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 37
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 37
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married to Miss Phoebe S. Griffin; their four children are all living, and in Jackson County. William R. ('Hearn is the only son. The daughters now bear the names of Mesdames S. D. Blake, G. J. Simpson and Ida Roddy.
In 1852 Mr. O'Hearn went overland to California and spent two years in the mines, returning home by steamer in 1854. In 1856 he came to Jackson County, settling in Melrose, and began working at his trade. In 1859 he made a second trip to California by steamer, was wrecked on a coral reef and was "hung up" among the rocks for seven days. On his return home he began the cultivation of his farm, which he continued until 1865, when iu November of that year he was elected Treasurer of Jackson County, to which office he was re-elected for ten con- secutive years, and which he was filling at the time of his death, October 3, 1875.
Oliver O'Hearn's love for his wife was something beautiful. Through his rugged nature ran a poetic vein, and in that strain he frequently gave expression of his love for her, as the following poems, written when absent from her, will show:
TO MY WIFE.
Dear Phebe, were we but together once more,
There is naught in this wide world could tempt us to part ;
We'd renew the fond pledges we've made o'er and o'er, And cherish that passion that springs from the heart.
The raven that Noah let fly from the ark Returned without finding a home on the sea; And to me, like the raven, all's gloomy and dark: O, there's no place like home with my children and thee.
But the gloom, like the waters, I hope will depart ;
Then back, like the dove, with glad tidings I'll soar ; And when I can press thee again to my heart,
I'll say, "God, thou hast blessed me; I ask for no more."
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LINES TO PHEBE S. O'HEARN.
(Composed at night while rolled up in his blanket, under an old oak tree near the Sacramento River.)
When night her sable wings doth spread, Their shadows rest o'er land and sea, And all is silent as the dead ; 'Tis then my thoughts return to thee.
Youthful scenes go fleeting by; Memory tells of pleasures past; O, that time could backward fly To those bright days, too clear to last !
'Twas then true love, that magic power, First told my throbbing heart 'twas thine;
And as you stood, a spotless flower, I took that trembling hand in mine.
I think of Fanny's smiling face- My own sweet girl, to me so dear;
I clasp her in my fond embrace, And joy brings forth the silent tear.
Then sleep steals o'er me unawares; Its calm doth soothe the weary mind ;
I leave the world and all its cares, To dream of those I left behind.
During his long term of office, and in fact during his entire life, he was conciliatory toward all men and all sects; and yet, when he had made up his inind to what he thought was a right course, no ties of friendship, no views of party policy, no hope of patronage, and no idea of expediency could swerve him from that course. His honesty and integrity were never questioned, and he has left to this community and to its rising generation the legacy of a character that is as strong as steel and as true and bright as gold.
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OHN T. FARNING, a prominent lum- berman and proprietor of a saw-mill on section 27, Eaton Township, was born in Vermont, March 11, 1856, the son of Michael and Ann (Markey) Farning, both natives of Ireland. The father came to America when a young man, and in the fall of 1856 emi-
grated to this county, and the following spring settled on section 6, Grant Township, where he cleared a farm. He taught school during the winters, having been a college graduate and a very fine scholar. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company I, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and participated in many battles, including Vicksburg, Shiloh, Corinth and many others. He was wounded at Vicks- burg, from which he afterward recovered, but died from chronic diarrhiœa while in the service. Of Mr. and Mrs. Farning's four children, three survive: William, John and Franklin. One son, Robert, died at the age of twenty-nine years.
The subject of this sketch has lived in this county most of his life, excepting four years spent in Marshfield, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in the livery business. In 1887 he bought a saw-mill in this county, and the following year mnoved to this city, where he saws and ships his lumber mostly to Janes- ville. He was married May 1, 1888, to Mar- tha Christie, a daughter of James Christie, deceased. They have one child, Annie Belle, born October 19, 1889.
