History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 141

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 141
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 141

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).

The business of Lone Rock in 1883 was rep- resented as follows:

Fuller & Foster,-general merchants.

John Wallace,-general merchant.

Mc Williams & Martin, represented by J. C. Bancroft,-general merchants.

Tyler & Southard,-hardware dealers.

A. Wolf,-postmaster and druggist.

R. L. Telfair,-physician and druggist.

A. B. Hill,-proprietor Haskell House.

Mrs. D. W. Dudgeon .- proprietress Sherman House.

Guy P. Towsley,-proprietor livery stable.

Fuller, Foster & Runyan,-lumber dealers.

J. F. Beardsley,-farm machinery.

D. T. Beebe,-broom manufacturer.

John Frank,-meat market.

E. J. Aldrich,-blacksmith and machine shop.

J. L. Richison,-blacksmith and machine shop.

James Gilson, -saloon.

A. M. Woodbury,-saloon.

L. G. Thomas,-grain and produce dealer.

John Smith,-proprietor of Lone Rock & Ironton stage line.

W. W. Garrison,-dentist.

Laura Burnham,-millinery.

D. Ilardenburgh,-surveyor and civil engi- neer.

A. W. Towsley,-agent C., M. & St. P. Ry.

J. W. Fuller,-justice of peace.

L. Burroughs,-jeweler.

M. Schlouch, -harness and saddle dealer.

A. S. Lee,-insurance agent.

J. K. Fries,-billiard room and confectionery. A. Ray & Co.,-hardware.

The Lone Rock grist mill is located on Bear creek, on the northeast quarter of section 3. The mill site was originally owned by J. W. Briggs. In 1857 Henry Rowell purchased it and erected the mill in 1858. The mill is an important institution of the town and has done a large business for many years. It is a frame structure, three stories in height above the base- ment. It was run by Henry Rowell and his

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

brother Daniel until 1863 when they sold to B. and G. Harter who conducted it until 1877 when it went into the hands of Mr. Miller, of Madison. The mill still does an extensive business and is noted for the excellence of its work.

POSTOFFICE.

The postoffice at Lone Rock was established in the fall of 1856, with Henry Paddleford as the first postmaster. He held the office about one year andwas succeeded by Zebulon W.Green, who held the office for several years, and was succeeded by R S. Eldred ; after Mr. Eldred came Dr. R. L. Telfair who held the office for several years. R. S. Eldred then again was postmaster and was succeeded by J. C. Bancroft early in 1869. In the fall of 1869 Abraham Wolf was appointed and has held the office since that time. The office was made a money order office in July, 1874. The first order, for $8 50, was drawn by C. E. Brace. The first two orders were paid to Harriet Jenkins; amount of first order drawn, $5.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school house in the village was erected in 1857. It was a frame building and is still standing, in use by the primary departments of the school. In 1864 a much larger building was put up at a cost of about $2,500. It was two stories high, 34x52 feet in size. On April 1, 1865, when the house was about completed, it was struck by lightning and entirely consumed by fire. In the spring of 1866 another building, somewhat larger than the one burned, was ready for occupancy. This, with the first house erected, afford the school building accommodations at the present time.

The school was graded in 1866 when the new building was first occupied.

In 1875, in accordance with the law then recently passed for the establishment of schools of a higher grade, a high school was established. The first principal of the high school was II. W. Hewett, who remained one year. Mr. How- ett's successors were : I. A. Sabin, who was here one year; Mr. Hill, one year; Thomas

Morrow, three years ; W. S. Sweet, the present county superintendent ; and A. Wood, who succeeded Mr. Sweet in 1882. For a number of years the high school was a decided success and secured a high reputation for its excellence, but the expense of supporting so high a grade of school proved to be too great a burden on the people and it was abandoned in 1882

The present principal of the graded school is L. H. Bancroft. The present number of pupils is 116.

FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.

There are four fraternal organizations at Lone Rock: The Masonic, I. O. O. F., Good Templars and G. A. R.

