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 27
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 27
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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
April 21, 1845, is a day memorable in the history of our subject; he was then united in the holy bonds of marriage to Miss Mary L.
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Perkins, of Weld, Franklin County, Maine. Mrs. Winter was born in York County, Maine, December 22, 1823, and is a daughter of Jesse and Charlotte (Snowman) Perkins, natives of the State of Maine and life-long residents there. Mr. and Mrs. Winter had born to them two children: Alice E. and Fannie E. Alice E. was married, February 14, 1891, to Calvin H. Metcalf. Fannie E. is married to Lewis McComber, and they have one child-Oliver. Mrs. Winter passed from this life September 28, 1884, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn with her bereaved family.
AMON R. DAVIS is one of the early settlers of Clark County, having come to Wisconsin when this section of conntry was a dense forest, and there were no roads, and no travel; there was an abun- dance of wild game, and he became a skilled huntsman, and has laid low many a bear, wolf, and deer. The life of a pioneer is not without its charins, although the privations llave sometimes overshadowed the deliglits. Mr. Davis was born at Crown Point, Essex County, New York, August 7, 1827, and is a son of Daniel R. and Maria (Glidden) Davis. The father was born in Vermont, and caine to Essex County, New York, at an early day; in 1830 he removed to St. Lawrence County, New York, and settled in Stockholm, where he passed the remainder of his days. He liad a family of fourteen children all of whom lived to maturity: Damon R., our subject; Elizabeth, Fannie, Calvin, Theodore, Alına, Whiston, Mary A., Bnshrod, Huldah, Sidney, Asenath, Solon, and Subael.
Mr. Davis is the eldest child, and was reared in St. Lawrence County, New York. In 1848 he went to Greene County, Illinois,
and spent four years in that and adjoining counties, working at whatever presented it- self; at the end of this time he returned to New York, and remained there until 1865, when he came to Clark County, Wisconsin, as before stated. He purchased 160 acres of forest land, and has since disposed of forty acres of it; he has given the most of his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, al- though he is master of the carpenter's trade. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
Mr. Davis was married, March 5, 1848, to Miss Azuba Bryant, a native of Essex County, New York, and a danghter of Benjamin and Macelia Bryant; she died in Grundy County, Illinois, September 2, 1852, leaving two chil- dren: Hudson V. and Benjamin R. July 15, 1855, Mr. Davis was again united in marriage, to Miss Polly Chase, who was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, August 7, 1834. Her parents, John and Paulina (Whelpley) Chase, were natives of Massa- chusetts and Verinont respectively, and were early settlers of St. Lawrence County, New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had born to them five children: Damnon W., Azuba R., Daniel I., Harmon E., and Cornelia.
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ATHAN B. MANES, of section 36, Weston Township, was born in Carn- ville, Somerset County, Maine, July 24, 1847, the son of Robert L. (deceased), of Englishi and Spanishi ancestry. The latter's father was a Methodist Episcopal minister. Onr subject's mother, nee Mary Redmond, a native of Connty Wexford, Ireland, came with her parents to Quebec, Canada, when a girl, and after her marriage removed to Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Manes were the parents
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of nine children, five of whom still survive, namely: John S .; Mary, now the wife of Peter Dercy, of Boston; Anna J., the wife of O. H. Clapp, of Denver, Colorado; Mina, now Mrs. Durlin McTaggert, of Pine Val- ley, this county; and Nathan B., our sub- ject. One son, William, lost his life in the service of his country, having served in Company D, Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, three years, and died in 1868, at the age of twenty-six years. Robert was killed while working in a logging camp, by a log rolling against him, in 1869, at the age of nineteen years. John S. was also a soldier in the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, serving three years. Nathan enlisted twice, but on account of his age was prevented by his family from going. David served in the First Wisconsin Battery. The father died March 13, 1886, and the mother June 30, same year. They emigrated to Wisconsin in 1856, settling in the village of Weston, now Pine Valley, two miles north of Neillsville. In 1856 they came to Black River Falls, where they lived until May, 1857, when they came to this county, and settled as above stated, and which was then known as Weston's Rapids. The Indians and wild animals were numerous, and our subject killed many deer, bear, partridges and other game, which constituted their meat for many years.
