobooms in the United States, whose ancestors were Revolu- tionary soldiers and came from Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Hosea Hugoboom had thirteen children, seven of whom still survive: George, Priscilla, Sally, Hosca, Cynthia, Sullivan and Jane.


The subject of this sketch came to Han- cock, Waushara County, Wisconsin, in 1850, before the land had been surveyed.


His father took a homestead on Burr-Oak Prairie, on the Indian lands, which our sub- ject farmed eight years. He then went to Oshkosh, engaged in teaming a short time, then served as merchants' police five or six years, and also worked at different businesses at various points. His brothers, five in nuin- ber, became soldiers in the late war, two of whom, Brown and Orren, lost their lives in the service. Henry died after leaving the army, having been Captain of a company in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, under McClellan. Brown was First Lieutenant of a company in the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry ; Orren was color-bearer in the Sixteenth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and lost his life in the battle of Atlanta; Hosea was a fife major in Company E. Sixteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and George was also a fife major.


Sullivan Hugoboom came to Dorchester in 1875, and built a large hotel called the Central House, which he conducted until in November, 1889, except three and a half years, and since that time has directed his attention to farming and the livery business. He owns 260 acres of improved land in this county, besides village property in Dorches- ter, and 320 acres in Marathon County, seven miles east of the latter city. Mr. Hugoboom was married January 1, 1856, to Melia Woodin, who was born in Munson, Geanga County, Ohio, February 26, 1836, the daughter of Aaron G. (deceased) and Eve Syperlie. The parents had twelve chil- dren, ten of whom are now living: Jane, Caroline, William, Melia, Margaret, Seymour, Kate, George, Florence and Ann. Two sons, Timothy and Aaron, died after reaching maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Hugoboomn have had four children, three now living: Eva, Flora and Ray. The deceased, Charley, died


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when three years old. Eva married Elijah Swarthout, of Dorchester, and has two chil- dren, Lottie and Joseph. Flora married Orville Vanduesen, of Phillips, Price County, Wisconsin, and has two children, Lewis and Ivan. Mr. Hugoboom has been Justice of the Peace for two years, and politieally is a Republican.


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UGUSTUS HOMSTED, the present Postmaster, and dealer in drugs, inedi- cines, jewelry, notions, wall paper, paints, oils, etc., at Dorchester, was born in Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine, July 11, 1840, the son of Seth W. and Harriet (Heald) Homsted, botlı natives of Maine. They had but one child, Augustus, our sub- ject. The father, who was born in the same house as his son, was the son of an English- man, who was brought to the United States when an infant. Seth Homsted emigrated to Wausau, Wisconsin, in 1855, tlience to Stevens Point the next year, where they re- mained until after the war. . The father served in that struggle, in the First Wiscon- sin Cavalry, and was discharged at Cape Girardeau for disability. He afterward moved to Plover, Wisconsin, where he died in Jannary, 1886.


The subject of this sketch served in the later war, in the United States navy on the steamer Genesee, for twenty-eight months, during which time he was in the battles of Port Hudson and Mobile Bay. He then en- listed in Company K, Second Maine Cavalry, and served seventeen months, or until the close of the war. He was one of the 1,100 cavalry who charged on 4,000 infantry at Pine Barren Creek, Florida, and succeeded in routing the Rebels. After the war Mr. Homsted clerked in a store at Stevens Point


several years, where he also engaged in the merchandising business for two years. He came to Dorchester in the fall of 1877, and took a homestead just across the line in Marathon County, where he lived thirteen months. In 1878 he went to Colby and ran a liotel until the summer of 1880, then went to Unity and engaged in the same business two years, after which he came to Dorchester and opened a drug store. In July, 1889, lie was appointed Postmaster; has been Town Clerk four years, and also Justice of the Peace. While in Unity he held the office of Town Clerk, Circuit Court Commissioner, and in Stevens Point was City Clerk and City Treasurer.


Mr. Holnisted was married, November 19, 1879, to Evalyn Ferguson, who was born in Girard, Trumbull County, Ohio, the daughter of Aaron Ferguson, deceased. They have one child, Louis E., born May 25, 1886. Mr. Homsted is a member of the G. A. R. post, of which he was Commander six years, and is also a Knight Templar. Politically he is a Republican.


OHN SCHAFER, proprietor of the ' Travelers' Home, of Dorchester, was born in Dale Township, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, September 26, 1857, the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Giebel) Schafer, bothi natives of Germany; the former is now a general merchant of this city. The parents had nine children, eight of whom survive: George, Caroline, John, Catharine, William, Rosa, Elizabeth and Emina. The mother subsequently died, and the father married her sister Catharine, and they had three children, all deceased.


