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 34
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 34
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
The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Brown County, Wisconsin, in 1855, settling on a farm, where he re- ceived a limited education. His father then went to the war, and he had the principal care of the family in his absence. In the spring of 1871 he went to Chicago, and the following fall came to this county, where he took care of a logging camp during the sum- mers, and worked as a wood-butcher in the winters. In the fall of 1873 he came to his present farm of 160 acres, eighty-two of which is cleared, and forty of which lies on section 16, this township. Mr. McCaffery worked three years for the railroads, in esti- mating timber on the lands granted to the
307
CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
companies. He lias also been engaged in logging several winters. Mr. McCaffery has been Town Treasurer two years, Assessor for the past five years, School Director six years, and is now a member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternities.
Mr. McCaffery was married April 2, 1883, to Anna, daughter of William Jerard, of this township, and they have three children : Hazel, Philip and Jeannette.
ILLIAM JERARD, of section 23 Thorp Township, Clark County, was born in Hammond Township, Jeffer- son County, New York, March 22, 1834, the son of William and Phoebe (Vincent) Jerard, both deceased, the former a native of Devon- shire, England, and the latter of the State of New York. The father came to the United States when a young man, and settled near Watertown, New York. Of the parents' seven children, for survive, viz .: Lucinda, now Mrs. Jerome Foster, of this county; William, our subject; Henry Vincent, who resides in this township; and Jane, Mrs. James Tousley, of Watertown, New York. The father lost his life in the Union army during the late war.
The subject of this sketchi was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native county, where he also learned the carpenter's trade when a young man. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company F, Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, served three years, and participated in the battle of the Wilderness and also in the capture of Petersburg and Richmond. He came to Jn- neau County, Wisconsin, in the fall of 1867, where he worked at his trade mostly until the fall of 1873, when he came to this county and took up a homestead, on which he settled
May 14, 1874. At that time there were no roads, and the country was inhabited by wild animals and Indians. His nearest postoffice was Edson, in Chippewa County, ten miles distant. He first worked at lunibering several winters, taking contracts from the Eau Claire Lumber Company. Mr. Gerard now owns a fine farm of eighty acres, thirty of which is cleared.
He was married in March, 1856, to Dorcas Warner, daughter of Steplien Warner, de- ceased. They have had four children, two of whom still survive: Anna, now Mrs. Michael McCaffery, of this city; and Jeanette, who keeps lionse for her father. The mother died in February, 1890. Mr. Jerard has been Town Treasurer one year; a member of the Side Board one year; chairman of the Board four years; a member of the School Board eight years; Justice of the Peace four years, and lias been several times elected to the latter office, but refused to serve. Politically he is a Republican.
-
DWARD A. EHLE, of Abbotsford, Clark County, was born in Cazenovia, Sullivan County, New York, June 8, 1841, the son of Harrison Ehle, deceased, who was born in the Mohawk Valley, near Canajoliarie. In 1851 he emigrated to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, and settled in the wild woods of Forrest Township. He and his sons cleared eighty acres, and were sur- rounded with Indians, mostly the Winne- bago and Manitowoc tribes. Edward A., our subject, was reared to farm life, and received his education in a log cabin, with pine-logs for seats, and with a slied roof made of scoops. He was a soldier in the late war in Company H, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry, served two and a half years,
308
BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY OF
and was in the battles of Cold Harbor, Ber- muda Hundred, siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Grove Church, Fort Hall, and others. He was not seriously wounded, but had a slight flesh wound on his neck over the jugular vein, and also had several holes shot in his clothing, and on the Weldon raid had his canteen split open.
After the war Mr. Elle resumed farming on the old homestead until January, 1874, when he came to Colby, this connty, but set- tled just across the line in Marathon County. Wild game was then plentiful, and he shot hundreds of deer and a few bear, but declin- ing health caused him to leave this farm, and in 1888 lie removed to Colby. On May 20, 1890, he settled in Abbotsford, where he en- gaged in the saloon and hotel business. He keeps a quiet house, and never sells to an in- toxicated man. Mr. Ehle was married No- vember 30, 1869, to Miss Melissa Carpenter, a daughter of Henry and Maria (Westen- house) Carpenter. The father is deceased, and the mother now lives with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Ehle have fonr children: Edna, born October 7, 1870; Edward A., November 25, 1873; Marshall P., April 1, 1882, and Madge, January 21, 1884. While in Greene Township, Marathon County, Mr. Ehle was a member of the Side Board. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., and politically votes for the man regardless of party.
