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 36
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 36
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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
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and call them by name as any man in the county. He is quick to see and prompt to act; and while indulgent to those deserving of his indulgence, he is nevertheless positive with his word and requires the strictest ob- servance of all obligations.
This report of Mr. O'Hearn his neighbors and business associates give, and this much of his personal history and business career most of them know. Concerning his earlier history so much is not known by his fellow-towns- men, and for the purposes of this sketch it will be appropriate to state some further facts of this nature.
Mr. O'Hearn was born in the Dominion of Canada, January 15, 1843. He is the son of Thomas O'Hearn, a native of Canada, who came to the United States and fell in with the great tide of pioneers and home- seekers making for the vast forests of Wis- consin, settling first in 1844 in Dodge County, and coming in 1855 to Jackson County, locating on the spot where the village of Melrose now stands. He was twice married, W. R. O'Hearn being the only issue of the first union; by the second marriage three children were born, one son and two daughters. He was a pioneer of Jackson County, and by occupation a farmer and mechanic, a plain, substantial man, having passed the greater part of his life in the industrious pursuit of agriculture, lead- ing the steady, even and uneventful life common to that calling.
Mr. O'Hearn himself was reared on the farm, being brought up mainly in Jackson County, and began life a farmer boy. He left the farm and engaged as book-keeper for D. J. Spanlding, and worked his way up in business circles until he gained the responsi- ble position he is now filling. Politically he is a Republican, but is not an office-seeker. He is a member of the Board of Aldermen,
has served on the Connty Board, and filled other offices that all good citizens are ex- pected to fill. He married Jnne 1, 1869, his choice falling on a girl he had known in his boyhood-Miss Flora Johnson, daughter of Nelson D. Johnson, a native of New England, who moved to Jackson County in 1856; the year following he returned to Massachusetts. Three children have been sent to the care and guardianship of Mr. and Mrs. O'Hearn, namely: Thomas, who was born September 10, 1870, and died Jannary 22, 1885, his loss producing an irrepressible grief, as he was an extraordinarily fine boy; Harry, born June 16, 1875; and Florence, January 21, 1884.
Mr. O'Hearn's handsome residence is a standing monument of his success, and an evidence of the care and thoughtfulness of a devoted husband and father, and the happiest inoments of his life are those spent around its fireside in the company of his amiable wife and interesting children. In his domes- tic and social relations Mr. O'Hearn has been as happy as he has been fortunate in busi- ness, and it is not improbable that the two facts are due to the same source, namely : his fixed determination to be so, and the exercise of those qualities of head and heart which make possible such results.
AMUEL HOWDEN, of section 15, Eaton Township, was born in Canada West, forty miles north of Toronto, August 15, 1843, the son of James Howden, a native of Connty Fermanagh, Ireland. He came to Canada when a young man, where he worked at his trade of wagon-making the remainder of his life, the last ten years of which was spent in County Lampton. Our subject's mother, nee Ann Hicks, a native of
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Ireland, died when Samuel was nine months old. He was bronghit up on a farm, and also followed carpentering a number of years. In 1863 he came to the United States, stopping first at West Salem, La Crosse County, which was his home for nine years. During the winters he worked in the pineries, and on a farm in the summers. He camne to Clark County in the fall of 1872, locating in Eaton Township, which he has since made his home. When he first came here the Indians and wild animals were numerons, and the wolves made tlie nights hideous. Mr. How- den settled on his present farm in the spring of 1874, where he owns eighty acres, one- fourth of which is cleared.
He was married, October 3, 1870, to Hester Cummins, daughter of George E. (deceased) and Rosanna M. (McMullen) Cummins, the former a native of Rochester, and the latter of Buffalo, New York. The father settled in La Crosse County in the fall of 1865, where he lived until his death. He was a soldier in the United States army during the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Howden have ten chil- dren, viz .: Lottie M., Mande R., Samuel J., James B., George F., Lillie M., Hester A., William M., Nellie F. and Harry C. Lottie married Oren Van Kirk, and has one child, Lee W. Mr. Howden never seeks office, but was prevailed upon to assess the town in 1889. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and the former is a Republican in his political views.
ILLIAM A. POWNDER, of section 14, Eaton Township, Clark County, was born in Behnont, Canada, April 6, 1852, the son of Thomas (deceased) and Mary (Fitch) Pownder, the former a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, and the latter of Canada.
