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 29
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 29
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
270
BIOGRAPHICAL IIISTORY OF
came to this State with family after tlie deatlı of her father, locating in Clark County.
Since his marriage Mr. Yankee has given his whole attention to his farm, but previous to that he worked in the pineries five win- ters, as did most of the new-comers of early day.
2 EORGE J. HART, a merchant of Neills- ville, Wisconsin, was born in Center, New York, November 1, 1844, son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius H. Hart, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. Both are still living in the Empire State. The father, a carpenter and joiner by trade, has been an industrious man all his life and has accumulated a nice little fortune. He has never tasted tobacco or whiskey and has a character above reproach; holds his ob- ligation sacred and is trusted by all who know him. Of their six children the sub- ject of this sketch was the second born. All are living and in good health. George ob- tained liis education in his native town, taking a partial course in the university at Center. Ile learned the carpenter's trade with his father, after which he went to Jef- ferson Connty, where, for five or six years he was engaged in house-moving,
In 1871 Mr. Hart came to Clark County, Wisconsin, with a capital of $800 which he had saved from his earnings. Here he was employed in the woods hauling logs. That spring he was engaged as a clerk in the hard ware store of J. H. Weston, continuing with him until the spring of 1875. When his emyloyer died Mr. Hart was engaged to set- tle up the business. He was married in the fall of 1875 to Mira Coswell. She is a danghter of B. Coswell, a farmer, and was educated in Jefferson County, New York.
She takes delight in literary work and was a teacher from the time she was eleven years old until her marriage. Mr. Hart served as Deputy Connty Treasurer for two years and was for a time engaged as bookkeeper for Mr. Boths, proprietor of a general store. He next turned his attention to mining but was nnsuccessful in that business. In 1888 Mr. Hart opened a general merchandise store. He keeps a large stock of groceries, and by his honorable method of dealing with his customers he has secured a fair patronage and brought liis business up to a paying basis. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and his political views are in ac- eordance with Republican principles. His wife has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for a number of years.
RS. MARGARET ANN FLICK, ro- siding on section 7, township 24, range 4 west, Clark County, was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1833, a daughter of Jacob Miller, wlio bronght up six sons and four daughters, in Pennsylvania. Their names are: John, Charles, Elizabeth C., William, George, Margaret Ann, Reuben, Mary C., Lydia L. and Jacob C., all of whom grew up. Mrs. Flick's mother, Lydia, was also a member of a family of six sons and four daughters, namely: John, Jacob, Joseph, Jonas, Jessie, Elizabeth, Mary, Catharine, Lydia and Charles. Of this family Joseph was the only one who came West to settle, and his mother joined him a year or so later. The grandparents on both sides were natives of this country. The Miller and Flick lines are traced back to England. The maternal grand- mother lived to the extreme old age of ninety-seven years, five months and twenty-
271
CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
six days. Longevity indeed characterizes all the lines of ancestry.
Mrs. Flick's father served in the war of 1812, and three of her brothers in the late war of the Rebellion. Charles enlisted at Madison, Wisconsin, served out his time, and was honorably discharged at the close of the great struggle, not having received any se- rious wounds. He died in December, 1889, at the age of seventy-three years. George enlisted in one of the earliest Pennsylvania regiments, was twice taken prisoner, but inade his escape each time. The second time he made his way out through the prison walls and earthworks by digging through with a spoon. He served to the end of the war, being promoted meanwhile to be Ser- geant. Caspar, the youngest, was also spared by his patriotic father, a veteran of the war of 1812, enlisting at Madison, and served through the war. All three of these were in the hottest fights, and were honorably dis- charged at the close.
The subject whose name heads this sketch married Jacob Flick, in 1851, in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and two years later they came West and settled in Dane County, Wisconsin, near Madison, which place was then a small village. In October, 1856, they came to Clark County, settling upon a homestead which he had taken during the preceding spring. They experienced the usual hardships of pioneer life. Mr. Flick lost his life eleven years later when out hunting, being accidentally shot by a gun in the hands of a neighbor. By his death he left a widow and eight children, the youngest being only five months old. In order of birth the names of the children are as follows: Augusta M., born in Pennsylvania, May 25, 1852, died April 5, 1890; Lydia C., born August 25, 1854; Emina C., January 1, 1857; John E., February 28, 1859; Jacob R., born
March 28, 1861; Lilly J., January 27, 1863; Charles C., March 8, 1865, and William J., April 8, 1867. All these are married and settled excepting William J., who remains at home with his mother. One daughter, Emina, married Edgar Shaver and lives in Minnesota. All the others are living in Clark County, Wisconsin, excepting Lydia, now Mrs. Albert Lane and residing in Tay- lor County, as also does Charles. Lilly mar- ried Cliarles Lane.