Nathan Manes, our subject, settled on his present place in 1869, which was then covered with heavy timber. He has worked hard, following lumbering in the winters and im- proved the farm in the summer. He was elected Town Treasurer in 1863, chairman of the Town Board in 1865, and has served as School Clerk twolve years. The latter position he resigned in 1889, and took a trip to the Pacific coast, traveling through Cali- fornia, Oregon and Washington. He was engaged in the saw-mill business at Tenino,
Thurston County, Washington, but was burned out, and afterward returned to this State. He has a fine frame honse, built in 1870, the main part being 18 x 25 feet, two stories high, with an addition 16 x 22, one story, and also a wing for kitchen and wood- shed, 16 x 24 feet. The entire building rests on a solid stone wall. Socially Mr. Manes is a ineinber of the Modern Woodmen and K. of P. orders, and politically a Republican.
He was married Jnly 3, 1869, to Ella Tracey, danghter of William and Laura (Nel- son) Tracey, of this town. They had one child, who died in infancy. The mother died in September, 1872, and Mr. Manes was again married January 13, 1874, to Ella M. Bushnell, a daughter of Daniel S. (deceased) and Sarah A. (Brown) Bushnell. The latter lives in Columbia Connty, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Manes have four children: Mabel L., Birdie D., Guy B. and Katie, all at hoine.
ENRY E. CURRAN, a prominent farmer of Jackson County, was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 2, 1842, the son of John Curran, who was also born in Pennsylvania, in 1810. The father remained in his native State until 1847, when he came to Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and in 1856 to JJackson County, Hixton Township, now called Curran. It was named after the Curran family, there having been fonr brothers who owned land in the township. The father died in this connty at the age of seventy-four years. He was a prominent mnan in his time, and held a member of minor offices. Politically he was a Republican, and religiously a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was also a local minister. IIe was a black- smith by trade. Our subject's mother, Bet-
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sey (Mckinney) Cnrran, was born in Penn- sylvania in the year 1809, and died in Curran Township at an advanced age. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi, and both she and lier husband were of Irish extraction. The parents had seven children, namely: Saralı A., Samuel M., Robert R., Joseph H., Jolm W., Henry E. and Mary, all of whom are now living bnt Sarah.
Henry E., their sixth child, was reared and educated in Waukesha and Jackson counties, on a farm. In 1856 he came with his father to Jackson County, settling in what is now Curran Township, where the former still lives and owns 150 acres in section 22 and 35, making his home in the latter. He gives considerable attention to the stock business, raising good graded cattle and horses in ad- dition to general farming. Politically he is a Republican.
Mr. Curran was married January 29, 1872, to Lucinda A. Paddock, who was born in Dorset, Bennington County, Vermont, April 10, 1848, the daughter of Anson C. and Lucy A. (Wyman) Paddock, both natives of Ver- mont.
Mr. Curran is a farmer by occupation, and politically a Republican, and has held botlı county and town offices. The mother died in Augusta, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, where the father now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Curran had fonr children: Nellie, John A., Robert B., and one who died in infancy.
JON. JAMES O'NEILL, of Neillsville, was born at Lisbon, St. Lawrence County, New York, September 3, 1847. His father, a fariner, was born and still re- sides on the same farm on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, where James first saw the light. His father is of Irisli and English 18
extraction, and liis motlier is of Scotch de- scent, but was born in this country. Mr. O'Neill received his education in the district schools; entered St. Lawrence University at Canton, New York, in 1863, and remained three years. He entered Cornell University at the opening of that institution in 1868, as a sophomore, gradnating in the full classical course in 1871. At intervals in his college course he tanght school, in all three years, commencing at fifteen years of age, at $15 per month, and closing as principal of the high school at Ogdensburg, New York, at $1,200. He studied law in the office of Josepli McNaughton, Esq .. at Ogdensburg, for one year, and graduated at the Albany Law School in 1873.
In September, 1873, he removed to Neills- ville, Wisconsin, where he has ever since re- sided and practiced liis profession. He came liere on the invitation of his uncle, Hon. James O'Neill, the founder of the town and a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1849 and 1868. Mr. O'Neill was a member of the Legislature in 1885, a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1888, appointed District Attorney of Clark County in July. 1887, and elected to the same office in 1888 by the largest majority of all re- ceived by the candidates on the ticket. He is president of the School Board at Neills- ville, and has always taken a great interest in school matters. At the last meeting, in Chicago, of the Northwestern Alumni Asso- ciation of Cornell University, he was elected president for the present year. He lias steadily devoted his energies to the practice of his profession, the law. Cases argued by him may be found in nearly every one of the last thirty-five volumes of the reports of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In 1890 Mr. O'Neill received the nomination of the Re- publican party for Attorney-General of the
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State of Wisconsin. Various causes com- bited to defeat the Republican candidates, and for the first time since the organization of the Republican party the entire Demo- cratic ticket was elected. Mr. O'Neill' is an able lawyer, a public-spirited citizen, and a man of unqualified integrity, and is num- bered among the most popular citizens of his county and State.