They were the parents of seven children, namely: Dorinda, Joseph, William, Harriet, Mary, George and John. The father caine to this connty in 1856, where he was followed by the family the next year. They settled in Weston Township, where the father was for inany years Town Clerk and Assessor. He also followed lumbering every year until his death, which occurred on August 18, 1872.
William A., our subject, has worked in the woods ever since he was sixteen years old, and for eleven years acted as foreman. He started a camp of his own in the winter of 1889-'90. He drove logs many seasons. He settled on his present farm in May, 1885, where he owns eighty acres, fifty of which is cleared. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Pownder was married, December 20, 1880, to Barbara, daughter of Samuel Hawk, of Catskill, New York, and they have one child, William Ray, born Oc- tober 21, 1882. Mr. Pownder is a mneniber of the I. O. O. F .; has been a member of the Town Board two terms, and also Assessor two terms.
ARK B. WARNER, for whom the town of Warner was named, and one of the pioneer lumbermen of Black River Valley, section 15, Warner Township, was born in Wyoming, Genesee County, New York, August 6, 1819, the son of William H. and Abigail (Morey) Warner; the former, a native of Connecticut, and a farmer by occu- pation, filled several county offices in his time, and was also a soldier in the war of 1812. They were the parents of three chil- dren: Dr. Henry, who died at the age of fifty-nine years in Medina County, Ohio, where he had practiced medicine for thirty- seven years; Mark B., the subject of this
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sketch, and Cynthia Deimock, who now re- sides in Medina County, Ohio.
Mark D. Warner was reared to farm life, and received his education in the common schools of Medina County, where his parents had settled when he was a small boy. He came to Black River Falls in 1855, and first worked in the woods two years, and then, in company with others, began business for him- self, which he continued twenty-six years. At that time the Indians were numerous, but never molested him except to steal. He ex- płored the country during the summers, lo- cating, estimating and entering pine lands for other parties. There were no roads then except here and there a toat road on river banks, and farther back in the conntry there were only a few Indian trails. He often met Indians in the deep woods, but was never molested. A half-breed Indian, by the name of Joseph Eaton, worked for Mr. Warner four years, and the latter often took himn on ex- płoring expeditions to carry provisions, blank- ets, etc. Mr. Warner has killed more game than any other man, and always had venison for his men in camp. He often killed bear for sport, letting them remain where he had shot them. He has explored to near Lake Superior, and in that country saw tracks of cariboo and moose, and also saw some of the latter that had been killed by other parties near the head waters of the Chippewa River. These pine lands have now all been bought by the Mississippi Logging & Boom Com- pany. Mr. Warner settled on his present farm in the fall of 1871, which was then dense woods, with no roads from this place to Greenwood, except a toat road. He now owns a fine farm of 320 acres, 130 of which is cleared. Prior to purchasing this place, Mr. Warner owned an interest in 200 acres in township 29, range 2 west, this county, which he helped to improve. In addition to
his general farming, he is successfully en- gaged in raising graded short-horn cattle, graded Morgan and Black Hawk horses, and Poland-China and Berkshire hogs. He has been chairman of the Town Board; chairman of the County Board; a member of the School Board several years; and was elected Justice of the Peace several times, but never served. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and politically a Democrat.
Mr. Warner was married in July 1856, to Levina Richardson, who was born near Dix, Illinois, the daughter of David Richardson, deceased. Of their six children, five still sur- vive, namely: Leroy R., David, George, Gertrude and Henry. Leroy married Mary Hommel, lives in Greenwood and has two children: Bessie and Mand. David married Melissa Bowerman, lives on his father's farın, and has two children: Mark and Clement. George married Jennie Austin, lives at Hem- lock, and also has two children.
ENRY S. HUMKE, of section 29, War- ner Township, Clark County, was born in Hermann Township, Sheboygan Connty, Wisconsin, April 27, 1855, the son of Conrad Hnmke, a native of Detmold, Prussia, but now of Sheboygan Connty. He came to the United States in 1842, and first lived in or near Buffalo, New York, and then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he chop- ped wood on the Ohio River several years. He subsequently came to Wisconsin, settling in Sheboygan County. Onr subject's mother was born in Prussia, and was first married to a Mr. Büker (see sketch of Frederick Büker), but is now living at Franklin, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. She is the mother of eleven children, six of whom still survive.