RED D. WINTER, of Thorp, but late of Ardell, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, was born near Kolow, Germany. April 1. 1849, the son of Fred Winter, deceased. The father brought his family to the United States in 1864, settling in Sheboygan County, this State. Our subject soon began work for himself, and first went to North Dakota,
where he spent fifteen years in that State, California, and other parts of the West. At. one time he owned 800 acres of land in Trail County, Dakota, but has since sold it. He also ran a stage and carried the mail from Hillsboro to Newburg for three years; next kept a hotel in Caledonia, Moorhead and Fargo, North Dakota, and then settled on his farın, where he remained eight years. He subsequently returned to Sheboygan County, remained three years, after which he sold ont and returned to California. He again re- turned to Sheboygan County, and in 1890 came to Thorp, where he owns property and is engaged in a meat market.
Mr. Winter was married in May, 1873, to Dora S. Spingler.
B ENJAMIN BRUNO, a lumberman of Thorp, was born in Charlotte, Vermont, December 6, 1852, the son of Thomas and Mary (Bernard) Bruno, both natives of Canada. They were the parents of twelve children, eight now living, namely: Lewis, Charles, Mary, Sarah, Benjamin, Leander, Alonzo and Lorenzo (twins). The father was a soldier in the patriotic war in Canada, but subsequently the parents mnoved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1866, where the father died in 1869. After her husband's death the mother married Benjamin Major, and re- mnoved to Canada.
The subject of this sketch received a lim- ited education in his native State, where he also worked in the shingle mills until the fall of 1879. In that year he came to Ste- vens' Point, and thence, in the fall of 1880 to Thorp, where he remained until 1884. Next he removed to Bateman, this State, where he worked in a shingle-mill for Charles E. Parks & Co. until 1887, and then returned
309
CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
to this city. When lie first came here there were but two houses, which belonged to J. S. & E. A. Boardman. George Lesley moved to this place the same fall, and kept a hotel in the old railroad camp. Mr. Bruno has run the shingle-mill for Nye, Lusk & Hud- son every summer since returning to this place, and has logged for the same firm during the winters.
He was married Jnne 4, 1875, to Elizabetlı Delaney, a danghter of James C. Delaney, of Howard, Brown County, Wisconsin. They have had six children, five now living: May, born May 1, 1876; Annetta, May 14, 1878; Alice M., January 11, 1881; Frank G., No- vember 23, 1883, and William G., February 18, 1889. One son, Lyman G., died in his second year.
ETER SCHROEDER, of Thorp, Clark County, was born near the Rhine, Prus- sia, November 4, 1843. He came with his parents to the United States in 1850, settling near Madison, where they remained one year; thence to Dent County, Wisconsin ; in 1853 to Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa; and in 1855 to Faribault County, Minnesota. In 1880 our subject came to this county, settling at Thorp, where he has since remained. At that time there was not a turnpike here, and bnt few houses. He has been in the saloon business most of the time, but now has his business rented. He also has a saloon rented in Washburn, Bayfield County, Wisconsin. Mr. Schroeder was a soldier in the late war, in Company F, Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served from March 19 to November 8, when he was discharged on account of sickness. January 1, 1864, he re-enlisted, in Company H, Sec- ond Minnesota Volunteer Cavalry, and served
until April 28, 1866. He was in the battle of Corinth, and in several fights with the Indians in the bad lands of Dakota. He now draws a pension. He is a member of the G. A. R. and I. O. O. F.
He was married October 30, 1866, to Mary H. Ducate, a daughter of Moses Ducate, de- ceased. They have one child, Henry, born October 23, 1867, who is now working on a farın in Minnesota.