In 1876 he was united in marriage to Miss Marian Robinson, of Neillsville, and this union has been blessed with two children: a son, Ernest, born in 1877, and a daughter, Marian, born in 1883. In his political affili- ations lie has ever been a stanch Republican.
ETER F. LANTZ, of sections 27 and 28, range 2 west, was born in Metz, near the Rhine, Germany, February 13, 1833, the son of George P. Lantz, deceased, a native of the same place. He brought liis family to the United States in 1838, settling in Detroit, Michigan, where he worked at the trade of stone-mason until his death, which occurred about twelve years ago. Our subject was reared and educated in Detroit, and on reaching maturity engaged in farm work in the same county. He enlisted in the late war in Company D, Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served ten months. He was in the battles of Fredricks- burg, Port Royal and Front Royal, and never received a wound, but was otherwise disabled by rheumatism and bronchitis, and now draws a pension. After the war lie resumed farming several years, and also worked in Detroit some time. Mr. Lantz removed to this county in March, 1882, settling on his. present farm, where he owns eighty acres, twenty-five of which is cleared. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R. post, and politi-
cally a Republican. Mrs. Lantz is a men- ber of the Woman's Relief Corps.
Mr. Lantz was married January 2, 1855, to Mary J. Sheldon, daughter of Frederick Sheldon, deceased, a native of Connecticut. Mrs. Lantz was born in Onondaga County, New York, April 1, 1833. They have had five sons, four of whom still survive: Perry A., George F., Walter A. and Bradley E. The deceased, John A., died when one year of age. Perry married Ellen Bogue, and lived in Newaygo County, Michigan, and has three children: Charles D., Claude E. and Maud P. (twins). George, who.lives in Vancouver, Washington, married Ellen McCarty, and they have two children, Charles H. and Bes- sie L. Walter, a printer by occupation, married Florence L. Taylor, and lives at 23 Whipple street, Chicago.
EORGE W. RICHARD, a retired farmer and carpenter of Thorp, Clark County, was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1849, the son of James (deceased) and Annie (Hittle) Richard, both also natives of Pennsylvania. The parents had six children, of whom five still survive, viz .: Henry J., Sarah, George W., Mary and Malinda. The father died when George was a small boy, and the mother now lives in Mercer County.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a limited education. He removed to Lenawee County, Michigan, in 1868, and remained there and in Gratiot County, until the fall of 1871, when he went to Hubbleton, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1872 he came to Baraboo, Wiscon- sin, and the same fall to this county, stopping first in Withee Township, then called Hixtou, where he has worked in the pineries ever
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since. He owns 120 acres of land, forty- seven of which is cleared, and all is rented to tenants. He also owns a large store build- ing in Thorp, which is occupied by Horn & Holzhansen.
Mr. Richard was married October 15, 1882, to Artie Turner, a native of Fillmore County, Minnesota, and daughter of Alex- ander and Jane E. (Lawrence) Turner, the former a native of Lewis County and the latter of Jefferson County, New York. They were the parents of three children: Sylvester, Artie and William. Mr. and Mrs. Richard also have three children: William, George and Malinda. Mr. Richard was a member of the Town Board two years, and was brought up in the Lutheran Church.
LE SAMULSON, of section 6, Thorp Township, Clark County, was born in the parish of Fodalen, Central Norway, June 23, 1860, the son of Samnel Olson, a native of the same place, who now resides with his son, Ole. The latter came to the United States in the fall of 1880, stopping first in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where he worked in the saw-mills and pineries for seven months; in the spring of 1881 he went to Wilson, St. Croix County, and worked in the mills and woods until the fall of 1882; he next went to Baldwin, same county, where he engaged as a clerk one year; and in the fall of 1884 came to this county and bought forty acres where he now lives. He has since added forty acres more, and has since cleared over half of the whole tract. He began life a poor boy, but now owns a fine farm without debt, where he has made many improvements. He is a mem- ber of the Town Board, and has also served as Clerk of the school district. Religionsly
he is a member of the Lutheran Church, and politically a Republican.
