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 33
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 33
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Mr. Brown was married in Buffalo, New York, November 15, 1865, to Arvilla, daugh- ter of Elijah and Judith Folsom. The parents had four children, three of whom still survive: Dexter, of Erie County, New York; Jeanette, now Mrs. A. Le Claire, of Black River Falls, Wisconsin; and Rosett, now Mrs. T. W. Letson, of Buffalo, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have three children: Nettie A., born May 25, 1868; Roy B., April 18, 1873; and Winnie E., Oc-
tober 13, 1877. Nettie married Irvin A. Jackson, of Ean Claire County, and they have one child named Vilas H., and born July 18, 1890.
ILLIAM RESEBURG, chairman of the Town Board, and a resident of section 15, town 28, range 3 west (Withee Township), was born in the Province of Pommern, Prussia, Angust 9, 1845, the son of Ludwig and Caroline (Berg) Rese- burg, both natives of Prussia, and now of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. The father brought his family to the United States in 1856, settling in the town of Schleswig, Manitowoc County, Wiseonsin, which was then covered with timber, and they were also among wild animals and Indians. They were poor, and all had to work hard. They were the parents of nine children : William, Charles, Caroline, Otto, Bertha, Louis, Julius, Annie and Minnie (twins).
The subject of this sketch received bnt six months' schooling in the English language, the rest having been obtained by hard study, and he now has a fair English education. He remained in Manitowoc County until twenty years of age, when he traveled through the States of Iowa and Nebraska, spending ten months in Independence, Iowa. He then went to Menominee, Michigan, and worked in a saw-inill during the summer and in the pineries in winters for three years. He then returned to this State and bought a home- stead, which he farmed two years. In the spring of 1879 he came to this county, set- tling on his present farm, which was then covered with timber. He owns 200 acres of land, and thirty-eight is cleared. He has worked hard on this place, and for five years
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lived in a log cabin, after which he built his present house.
Mr. Resebnrg was married August 17, 1879, to Albertine Thiel, danghter of Will- iamı Thiel, of Manitowoc Connty, Wisconsin. Of their three children, two still survive, namely: William, born April 3, 1883, and Anna, born June 14, 1887. Mr. Resebnrg was the first chairman of the Town Board in this township, which office he filled six years.
OBERT SCHOFIELD, a prominent farmer, stock-raiser and Inmberman of section 3, township 26, range 2, Eaton Township, Clark County, was born in Dryden Township, Tompkins Connty, New York, February 2, 1836, the son of Baxter J. Scho- field, deceased, a native of Connecticut. The latter was a son of Baxter J., Sr., who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Our sub- ject's mother, nee Charlotte English, was a native of Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, and a daughter of Hezekiah Tomp- kins, also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and of English ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Schofield had ten children, five of whom still snrvive: Joel, Hezekiah, Robert, Keziah J. and Charlotte.
The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was thirteen years of age, when he left home and commenced to do for himself. He worked in saw-mills at various points in New York State, and after- ward went to Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan, in 1852, where he also worked in the saw-mills. In 1853 he came to Two Rivers, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, wliere he was sawyer in Harvey & Smoke's mills for some time. In 1855 he came to this county, and worked in the woods in the
Black River, where he rafted and sawed logs. In 1863 he engaged in business for himself, and now owns 400 acres of land, of which 150 acres are improved. His barn is 56 x 110 feet, and 26 x 22 feet posts, and from the gronnd to the comb is fifty-four feet. His honse is one of the finest in the county.
Mr. Schofield was married in 1870 to Al- meria Burt, a daughter of Renel Burt, de- ceased. They have three children: Grace, Hugh and Almeria. Mr. Schofield is a mnem- ber of the I. O. O. F., subordinate encamp- ment, and in his political views is a Repnh- lican. Mrs. Schofield is a Baptist religiously, and is an accomplished teacher of vocal music. Mr. Schofield owns and occupies one of the best equipped dwelling-houses in the connty, which contains all the modern con- veniences.