HILO MEAD, of section 34, Hixton Township, Clark County, was born in Dutchess County, New York, March 22, 1851, the son of Daniel Mead, who was born, reared and still resides on the old home- stead in Dutchess County. Our subject's mother, Sybil Davis, was also a native of the same place. Of their ten children, nine are still living, namely: Angeline, Carrie, Catha- rine, Aiken, Henry, Philo, Alexander, Clara and Orlando. One daughter, Laura, died at the age of sixteen years.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools of
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CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
his uative county. In 1874 he came to this county, aud for four years thereafter worked for his consin, the Hon. Harry Mead. He settled on his present farm of eighty acres in 1878, and has since cleared twenty acres of this tract. He has worked in the pineries nearly every winter since coming to this county. Mr. Mead was married April 25, 1878, to Rachel Syth, who was born in Lon- don, Canada, the daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Stewart) Syth; the latter is deceased, and the former has been a resident of this county over twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Mead have two children, Estella and Maud P. Mr. Mead has been Assessor of his town two years, and is now serving as Town Treas- urer. Politically he is a Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
OHN GILBO, of section 32, Hixton Township, Clark County, and the pio- neer of his locality, was born in Bran- don Township, Ontario, in 1840, the son of Toussaint (deceased) and Margaret (Lenault) Gilbo, natives of Canada, and the former of French parentage. Of the parents' ten children, eight survive: Clement, Albert, Rose, Joe, Margaret, John, Alfred and Joseph. Our sub- ject came with his parents to Orleans County, New York, in 1850, where the father died a year later of dropsy, after which, in 1862, the family removed to Pontiac, Michigan. John enlisted in the late war, in Company F, Third New York Volunteer Infantry, served over two years, was in several battles, and was wounded at Swan's Quarters, having been shot three times. He was sent to the hospital at Newbern, North Carolina, and finally sent home on a furlough, but was never able to return, and was never dis-
charged. After the war he came to Pontiac, Michigan, and in 1870 to this county, set- tling on his present farm, then covered with heavy timber. He was surrounded by wild animals and Indians, the latter being harın- less, yet often became drunk and passed his cabin whooping and yelling. He could stand at his cabin and shoot a deer any day, and bears were also very numerous. Mrs. Gilbo has often lived seven months at a time with- out seeing the face of a white woman, and has had to work hard to help earn the living, as her husband was sick much of the time. Mr. Gilbo now owns eighty acres of good land, thirty of which is cleared.
He was married January 28, 1865, to Mary Dorsey, who was born in Toronto, Canada, July 5, 1840, the daughter of Jesse (deceased) and Mary (Covilland) Dorsey, the former a native of Coteau du Lac, and the latter of St. Anns, Quebec. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbo have had oue child, who died in in- fancy. Mr. Gilbo is a member of the G. A. R. post, and both he and his wife were brought up to the Catholic faith, but have not been identified with any church of late; the latter is educated in both French and English.
PHRAIM A. BOARDMAN, proprietor of a saw-mill and lumberyard at Thorp, Clark County, was born in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1837, the son of Benoni Boardman, deceased, a native of Cat taraugus County, New York. The latter re- moved with his parents to Pennsylvania, when a boy, later to Olmsted County, Minnesota, and in the spring of 1853 settled on a farm among Indians and wild animals. Ephraim remained on this place until 1872, when he came to this county, and entered
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BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY OF
160 acres of land on the east side of the road, on sections 30 to 29, Withee Township, which now constitutes a part of the village of Thorp. He built the first house in this place, which was a round-log cabin, 16 x 24 feet, all in one
room. This also served as a dry-goods and grocery store, and he was therefore the first merchant of Thorp. The next store was built by L. O. Garrison in 1881, and the same year Thomas O. Mosher built and conducted a hardware store. The place now contains eight stores, three blacksmith shops, harness shop, two art galleries, eight saloons, three physicians and one attorney.
Mr. Boardman was married February 13, 1860, to Savilla L. Fults, who was born in New York State, the daughter of Joseph Fults. They have had eight children, three of whoin survive: Anson, Grace and Melvin, -all at home. The deceased are: Owen, Frankie and Laura, and two died in infancy. . Mr. Boardman was chairman of the Town Board two years, Town Treasurer one year, and is now Vice Grand of the I. O. O. F. lodge. Politically he affiliates with the Dem- ocratic party.
AMES A. COVERT, engineer in Nye, Lusk & Hudson's mill at Thorp, Clark County, was born in Greene County, Wisconsin, January 16, 1858, the son of James M. and Martha (Martin) Covert, natives of Ohio. They had thirteen children, only seven of whom survive, viz .: Enoch M., Mar- tha J., James A., Anna V., Claude E., Min- nie and Clark A. Lucinda died in Humbird, October, 1890, at the age of forty-four years. She was the wife of Benjamin Web- ster, proprietor of the Webster House at Humbird. The eldest daughter, Nancy, died at the age of twenty-one years; Sarah died
in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the summer of 1888, at the age of thirty-eight years; she was the wife of Charles Neyhart, a harness-maker of Lincoln, Nebraska. James M. Covert, the father of our subject, served three years in the late war, in Company K, Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, after which he settled in Broadhead, where he lias since re- sided.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the private schools of Broadhead, and in June, 1880, came to Thorp, where he worked on the railroad, which was then being built to this place. He entered the employ of his present firm in the fall of 1881, and since that time has had charge of the engine and all machinery in the basement.
