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 40
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 40
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Judge Perry was united in marriage to Miss Mary Quackenbush, a daughter of John Quackenbush; her father died in the town of Manchester in March, 1882, and the mother is still residing there. Mrs. Perry was born in Black River Falls in 1857. She and the Judge have had born to thein five children: Charles S., Howard E., Archie L., Austin J., and Ella F.
B T. FRENCH, late of Clark Connty, Wisconsin, was one of the prominent and influential men of his time. He was born in Pennsylvania, August 10, 1831, and came to Wisconsin at an early day, where, up to the time of his death, he was identified with the leading citizens. He was the first
Treasurer of Clark County and held the office two years. He read law in this county with one of the leading attorneys, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1849. He was subse- quently elected District Attorney, which office he held for a number of years. He was a member of the City Council of Neills- ville for eight years. Mr. French obtained his early education in Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of a medical college, but as that profession was not congenial to liis tastes he abandoned it for the law. His death oc- curred February 11, 1887. He left to his family a large tract of land in section 23, Pine Valley Township. This property is the result of his industry and his judicions management. His widow, Elizabeth R. French, lives on the farm with her son, Edwin. She is also a native of Pennsylvania, born September 4, 1835. She received a thorough education, as also have her children. By all who know lier she is regarded as a most estimable woman. Her other children are Nettie, Elsey, Viola and Dimple, all be- ing married except Edwin.
RANK FARNING, son of John and Ann Farning, was born in Clark County, Wisconsin, in 1862. His father, a na- tive of Ireland, came to Wisconsin somne thirty-five years ago and took up a home- stead claim in Clark County. He continued to make liis home on it until the time of his death, which occurred in 1864. He enlisted in Company I, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, but was only in the service a short time. Receiving injuries, he was taken to a Ten- nessee hospital, where he died. Three of his four children are still living.
The land which Mr. Farning left to his family consists of 160 acres, and is located on
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section 6, Grant Township, four miles from Neillsville. On this place Frank resides with his mother, and is engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. He is a Democrat and takes an active interest in political matters. For several years he has acted as Deputy Sheriff of the county. The mother is now sixty- three years old. She came to this State with her husband and shared with him the many hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. She is much respected, and has a large circle of friends in the community where she resides.
OHN I. BROWN, a well-known citizen and one of the oldest settlers of Clark County, Wisconsin, was born in Germany, March 1, 1802. He landed in America on May 12, 1846, and took up his abode near Milwaukee. There he found employment, at which he made three shillings per day. For seven years he worked near Milwaukee and during that time cleared a large amount of land, his only capital being an ax and grub- bing hoe combined with his strong and willing muscle. His first investment here was in a pair of steers, which he purchased from one of his countrymen. The sum to be paid for them was $16.50, but as he did not have the money his German friend gave him time and did not even take a note. When the time agreed upon for payment arrived Mr. Brown inet the inan in Milwaukee and told him he was ready to pay off the $16.50, to which his friend replied that he must buy a quart of beer first. This, of course, he readily did. Thins confidence was established in him by his neighbors in the community where he lived, and it was never lost.
Mr. Brown came to Clark County in 1850 and bought eiglity acres of land, which by
hard work he cleared up. His wife has shared with him the many hardships incident to pioneer life. Like many other faithful German wives, slie helped him in out-door work and she also spun and wove all the clothes that her family wore. When Mr. Brown arrived in this country he was accom- panied by his wife and one child. Other children have been born to them, and their family now consists of five sons and one daughter, namely: Jacob, Jr., Henry, Flem- ming, Joseph, Peter and Kate. Mr. Brown added to his first purchase until he now has enough land to give each of his children forty acres. His property is located in Grant Township, sections 16 and 17.
HOMAS B. MILLS, of Millston, Wis- consin, was born in the town of Man- chester, Jackson County, this State, October 12, 1857; attended district school until sixteen years of age, then learned teleg- raphy and was in the railway service until he reached his majority. He then took the scientific course at Colonel McMynn's Acad- emy in Racine, Wisconsin, graduating in June, 1881. He has been chosen to many offices of trust and responsibility, having been chairman of the Town Board of Super- visors since 1882, chairman of the County Board of Supervisors for four years, repre- sented Jackson County in the Wisconsin As- sembly six years (1885 to 1890 inclusive), and having been for four years Speaker of the Assembly: was the youngest man that ever filled this responsible position.