Henry S. Humke, the subject of this sketch,
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was reared ou a farm and received his educa- tion in the common schools of his native county. He has worked in the pineries eight winters, and during that time was engaged in farming and also drove logs during the springs and summers. He came to this county in 1878 and settled on his present farm of 120 acres, forty of which is cleared. When he first came to this place it was covered with timber, with not even a slianty on it, and the first year he lived in a small log lionse.
Mr. Humke was married November 18, 1879, to Anna Kippenhan, who was born in Washington County, Wisconsin, August 5, 1859, the daughter of Adamn and Helen (Richter) Kippenlian; the former a native of Baden, Germany, came to the United States in 1852; the latter was born in Baden also, and died August 19, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Humke have had six children: Theodore, Helen, Meda, Ella, Arthur and George. The fatlier has been a member of the Side Board for two years, and is now serving as Town Treasurer. Religionsly he is a member of the Reformed Immanuel Church, and politi- cally a Republican.
ARTIN NEVILLE, of section 3, Warner Township, and the second settler of his town, was born in Tar- kio, Missouri, November 11, 1841, the son of Patrick Neville (deceased), a native of County Wexford, Ireland. He came to Can- ada East wlien a young man, and there mnar- ried Catharine Kelly, a native of County Kil- dare, Ireland. They subsequently emigrated to Missouri, where they lived but a few years, having been frightened away by Indians, and returned to Canada. Of their eight children, seven of them are now living: James, Jolin, Mary, Bridget, Kate, Martin, Lizzie. The
father died in 1879, and the mother in 1881, and both were buried in Canada East.
The subject of this sketch was reared to farin life, and was educated in the common schools near Quebec, Canada. Wlien sixteen years of age he went to Maine, where he spent four years in the pineries, and also loaded vessels with square timber. He was a con- tractor in the latter occupation for several years. In the fall of 1859 he removed to the Sonthern States, where he was engaged on a steamboat that winter, and the following win- ter on the Mississippi River, below New Or- leaus, and also on the Missouri as far up as Council Bluffs. In 1863 he went to Austra- lia withi a vessel loaded with pine and spruce lumber, and at Melbourne his captain sold the ship, after which he returned to Liverpool, England, and tlience to Quebec in a sail ves- sel. Mr. Neville then returned to Maine aud worked again in the woods one winter, and the following spring went to Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1866 he came to Neillsville and that winter worked for Robert Ross in liis logging camp, and on his farmi the next spring. In July lie bought a claim of 160 acres, which he homesteaded, and where he still resides. He lived on this place seven years before proving it up. It was then covered with timber, and he had to clear a sufficient space to build a shanty.
Mr. Neville was inarried July 29, 1869, to Mary J. Wright, who was born in Canada East in 1842, the son of James Wright, de- ceased. They have had nine children, eight of whom are still living, namely: Alice M., Albert H., Mary I., Eliza, Martin L., Katie M., James and Anna M. The mother died February 27, 1884, after a brief illness of inflammation of the lungs. After her death Mr. Neville kept the eight children together, the eldest having been less than twelve years old at her death. Both he and his wife wer -
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members of the Catholic Church. For three months he never slept an hour, but gradually sleep came back to him for a few minutes at a time. His trials were almost unbearable, and many men would have succumbed. He has been School Treasurer for twenty-four years, and was also Road Overseer several years.
YRUS W. DEWEY , foreman of the Witliee estate, of 21,530 acres, in Long- wood, Hixton Township, Clark County, was born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, Sep- tember 10, 1850, the sou of Cyrus and Achsa (Goff) Dewey, bothı natives of New York State. The father was a pioneer of Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he died of typhoid fever when our subjeet was but four months old. The mother was afterward married to Heury Tooley, aud they had two children, only one of whom still survives-Wilbur. They now reside in Loyal Township, this county.
Cyrus W. left home at the age of thirteen years, and has depended upon his own re- sources since that time. He first lived in Adams County, this State, a short time, after whiel he lived with his grandfather, Theo- dore Goff, in Columbia County, a few years. In 1868 he came to Clark County, where he worked in the woods two winters, and drove logs in the spring. He next began work in the logging camps, and has been foreman of the same ever since, except two winters. He has also been engaged in farming, but since Mr. Withee's death has put in his entire time as foreman for the estate. He owns a farm of 160 acres in Pine Valley Township, seventy of which is cleared, and all is rented to neigh- bors. Mr. Dewey was married October 9, 1877, to Emma Tyler, who was born in the State of New York in 1857, the daughter of Nelson Tyler, of Ulster County, New York.