He was married March 16, 1877, to Lillie, daughter of George Leslie, of Thorp. They have four children: Zora, Ida, Maud and Frank. All are at home, and the three eldest are attending school. Socially Mr. Covert is a member of the Sons of Veterans, and po- litically a Republican.
OHN T. HERTEL, proprietor of the depot saloon of Thorp, was born in Al- sace, France, January 3, 1853, the son of Peter Hertel, deceased, a native of the same country. He was the father of six children, three of whom still survive, and two, John and Joseph, are in Alsace, France. John T., onr subject, came to the United States in 1872, and first lived seven months in New York city, and in March, 1873, removed to Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, where he worked at the baker's trade nine years. In July, 1887, he came to Thorp, where he has since remained.
Mr. Hertel was married September 8, 1873, to Louise Hartel, a danghter of John D., of
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CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
Sheboygan County. They have eight chil- dren: Lonise, Emil, Annie, Lena, Josephine, Frank, Maggie and Katie. The mother died November 30, 1889. Religiously Mr. Hertel is a Catholic.
EORGE E. MCEWEN, Superintentend of Spaulding's mill, lumberyard and store, on section 33, Hixton Township, Clark County, was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Marchi 8, 1865, the son of John A. (deceased) and Rebecca (Bacon) McEwen, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was for many years proprietor of a saw-mill in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; the mother still lives in the latter city. The parents had eight children, six now living: Daniel H., a member of the firm of Glass & McEwen, of Minneapolis; Setli C., superin- tendent of a lumber yard in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Henry A., a lumberinan of tlie same place; Lncius, superintendent of 250 inen in a lumber camp of Gull River, Min- nesota; George E., onr subject, and William A., engaged in running logs at Sparrow's Point, Maryland, on Chesapeake Bay.
The subject of this sketcli was reared and educated in the city schools and also in the Williamsport Commercial College, under Pro- fessor F. E. Wood. He worked in the saw- mill there for some time, and tlien, in 1885, went to North Landing, Virginia, where he superintended the saw-mill and lumberyard of Reeves, Oatman & Co., of New York city' for about eight months. The climate there not permitting him to remain, he resigned his position and returned home, but in All- gust, 1886, canie to this connty, and worked at the carpenter's trade a week at Unity. Next he ran a saw-ınill at Butternut, Aslı- land County, on Butternut Creek, for H. L.
Bessie, after which he went into the pineries and scaled logs for the firm of Bessie & Ce- inenger, on the North Fork of Flambeau River, and next in the pine lands of Chip- pewa for the Logging & Boom Company. Mr. McEwen came to his present place in May, 1887, where he has since had charge of the large business of D. J. Spaulding, which consisted of one large steam saw-mill, a planing-mill, lumberyard and store. They ship the lumber mostly to points in Iowa, also to Mexico and Arizona.
He was married December 24, 1888, to Etta Darling, who was born in Nelsonville, Portage County, Wisconsin, April 6, 1869, the daughter of F. H. Darling, of Unity, Marathon County, Wisconsin. Socially Mr. McEwen is a member of the Modern Wood- men; religiously he is a Presbyterian.
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YLVESTER COLLINS, of section 36, Thorp Township, Clark County, was born in the district of Gaspy, Lower Canada, January 25, 1843, the son of James and Jane (Sweney) Collins, botlı na- tives of Canada. The parents liad eleven children, six of whom are still living, viz .: James, Ambrose, Francis, Charles, Philip and Sylvester. All live in Canada except Charles and Sylvester. The latter was engaged in farming and fishing in Canada until in Oc- tober, 1868, when he came to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he first worked in the logging camps, continuing for fourteen years. He then came to Thorp Township in the spring of 1878, where he lived in a camp five miles west of Thorp for five and a half years. In the fall of 1883 he came to hiis present farm, where he first lived in an old slianty formerly used by parties when building the turnpike. Previous to, this, however, lie
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BIOGRAPIIICAL HISTORY OF
rafted lumber on the Chippewa River for the Northwestern Lumber Company, and also watched the camps. During this time, or previous to moving to Thorp, he returned to Canada, and remained one and a half years. He now owns eiglity acres of good land, twenty-seven of which he has since cleared.
