History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 106

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298

USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 106
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 106

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).

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Margaret McAuley, to Indiana, living near Indi- anapolis for nearly four years. In 1835 he moved to Iowa (now Grant) county, in what is now Wisconsin, but which then belonged to Michigan Territory. Ile entered that year 240. acres of land near the site of the village of Lan- caster. In 1836 he worked a farm for A. T. Boyce, which farm included the present site of Lancaster, where, the following winter, the county seat was located. The three following years Mr. McAuley resided with his parents on the land which he had entered upon coming to Grant county, after which he sold out and re- turned to Indiana. Returning soon after to Wisconsin, he purchased again his old farm in Grant county, resided there until 1854, when, as before stated, he came to Crawford county. Ile entered several hundred acres of land in this county, at the same time purchasing of William T. Sterling forty acres of land on which to build a home. His father died in Grant county, his mother in Crawford county. Mr. McAuley married Jane Megee, a native of Kentucky. They have had thirteen children, seven of whom are living-Rhoda A., wife of George Shoup; Margaret E., wife of Col. C. M. Butt, of Viroqua; Martha, widow of Henry Me- Dongal; Sarah, wife of John A. Haggerty, of Mt. Sterling; Rosalia R., wife of Thomas W. Tower, an early settler of this town, but now a resident of Bremer Co , Iowa; John and Auley. Mr. McAnley is one of the most prominent and successful farmers and stock-raisers in the county. He gives much attention to the im- provement of cattle by the introduction of thoroughbred stock. He now owns about 700 acres of land. Mr. McAuley has given con- siderable attention to surveying, being a prac- tical surveyor. One son, William, died Dec. 26, 1883, aged twenty-eight years.

II. A. Sherwood was born July 5, 1834, in Saratoga Co., N. Y. He came to Crawford county with his father, Isaac Sherwood, in 1854. In 1855 he entered 200 acres on section 26, town 10, range 5 west, where he now owns a

farm of 340 acres. The fall of the same year, 1855, Mr. Sherwood began to make improve- ments, breaking seven acres and beginning the erection of a house, which was completed the next spring. He continued to occupy this house until 1875, when he erected his present residence. It is one of the finest farm residences in the county, costing $2,500. Mr. Sherwood married Lydia C., daughter of Rev. Henry Maynard, an early settler of Columbia Co., Wis., now a resident of Lodi. Mrs. Sherwood was born at Bloomington, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood have had six children, four of whom are living-Isaac H., Orrin A., Edgar E. and Herbert L.

Aaron C. B. Vaughan, postmaster at Mt. Sterling, settled in Crawford Co., Wis., in 1834, locating on Copper creek, in what is now Freeman town. Hle resided there on a farm three years, then came to Mt. Sterling, and en- gaged in the boot and shoe business, in which he continued, except during his absenee in the army, until 1879, at which time he was ap- pointed postmaster. Mr. Vaughan was born in 1821, in Clinton Co., N. Y. He moved from New York to Rock Co., Wis., from there to Iowa, and from Iowa to Copper creek, now in the town of Freeman. He married Catharine Johnson, a native of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan have two children living- Daniel and Content. Mr. Vaughn enlisted in 1862, in the 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He took part in the siege of Atlanta, was with Gen. Sherman on his march to the sea, and partici- pated in the battles of Averysburg and Benton- ville. His « on, Anselm E., accompanied his father into the army, being a member of the same company. He died in the hospital at Columbus, Ky. He was a young man highly respected for his upright and generons charac- ter, paying strict attention to his duties as a soldier, and a friend to soldiers and his coun- try. Ile was married a few days before enlist- ment to Cornelia Brockway, au estimable young

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

lady, who was left to mourn the loss of a true and faithful husband.

Peter N. Peterson was born in Norway in 1842. His father, Nels Peterson, was the oldest Norwegian settler in Utica town, having come to this town in 1855. He is still living on sec- tion 22, town 11, range 4 west. Mr. Peterson enlisted Oct. 2, 1861, in the 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving till August, 1865. Ile was in active service all the time, participat- ing in all the campaigns and battles in which his regiment was engaged. Ilis first location of land was on section 22, town 11, range 4 west. In 1873 he located on section 33, in the same town and range, where he still lives. Mr. Pet- erson is now serving his fourth term as chair- man of the town board, and is at present chair- man of the county board of supervisors. Mrs. Peterson is also a native of Norway. They have seven children, three sons and four daughters.