Of their two children one is still living- Ancy, born November 17, 1878. Alice died June 17, 1890, at the age of seven and a half years, which was a sad blow to the family and friends. Mr. Dewey has held the office of Assessor, and was a member of the Side Board a few years in Pine Valley, and is now a member of the Masonic order at Neillsville. Mrs. Dewey is a member of the Presbyterian church of this eity.
ILAN CORNELL, of section 16, Warner Township, Clark County, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, December 13, 1827, the son of Isaac and Priscilla (Morgan) Cornell, the former a native of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Virginia. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was also a soldier in the war of 1812. They were the parents of eleven childreu, four of whom are still living: Ira, Milan, Rebecca and Craig. The father had two children by a former marriage: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Funk; and Agnes, now Mrs. Case. In 1833 the parents emigrated to Porter County, Indiana, settling on a farm, where Milan was reared and received his edu- cation, in a log cabin with slab seats and a board on pins for desks. In 1849 he went via Panama to California, where lie mnined for gold two years, and then returned to Por- ter County, Indiana. His home for the past thirty years has been in Valparaiso, and is living here only temporarily. He owns 120 acres of land in Porter County, besides two houses and four lots in Valparaiso.
Mr. Cornell was married February 28, 1854, to Cordelia Freeman, who was born in Onondaga County, New York, March 22, 1834, the daughter of Azarialı and Amanda (Crains) Freeman, both natives of Tolland
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County, Connecticut, and both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell have had two children: Genevieve and Kate L., both now dead. The former was married to Schuyler Williams, of Porter County, Indiana, and the latter, Kate, married Marion Baum (since deceased), and tliey liad one child, Genevieve, born Angust 13, 1884. Slie is a bright little girl, and the only leir to all the possessions of Mr. and Mrs. Cornell, which are very extensive. Mr. and Mrs. Banın liad another dangliter, Rebah Ethel, who died when thirteen months old. Mrs. Cornell owns 680 acres of land in this connty, which she inlierited from her father, who died in January, 1885. Mr. Cornell is a member of the I. O. O. F fraternity, and Mrs. Cornell is a member of a Rebekah lodge and W. R. C.
ARY DRINKWINE, of section 20, Warner Township, Clark County, and a pioneer of this town, was born in Paris, France, May 1, 1821, the son of George Drinkwine, deceased, a native of London, England. He brought his family to Mon- treal, Canada, in 1823, where Lary was brought up on St. Paul street, block No. 24, where tlie father kept a tavern. After reach- ing maturity, Mr. Drinkwine began farming in Canada, which he continued until the fall of 1854, in which year he came to Sheboy- gau Connty on the steamer Lady Elgin, which sprung a leak on the way, and Mr. Drinkwine and others were obliged to pump water. They finally landed in the harbor with 110 loss of life or property. Our sub- ject first worked on a farm in the vicinity of Sheboygan until 1861, when he enlisted in the late war, in Company B, Eighth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and served three and a half years, participating in the battles
of Mechanicsville, Missouri, Pilot Knob, Iuka, Coffeeville, Holly Springs, Corinth, Pine Bluff, charge on Vicksburg, siege of Vicksburg, Red River campaign, Guntown, Mississippi, and others. He was wounded three times: first on the forehead by a piece of shell, on the return from the Red River campaign; next through the left thigh in the charge on Vicksburg, and again in the left ankle at Guntown, the ball striking the bone and passing into the back part of the leg, where it still remains. He still suffers from the effects of these injuries.
After the war Mr. Drinkwine returned to Sheboygan and worked on a farm until 1867, when he came to this county, settling in Warner Township, which he has ever since made his home. In 1870 he settled on liis present farm of eighty acres, forty-five of which is cleared. There were no roads here at that time, and Mr. Drinkwine often walked to and from Neillsville, camping in the woods on his way, and one time carried fifty pounds of flour on his back. He would often put the flour on his neck and swim the river, as he could not always get across on the boat.
He was married in 1851 to Clarissa Ted- row, a native of Sherbrook, Canada, and they have had seven children, five of whom are now living: Lary, George, John, Villa and Violet. Villa married Otto Duell, of this city, and they have one child-Edward.