LE E. MOON, of section 23, Thorp Township, was born in Gansthall, Nor- way, February 14, 1848, the son of In- gabredt Brandon, a native also of Norway. Ole E. was reared on a farm, and received his education in the common schools of his native place. In 1873 he came to the United States, locating on his present farm of eighty acres, thirty-five of which he has since cleared. During the winters he has been engaged in the pineries, driving logs in the springs, and farming and clearing land during the summers.
He was married in Norway, December 2, 1870, to Annie Peterson, a daughter of Peter Peterson, deceased. They have eight chil- dren, namely: Ebert, Peter, Albert, Oscar, Andrew, Mary, Otto and Emma; all at home. Mr. Moon is a director of the School board, and was brought up in the Lutheran Church.
ANS F. ANDERSON, of section 31, Thorp Township, Clark County, was born in Central Norway, September 28, 1860, the son of Andrew and Betsey (Han- sen) Simonson; the former is deceased, and the latter now lives near our subject. The parents had nine children, six now living: Simon, Martin, Andrew, Mary, Marie and Hans; all of whom live in this county ex- cept Marie, who resides in Minneapolis. Our subject came to the United States in June, 1881, and first stopped at Hixton, Jackson Connty, Wisconsin, where he worked on the railroad at Augusta. He next was engaged in the pineries three winters, and in
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the fall of 1883 came to this connty and bought eighty aeres where lie now lives. He worked two years in a saw-mill at Stanley, and since that time has been engaged in cut- ting wood, clearing liis farm and making turnpikes. He lias now thirty acres of his land cleared. Mr. Anderson has been Post- master two years; is a member of the Lutlı- eran Church, and politically is a Republican.
HRISTOPHIER JENSEN, of section 29, Thorp Township, Clark County, was born in Donmark, December 15, 1849, the son of James H. and Carrie (Morteisdatter) Hansen, botli deceased, and natives of Den- mark also. They had four children: Martin H., Christopher, Mary and Lizzie. Christo- pher came to the United States in 1873, stopping first in Waukesha County, Wis- consin, until 1875, when he removed to Sum- mit, Illinois. Ho spent one year there, and one summer at Riverside, after which he re- turned to Denmark and remained until tlie fall of 1881. Next le returned to Wiscon- sin, and in July, 1882, came to hiis present farm of eighty acres, forty of which is cleared. He has worked in the woods mostly during the winters, and in clearing his land and farming in the summers, but the last three years he has spent entirely on his farm. He has a good barn and residence, where lie keeps a jolly bachelor's lıall.
OHN P. MARSHALL, of section 3, Withee Township, Clark County, was born in Middlesex, Canada, twenty-five miles west of New London, February 14, 1845, the son of Thomas G. and Isabella (Carr) Marslıall, both natives of County
Armagh, Ireland. The latter came to Can- ada in 1840, and in 1851 removed with his family to Port Huron, Michigan, where the mother died in 1853. The father thien re- turned to Canada, where he still resides. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom survive: William, Jolin, Joseph, James, Mary A. and George. One son, Thomas, died in 1887, at the age of forty- one years.
John P., our subject, was but nine years of age when his father returned to Canada, since which time he has been thrown upon his own resources. He worked several win- ters in the pineries of Michigan, and also on a farm during the summers. In 1868 he removed to Marshall County, Kentucky, and for two years was engaged in making white- oak staves in the Tennessee valloy, after whichi he returned to Port Huron, Michigan. In the spring of 1871 he came to Clark County, stopping first in Greenwood with W. H. Begley, where he worked in the woods during the winters and in driving logs in summers. In the fall of 1872 he homesteaded 120 acres two and a half miles southeast of Thorp, Withee Township, and there worked in the woods, drove logs, and also farmed for ten years, when lie sold out. In the spring ot 1882 lie went to Hamlin County, Dakota, but returned in 1883, and settled ou liis present farm of eighty acres, twenty-three of which is cleared.
Mr. Marshall was married December 25, 1873, to Elsie A. Carpenter, who was born in Chemung Township, McHenry County, Illinois, February 14, 1855, the daughter of David Carpenter, deceased. She came with her parents to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, when in her third year, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall have had six children, four of whom are now living, viz .: Diana, Bessie, Percy and Pearl.