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AVID H. WILLIAMS was born in England in 1846, son of Ethan and Mary Williams. His parents both lived to be seventy years old, and died in England. He came to America in the fall of 1865, and located in Albany, Green County, Wisconsin, where he remained abont nine years. Like many others who songht a home in our free America, Mr. Williams came here withiont money and was dependent upon his own ex- ertions for a livelihood. He began work at $20 per month, and in the woods earned $40 a month. For several years he spent the winters in the woods, and the summers at farm work. While in Green County he was maried, in 1876, to Elizabeth Loyd, who is seven years his junior. She is also a native of England, was brought to this country wlien four years old, and received her educa- tion in Green County, Wisconsin. One child has been born to them, which at this writing is four years old.
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Mr. Williams landed in Clark County with his wife and with a capital of only $16. He worked faithfully, and about thirteen year's ago bought the farm upon which he now re- sides. It consists of 200 acres, and is located two miles from Neillsville, in section 22, Pine Valley Township. He is one of the many who have come to this country without mneans, and by their own industry have possessed themselves with comfortable homes and have risen to positions of wealth and in- fluence. His farm is a valuable one, and is well stocked with cattle, sheep, etc. While Mr. Williams is a Republican, he believes in voting for the man rather than the party.
H. EBBE, Superintendent of the County Farm of Clark County, was born in Denmark, August 4, 1837, and is a son of Hans and Boddel (Hansen) Ebbe, also natives of Denmark. The father was a farmer by occupation; he died in 1847, and the mother was called to her eternal rest in 1883. They were the parents of ten children: Robert, John, Hans, Louis, John, C. H., our subject, Nelley, Hannalı, Anna, and an in- fant, deceased. The three eldest sons served in the Danish army, and Louis and C. H. served the King of Denmark, Frederick the VII, as body guards.
Mr. Ebbe was raised in his native land, and there received the substantial education which that Government furnishes to all her subjects. It was not until 1863 that he bade farewell to the scenes of his childhood, and set sail for America. After landing he came at once to Jefferson County, Wisconsin, and secured work on a farm by the mouth; at the end of the first year he removed to Dane County, Wisconsin, and there worked a farm on the shares for two years. By that timne he had
saved some money which he decided to invest in real estate; he went to Wood County, Wis- consin, and purchased forty acres of forest, which he cleared and placed under cultiva- tion. For seventeen years he has had inter- ests in the logging of the lumber regions for which Wisconsin is noted.
In 1880 he came to Clark County, and bought forty acres on section 27, York Town- ship, which he cleared np and improved with substantial buildings. In 1886 he had the honor to be elected by the County Board of Supervisors, Superintendent of the County Poor Farm; he has been faithful to the trust reposed in him and has shown much ability in his management of the same. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, and is a strong adherent to its principles. He is a member of Lodge No. 198, I. O. O. F., of Neillsville.
Mr. Ebbe was married June 25, 1862, to Miss Mary Larson, a native of Denmark, who died December 1, 1863; one child was born of this union, Mary. Mr. Ebbe was again married March 1, 1864, to Mary Sorenson, also of Danish birth, the date being Novem- ber 11, 1835; she is a dangliter of Sorenson and Anna (Peterson) Nelson, natives of Den- mark. The apparent contradiction in the names of these persons is explained by a cus- tom peculiar to Denmark.
Mr. and Mrs. Ebbe had born to them two sons: Hans died at the age of eighteen years, and John is a farmer of York Township; lie was united in marriage in 1890 to Miss Mildred Steinfeldt.
IRAM PALMER was born in Lewis County, New York, May 25, 1833, son of Harvey and Emeline Palmer, both now deceased They came to Wisconsin in
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1856 with a family of six children, fonr of whom are still living. The subject of this sketch, in the year 1851. when only eighteen years old, came to Clark County, this State, and began life as a teamster, drawing logs. His education was obtained in the common schools of New York. For many years after coming to Wisconsin he made logging his especial business, the first year clearing $1,100. Previous to that year he had failed in an enterprise, but was afterward able to pay up every cent of his indebtedness and be even with the world again. As the result of his own industry and economy he is now the owner of a nice little farm of eighty acres, located on section 16, Pine Valley Township.
In 1860 Mr. Pahner was married to a Miss Tucker, who was born August 6, 1833. Her father and mother both died in the State of New York. Of the three children that have blessed this union, two were educated in the public schools, and one died in infancy. The oldest son, Weston Palmer, was married to Miss Katie Malston, and is now a resident of Neillsville. The daughter, Jessie, is married to B. A. Scott, of Duluth, Wisconsin. Mr. Palmer is now chairman of the Board, which position he has continuously held for fifteen years. He has been Sheriff of Clark County one term. Politically he is a Democrat.