Edwin Thomson is a native of Sussex, Eng- land, born July 6, 1830. He came to the United States with his father in 1842, and settled in Madison Co., N. Y. In June 1845, the family settled in Columbus, Columbia Co., Wis., locat- ing on land which the father continued to occupy until his death in 1880. In 1854 Edwin Thom- son entered land on section 25, town 10 north, of range 5 west, where he still resides. He was married Jan. 13, 1852, to Alma A. Folsom, a native of Vermont. In June, 1855, with his family and his wife's father and mother, Henry S. Bennett and Cyrus C. Bennett and their fam- ilies, he removed to Utica town and made a per- manent settlement near Mt Sterling. Ile enlisted on the 9th of August, 1862, in company A, 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, for three years; joined the 20th army corps at Marietta, Ga .; was at the siege of Atlanta, and accompanied the corps on that famous march to the sea. He participate 1 in several serious engagements, was wounded at the battle of Benton Hill, March 19, 1865, and was discharged on the 27th day of September 1865, at Madison, Wis. Some two

years after his return from the war, his wife died. Ile then married Mrs. Catharine Bennett, the widowed wife of II. S. Bennett, who enlisted in November, 1864, in company D, 18th Wiseonsin Volunteer Infantry, and died at Jeffersonville, Ind., July 14, 1865, aged thirty-five years. She was a native of Ireland. Her parents died in her native country, and she came with the other children of the family to the United States in 1847. In the spring of 1854 she mar- ried H. S. Bennett, and they removed, with three other families, to Crawford Co., Wis. Mrs. Thomson had three children by her first husband.

Thomas Adams was born in county Armagh, in the north of Ireland, in 1820. His parents were respectively of Scotch and English descent. Ile came to the United States in 1851, residing for a time in New Hampshire. He went from there to Vermont, but returned to New Hamp- shire in a short time, where he purchased some land. In 1856 Mr. Adams came to Crawford Co, Wis. In 1866 he settled on section 14, town 10, range 5 west, where he now resides, Mr. Adams is a thoroughly practical farmer, and has one of the best farms in the town. It contains 240 acres, 121 of which he purchased of Joseph E. McCrillis, and fifty-one of Joseph R. MeCrillis, son of Joseph E. The remainder he purchased of various parties. But a small portion of his land had been improved when he came here. He now has a fine residence, built in 1881, also a good barn and an excellent well. His well is 245 feet deep, producing an abun- dant supply of excellent water. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising.

Oliver A. Caswell is a native of Connecticut, born in 1826. When five years of age he re- moved with his father, Oliver A. Caswell, Sr., to Ohio. Ile was there reared to agricultural pursuits, and when a young man learned the carpenter trade. He married Sophronia Thomp- son, born in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell have three children, one son and two daughters-E. A., Emerette E., wife of Ambrose Miller; Es-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

tella, wife of Rev. L. N. Wooley, now pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Viola, Vernon county. Mr Caswell came to Crawford county in December, 1856, settling on his pres- ent farm, located on section 24, town 10, range 5 west. He purchased his farm of Charles B. Thompson. When Mr. Caswell bought it no improvements had been made, the farm con- sisting entirely of oak openings. He formerly had 440 acres of land, but, having given 120 acres to his son, he now has but 320 acres. Mr. Caswell is a democrat in politics. Ile was elect- ed to the House in the Legislative session of 1871, his opponent being George Sweizer. Ile was deputy sheriff of Crawford county for twelve years, his first appointment being in 1859. He has also served as chairman of the town board.

Leonard Hammerly was born Ang. 4, 1827, in Switzerland, where he grew to manhood. In 1855 he came to the United States with his family. His father, Joseph Hammerly, died in Switzerland. In 1856 Mr. Hammer- ly came to this county from Green county, where he had resided a short time. He first located in Seneca town, this county, where he lived until 1864. He has owned a part of his present farm in Utica town since 1856. 1Ie has 154 acres of land and has made all the im- provements himself. Mrs. Hammerly is a na- tive of Switzerland. They have seven chil- dren-Ellen, Fred, Kate, Ann, Joseph, Leonard and Adam, all of whom were born in Crawford county. Mr. Hammerly is a successful farmer and a man well known throughout the county. Ile has been a democrat most of his life, but has latterly favored the principles of the green- back party. . He has held several township offices.