Mr. Collins was married, May 10, 1873, to Ada Gardner, who was born in Marquette County, Wisconsin, September 23, 1852, the daughter of John Gardner, deceased. She was the youngest of fourteen children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Sarah, Elizabeth, Ambrose, Eliza, Jeffery, Ephraim and Ada. Both the father and mother were natives of Wayne County, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Collins had four children, three now living: Miami E. (commonly called Amy), Katie E. and S. Berton. The eldest daughter is a teacher in district No. 3, Thorp Township. In his political views Mr. Col- lins is a Republican.
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HOMAS K. THOMPSON, proprietor of a saloon in Withee, Clark County, was born in Northern Norway, No- vember 19, 1841, the son of Austin Thomp- son, deceased. Thomas came to the United States in 1866, and first lived at Lock Rose, Wisconsin. He has worked in the pineries nearly all his life, in both the old country and this State. He came to Withee in 1883, where for three or four years he was foreman in different camps, and for about thirteen years worked for C. C. Washburn, the noted millionaire and lumberman. He began his present business in 1883, and now keeps all kinds of imported and native wines and liq- nors, but never sells to an intoxicated man. If a man becomes drunk he takes him into his house, feeds him, and takes care of him
until he becomes sober. He is a jolly old bachelor, and is a member of the Wisconsin Anti-Prohibition Association.
USTAV POPPE (commonly called John), of section 20, Hixton Township, Clark County, was born near Frankfort- on-the-Oder, August 31, 1856, the son of Ernest R. Poppe, whose biography appears in this work. The latter brought his family to Canada in 1858, settling in the county of Perth, and in 1872 came to Sheboygan Coun- ty, Wisconsin, and the same fall settled on the old homestead on the northwest quarter of section 20, Hixton Township, where he still lives. Our subject has been engaged in lumbering, farmiug and also in driving logs. He was married, October 8, 1879, to Au- gusta Kotzer, a daughter of William Kotzer, of this township. They have had five chil- dren, four now living: Louise, Lora, Edward and George. In 1879 Mr. Poppe settled on his present farm of 113 acres, thirty of which he has since cleared. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.
UGUST J. HANSMANN, of section 28, Withee Township, Clark County, was born in Manitowoc Connty, Wis- consin, December 1, 1857, the son of Chris- tian Hansmann, a native of Germany, born December 24, 1824. He came to the United States when thirty-seven years of age, and now resides in Manitowoc County. The parents had ten children, viz .: William August, John, Fred, Christian, Mary, Annie, Minnie, Emma and Ida.
August J. was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the common and parochial schools.
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CLARK AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
He came to this county in the fall of 1882, where he worked at the carpenter's trade in Thorp until January 24, 1888, when he came to his present farm of 120 acres, twenty-six of which is cleared. He still works at his trade during the suminers, engaged in logging in the winters, and clears land in the spring. He was married, Jannary 12, 1888, to Minnie Thiel, daughter of William Thiel, of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. They had one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Hans- mann has been School Clerk one term, and is now serving as School Director. Both he and his wife were brought up in the religious belief of the Evangelical Church.
ERMAN THIEL, of section 16, Withee Township, Clark County, was born in the Province of Pomerania, Prussia, February 3, 1855, the son of William Thiel, a native of the same province. The latter bronglit his family to the United States in the spring of 1871, settling in the woods in Manitowoc County, where they still reside. The parents had five children: Herman, Albertine, now Mrs. Reseberg, of this town- ship; William; Minnie, who married August J. Hansmann; and Lonisa, who lives with her parents.
Herman Thiel, our subject, was reared on a farm in his native country, and since com- ing to the United States has learned to read and write the English language by his own efforts. Before marriage he worked five or six years in the pineries of Menominee County, Michigan. He came to this county in March, 1880, and settled on his present farm of 120 acres, forty-five of which he has since cleared. He has held the office of Town Supervisor two years, and has been School Director ever since coming to this connty.
Mr. Thiel was united in marriage in Mani- towoc County, Wisconsin, February 29, 1880, to Albertine Roesler, a native of Prussia, born December 12, 1860, the daughter of Charles Roesler, deceased. They have four children, namely: Ida, Agnes, Louise and Amanda.