OBLE DOWNER, a highly respected farmer, residing on section 36, York Township, was born in Stockholm, New York, in the county of St. Lawrence, August 7, 1852. His parents, Joel and Eliza A. (Nichols) Downer, were natives of Vermont and New York respectively. The father lived in his birthplace until he was twelve years of age, when he went to Essex County, New York. There he afterwards met and married Lavinia Nichols, by whom he had two children: Lucy and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Downer died in Essex County, New York, about five years after her mar- riage. Later on Mr. Downer removed to St. Lawrence County, New York, and settled in Stockholm, where he married a second time, this union being with Eliza A. Nichols, a sister of his first wife. She was born in Crown Point, New York, April 8, 1828, and was a daughter of Elbie and Lucy (Holding) Nichols, natives of New York and Vermont respectively. They had five children born to them: Noble, the subject of this notice, Mariette, deceased; Homer, mention of whom is made later on in this volume; Cora L., and Carrie L. In 1864 Mr. Downer re- moved with his family from St. Lawrence County, New York, to Clark County, Wis- consin, and settled on a farm on section 36,
310
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
of what is now York Township; there lie spent the remainder of his days, passing away February 12, 1889, at the age of seventy- five years; his wife still survives, and makes her home with her son, Homer.
When Joel Downer came to Clark County lie bought forty acres of land on which he settled; it was a dense forest, and there were no roads, and there was only an occasional cabin built in the woods. He and his family were subjected to all tlie hardships of pioneer life, but they were determined, brave and willing, and success has been their reward. In politics he adhered to the principles of the Republican party.
To return to the subject of this brief sketch: Noble Downer was reared to his eleventh year in the county of his birth, when his parents removed to Clark County, Wisconsin. He attended the common schools of that day, and acquired an education that fitted him for ordinary business pursuits. His father being a fariner by occupation, he was trained to this work, and at the age of twenty-two years he settled on a farm of his own. He has a tract of sixty acres, to the development of which he has given much thought and labor; he has made all the im- provements, and all the surroundings bespeak his wise management and thrift. During the winter season he is engaged in one of the leading industries of Wisconsin, logging in the pineries. In liis political views he adlieres to the ideas set forth by the Republican party. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, at Maple Works.
Mr. Downer was united in wedlock, in 1873, to Miss Malinda Johnson, of Grant Township, Clark County, Wisconsin. She was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in 1854, and is a daughter of Josiah and Susanna Jolinson. Eight children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Downer: Noble, deceased; Albiou, Joel, Richard, Frank, Gertrude, Niel and Bessie.
JOMER DOWNER, a successful agricnl- turist, section 36, York Township, was born in Stockholm, St. Lawrence County, New York, November 24, 1856. He is a son of Joel and Eliza A. (Nichols) Downer, a full history of whom is given in the preceding biographical sketch. When he was a lad of eight years his parents decided to remove to Clark County, Wisconsin, where they con- sidered they could give better opportunities to their children than in the more tlrickly settled section of New York; so that our subject spent his youth on the frontier, and there became innred to the hardships of agricultural life. He acquired liis education in the pioneer schools, and during the snin- mer season assisted his father on the farm. The task of clearing a farm from out the heart of a dense forest, requires both energy and perseverance, and the men who have aided in this great labor are apt to be of a remarkably sturdy type. In the winter sea- sons Mr. Downer has been engaged to a con- siderable extent in the business of logging. Politically he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party.
In the year 1884, Jnne 7, he was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Davis, a daughter of Theodore and Caroline (Huntly) Davis. She is a native of Clark County, Wisconsin, born June 5, 1866.
To Mr. and Mrs. Downer have been born two children: Hazel and Callie.
-
ANIEL J. KINNE, a prosperous farmer, residing on section 17, Loyal Township, was born in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, February 22, 1845. His
311
CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
parents, Jefferson and Jane (Hankins) Kinne, were natives of New York and Vermont respectively; they were married in the town of New Berlin, Waukesha County, Wiscon- sin, and resided in Dodge and Washington connties, and finally came to Clark County; there the father passsed the remainder of his days; he was a carpenter by trade, but fol. lowed farming the latter part of his life Politically' he was a Democrat; he served through the late war as a private in the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was once wounded. His family consisted of seven children: Almira, Daniel J., Laura, Martha, Harriet, Jasper and Emily, all of whom are living. The mother also survives, and is a resident of Hartford, Washington County, Wisconsin.
Daniel J. was the second child born; he was reared in Waukesha and Washington connties to farin life, and received his educa- tion in the common schools. At the age of nineteen years he joined the army, enlisting in Company F, Forty-eighth Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry, and served until the declara- tion of peace. He was mustered out of the service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and re- ceived his final discharge at Madison, Wis- consin. The following spring he came to Clark County, Wisconsin, and homesteaded 160 acres where he now lives. This was heav- ily timbered, and neighbors were few and far between; he at once erected a cabin, eigliteen by twenty-four feet, in which he lived for several years. By careful management, pluck, energy, and perseverance, he has cleared 100 acres, and owns 200 acres in all; he has built a large and convenient barn, a tine two-story frame residence, and has sur- rounded himself and family with many of the comforts and luxuries of life. He started in life withont means, but his efforts have been crowned with success.