David K. Lester, of Towerville, has been a resident of Crawford county since Oct. 16, 1856. In the spring of 1857, he located on 120 acres of government land, on section 33, town 11, range + west. He improved about eighty acres of that farm, then sold .it to John Olson, who fail-

ed to pay for the same, and the farm reverted to Mr. Lester; he subsequently sold it to Ole Samuelson, and it is now owned by Ole Halver- son. Mr. Lester was one of the early black- smiths at Towerville, having engaged at that trade with Samuel Kirkpatrick, in 1856-7. He engaged in farming till 1864, when he embarked in the mercantile business with Thomas Tower, in which he continued for three years. He was then town clerk for four years; went to Johns- town in 1869 and in company with Charles and David Mullikin engaged in the building of water wheel patterns; returned to Towerville in 1870, and built the store house now occupied by Thomas Helgerson, which he afterward sold to Archibald Scars. Mr. Lester has been twice married. His first wife was Maria M. Peck, a native of Pennsylvania; who died in 1869. In the fall of 1879, he went to Pennsylvania and was there married to Rachel M. Bigelow, who died in August, 1877. On his return from the east in 1873, he purchased the burned site of the woolen factory at Towerville, and erected a temporary building for a carding machine. He built the present factory in 1874, which he ran till 1879, then sold the same to the present owner, George W. Davis. Mr. Lester has four children; two sons and two daughters by first marriage, and a daughter by his second wife. Mr. Lester was born in Pennsylvania in 1811, where he lived till 1856. When a young man he learned the trade of a blacksmith Ilis father, Andrew Lester, was a native of Con- necticut.

Archibald Sears, owner and proprietor of the Mount Sterling House, at Mt. Sterling, has been a resident of Crawford county since 1856, at which time he settled at Towerville. Pre- vious to the war he was engaged in farming. Ile enlisted, Ang. 10, 1861, in the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (Eagle regiment), serving until September, 1865. He participated in all the battles and campaigns in which the gallant Sth was engaged. The record of this regiment shows twenty-four battles, and a distance trav.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

eled of 14,814 miles, over 4,000 of which was traveled on foot. At the close of the war Mr. Sears returned to Towerville. In the fall of 1883 he purchased the Mount Sterling Hotel property, and is now operating this hotel. Ile was born in Wayne Co., Penn., in 1828. Mr. Sears married Mary E. Sherwood, a native of Pennsylvania. They have five children-Irene Jane, Amanda E., Kate P., Genevie E. and Earnest E.

Nelson A. Tallman was born Dec. 14, 1896, in Susquehanna Co., l'enn. His father, Wil- liam Tallman, was also a native of Pennsylva- nia, and there died. Nelson, when ten years of age, accompanied his step-father, H. Borst, to Broome Co., N. Y., and from thence to Michi- gan three years later. Abba Borst, his mother, died when he was but fourteen years of age. lle came from Michigan to the territory of Wisconsin in 1846. He was married June 17, 1849, in Dodge Co., Wis., to Mary A., daughter of Solomon Hartwell, who removed from Sara toga Co., N. Y., in 1844, with his family, and' settled in Waukesha, Co., Wis. Two member of the family, a son and daughter, died within three months after locating there. On July 1. 1856, Mr. Tallman, wife, neice and a nephew of Mrs. Tallman, whom they had taken to raise. came to Crawford county, settling on section 21, town 10 north, of range i west, where he still lives. lle entered forty acres of his farm, and bought forty acres of Thomas W. Tower and William McAuley, making all of the improve- ment himself. Mr. Tallman worked at the car- penter and joiner trade for James (better known as "Uncle Jimmy") Gay, getting his flour and meat of him. Times were very hard, and the nearest market was thirty-two miles distant- Prairie du Chien-flour 85 per ewt., and pork twenty cents per pound. Mrs. Tallman taught the three first terms of school in that place : the first term taught on subscription, getting $8 per month and boarding herself. She took her pay in anything that could be spared, even to sauerkraut or a grindstone. They were so

anxious to have a school district organized, and their children at school, that Mrs. Tallman walked about half a mile with only a foot path through the snow, which was very deep and the weather severely cold, teaching in a vacated log house, with a fireplace of "ye olden time," where the face would be scorched and the back frozen at the same time.

In October, 1856, the first religions service held in the place was conducted by the Rev. John Knibbs, who held regular appointments once in four weeks, at Mr. Tallman's house, the latter and his wife being the only professors of religion in the Gay's Mill valley. On one occasion, Rev. Knibbs, while coming to his ap- pointment, lost his way, and was out five days and four nights without food or drink, result- ing in the loss of one foot.