Palestine Lodge, A. F. & A. M. was in- stituted by dispensation at Richland City, Jan. 18, 1859. The first regular meeting was held Feb. 2, 1859. The first officers were-Ira Cur- tis, W. M .; D. B. Young, S. W .; W F. Lewis, J. W .; A. C. Tracy, S. D .; O. Stowell, J. D .; G. L. Sargent, tyler; Henry Dillon, secretary. A charter was granted the lodge June 14, 1859, and it was duly constituted under the charter July 28, following, by M. L. Young, special deputy grand master. At a special meeting held the same day, the following officers were duly installed: Ira Curtis, W M .; D. B. Long, S. W .; W. F. Lewis, J. W .; G. W. P. Iladder, secretary; S. Spidle, treasurer; A. C. Tracy, S. D .; O. Stowell, J. D .; D. R. Phillips, tyler. The following are the names of the worshipful masters who have presided over the lodge: Ira Curtis, W. C. Wright, Il. L. Eaton, A. C. Tracy, HI. L. Eaton, J. M. Thomas, J. C. Ban- croft. J. M. Thomas, J. C. Bancroft and J. M. Thomas. The present membership of the lodge is forty-three. Regular communications are held on Wednesday preceding the full moon in each month. Communications were held at Richland City until 1861, when the lodge was removed to Lone Rock.

Langworthy lodge, No. 102, Odd Fellows. This lodge was instituted in 1860, as Cascade lodge, No. 102, by Z. W. Green, J. C. Bancroft,

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Daniel Platt, R. L. Telfair and Henry Dillon. The lodge flourished for a time, but became so depleted during the war, from enlistments and other eauses, that it was discontinued. It was resuscitated Jan. 17, 1868, by T. W. Fuller, J. C. Bancroft, Edward Cruson, James Finn, John Wallace, Timothy Maroney and C. C. Line. The above are the names that appear on the new charter, granted in 1868. Of the first organization, Z. W. Green was the first noble grand; and the first noble grand of the second organization was J. W. Fuller. The present officers are Edward Crn- son, N. G .; Wm. Cramer, V. G .; L. II. Lee, R. S .; A. Wolf, T. The present membership is about thirty-five.

The Henry Dillon Post, No. 24, G A. R., was organized March 1, 1882, by Phil. Cheek, Jr., of Baraboo, Wis. Twenty-two comrades were mustered at its organization. The fol- lowing officers were elected : N. B. Hlood, commander; A. Wolf, S. V. C .; J. M. Bowers, J. V. C .; W. A. Garrison, adjutant; J. W. Rey- ma, officer of the day; A. J. Harrison, surgeon; Wm. Knapp, chaplain; E. J. Burdick, officer of the guard; C. Il. Pierce, quartermaster. The post is now in a flourishing condition, and num- bers sixty-three members. It meets every Sat- urday night. The post was named in honor of Capt. Henry Dillon, late Capt. of 6th Wis- consin Battery.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Among the following personal sketches will will be found those of the most prominent and representative citizens of the town of Buena Vista :

One of the earliest settlers of the town of Buena Vista is Samuel Long; his settlement dating from August, 1848. Mr. Long's resi- dence is on section 29. He was born in Indi- ana Oct. 9, 1816, but was reared in Illinois, where his parents, Jacob and Katharine Long, removed when he was a child.

Ilis father came here in 1853 and settled on section 20 where he lived till his decease in

1863; his mother died seven years later. The parents of Mr. Long had four children; one son, John, died in Illinois. There are two daughters, Elizabeth and Anna; the former is Mrs. Green McCaim, a widow who resides in Iowa. Anna is the wife of Alfred Kuykendall of this town. Samuel married Francis Ballew a native of Kentucky. They have four children-Kath- arine, wife of William B. Brown, Charles M., graduated at Rush Medical College in the elass of 1878; he is now practicing medicine at Osa- kis, Douglass county, Minn. Albert is a student at the State University, and Alice lives at home. Mr. Long's farm contains 160 acres.

Leonard Button is one of the early settlers of this town, the date of settlement being July, 1849. He located on seetion 34, his present home. By energy and industry he has seeured a good home.