OHN CHARLES .- Prominent among the successful farmers and old settlers of Clark County, Wisconsin, we find the name that leads this sketch. He remembers distinctly all the hardships through which he passed and many of the pleasing incidents connected with his pioneer life, and can re- late them in a vivid and interesting manner.
Mr. Charles was born in Somerset County, Maine, January 1, 1824. In 1859, with his wife and five children, he came to Wisconsin and settled in Clark County, where he bought eighty acres of land in the howling wilder- ness. By his industry this has been devel- oped into a productive farm. By economy and continued hard labor he added to his first purchase and now owns a large tract of land in section 1, Pine Valley Township. Another child was born to them in this State, making six in all. Their names are Lyman C., William Sewell, Josie, Angie, John and Meddie. Three of them have been teachers in the district schools of the county. Mr. Charles has been mnuch interested in educa- tional matters, liaving served as school di- rector for some eighteen years. He is an upright citizen and one who exerts much in- fluence in the community, being esteemed by all who know him. For many years he
272
BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY OF
worked in the lumber camp, and is ac- quainted with the growth and progress of Clark County as well, perhaps, as anyone. Although on the shady side of life, he is quite active and lias, it is hoped, many years of useful life before him.
ILLIAM M. FARNING, of section 5, Grant Township, was born in Al- bany, New York, December 11, 1852, and is a son of Michæl and Ann (Markey) Farning, natives of Ireland. The parents emigrated to America in their younger days, and were not united in mar- riage until after they had crossed the sea. In 1855 they came to Wisconsin, and settled at Weston's Rapids, Clark County, where they resided a few years; they then removed to a farm on section 6. When the civil war broke out, Michæl Farning was not slow to take up arms in the defense of liis adopted country ; he joined the Second Wisconsin Cav- alry, Company I, as a private and served until 1864, when he died of disease at Vicksburg, Mississippi. His widow still lives on the old home in Grant Township. Mr. Farning was among the pioneer teachers of Clark County, was for many years a surveyor, and held several of the minor offices of the township.
William M. Farning is one of a family of four children: John, a lumberman of Clark County ; Robert, deceased, and Frank, a farmer of Grant Township. Our subject was reared to farmn life, and received his education in the common schools. He remained at home un- til lie was twenty-three years of age, and then engaged in the lumber and logging busi- ness in which he has since continued; for nine years he has operated two saw-mills in Clark County, and owns an interest in an-
other one; his annual business aggregates 2,000,000 feet of lumber. He started out in life without capital, relying upon his own ex- ertions, and his efforts have been crowned with success. He owns in addition to his saw-mill interests eighty acres of land in Grant Township and 120 acres in York Township.
Politically Mr. Farning is identified with the Democratic party, and belongs to Black River Lodge, No. 32, A. O. U. W.
In 1875, November 14, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Dwyer, a native of Michigan, born November 27, 1853, and a daughter of Jolin HI. and Catherine (Murray) Dwyer. They have had three children: William, Frank and Janie.
RANCIS M. FULTS, of section 30, Withee Township, Clark County, was born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, Feb- ruary 28, 1849, the son of Joseph and Eme- line (Lawrence) Fnlts, natives of the State of New York. They had eight children: Se- villa, now Mrs. Boardman; Francis, our sub- ject; Alonzo, Elmer, Wesley, Austin, Ida and Alden. The father went to Idaho with Captain Fisk's expedition in 1864, and has not been heard from since 1865, and is sup- posed to be dead. The mother now lives on the Pembina Mountains, Cavalier County, North Dakota, as do all the children except the two eldest.
Francis M., the subject of this sketch, went with his parents to Dodge County, Minnesota, in 1855, where he was reared on a farm, and received a limited education, as the country was then new and inhabited by Indians and wild animals. He has hunted a great deal, killing deer, bear, wolves, lynx, wild-cats, etc. He was engaged in farming
V. A. Mc Gilliway
273
CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
there nntil the spring of 1873, when he came to liis present farm, which was then covered with timber. Since that time he has worked in the woods nearly every winter, has driven logs several springs, and worked on the farm in the summers. He owns eighty acres of good land, sixty of which he has since cleared.