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Mr. Marshall has been a member of the Town Board of Hixton three years, and also two years in Withee. Politically he is a Republican, having cast his first vote for Grant in 1872.
DWARD SMITH, proprietor of the Smithı Hotel, and also a farmer of Longwood, was born in Hull, England, October 5, 1830, the son of William Smithi, (deceased), also a native of England. He brought his family to the United States in the spring of 1831, settling in Albany, New York, where the father was engaged in black- smithing until his death, which occurred in 1838. Onr subject's mother, formerly Eliza- beth Doyle, was a native of Ireland. The parents had fonr children, of whom three are still living,-Edward, William and Elizabeth. After the father's death, the mother removed with her family to Troy, New York.
The subject of this sketch came to Mani- towoc, Wisconsin, in 1844, which was then a mere hamlet or village, where he first en- gaged in making shingles. He afterward sailed on the lakes for inany years, making his home in Manitowoc. He began as cabin boy, and rose to the position of first and second mate, and then of Captain. He was captain of thirteen different vessels, enconn- tered many storms and met with many acci- dents, having fallen overboard several times. Hle came to this county in 1879, settling at Christie, thence to Greenwood in 1880, and to Longwood in 1881, where he is engaged in rnuning a hotel and also in farming. He owns ten acres of land. Dr. Smith has cooked in logging camps every winter but this (1890-'91).
Ile was married July 7, 1852, to Amanda M. Barnes, a daughter of Harry Barnes, of
Antelope County, Nebraska; she was born in Rutland County, Vermont. They have eight children, viz .: William H., Harriet E., Nancy (deceased), Una I., Amy, Walter IL., Edward H. and Mildred. William married Hattie Colley, lives in Washington State, and has four children: Harriet married Charles Kayhart, of Christie, this county, and they have three children; Una married Christo- pher Musselman, of Washington; Walter married Clara Moody, and live in Withiee Station, Clark County; Amy is engaged in teaching school in Washington. Una and Hattie were formerly teachers. Mr. Smith was brought up in the Episcopal religion, but is now a member of no church. Politi- cally he is a Republican.
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R. WILLIAM BRYANT SELDEN, a physician and surgeon of Thorp, Wis- consin, was born February 15, 1850, in Sussex, England, and is a great-grandson of Sir William Bryant of the above place, for whom he is named. He came with his par- ents to the United States when four years of age, settling in New York; three years later he moved to Wisconsin and settled ou a farm, where he lived until fifteen years of age, when he began the study of medicine with Drs. Teegarden & Rickard, of LaPorte, Indi- ana, with whom he continued three years, attending the old Meeker College the three following years. After the expiration of the college term he came to Wisconsin and practiced medicine with the firm of Drs. Sippie & Hoover for two years, at which time the firm was broken by the death of Dr. Sippie. He then took up the study of homœ- pathy with Dr. William Hounaer for two years; then attended lectures at Des Moines, (Iowa) Homæpathic College, and next went
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to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended lec- tures and the elinie for one year. Returning to Winona County, Minnesota, he practiced medicine there six years. In 1881 he moved with his family to Thorp, Wisconsin, where he has sinee made his home, suffering all the hardships of a new country, which are many. In 1886, returning to Cincinnati, he attended lectures and the clinique of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and he came again to Thorp and resumed his old practice, which is quite extensive. The Doctor is well versed in medicine, and in manner is very quiet and retiring. Politically he is a Republican.
AMES S. McNAB, deceased, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, February 17, 1835, the son of Daniel and Helen (Finleyson) McNab, both also natives of Scotland, the former born in 1804 and the latter in 1809. The father came to this country and located in Irving, Jackson County, Wisconsin, where he died at the age of eighty-one years. He was a farmer by occupation. The parents had four children,-John, Alexander, James S. and Daniel, Jr.
James S., our subject, was reared and edu- eated in the city of Glasgow. In 1856 he came to this country with his father and lo- eated in Jackson County, and a short time afterward went to Avou, Illinois, where he devoted the next three years to the study of medicine. From that time until 1861 he traveled in different parts of the country with a inedicine man. In 1861 he returned to Jackson County, and October 10, 1861, he enlisted in the late war at Sparta, in Com- pany A, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, and for one year was in active service. He was dis- charged October 11, 1864, at Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas. Mr. McNab was a machinist
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