D. P. Nichols was one of the early settlers of Richland City, and is the present merchant and postmaster of that once active and impor- tant village. He came here in 1850, a short time after the village was platted. He was born in Essex Co., N. Y., in 1827. Ilis father, Amasa Nichols, removed with his family to Richland Co., Ohio, in 1835, where he resided till his de- cease. Mr. Nichols learned the trade of tanner and currier, which occupation he followed for five years. He afterwards engaged in the busi- ness of carpentry, which he followed for some time after he came to Richland county. He run the Richland City ferry for eight years, and afterwards engaged in the groeery business. He enlisted in 1862, in the 19th regiment Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served eleven months, when he was discharged for dis- ability. He re-enlisted in 1864 in the 4th Wis- consin Battery, light artillery, in which he served till the close of the war. After the war, he was variously engaged till 1880. In May of that year he engaged in mercantile business. He was appointed postmaster, Oct., 2, 1883. Mr. Nichols has been twice married. His first wife, Mary Clayman, was born in Ohio and died here

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

in 1865, His present wife was Sarah Bills. He has three children by his first marriage-Orilla, Bell and Nellie.

James D. Keyes has been a resident of the town of Buena Vista since May, 1851. He has resided where he now lives, on sec- tion 16, since the spring of 1856. Ile has 330 acres of land, most of which was school land, which he obtained from the State. He was born in Bedford Co., Va., in 1825, but removed to Ohio with his parents, when ten years old, where his father died soon afterward. Mr. Keyes was married in Ohio to Maria B. Miller, a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Miller. Her father died in Ohio, and her mother afterward married Jacob Krouskop, one of the well known early settlers of Richland county. Mrs. Krouskop is still living at an advanced age. Mrs. Keyes is a niece of the noted pioneers, Robert and Wil- liam McCloud. She was born in Logan Co., Ohio, in 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Keyes have had seven children, four of whom are living-Wil- liam MeCloud, Charles B., James M. and Eliza A. Philip died in 1861, Jacob in 1854, and George D. in 1868.

William Krouskop resides on section 20, town. of Buena Vista. He is a son of Jacob Krous- kop, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. Krouskop was born in Logan Co., Ohio, in 1836, and came to this county with his father in 1851. His farm was entered by Philip Mil- ler, whose death was the first that occurred in the town. It was purchased of Robert McCloud by the father of the present owner, Jacob Krouskop, in 1848, several years before the lat- ter settled in the county. William Krouskop has owned the farm since 1857. It formerly contained 160 acres, but now has 310 acres. Mr. Krouskop now has an excellent place, and his improvements are among the best in the town. Ile is engaged quite extensively in feeding and shipping stock. He learned the trade of miller at his father's mill at Sextonville, and followed milling for a number of years. His wife was formerly Amanda Black, a native of Virginia.

Mr. Krouskop possesses the necessary qualifica- tions for a successful business man, has accumu- lated a competenee, and has a good reputation among his fellow men.

John Wallace, merchant at Lone Rock, came to Richland county in the spring of 1849, and has been a permanent resident since 1851, when he helped ereet a mill at Richland City, which was the first mill built at that point. In 1854 he settled on his land in the town of Ithica, which he had entered in 1849. Ile has lived at Lone Rock since May, 1861.

Alfred Kuykendall settled on section 20, in 1853, where he still lives. Ile is a native of Illinois. llis wife was Anna Long, a sister of Samuel Long of this town. They have four children -John, Mary C., Jacob and Elizabeth. John enlisted Aug, 9, 1864, in company I, 38th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Captain H. IT. Coleman, and served until the close of the war. He participated in several important engagements in the vicinity of Petersburg, Va. From the spring of 1865, un- til the close of the war, he was on detached duty and was honorably discharged in July, 1865. John Kuykendall owns a farm on section 13, where he now resides.

Henry J. Morrison lives on section 17, town 9, range 2 east, where he settled in 1853, pur- chasing his farm of eighty acres of Israel Jan- ney. He at once commenced improvements, breaking twenty-seven and one-half acres that season, and erecting.a log house, in which he lived with his family during the summer of 1853; but he returned to Morrow Co., Ohio, in the fall of that year, where he taught school the following winter, returning in the fall of 1854. Mr. Morrison was born in Knox, now Mor- row Co., Ohio, in 1824, where he was rearod. Ile received a primary education at the common school, after which he attended the Martins- burg Academy, in Knox county, and was for a time a student of the Miami University, in But- ler county. Much of his life has been spent in teaching, which he began in 1849, and taught