Mr. Fults was married October 6, 1871, to Lanra Keru, who was born in Boone County, Indiana, April 16, 1857, the daughter of Jesse A. (deceased) and Mary E. (Beck) Kern; the father was a native of Nicholas County, Kentucky, and the mother of Indi- ana. Mr. and Mrs. Fults had four children, three now living, namely: Jesse E., born Jannary 16, 1873; Richard, January 25, 1878; and Walter M., February 7, 1880. One daughter, Cora E., born Angnst 10, 1875, died Marchi 3, 1877. Mr. Fults has served as School Treasurer two or three terms, and is a Democrat politically.
AMES J. McGILLIVRAY, architect, contractor and builder, has been promi- nently identified with the interests of Black River Falls for many years. He is a native of Canada, born in 1848. His father being a farmer by occupation, much of his youth was spent ainid the scenes of farm life. During one year of his youth he was en- ployed as cabin boy on a steamer on the St. Lawrence River and gulf. Leaving home when he was quite young, he went to Iowa, and spent a few months in Charles City. In the sunmer of 1866, when he was but eighteen years old, he came to Black River Falls, and has since that time made it his home. As he was the son of poor parents lis educational advantages were exceedingly limited, but he made the most of liis oppor-
tunities, and by diligence fitted himself for a business career.
After coming to Wisconsin, Mr. McGilli- vray was engaged at work in the pineries for a few months; in 1867 he went to work at the carpenter's trade, and was for many years the leading architect and bnilder of Black River Falls; for a considerable time he was foreman in the construction of Spaulding's saw-inill, and also had charge of the building of the frame work of Unity Mills; he acted for some time as foreman of Mr. Spaulding's sash, door and blind factory, and then rented the property for a period of three years. During this time he was extensively engaged in building; among the fine structures erected by him may be numbered tlie elegant resi- dence of W. T. Price and that of C. F. Ains- worth, the Opera Hall, the Jackson County Bank building, and Price's office.
In August, 1883, the Price Manufacturing Company was organized with a capital of $25,- 000, and Mr. McGillivray became its super- intendent; in October, 1890, he purchased the business. He has erected for himself a two- story block on the corner of Main and Water streets, at a cost of $12,000, and he has done the designing of the finest buildings, both residence property and public edifices, in the city of Black River Falls. He has always had in his employ a large number of men. He lias invested his means at home, and has thus contributed to the growth of his own town; and, although he has been actively en- gaged in the coudnet of his private interests, he has found time to use his influence in the elevation of the morals and educational affairs of the community.
Mr. McGillivray has been connected with the Jackson County Agricultural Society, and also with the Horticultural Society; he was secretary one term and treasurer three terms of the former, and the success of the
19
274
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
fairs held by the society has been largely dne to his untiring efforts. Hle is a member of Black River Lodge, No. 74, A. F. and A. M., and has been Master of the lodge for nine years; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. also. He is a strictly temperance man, not having known the taste of intoxicating liquors for twenty years, and he is an ardent supporter of the church and public schools. Politically he is affiliated with the Republican party, and an able advocate of its principles. In thic fall of 1890 he accepted the nomination by his party as a member of the Assembly, receiving at the convention thirty-four out of forty votes; and although the opposing ticket was generally elected, his popularity won for him a good majority. During that session he introduced the anti-trust bill, and fought it through the House against trenien- dous odds, by a vote of fifty-six to twenty-nine, winning the applause of the House and con- gratulations from the members on both sides.
Our worthy subject was united in marriage at Black River Falls to Miss Flora Hall, daughter of Joseph Hall, an early settler of the county; this union has resulted in the birth of two children: William J., born April 27, 1882, and Veda H., born May 14, 1887.