Mr. Kinne was nnited in the holy bonds of marriage, in September, 1866, to Miss Martha Emerson. She was born in Wash- ington County, Wisconsin, in 1847, and is a daughter of Norman and Nancy (Chatman) Emerson. No children have been born of this union, but Mr. and Mrs. Kinne have adopted a son, Frank Single, by name.
Politically Mr. Kinne is allied with the Republican party, although he takes no active interest in the movements of that body.
OHN F. BRASIER .- In reviewing the life of this highly respected citizen, we will go back to the history of his parents. His father, John Brasier, was born in Nova Scotia; he married Elizabeth Pegg, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, and they removed from Canada to Hartford, Washington County, Wisconsin, in the year 1845. There they underwent all the hard- ships and privations incident to pioneer life. They had born to them a family of five chil- dren: Charles, Sarah, Elizabeth, William and John F. The parents were faithful members of the Christian Church, and people of great integrity of character. The fatlier died in Washington County, Wisconsin, and the mother passed her last days at the home of a daughter in Clark County, Wisconsin.
John F. Brasier, son of the above, was born in Canada West, June 1, 1834, and lived until his twelfth year in his native home; his parents then removed to Hartford, Washington County, and he remained there until 1860. In that year he went to Sheboy- gan County, Wisconsin, and made it his home the two decades following. In 1880 we find him in Clark County, where he bought 160 acres of land adjacent to the village of Loyal.
312
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
Throughont his life he has followed farming, and he has now succeeded in placing under cultivation ninety aeres of his land. In the beginning of his business career he had no capital, but was obliged to rely upon his own industry and energy for success. He has been quite prosperous, and is well worthy of the higli esteem in which he is held. In polities he votes the Republican ticket.
In 1863, November 24, he enlisted as a private in Company I, First Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Daven- port, Iowa, and received his final discharge June 13, 1865. He participated in the Georgia campaign, and was in many minor battles and skirmishes.
Mr. Brasier was united in marriage, De- cember 25, 1862, to Miss Mary A. Shaver, of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Mrs. Brasier was born in the State of New York in 1845, and is a daughter of James and Charlotte (Gordon) Shaver. Mr. and Mrs. Brasier are the parents of ten children: Jennie E., Rob- ert E., Charlotte E., Phœbe E., Hattie E., Emily E., Alvin E., Lloyd E., Olive E. and Ray E.
The father and mother are both worthy and consistent members of the Seventh-Day Ad- ventist Church.
HARLES M. BRADFORD, one of the substantial farmers of Sherman Town- ship, was born in Plymonth, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, October 22, 1850. His parents, Ira A. and Sarah G. (Sweeting) Brad- ford, were natives of Vermont and New York respectively. They were married in Syracuse, New York, but in 1846 emigrated to Sheboy- gan County, Wisconsin, and settled in Plyni- outh, where they have resided since that
time. Ira A. Bradford has been a farmer all his life. He was at one time Supervisor of Sheboygan Connty, and has been chairman of his Town Board. He has been fortunate in his business, and has accumulated a con- petence. He and his wife reared a family of eight children: IIelen, George W., De Witt M., Charles M., Frank I., Celia, Morton E. and William N.
Charles M. Bradford grew to manhood amidst the pursuits of agricultural life, and obtained his education in the common schools. He remained under the paternal rule until he was eighteen years of age, and then started out in life for himself. As the tide of emi- gration was still westward, he drifted with it, and landed in Clark County, Wisconsin, where he remained one year employed in the pineries. He then went back to Sheboygan County, and followed farming during the summer, and in the winter time taught school, until the year 1875, when he returned to Clark County. He bought eighty acres of land where he now lives; it was then heavily timbered. He has added to his first purchase forty acres, and has through his own per- severing efforts reduced sixty-five acres to a state of cultivation. In the winter season he devoted some time to logging in earlier days, but now gives his whole attentiou to the improvement of his farm.