In 1857 Mr. James Gay put the first bridge across the Kickapoo river, Mr. Tallman doing the work. In 1857 he was elected justice of the peace, and held the office until his resigna- tion, in August 1862, during which time he per- formed several marriage ceremonies, once walk- ing seven miles and received $1 as a marriage fee, seventy-five cents of which he had to pay for recording the same. On Aug. 13 1862, he enlisted in the 31st regiment, Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He was in active service during the en- tire term of his enlistment, being in all the battles and campaigns in which his regiment participated, his health being greatly im- paired by this rough service. Mrs. Tallman lost two brothers in the war-J. D. and Stephen K. Hartwell (the latter dying in a Confederate prison), and the nephew they had taken to live with them, at the age of seventeen, gave his life for his country, having resided with them eleven years. He was buried at Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Tallman having no children of their own, have adopted a daughter-Clara S., and opened their doors for six homeless ones. In 1860 Mrs. Tallman's mother, Clarissa Hart- well, came to live with them, remaining until

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

her death, June 26, 1864, in the seventy-seventh year of her age. Mr. Tallman erected bis pres- ent residence in 1866.

Rev. George M. Wilbur was born at Rising Sun, Ohio Co., Ind., May 1, 1818. He received such education as the common schools of the country afforded, and was reared to the occupa- tion of a farmer. In the fall of 1855 he came to Crawford Co., Wis., entering the farm now owned by E. F. Howe, in Utica town, locating with his family in the spring of 1856. He had forty-five acres of this farm improved when he sold to Mr. Howe in 1864. He afterward loca- ted at Gay's Mill. He was also employed in the woolen mill for several years, at Towerville. In 1876 be settled in Johnstown, this town. Mr. Wilber married Charlotte Buchana, also a native of Ohio Co., Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Wilber have three children-Mary A., Theron R. and Charlotte M. Mr. Wilber was one of the pio- neer preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Crawford county. The first sermon be preached was at the house of William Me- Auley in 1856. He was then a local preacher, traveling and preaching at various points on the circuit. Ile was for several years employed by the presiding elder to supply the places of cirenit preachers who had left their charges. Mr. Wilbur continued to preach quite regularly until coming to Crawford county, when he be- came proprietor of the mill at Johnstown.

Mahlon G. Mitchell was born in Sparta town, Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1833. His father Benjamin Mitchell, died in New York State. Mr. Mitchell is a nephew of John and Mar- joram Mitchell, who were among the first to locate in this town. He settled in 1866 on see- tion 24, town 10, range 5 west, on a farm which had been entered by O. D. Stearns in 1854. His farm contains 160 acres of land, on which Mr. Mitchell has made the most of the improve- ments. Mr. Stearns, however, had made a be- ginning before it passed out of his hands. Mr. Mitchell is an excellent farmer, and his farm is in fine condition. His buildings are among the

best to be found in the town. He married Incy Sampson, a sister of O. D. Stearns. She was born near Cleveland, Ohio Mr. Mitchell is a brother-in-law of M. J. Steffy, of Utica town. They came to Crawford county together in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have two chil- dren-Roscoe S. and Howard P. John P. Mitchell, a brother of Mahlon G., came to this town in 1856. Ile was born in 1831, and is now living at Johnstown, this town. Ilis farm was entered by his uncles-John and Marjoram Mitchell.

J. Steffy, merchant at Gay's Mill, was born in Dansville, Livingston Co., N. Y., in February, 1831, where he grew to manhood. Ilis father, Isaac Steffy, was a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Steffy married Mary Mitchell, Sept. 7, 1857, also a native of Livingston Co., N. Y. He came to Crawford Co., Wis., Dec. 8, 1857, loca- ting on a farm in Clayton town. In 1866 he came to Utica town, purebasing a farm on sec- tion 16, town 10, range 4 west, where he still lives. Ile has been interested in the store at Gay's Mill since February, 1880, at which time it was established under the firm name of Steffy & Co. Since October, 1882, Mr. Steffy has been alone.

George W. Davis, owner of the woolen fac- tory at Towerville, and the clerk of Utica town, is the son of Edward Davis, who came to Tow- erville in 1856, purchasing a half interest in the grist mill of Thomas W . To xer. Ile afterward erected a woolen mill on Tainter creek, at Tow- erville, which was burned down and rebuilt by Mr. Davis. George W. Davis was born in Ohio. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of David K. Lester. They have two children- Olla B. and Goldie. Mr. Davis is serving his fourth term as town clerk.