REDERICK W. UERKVITZ, manager of Samuel Hiles' store at Lynn, Clark County, was born on the island of Rngen, in the Baltic sea, under the Prussian government, October 4, 1855, a son of Freder- ick W. Uerkvitz; and he had one sister, but no brother. His paternal ancestry for several generations were also natives of that island. Rugen contains about 100 square miles, and is characterized by beautiful scenery and a mild and healthful climate. Mr. Uerkvitz served his three years in the Prussian army,
but in time of peacc. His father served in the war of 1848, when a revolution was car- ried on in order to obtain a constitutional representation. Mr. Ucrkvitz, our subject, was the first and only one of the family to break away from the land of their nativity and cross the seas to America, which he did in July, 1882, landing at New York on the 18th of that month, at the age of twenty- seven years. Coming directly to Stevens' Point, Wisconsin, he spent a few months there, and then devoted one winter to the pineries. The next spring he went to Pitts- ville and was for several years employed in the hub and spoke factory there of A. J. Webster & Co. Next he was in mercantile business a year in Frank ILilcs' store. Then Samuel Hiles purchased the stock and started a store in the village of Lynn, and Mr. Uerkvitz was placed in charge, which posi- tion he now holds.
Ile was married in December, 1883, to Albertena A. Sachnang, and they have two children, namely: Amelia A., born in Pitts- ville, October 8, 1884, and Frederick W., born in Pittsville, January 14, 1888. His wife's father's family, containing five cliil- dren, came from Switzerland to this country in 1862. Mrs. Uerkvitz, the youngest, was born January 11, 1861, a year before the family came to America, locating in Washara County, Wisconsin. Her parents are still living, their age being somewhere in the '60s. Mr. Sachnang was a sailor in his youth, circumnavigating the globe and visit- ign many foreign ports.
ILLIAM S. TUFTS, a merchant of Withee, was born in Manitowoc Rapids, Wisconsin, February 19, 1852, the son of Andrew C., who was born
275
CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
on board the ship while his parents were on the ocean en route from Ireland to the United States. The parents settled in Maine, where Andrew C. was reared and educated. Hc came to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in 1849, when there was but one store in the place. In 1856 he went overland to California, where he engaged at making shingles and lumbering, and remained until 1857. In the spring of 1860 lie went to Pike's Peak, entering the employ of the United States Goverment in 1868, having charge of a wagon train. With the entire train he was taken prisoner by the noted guerrilla, Mosby, but was granted the privilege to look after his pony, and in this way escaped in the night. Selling botlı pony and saddle for $15 when he reached the river, he managed to work his way to New Orleans, and there got aboard a stcamer. By blacking his face withı coal-dust, and remaining with thic engincer, he deccived the rebel spies, they thinking he was a fireman, and succeeded in reaching lome. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, serving four years, and par- ticipated in many hard-fouglit battles- Shiloh, Corinth, Vieksburg, and was with Sherman to the sea. He died in March, 1875, after a life of usefulness. Our sub- ject's mother was Agnes (Smith) Tufts, a native of New Brunswick. Mr. and Mrs. Tufts were the parents of eleven children, namely: James A., Eliza J., William S., Mary A., Margaret A., Hannah W., Crosier, Lonella and Alberta. James A. was also in the late war, in the same company with his father. Hc enlisted in March, 1864, and participated in the battles of Ball's Hill, Ezra Church, Resaca, Savannah, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea.
In the spring of 1872 the subject of this sketch went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where
lie worked at various occupations until the fall of 1874, when he came to Stevens' Point, and thenee to Unity, this connty, where he worked for D. J. Spaulding two years, acting as foreman in his logging camps. In 1877 he came to Withiee and took charge of Spauld- ing's farm two years, and then engaged in his present business. He carries a capital stock of $8,000, and does an annual business of $30,000. He also owns 1,760 acres of land, the Withee Hotel, and five lots in the village, and also deals in real estate. When Mr. Tufts came to this county lie had noth- ing, but by energy, hard work and good management lic has accumulated a fortune.
He was married January 12, 1873, to Anna MeLcod, daughter of John McLeod, and they have five eliildren, four of whom are still living: William C., Daniel J., Jolin A. and Esther A. One daughter, Maggie, born July 22, 1877, died October 5, 1880. Mr. Tufts has been chairman of the Town Board one year, and Justice of the Peace nearly ever since he came to this place. He has been clerk of the School Board nine years, and was appointed Postmaster by President Harrison, November 23, 1889, which office he still holds. He is a member of the I. O. (). F. Lodge, No. 234, at Colby, this county. Politically lic affiliates with the Republican party.