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ACOB ASTOR JOHNSON, one of the most respected citizens of Melrose, was born in Otego, New York, a son of Jacob and Betsey (Davidson) Johnson. who were natives of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. His paternal grandfather, Barachiah Johnson, was also a native of the same county. His maternal grandparents were Richard and Elizabeth (Beach) Davidson, the former a native of Hartford County, Connecticut, and
the latter of New York. The two grand- fathers were in the Revolutionary war. Our subject has four brothers and three sisters, namely : John J., William L., Delevan, Bara- chiah, Lydia, wife of Amon Taylor, of New York; Olinda, wife of Henry Richards, of New York; Betsey, wife of John Taylor, of New York.
Mr. Johnson spent most of his early life in his native State. Four years and a half he lived in Massachusetts, and while there reached his majority, and there cast his first vote, it being for General William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States.
In 1857 he came to Wisconsin, locating in Melrose Township, Jackson County, where he engaged in the lumber business. He built the first saw-mill of any consequence in Mel- rose Township, in which he afterward took an interest. Three years afterward the mill was destroyed by fire. Mr. Johnson had de- voted his spare honrs to the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. His fellow-citizens, recognizing his efficiency, elected him District Attorney in 1862, and at the ensuing election in 1864 he was re- elected to the same office. When he first came to this county few improvements had been made, and it possessed no railroad ad- vantages. He has taken an active interest in the politics of the county; has been chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Melrose Town- ship, and ex-officio member of the County Board, and for one year chairman of the Connty Board of Supervisors.
He is temperate in all things, and on the question of temperance he is radical; and to these views and his firm convictions the vil- lage of Melrose owes inch of its sobriety and prosperity. Away back in 1852, in the early organization of the Good Templars, he con- nected himself with that order, and was a
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delegate from Fly Creek Lodge, Otsego County, New York, to the first grand lodge meeting ever held, which convened at Ithaca, New York, when a new and complete ritual of the order was made. He volunteered to take the first initiatory service for the pur- pose of demonstrating the workings of the new ritual. In 1865 he organized Melrose Lodge, No. 222, I. O. G. T., which has now over fifty members, including himself and family. In 1867 he was elected Grand Councilor of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, when he began lecturing in the interest of temperance, and organizing lodges in differ- ent counties in the State. He lias organized between 150 and 200 lodges, and by his elo- quence and earnestness induced thousands to connect themselves with this great temper- ance order, which has saved hundreds from filling drunkards' graves. Many happy homes, filled with the comforts of life, can be traced back to the influences of this benevolent or- ganization. Three attempts have been made in Melrose to carry on a liquor trade in con- nection with other lines of business, but meetings were held by the good citizens, Mr. Johnson being a leading spirit in such mneet- ings. Resolutions would be passed boycotting the merchant, and he would, like the Arab, fold up his tent and silently steal away. So the township of Melrose has never been cursed by the sale of liquor.
May 3, 1846, Mr. Johnson married Miss Matilda Herkimer, daughter of Henry G. and Silvia (Martin) Herkimer, who was born in Her- kimer County, New York, which was named after Mrs. Johnson's great-grandfather, who was a member of the Safety Committee in the time of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Jolinson has had the following named chil- dren: Orinda S., now the wife of Sidney R. Davis, of Clark County; Mary B., wife of Lewis B. Marsh, of the same county; the
youngest, Carroll B., a thoroughgoing young business man now filling the responsible po- sition of bookkeeper in the First National Bank at Stevens' Point, Wisconsin.
Mr. Jolinson was for many years a Repub- lican, and was closely identified with the for- mation of that party. He is now a strong Prohibitionist, or third-party man. During his long residence in the county lie has ever sustained a reputation for integrity and good citizenship, and his voice has always been heard advocating principles of morality and temperance. The world is better by having such men living in it.
ELSON MARSH, a farmer residing on section 11, Grant Township, Clark County, was born in Middletown, Penn- sylvania, August 14, 1828. His father, a native of New York State, died in February, 1853. Nelson was reared in Middletown, where he received the benefits of a fair edu- cation. He worked with his father in the cooper and shoe shops until 1853, the time of his father's death.