Mr. Mills is engaged in lumbering at Millston, and banking and milling at Black River Falls, Wisconsin, being the president of the Jackson County Bank and a director of the Jackson County Milling Company.
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He is also extensively engaged in the real- estate and loan business at West Superior, Wisconsin, the firm being T. B. & J. H. Mills.
Mr. Mills is a member of the I. O. O. F., of the K. P., and the B. P. O. E., No. 46, Milwaukee; is a S. P. R. S., Wisconsin Con- sistory; Illustrious Noble of Tripoli Temple, Milwaukee. He is also a member of the Su- perior Club, the Superior Boat Cinb, and the Superior Chamber of Commerce.
He is a typical western hustler, who at thirty-three stands in the front rank of the energetic, pushing men who have made a great empire of the Northwest and dotted it with imperial cities.
OHN STEINFELDT, residing on section 34, York Township, is one of the many German citizens who have largely as- sisted in the development of the resources of this country. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, March 24, 1844, and is a son of John and Minnie (Schultz) Steinfeldt, natives of the same province. The parents emi- grated to America in 1853, and settled in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, where they died at an advanced age. They had five chil- dren born to them, only two of whom lived to maturity: Mary, the wife of William Frendle, and John the subject of this biog- raphy. The latter was nine years of age when he came to America, and passed his youth in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, where he had the advantage of the public schools. He continued a resident of that county until 1883, and then removed to Clark County, and located on the farm where he now lives. He purchased at the time 120 acres, ten of which were cleared; he has now abont fifty acres under cultivation, and in
time will reclaim the whole from the state in which nature left it. The life of the pioneer is not an easy one, and only those who have experienced it can appreciate the privations and hardships to which the carly settlers were subjected. Mr. Steinfeldt began his career without any means, and it is through his own exertions that he has accumulated his property.
Politically he affiliates with the Republi- can party, and has represented the people of his township in many of its offices.
1862 lie enlisted as a member of Company B, Twenty-seventlı Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, and served until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged in September, 1865, at Brownsville, Texas; he participated in Banks' Red River expedition, and in the battles of Little Rock, Jenkins' Ferry, Prai- rie Duane, Vicksburg Spanish Fort and in the siege of Mobile, and several minor skir- mishes, but was never wounded or taken prisoner.
Mr. Steinfeldt was married December 23, 1869, to Miss Margaret Huyek, of Sheboy- gan County, Wisconsin; she was born in Canada, June 17, 1851, and is a daughter of Aaron and Margaret (DeLong) Huyck, na- tives of the State of New York, and now residents of York, Clark County, Wisconsin.
Mr. and Mrs. Steinfeldt are the parents of one daughter, Mildred, the wife of Jolin Ebbe, further notice of whom will be found in this volume.
HOMAS FITZMAURICE, a farmer of township 24, range 4, section 18, where he has eighty acres, was the eldest son of David and Mary (Nowlin) Fitzmaurice, of County Mayo, Ireland. His brothers and sisters were John, Peter, Mary, Ellen and
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Sarah, none of whom came to America. Their mother had three brothers and no sisters. Mr. Fitzmaurice's maternal grandparents were natives of County Roscommon, Ireland. The ancestry on both sides is traceable through a long series of generations.
Mr. Fitzmaurice was born December 22, 1828, and at the age of twenty-two years he came to America, landing at New York, in June, 1850, and remained in the State of New York till the autumn of 1854, when he came to Dane County, Wisconsin, and pur- chased forty acres of land and settled upon it. In 1856 he sold out there and came to Jack- son County, locating in the township of Alına, now called the town of Cleveland. Three years later he again sold out and purchased his present hoine. When he first came here he had been preceded by only Messrs. Horrel, Notteter, Flick, Bever, Gilliland and Wilson, with their families. During the first winter he had to go many miles for flour and gro- ceries, and carry his purchases on his back. The grist-mill and trading post were seven- teen and twenty-two miles away. During tlie first year he raised nothing but a few beans, potatoes and ruta-bagas. Neither doctors, lawyers nor preachers were here in those days. Previous to 1860 Mr. Fitzmaurice was a inember of the Town Board and Assessor. The first postoffice to which his mail was brought was eighteen miles away, and the few neighbors took turns in going for the mail, with the understanding that it was to be left at some certain place convenient for all.