In politics he is allied with the Republican party. He has been chairman of the Town Board for three years, and was Town Clerk for nine years, proving always worthy of the trust reposed in him.
In the year 1871, October 29, Mr. Brad- ford was married to Miss Stella C. Eastman, of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Mrs. Bradford was born in Jefferson County, New York, October 4, 1851, and is a daughter of Frederick L. and Ursula (Ames) Eastman, natives of the Empire State. The parents
313
CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
emigrated to Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, in 1854, where the mother passed the re- mainder of her days; the father still sur- vives.
Mr. and Mrs. Bradford are the parents of four children: Ira L., William, Maud E. and Charles E.
HARLES W. VAN GORDEN, Treas- urer of Jackson County, is a man of sterling traits of character, and is de- serving of a space in this record of the pro- gressive inen of the county. He was born in Chemung County, New York, in the town now known as Horseheads, November 17, 1843. His parents, Isaac S. and Deborah (Humphrey) Van Gorden, were natives of the same State and county, were reared, married and died there. The father was a fariner by occupation, and accumulated a considerable amount of property. He was a inan prominent in all public enterprises, and was a leader in the community. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Van Gorden was possessed of a voice of rare sweetness and power, and sang with unusual effect. The paternal ancestors were Hollanders, who set- tled in the State of New York at an early day. The Humphreys were of Irish descent and were early settlers in New York.
Isaac Van Gorden and wife reared a family of eight children: George, Malinda, Alonzo, Fletcher, Charles W., Martha, Franklin and Schuyler. The father was married a second time, the last wife being Amanda Wilcox, of Chemung County, New York. One child was born of this union-Malılon.
To return to the subject of this biography, he passed his childhood and youth in his native town and county, received his educa-
tion in the common schools, and assisted his father in the duties pertaining to the care of the farm. In 1866 he bade farewell to these scenes of his early days, and emigrated to Illinois, settling on a farm in Henry County. There lie resided until 1869, when lie came to Jackson County, Wisconsin, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 11, Hixton Township. He has since added another eighty acres, and the whole is well improved and under good cultivation. The buildings are of a modern style of architecture, are sub- stantial and well suited to the needs of a prosperous farmer. When Mr. Van Gorden started out in life for himself, he was en- dowed with only the capital which nature provides her sons, but he has made the most of the talents given to his keeping. At the time of his marriage he had only $4, and he paid the preacher the half of that amount for "tying the knot."
In 1890 he was nominated by the Demo- crats and Farmers' Alliance for Treasurer of the county, and was elected by a majority of sixty, the county having given a Republican majority in 1888 of several hundred. He has held some office in his township ever since he become a resident of the county. All his life he has been a stanchi adherent to the principles of the Democratic party.
In addition to his public duties, Mr. Van Gorden is paying particular attention to the raising of live-stock, and is making a success of this branch of farming.
March 2, 1864, he was united in the holy bonds of marriage to Miss Sarah Barnes, of Chemung County, New York. She was born September 14, 1844, and is a daughter of Oliver C. and Hannah (Cooper) Barnes, natives of the State of New York. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Van Gorden: Charles B., Oliver C., Isaac, Hannalı E., Loring G. and Milton W. Isaac
314
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
and Milton W. are deceased; the others are single and living at home.
ETER A. POTTER is one of the large land-owners of Manchester Township, and is regarded as one of the leading farmers of the county. He was born in Cat- taraugus County, New York, June 7, 1832, and is a son of Wilbur and Eliza (Snow) Pot- ter, who were natives of Connecticut and New York respectively. They emigrated to the West in 1839, and settled near Beloit, Wisconsin; from this point they removed to Union, Rock County, and afterward founded the town of Ebensville; in this hamlet Wilbur Potter started a chair factory which he man- aged for a few years; thence he removed to Columbus, Wisconsin, where he established a chair and cabinet manufacturing concern; after a few years he sold out this business, and went to Cedar Lake, Wisconsin, where he was proprietor of a hotel for a while; after selling this business he moved to Wau- kau, Wisconsin, and farmed in that neighbor- hood for a time. Thence he went to Iowa, and from Iowa to Little Rock, Minnesota, where he lived for a short time. During his residence in this latter place he served as Postmaster. In the year 1890 he moved to the State of Washington, where he now lives, at the age of eighty-five years. His wife died at Ebensville, Wisconsin, early in the '40's.
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.