December 15, 1851, Mr. Marsh wedded Amanda R. Taylor, who was born September 1, 1831. To them seven children have been born, six of whom are living, namely: Joseph, Lewis, Malvina, Sylvester L., Alva and Spen- cer M. His children have all been well edu- cated and are all filling honorable positions in life. Mr. Marsh has always favored the public-school system, and stands to-day a champion for the Bennett law, believing it should be sustained by the people.
The subject of our sketch has been a resi- dent of Wisconsin since he was twenty-nine years old. During the war he had an incli- nation to enter the service of his country, but was prevented from doing so. He was
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drafted into the service, however, and imme- diately joined the army, being placed in Company C, Third Wisconsin Infantry. Three weeks after the war was over he was taken sick and sent to different hospitals, where he remained three months and a half. He received his discharge Angust 3, 1865. When he first came to Wisconsin he bought eighty acres of land near Maple Works, which he still owns. Since that time Mr. Marrh has been variously employed, and has served the public in a number of ways. He has been Town Clerk two years, Supervisor two years, and Magistrate thirty years. He has been Postmaster of Maple Works for inany years, and at this writing still holds that office. He has also had many years' ex- perience in the hotel business in Maple Works. Politically he is a Republican.
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TTA F. WALTERS, another one of the thrifty farmers of Clark County, resides in section 33, Grant Township. Ile was born in Saxony, Germany, September 30, 1845, and came to Washington County, Wisconsin, with his parents when he was nine years old. His father had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. The youngest child is deceased, and the parents also died, in Washington County. Mr. Walters' father was a very industrious man. After he came here he cleared eighty acres of land, and when he died he left a fine farın of 100 acres.
The subject of our sketch remained with his parents until he was twenty-four years old. December 23, 1872, he was united in marriage with Augusta Schoenzarth, also a native of Germany. They have seven chil- dren, namely : Hulda, Albert, Ida, Melvina, Otta, Sehna and Paulina. Five of them are
attending the public schools. Previous to his marriage, in 1868, Mr. Walters bonght his present farm, sixty five acres of which he has cleared, there being 200 acres in all. At tlie time of purchase it was covered with heavy timber, and there were no roads near. Ile at once went to work to clear the land and helped to build the roads, and soon the place began to assume a different appearance. Four years ago he built a nice barn with a basement under it. Like many of the pioneer settlers of this district, Mr. Walters spent much of his time in the lumber camps during the winter. In speaking of his early ex- perience here, he says that the first cow he bought he was unable to pay for, so he bor- rowed the money of three different persons and made the payment. He is a member of the Town Board, is Assessor, and for several years lias been District Clerk of Schools. He was elected to the latter office the first year after he came here, and has held it ever since. Mr. Walters sold the first reaper that was sold in the county. He is now acting as agent for the Concordia Fire Insurance Company of Milwaukee.
REDERICK BÜKER, of section 19, Warner Township, Clark County, was born in Holzhausen, Prussia, September 13, 1840, the son of Hermann Büker (de- ceased), also a native of Germany. The lat- ter brought his family to the United States in the spring of 1847, settling in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and at that time there were but two stores in the village of that name. They could find no shelter, but inade booths of brush until they could build a cabin. They settled in the wilderness ten miles north- west of Sheboygan, in what is now the town of Herman. Wild animals and Indians were
yours Truly SABMiller
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numerous, but the latter were not trouble- some, and often trade l with the family. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom still survive: Frederick, Emelia, Con- rad, Henry and Mary; but the last three are Mrs. Büker's children by a subsequent marriage.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a limited education in tlie public schools of his native country. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company C, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- try, serving three years. He was in the bat- tle of Saline Bottom, where, with nine others, he stood and fought until the nine were killed and wounded, leaving him alone. The Rebels had six men to one Union man, but the latter came out victorious. He was also in many other engagements, and at the surrender of Mobile, where 263 guns were taken from the Rebels in one day. He came out without a scratch, except as a ball grazed his right ear and burned it, but had several livles shot through his clothing. Mr. Büker's company was composed mostly of Germans, and some of them could neither read nor write English, and he wrote many letters for them to their friends at home.