Ole Halverson is one of the prominent and well known early settlers of Utica town. Ile resides on section 33, town 11, range 4 west, where he settled in 1858. Mr. Halverson is a native of Norway, born Dee. 11, 1822. Ile came to the United States in 1857, and entered

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

government land as his first forty agres. He has been quite successful, and is now one of the largest farmers of Utica town, having 570 aeres of land, 200 of which is improved, all by him- self. Mr. Halverson married Betsy Larson in 1856, also a native of Norway. They have seven children-Lonis O., born Dec. 26, 1856; John O., April 17, 1859; Elena, July 28, 1865; Henry Ellert A., Sept. 17, 1868; Anna Marie, Feb. 22, 1871; Olay, Jan. 6, 1873, and Albert O., Feb. 26, 1876. Mr. Halverson represents the llekla Insurance Company. He is also agent for the American Red Star and Anchor line of steamers.

T. W. Gay, one of the owners and proprie- tors of what is known as Gay's Mill, is the son of .J. M Gay, who came here in 1858 and pur- chased the saw-mill property, then here. In 1865, with George M. Wilber, he erected a grist mill. He died at Prairie du Chien in February, 1877. T. W. Gay was born in Prince- ton, Ill., in 1835. He has resided here since 1859, coming to this county from Iowa. He enlisted in August, 1862, in company A, 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He participated in all the important battles and campaigns in which the 31st regiment was engaged, including the siege of Atlanta and Sherman's march to the sea. Mr. Gay married Priscilla Robb, daughter of Joel Robb. Mr. and Mrs. Gay have three children-Fannie, Cora and Joel. Mr. Gay's brothers-in-law, James A. and Samuel H. Robb, are associated with him in the ownership of the mill and adjacent property, including a fine stoek farm.

Charles R. Rounds was born in Clarksfield, Huron Co., Ohio, but his parents returned to Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., where they had former- ly resided, when Charles was but an infant. He was reared in New York State. In 1859 he removed to Bell Centre, Clayton town, Crawford Co., Wis., and in 1861 located on a farm. His father came to Clayton town in 1870, where he resided until his death, in 1879, Mr. Rounds

enlisted, in 1864, in the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. company L, serving until the close of the war. He married Marianna Twining. They have three children-Mary A., Arthur Il. and Rose B. Mr. Rounds' farm now contains 215 acres of land, situated on sections 28, 29 and 33, town 10, range 4, west.

Darius W. Briggs was born Jan. 28, 1820, in Jefferson Co., N. Y. When fifteen years of age he removed with his father to Ohio, set- tling near Cleveland. In December, 1863, he came to Crawford Co., Wis., purchasing a farm of the State of Wisconsin, located on section 24, town 10, range 5 west, where he still lives. Though not a pioneer of this county, Mr. Briggs traveled quite extensively through the territory in 1845. He traveled at that time through Ra- eine, Janesville, Beloit, Fort Atkinson, Beaver Dam, Columbus, Broadhead, Milton, Aztalan, Watertown, Waterloo, Lake Mills, Whitewater, Milwaukee and Waukesha. The above named eities would at that time compare in size with Mt. Sterling of to-day. Hle made a settlement at Elba, Dodge county, but returned to Ohio in 1819. Mrs. Briggs was a native of Olmsted town, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have two sons-Edward P. and Ernest G. Mr. Briggs was a member of the assembly in the State Legislature for the session of 1871, being elected by the republican party, to which organization he belonged. He has also been assessor and clerk of Utica town. He is a car- penter by trade, an occupation which he has followed for many years. His farm now con- tains 122 acres of land.

A. E. Mills, one of the prominent business men of Mt. Sterling, has resided in this town since the fall of 1868, at which time he erected a wagon and blacksmith shop. Mr. Mills built the house in which Mrs. Hutchins now lives, and, by giving employment to a number of men in his wagon-making and blacksmith business, was instrumental in the building of several other residences. Ile conducted both branches of business for a number of years, doing quite an ex-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

tensive business, giving employment to six or eight men. In 1879 Mr. Mills sold his wagon shop to A. E. Spencer, who now conducts that branch of the business. Mr. Mills was born in Wayne Co., N. Y. When five years of age he went with his parents to Michigan. He learned the black- smith trade and resided in Michigan until 1865, when he, with his family, moved to this county, locating in Freeman town, where he purchased and improved a farm. Ile came from there to Mt. Sterling in 1868. Mr. Mills was married to Augusta Gregory, a native of Michigan. Her father, H. S. Gregory, came with Mr. Mills to Crawford county, with whom he lived until his death, in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have nine children, seven of whom were born in Crawford county. Mr. Mills' father, Ira Mills, was a native of New York State. Ile came here in 1873, and resided with his son un- til his death in 1878. His mother, Alzina (Ran- dall) Mills, was born in Wayne Co., N. Y. She died in Michigan in 1847.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 106

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1298

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298