March 27, 1853, Mr. Fitzmaurice married Miss Wealthy Snow, at Forestville, Chautau- qua County, New York. Her father, Samuel Snow, had lived in that vicinity from boy- hood, his parents being from Madison Coun- ty, that State. Mr. Fitzmaurice had three brothers and one sister: Levi, Ezra, Mar-
cius and Rhoda. By her father's second mar- riage there were Mary, Hester, Alınira, Lewis Abigail. Three of these came West: Mar- cius, Mary (since deceased) and Abigail. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzmaurice have had four children, as follows: David, born June 26, 1854; Mary, Angust 16, 1858; Ellen, September 12, 1863; and Hester August 31, 1966. All these are inarried. Mary lost her husband and returned to her old home to remain with her parents; David was married, November 23, 1879, to Mary Pierce; Jnne 27, 1879, Mary married Alfred Markham, now deceased; September 12, 1881. Ellen was married to Clark Mark- ham; and May 13, 1888, Hester was married. They all reside in this State.
ILLIAM AMASA THOMAS, one of the most important and influential citizens of Melrose Township, was born July 11, 1832, in Cambridge, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, a son of William and Eliza (Burt) Thomas, both natives of Massa- chnsetts. The father was born in 1799 and died in 1840; and the mother, born in 1809, is now spending the evening of her life with her daughter, the wife of Hon. John Stewart in Elburn, Kane County, Illinois, and for one of her age is comparatively hale and active.
Mr. Thomas, our subject, losing his father when young, had early in life the re- sponsibilities of bread-winning thrown upon him. At the age of thirteen he began work- ing for a neighboring farmer, receiving for his services $3 a month. He continued working by the month until seventeen years of age, when he was apprenticed to a shoe- maker in Meadville, Pennsylvania, for three years. At the end of this time he started out in the world for himself, first striking Waterford, Pennsylvania, where he worked
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at his trade until the fall of 1851. Then he went to St. Charles, Kane County, Illinois, where he did journeyman's work till the spring of 1852. He then decided to come to Wisconsin and engage in farming, locating in Poynett, Columbia County, on rented land, which he tilled for two years. In the sumn- mer of 1855 he came to Jackson County and entered land, where he remained five years with his two brothers, Dwight and Henry, keeping bachelor's hall.
He married, May, 1861, Miss Achsa L. Van- ness. Three children were born by this union, of whom two died in infancy unnamed. The third, Charlie, died at the age of fifteen montlis.
Mr. Thomas lived on lıis farin one summer after his marriage, then went to West Salem, La Crosse County, where he engaged in boot and shoe making. His wife's health not be- ing good, he concluded that a change of cli- mate would be beneficial; and, selling his property in Wisconsin, he went to Osage, Iowa, where he bought a farm of eighty acres and also some city property. He en- gaged in the boot and shoe business and at the saine time had his farm under cultivation. In the winter of 1865 his wife died, leaving him little Charlie, three months of age. Shortly afterward he sold his stock of goods and rented his property and returned to Wis- consin. In 1866 he bought the village of North Bend and its water power, situated on Black River. He began improving the place and utilizing the water power. Among other improvements he built a flouring mill. He induced others to settle there, selling them lots on which to build. Through his energy and pushı North Bend has grown to be one of the prosperous villages of Jackson County. Two churches have been built. The Methodist Church was built through his push and influence, he materially assisting
by contributing $600 ont of his own pocket. The bridge crossing Black River at North Bend was built by his efforts, and but for lim would probably never have been built. His flouring mill he has enlarged and fur- nished with all the improved machinery for manufacturing flour. He was engaged for seven years in mercantile business, but ten years ago he discontinued it and rented his store-house. He owns, in addition to his inill, a store-house, three dwellings, a good inany vacant lots which he will sell only on condition that they be improved. In addi- tion to this property he owns 320 acres of land, making one of the best stock farms in Jackson Connty.
In 1870 he married Ella U. Morrison, of La Crosse County, daughter of James and Mary Morrison, natives of Nova Scotia. They have had six children, namely : Charles A., Melvin, deceased, Ettie, deceased, James, Burtie, deceased, and Emnına.