REN HANK has been a resident of Clark County for many years. He lives on a farm of 166 acres, located on sec- tion 1, Lewis Township, which, from a wil- derness he lias developed into its present productive state.
Mr. Hank was born in Vermont, Novem- ber 27, 1837, son of Oren and Susannah Hank. He received a fair education in his native State, and at the age of nineteen began to work out for himself. At first he received $13 per month, and after he came to Wiscon- sin and was employed in the woods he earned $50 a month. Of their family of seven chil- dren who came to Clark County, Wisconsin, all are still living. The subject of our sketch was married in this State, Jannary, 5, 18-, to Ruth Clark. At the time of his marriage he had but little means and began life in an humble way. Prosperity, however, has at- tended his labors, and he is now in a position to enjoy the comforts of life. He is a Re- publican, and one of Clark County's best citizens.
LBURTIS NEFF was born in New York, March 17, 1821, son of Irwin and Polly Neff, natives of that State. When he reached his majority he began the struggle for life, working ont by the day and month, receiving small wages for his
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
labor. Mr. Neff has been twice married. By luis first wife, nee Mary Babcock, lie had four children, three of whom are now living. He came to Clark County, Wisconsin, in 1867, and in that year, on the 27th of May, he wed- ded Isabel Short, a native of New York. Her ancestors came from Scotland.
Like inany of the early settlers of Wiscon- sin, Mr. Neff spent a number of years in the logging business. He has been a hard work- ing inan all his life, and is now the owner of a nice little farm, located five miles from Neillsville, on section 1, Lewis Township. He affiliates with the Republican party.
J. GREEN, an enterprising fariner of Clark County, and the son of a Wis- consin pioneer, lives on a farm on sec- 12, Lewis Township. He was born in Rich- land County, Wisconsin, near Janesville, July 11, 1846. His parents, H. H. and Abigail Green, were among the early settlers of that part of the State. None, perhaps, of the first settlers were better or more favorably known than was H. H. Green. At an early day he located near Janesville, where he engaged in the hotel business, and, among thie travelers throughout Wisconsin, was known as a kind and accommodating landlord. He snbse- quently removed to La Crosse County and bought 160 acres of land, upon which he took up his abode, and where he died in 1878.
In 1858 the subject of our sketch made a short visit to the State of California, return- ing in the same year to Wisconsin. Novem- ber 7, 1870, he was united in marriage with Margaret Allen. They have an interesting family of two children, who are being liber- ally educated. At this writing one of them is attending college at La Crosse. Since his marriage Mr. Green has been engaged in
farming and in the lumber business. He also, for a short time, kept a livery stable in Minnesota. 'In 1882 he came to Clark County and settled in Neillsvile, where he worked in a saw-mill. His attention is now given to agricultural pursuits, and he resides on his farm of 160 acres, forty of which are im- proved.
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OLOMON FORDGER JOSEPH, one of the prominent business inen of Neillsville, Wisconsin, was born in Cat- taraugus County, New York, July 23, 1848. His father died in Genesee County, that State, in 1876. Solomon was the second of a family of three children. He began to work on a farın when he was eight years old and worked for his board and clothes until he was sixteen. His education was obtained in the common schools of Wisconsin. When he was twelve years old his mother hired him ont to a farmer in Columbia County, Wis- consin, with the understanding that he was to have three months' schooling in the win- ter. The farmer did not come up to the terms of his agreement and refused to let the boy attend school. From being imposed upon and kept away from school, young Joseph became indignant, and, as another man had offered to hire him and give him six months' schooling during the winter, he decided to run away. This, however, was not such an easy matter, as the sequel proved. He care- fully packed his clothes, let them down with a rope from the second story window, crept down stairs in his stocking-feet, secured his bundle and started for the home of the gentle- inan who had made him such a liberal offer. Ere he reached his destination he was over- taken by his employer and was compelled to return with him and remain until his time
Aida andrews
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had expired, which was one year. It is scarcely needless to say that he is in favor of the Bennett law.
When he was eighteen years old Mr. Joseph entered railroad employ, working at teleg- raphy in Columbia County. In 1866 he engaged in a general store in Rio, same county. By the time he was twenty-one lie had saved up $350. About this time he was seized with a desire to go further West and found his way to Lake Benton, Minnesota. He subsequently returned to Wisconsin and settled at Poynette, where for six months he worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1868 he learned the harness trade there, and in 1872 he came to Neillsville and engaged in the harness business.
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