After the war Mr. Büker resumed farming in Sheboygan County, which he continued until the fall of 1873, when he came to this county, settling in Warner Township, which has since been his home. It was then a dense woods, but he cleared thirty-five acres on sec- tion 24, range 3 west. In 1875 he settled on his present farm of 400 acres, 110 of which he has since cleared. Mr. Büker has been Assessor of his town four years; Chairman of the Town Board three years, and in both of these offices did excellent work for the people.
He was married December 22, 1865, to Charlotte Sharper, and they have had seven children, five of whom are now living, viz .: 21
Fred W., Edwin H., Amelia, George and Bertha, all of whom are at home. The family are members of the German Reformed (Immanuel) Church. Politically Mr. Büker is a Republican, and socially a member of the A. (). U. W., Sons of Hermann, and also Se- lect Knights.
EROME B. MILLER, the moving spirit of the village of Alma Center, Jackson County, was born August 12, 1846, in Sherman, Chautauqua County, New York, and is a son of William and Rachel (Heath) Miller. His ancestors, as far as records show, were natives of New York State, his father having been born there February 11, 1811, and in 1855 moved to Illinois, and from there in 1865 to Wisconsin, settling in Alma Center, where lie died July 1, 1889, and is there buried. The mother is still living, spending much of her tine with our subject at liis home in Alma Center. M. G. F. Joel Heath left New York, coming to Wisconsin in the '50s, and was one of the old pioneers, that part of the State being sparsely settled at that time.
Mr. Miller was educated at the Union high school at Marengo, Illinois. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois Infantry, and served until November, 1864, when he was honor- ably discharged. In December, 1864, he went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania and struck for oil. He was there when the craslı came, and sold out for $4,000 what he had once refused to sell for $40,000! While there he met Miss Ella Gildersleeve, whom he married May 23, 1873. She is a dauglı- ter of Ezra and Mary Gildersleeve, of Mer- cer County, Pennsylvania. They have had two children, Roy and Olive.
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In 1873 he came to Wisconsin, settling in Alına Center, engaging in the hardware busi- ness, which he continued alone until 1879, when he took into partnership his brother, E. A. Miller, and the firm until 1887 was J. B. Miller & Bro., when it was incorpo- rated under the laws of Wisconsin as the Miller Hardware and Lumber Company, with a paid up capital of $30,000, and having two places of business, located at Alma Center and Hixton. The Alma Center house is in charge of J. B., and the Hixton house is watched over by E. A. These two brothers own the entire block of the corporation. In addition to the large sales of hardware, Inm- ber, lime, cement, etc., they do a banking business at both places. They own a farm in Northfield, which is at present cultivated by tenants; also several hundred acres of timber land in Clark County.
Mr. Miller has four brothers and four sisters, namely: Addie M., widow of H. M. Briggs, living in Mckean County, Pennsyl- vania; J. S .; Ann, wife of Oscar Heath, of Midway, Wisconsin; Amy M., wife of Joseph Metcalf, ex-Sheriff of Jackson County; Helen A., wife of Calvin Niles, of Merril- lon, Wisconsin; A. E., M. J. and Edwin A. The family is remarkable for longevity. Until the death of his father there was an unbroken household. The oldest brother is now fifty-five years of age, and the youngest has just passed the thirtieth mile-post of life. Mr. Miller for a long time was the only man engaged in mercantile business in Alma Center; but by his energy and persistency the village has increased until it is now a prosperous town of several hundred inhabi- tants, surrounded by a prosperous and thrifty farming community. He is a public-spirited citizen, and is ready to aid any cause that will benefit Alma Center.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., F. &
A. M., and P. C. Judkins Post, G. A. R., No. 87, in which he takes a lively interest. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and says he sells nails for less than the Democrats claim is the tariff on them.
ICHAEL MCCAFFERY, of section 31, Thorp Township, Clark County, was born in Cedarburgh, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, September 6, 1849, the son of Philip and Mary (Hickey) McCaffery, the former a native of County Westmeath, and the latter of County Carlow, Ireland. They had nine children, six of whom are now living, viz .: Michael, James, Bernard, Joseph, Julia and John. One daughter, Catharine, died at the age of thirteen years, and a son, Eugene, died at the age of fourteen years. The father was brought to the United States by his parents when twelve years old, and first lived six years in Fall River, Connecti- out, and then came to Cedarburgh, Wiscon- sin, where he engaged in farming three miles north of that city. He now resides in Green Bay, this State.
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