Mr. Thomas, while taking an active in- terest in political questions, lias never aspired to office, and lias frequently refused to be' a candidate for any office. He works in no party yoke, is whipped by no party lash, and confessess no political creed, but honestly ex- ercises liis franchise in the interest of pure men and good government. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, in which they are active workers and liberal contributors to charities. Their walk in life is exemplary.
OBERT W. SPARKS, a fariner of sec- tion 24, township 23, range 1 east (Sher- wood Forest), was born February 28, 1859, in Sullivan County, New York, the youngest son in a family of eight children, three daughters and five sons. Their names
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were: Thomas, James and John (twins), Jesse P., Robert W., Elizabeth, Emily and Hannah. All these are married excepting Jesse and James, and are all settled in the town of Sherwood Forest excepting Emily, who was married in New York State and never emigrated West, and is now deceascd. Seven members of the family reside liere. Mr. Sparks' father, born July 25. 1818, was originally from Schioharie County, New York, and removed with his family to Washara County, Wisconsin, in 1869. Seven years later he came to Clark County, where he is still living. He had one brother and seven sisters. His mother, whose maiden name was Silvia Calkins, was born in 1813, of par- ents originally from Connecticut, who located in Sullivan County when that region was new, and died in 1871. The grandfather Sparks came to this State in the '50s, locating in Plainfield, Washara County. The grand- father Calkins was born in Connecticut, but lived and died in New York State, over eighty years of age. The great-grandfather, James Sparks, served in the war of the Revo- lution and finally died of cancer. While he was in the war his wife was left at home and was forced to secrete herself at night to avoid the Tories and Indians. The uncle of the subject of this sketch, named also Robert Sparks, enlisted in the late war, in 1861, and served to the end; was in the battle of Mur- freesboro and several others. At one time he was reported dead, but he is still living, in Portage County, this State.
Mr. Robert W. Sparks, our subject, was married October 3, 1883, to Miss Julia E. Messing, who was a daughter of George and Marian Messing, of Portage Connty. In their family were two sons and eight daugh- ters, all of whom live in this State,-five in Clark County. Her father's parents were na- tives of Germany. The grandfather was forty-
one years of age when he camne to this country, and he and two of his sons died of cholera just as they were landing at New York. Mrs. Sparks' maternal grandfather was Irish, and her maternal grandmother was a Connectiont Yankee. Her mother's father's name was Eager, and her mother's mother's name was Chandler. The children of Mr. Sparks are: Laura Grace, born September 22, 1884; Myra Viola, March 30, 1886; Edna May, May 27, 1887; Bessie Naomi, October 24, 1888, and Cyrus Clyde, April 8, 1890.
NDREW N. VIRCH, a general mer- chant and dealer in hay and produce at Curtis, was born at Lillethum haa Vos- sestranden Bergen Stift, Norway, July 14, 1845, the son of Börjonel Nelson (deceased), a native of the same place, who lost his life while off trading. Our subject came to the United States on June 7, 1854, and lived in Chicago one year, and in 1855 moved to Detroit, where his mother married Peter An- derson, a master mechanic of the Michigan Central Railroad. In March, 1857, they re- turned to Chicago, where the mother died, in June of the same year. September 23, 1858, Mr. Virch went again to Detroit to live with his aunts, where he attended the Bishop Union School two or three years. He next enlisted in the late war. August 15, 1862, in Com- pany E, Twenty- fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, serving three years, being dis- charged June 30, 1865, and acted as Division Commissary Sergeant by appointment. After the war, in 1867-'68, he went to school' for one season, and then to Chicago and worked at the carpenter's trade until 1870, when he came to Dane County, Wisconsin, and re- mained until September 29, 1872. In that year he came to the town of Beaver, now
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
Mayville, settling on the northwest quarter of section 14, township 29, range 1 east, and hon.esteaded 160 acres (a soldier's right) where he lived until 1882. He next came to Curtis and established the first store and postoffice in the place. When he first came here deer, bear and Indians were plentiful but never gave him any trouble. He began business with $250 in money, and now car- ries a stock of $2,000, his annual sales be- ing $6,000.