John Schafer, our subject, was reared to farm life, and received a common-school edn-


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cation in his native county. He was engaged in farming until twenty-three years of age, after which he ran a cheese factory a few years. He came to Dørchester in 1883, and lias since made this city his home. He was married December 3, 1884, to Emma C. Spengler, a daughter of Hermann Spengler, the present postmaster and merchant of Readfield, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. They have one child, Erwin P., born Sep. tember 17, 1887. Mr. Schafer is a member of the I. O. O. F., and politically affiliates with the Democratic party.


RSENE L. ROY, chief clerk and book- keeper for the large mercantile liouse of H. La Bossier, Dorchester, was born in Montreal, Canada, August 28, 1862, tlie son of Ligori and Mary (Foshier) Roy, both natives of Canada, and the latter of French parentage. The father, a carpenter and mill- wright by trade, emigrated to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, in 1867, where he is now working in J. J. Kennedy's mill at Rib Lake. The parents had fourteen children, all of whom are living but two, namely: Maxi- · milian, Louise V., Oliver N., Georgiana, Philip, Felix, Olive, Arthur, Louis, Peter and Anna. The other two died when small. The children are all at Fond du Lac except Maximilian, who resides at Marinette, Wis- consin.


Arsenc L., their eldest child, was educated at the high school of Fond du Lac, and also in the Commercial College of that place. He camc to Dorchester in 1886, and lias since occupied liis present position. He is an expert accountant, and is, therefore, well fitted for his work, and gives excellent satis- faction to his employers and customers. He was married April 11, 1888, to Miss Emma


M., daugliter of Charles Allard, deceased, late of Dorchester. They had one child, Anna Irene, born September 22, 1890, who died November 24, 1890.


NDREAS F. F. JENSEN, a general merchant of Dorchester, was born in Denmark, March 15, 1839, the son of Peter D. and Severine (Niclioline) Jensen. The parents had twelve children, only two of whom still survive: Andreas and Amelia. The latter, the widow of Mr. Russell, lives in Millbank, Grant County, South Dakota. Andreas F. came to the United States in 1851, stopping first in New York city, where he clerked in a store until 1853, and was then engaged in farming until 1873. April 26, 1861, he enlisted in the late war, in Coin- pany A, Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in May 10, same year, at Baraboo, in the Sauk County Riflemen. He participated in the battles of Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Fitzburgh Crossing, Gettys- burg, Hatchier's Run, Mine Run, Gravelly Run, Five Forks, Appomattox, Wilderness, Spottsylvania and others. He was wounded at the latter battle and also at Appomattox, and now draws a pension. He was mustered out July 15, 1865.


In August, 1873, Mr. Jensen came to where Dorchester now stands, and built a shanty on liis homestead on section 32, town- ship 30, range 1 east, Mayville Township. At that time there was no settlement at this place, it being a wild forest. In 1874 a small saw-mill was built by a Mr. Sands, whichi was operated a part of that season; in 1875 Mr. Evans built another mill, which was run six or seven years, when he failed, and since that time other mills have been built and operated. The first store was built by D. O.


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Wiltmore in 1874, where was kept the first stock of goods in the place; the second store was started by Mr. Benson; in April, 1876, Bonlais & La Bassies established a boot and shoe store, and later put in a general stock; the first hotel was built in 1874 by Solomon Hugoboom, but it was burned in 1890. The city now contains over 400 people. Mr. Jensen engaged in his present business in 1881, where he lost what he put in by giving credit. Mrs. A. F. F. Jensen started busi- ness in 1883, with money coming to her from her mother. She owns sixty acres of land in the suburbs of Dorchester, and there are a store, dwelling, barn, ice-house, etc., on this place.


Mr. Jensen was married, July 4, 1864, in Ironton, Sauk County, while home on a fur- lough, to Huldalı Small, a daughter of Joseph Small, also of Ironton. They have had four- teen children, twelve now living, namely: Joseph O., Nels, Eleanora, Rhoda, Peter, Walter, Pearl, Hattie, Andrew, Frederick, Harry and Ray. Mr. Jensen was a charter member of the G. A. R. post, and has held the office of Town Supervisor one year, Noble Grand of the Odd Fellows lodge two terms, and Secretary one term. Politically he is a Republican.


ACOB BAKER .- Among the successful farmers and worthy citizens of Garden Valley Township, Jackson County, the subject of our sketch, who resides in section 23, is deserving of more than a passing notice.


He was born in Germany, December 21, 1850, and came to America with his father the following year. He received his early education in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and remained with his parents until he was


twenty years old. At that time he went to Chicago, after the fire, and was employed on building work, assisting stone masons, for which he received $2.25 per day, and then he found employment in machine shops. Some time later he made a trip to Memphis, Ten- nessee, being engaged in steamboating, working on a boat that ran between Memphis and Louisville, Kentucky. His next employ- ment was in the coal mines of Gallatin County, Illinois, where he worked three months, after which he returned to Chicago. A year later he again located in Waukesha Connty, Wisconsin, where he farmed by the day for some time. In 1873 he came to Jackson County.




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