EORGE DRINKWINE, of section 20, Warner Township, Clark County, was born in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, March 4, 1863, the son of Lary Drinkwine, whose biography appears in this work. The latter came to this county in 1867, and was followed the next year by his family. In the
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fall of 1870 they settled on their present farm, which was then covered with timber, and surrounded by Indians and wild animals. Mr. Drinkwine has hunted a great deal, has killed over 100 deer, and has caught one bear in a trap. In November, 1890, he went deer hunting and succeeded in killing seven in a few days. He has worked in the pineries during the winters, and on his farm in the summers. He owns eighty acres of land, forty-five of which is cleared, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
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LE C. CHRISTENSON, of section 28, Warner Township, Clark County, was born three miles from Trondjhem, Nor- way, July 18, 1839, the son of Christen Everson, who died when Ole was but ten weeks old. Of the parents' nine children, five are still living: Martha, Ever, Claus, Christene and Ole.
Mr. Christenson, our subject, came to the United States in 1860, locating near Black River Falls, Wisconsin, where he worked in the saw-mill of Andrew Shepherd, and the following winter was employed across the river by Andrew Gilbert. In 1866 he en- gaged in farming near the village of Taylor, Jackson County, and thence removed to Eau Claire County, this State, where he was en- gaged in the same occupation until 1870. In that year he came to this county, Warner Township, and settled on his present farm of forty acres, twenty-five of which is cleared.
Mr. Christenson was married in Jackson County, September 23, 1863, to Miss Waren Knudson, who was born in Kragero Town- ship, Norway, the dangliter of Kond Knne- son. They have had eleven children, nine of
whom still survive, namely: Tholine M., Carl C., Marie ()., Johan A., Albert T., Emma L., Lonis E., Oline J. and Oscar A. Tholine M. married Louis Readymaker, of Loyal Town- ship, this county, and has three children: Irvin, Clarence and Hazel. Marie is a dress- maker in Minneapolis. Mr. Christenson has been a member of the School Board three terms. Religiously he is a member of the Lutheran Church, and politically a Repub- lican.
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LFRED C. ALTON, of section 23, War- ner Township, Clark County, was born in Allegany County, New York, Sep- tember 30, 1833, the son of George and Nancy (Kilmore) Alton, both deceased, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of the State of New York. Of their nine children, four are still living: Alfred, our subject; Mary, now Mrs. Preston, of Apalachee, Florida; James W., of Allegany County, near Wellsville; and Lovina, now Mrs. Nes- bit, of Watertown, North Dakota.
Alfred C., our subject, was reared to farm life and educated in the common schools of his native county. In the fall of 1859 he removed to Henry County, Illinois, thence to Ean Claire, Wisconsin, in 1863, where he engaged in plastering and the stone-mason's trade. In the fall of 1877 he came to this county and settled on his present farm of eighty acres, sixty-five of which is cleared. He first lived in a log shanty a few years, and then built a good one-and-a-half story frame, the lumber for which he hauled from Green- wood and Neillsville, and also some from Beaver Township, this county. Mr. Alton was married in October, 1861, to Rose Ann Smith, the daughter of William (deceased) and Mary (McGuire) Smith, both natives of
Ohnon OHbear
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County Fermanagh, Ireland, who emigrated to the United States in 1854. They were the parents of six children, all of whom are deceased but Mrs. Alton and her sister Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Alton have six chil- dren: Charles P., Mary, George, Ellen, John and Catherine A. Mary married Edward Borego, of Thorp, this county. Both parents are members of the Catholic Church, and the former is a Democrat politically.
LIVER O'HEARN, deceased, was born at Newport, Nova Scotia, November 24, 18 -. When three years of age le embarked at Halifax on a packet vessel for New York. During the voyage the ves- sel was cast away on an island near Barnegat shoals in New Jersey, and he was exposed to the storm three days. With other passen- gers he succeeded in reaching the main land, was picked up and landed in New York. He then took passage on the packet boat on the Erie Canal to Rochester, and then by vessel to Little York, now the city of Toronto, Cauada. He was five years of age when his father died. His first schooling was at Rich- mond Hill, Canada, in a select school held in a log school-house, and he finished his edu- cation at Lewiston (New York) Academy. On account of limited means he left school at au early age, returned to Richmond Hill and learned the carpenter's trade with Mr. Newton, a Scotchman and master-workınan. After serving his apprenticeship he came to Wisconsin, then a Territory, arriving at Fox Lake, Dodge Couuty, September 4, 1844, where he worked at his trade for a short time; next for two years he was employed in Buffalo, in the ship-yards. In 1849 he re- turned to Fox Lake, and in that year was
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