Mr. Virch was married in Dane County, Wisconsin, February 15, 1873, to Betsy Nel- son Kjerie, daughter of Knut Kjerie, de- ceased. They have had three children, two of whom are still living: Ledia and Anne. The mother died June 30, 1880, and Mr. Virch was again married, August 15, 1883, to Lena Fleasram, daughter of Andrew Fleas- ram, deceased. They have four children: Lottie, Emma, Niron and Theresa. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and the former is also a member of the G. A. R. IIe has been School Clerk for the past eight years, and also eight years Notary Public, and Justice of the Peace six- teen years.
OHN A. MCCARTY, of Hixton, Clark County, was born in Luzern County, Pennsylvania, December 18, 1847, the son of Dominick McCarty, formerly of this place, and a native also of Ireland, near Loch Erin, born May 12, 1798. He was taken to London, England, when a small boy, where he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, whichi business he followed several years. He came to Prince Edward's Island when a young · man, and was there married to Matilda Mc- Laren, a native of that place. He worked at
his trade there several years, and then came to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, about the year 1838. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are still living, viz .: Catharine, Elizabeth, John, William, Maggie and Mary E. The . eldest child, Margaret, died at the age of sixteen years; Charles II. died in 1882, at the age of forty-seven years; James, in 1876, at the age of thirty-eight years.
Mr. McCarty's parents came to La Crosse County, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1857, settling on a farın, where he attended the common schools. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company C, Forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving one year. After the war lie went to Melrose, Jackson County, where he farmed two years, and in the fall of 1867 came to this county. He worked in the pineries during the winters, and on the farm for W. H. Mead in the summer until 1872, when he settled on his present farm of 200 acres. He has run logging camps several years for others, and also for himself several winters. Mr. McCarty was the first Post- master at Longwood, having been first ap- pointed in January, 1874, by U. S. Grant, which office he held until 1876, when he re- signed. He was also the first Town Clerk of Hixton, and held the office from 1875 to 1886; was Assessor two years; Chairman of the Town Board one year; Constable one year; Justice of the Peace three years; Clerk of School Board six years; School Director three years, and is now serving his fourth year as School Treasurer, and has also filled the office of Town Treasurer by appointment one year.
Mr. McCarty was married January 1, 1872, to Jeanette Smith, daughter of Christopher Smith, and they have three children,-Almnon H., Haskell and Dora E. Mr. McCarty is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Greenwood, and
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also the G. A. R. Post. His wife is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
OSEA WHISTON DAVIS, a farmer of section 17, township 25, range 1 cast, was born July 4, 1837, at Stockholm, St. Lawrence County, New York, the fourth son of Daniel R. Davis, who had five daugh- ters and eight sons, all born in New York State. The father was born in Shoreham, Vermont, and was one of the early settlers of eastern, or the Champlain region of New York. He had one brother and one sister. The brother, Amos, settled in the town of Moriah, Essex County, New York, and reared five children. The sister, Abigail, married John Noble McArthur, of Scotch descent. The grandfather was of the second generation from the immigration of the family from Wales to this country. Daniel R. Davis married Miss Maria Glidden, one of a family of one son and five daughters. Her ancestry can be traced back to the French on her mother's side, to one Joseph Whiston, and to the Irish on her father's side. The mother is still alive and in vigorous health for a woman of her age,-eighty-four years. The father died April 9, 1867, at the age of seventy years, at the old homestead in Stockholın, New York, which place has since passed into the hands of strangers. Abigail McGowen, a grandmother of the subject of this sketch, was of Scotch origin but of a line who had been long in this country.
Mr. Davis, whose name introduces this sketch, married Miss Nancy Bowman, of Lisbon, St. Lawrence Connty, April 13, 1863. She was the youngest of eight children (four sons and four daughters) of James Bowman. William, Joseph and Susan Bowman, two brothers and a sister, were born in Ireland,
while James, Thomas, Eliza and Mary were American born. About 1816 the parents came to this country, locating in St. Lawrence County, New York. Mrs. Davis' mother, by birth Katherine McO'Vene, was of an Irish family. She, with two other members of the family were all that ever decided to remain in this conntry. After a residence of twelve years in the East, Mr. Davis moved to this State, and lived a year in Grant Township and a year in York Township, Clark County. Soon after his arrival in this State he pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 17, in township 25, range 1 east, and made it a permanent home. The land was seenred from the Fox River Improvement Company, and he proceeded to make for himself a pleasant home.
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