ETER BEVER, a farmer of section 7, township 24, range 4 west, Clark County, was born in Milwaukee County, Wis- consin, March 5, 1855, the eldest of four sons of Peter Bever, Sr., in whose family there were no daughters. His father was born ncar Kell, Prussia, on the famous banks of the Rhine, and emigrated on a sailing vessel when a young man, requiring six
276
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
months' time, and immediately located at Milwaukee. A sister of his came afterward and settled in Walworth County, this State, after her marriage, bringing a large family of children who have grown up and settled in different States. The remainder of the grandparents' children coutinned their resi- dence in the old country. Peter Bever, Sr., died Jannary 18, 1866. The brothers of the subject of this sketch were: John, born October 2, 1856, at Milwaukee; Andrew, February 16, 1859, in Clark County; and Nicholas, December 6, 1861, also in Clark County, and died October 20, 1873, in this county, at the age of about twelve years. Andrew, a man of a family, lives near by; John near Otter Creek, in Clark County. He married Annie Weinstock, November 25, 1889.
Mr. Bever, whose name leads this sketch, married Dena Bergman, November 22, 1877. She is a daughter of Adolph Bergman, who had four daughters and four sons, namely: George, Adolph, Anton, Lena, Frank, Mary, Elizabeth and Theresa, all of whom are now living excepting Mary. Of this large family, one, Adolph, is a Catholic priest in Syracuse, New York; George, the eldest, is a well- known architect in St. Paul, with a large and prosperous business; and the other two are contractors and builders in the same city. The two living sisters are married and set- tled in the town of Mentor, Clark County. The parents came to this country from West- phalia about 1882, and the father's death occurred November 9, 1889, at the age of seventy-five years, and the inother is still living in the township above mentioned, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Bever has had five children, as fo lows: Elizabetlı, born De- cember 11, 1878; Theresa, December 2, 1880; Mary, December 18, 1882; Emina, January 9, 1885; and Peter G., December 27, 1889.
Mr. Bever came to the township where he now lives when it was entirely new, there being only seven families therein at the time. For breadstuff hc had to take his grist to a mill at Sparta, the trip consuming four days. The many Indians here at the time were the source of great fear and anxiety, althoughi they made no serious outbreaks. Mr. Bever is now busily engaged in farming and estab- lishiing a permanent home on a fractional eighty-acre tract of land, his house being on a commanding site, and in a few years he will have made it and its surroundings all that an independent farmer can desire.
UDLEY B. MEANS, a self-made man and a prominent and influential citizen, resides on a farm of 245 acres, which is located on section 16, Pine Valley Township, Clark County. An outline of his life is as follows:
Mr. Means was born in Quebec, Canada, May 30, 1840, son of Edward and Mary A. (Paysley) Means. His parents were born in Ireland, the father in 1807 and the mnotlier in 1810. The former is deceased, and the latter, now at the advanced age of eighty years, resides with her son, the subject of this sketch. In 1862 Mr. Means learned thie trade of stone , mason, and for some years worked at his trade in Quebec during the summers, spending his winters at work in the woods. In 1865 he left Canada, came to the United States and for a time made his home in Ohio. There he secured employ- ment, superintending the farm of Hon. Jolin Sherman while that gentleman was on a trip to Europe. After remaining in Ohio for a year and a half, he came to Wisconsin, land- ing in Clark County May 23, 1867. Two years he worked in the woods, and then for
277
CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
seven years he superintended a logging camp for other parties. After that he began work for himself in the lumbering business. This adventure, however, proved unsuccessful and he lost $5,000 in one year.
In 1876 Mr. Means married Lottie E. Ross, a daughter of Robert Ross, the old pioneer lumberman of Wisconsin. Five children have blessed this union: Nellie, Della, Lottie E., Dudley B., Jr., and Frankie. Mrs. Means is a lady of culture and refine- inent. Her education was obtained at Fox Lake Academy, Wisconsin, and at the Uni- versity of Rockford, Illinois.
While living in Wisconsin Mr. Means has been variously employed,-lumbering exten- sively and carrying on mercantile business for a number of years, conducting a general store in Neillsville; and, although meeting with a great deal of misfortune by fire and otherwise in the past years, is now at full speed ascending the hill of prosperity. He is now giving his attention to farming. In 1889 he was burned ont, and over the ruins af his old home he lias constructed a large and beautiful brick residence, costing more than $3,000. Mr. Means is a member of the K. of P. and of the Modern Workmen. He is an active politician, casting his vote and influence with the Republican party.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.