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

one term in his native State, before coming west four terms in Illinois. He has taught eleven terms of school in the town of Buena Vista, and six terms in other parts of the county, four in Waukesha county, one in Ozan- kee county. In 1850 Mr. Morrison came to Richland county and spent some weeks, but felt that he should not like the place for a home. He wished to go to Bloomington, Ill., but on arriving at Hanover, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., his team gave out so he could go no farther. He then rented a small farm near Hanover, and took the village school for the winter, farmed in the summer, taught a six months' term the next fall and winter. He again visited Rich- land county in the spring of 1852, and seeing the great improvements that had been made in the meantime, and getting pretty well over the "blues" from which he suffered very much in 1850, he thought this county would do for a new home; so he returned in 1853, and pur- chased as before stated. Ile has added an eighty, and again a forty, and the farm now consists of 200 acres. In 1874 Mr. Morrison rented his farm and removed to Waukesha, for the purpose of giving his children the advan- tages of the school of Carroll College, of that city, where he lived with his family three and one-half years, and where four of his children graduated. He was married in June, 1848, in Ohio, to Sally Ann Fox, who was born near Mansfield, in that State. They have seven chil- dren, all of whom are well educated and promise to be useful and respected members of society. They have all gone out into the world from the paternal roof. The names of the chil- dren are-Walter L., Thomas G., Mary C., Robert T., Emma E., William II. and Ella J., five of whom are now teaching school.

Alfred Kuydendill resides on section 20, town 9, range 2 east, where he located April 20, 1853. He was born in Vigo Co Ind., Dec. 20, 1823. He lived in his native county and in Clark Co., Ill., until thirty years old. Ile was engaged for a number of years boating

on the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He came to Richland county as before stated in 1853. Ile went first to the State of Iowa in search of a location, visiting what is now some of the finest parts of that State, but finally came here and bought his first land, eighty acres, of Jacob Long. Like most of the early settlers he was poor when he came here. Ile soon erected a frame dwelling, which he still occupies. His farm at present contains 120 acres, nearly all of which is improved. His wife was Anna Long, daughter of Jacob Long, who was born in Clark Co., III., Dec. 19, 1822. They have four children, two sons and two daughters-John, Mary, wife of David Henry; Jacob and Eliza- beth, wife of Milo Beckwith. Mr. Kuyken- dall's father died in Vigo Co., Ind, in 1834. Ilis ancestors were from Holland. Ile removed to Indiana from Kentucky.

George J. Carswell has been a resident of the town of Buena Vista since 1853. In March of that year he bought of E. M. Sexton 160 acres of land on section 26, town 9, range 2 east, where he settled with his family the following September. Mr. Carswell was born in the town of Exeter, Otsego Co., N. Y., Dec. 5, 1823. He was a resident of the State of New York until he came to Richland county. Ilis father, Benjamin Carswell, was a native of Massachusetts and died when his son was four years of age. Mr. Carswell married Louisa Matteson, born in Otsego Co., N. Y. She is a sister of Delos Matteson, one of the well known pioneers of Richland county, He settled in the town Buena Vista in 1848 and died in 1857. llis widow now lives at Lone Rock. Few among the pioneers of Richland county have been more successful than Mr. Carswell. Ile began life poor, and by energy and indus- try has secured a competence. Ilis farm con- tains 400 acres of excellent land, and his im- provements are not excelled in the town of Buena Vista. Socially he is a genial, intelli- gent gentleman; he has an excellent memory and is well informed on the early and later his-

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

tory of Richland county. Mr. Carswell was elected town superviso. in the spring of 1855; he assessed the town at an early day; was chairman of the board for the years 1866-7 and again in 1879. For a number of years Mr. Carswell has given much attention to the sub- ject of draining. For the past twenty years he has been engaged in raising the Devon breed of cattle. He has now a herd of 100 cows, sixty of which are thoroughbred Devons. Probably a finer herd of cows cannot be found in the State than is possessed by Mr. Carswell. Mr. and Mrs. Carswell have three children, all of whom were born in this town-John A., born Oct. 29, 1854, Fred. E., born February, 1861, and George A., born March, 1867.

James A. Bills resides on the northeast cor- ner of section 30, where he settled in 1853. He came to Richland City the previous autumn, where he resided with his family the following winter. He purchased eighty acres of his farm from Jonah Seaman; eighty acres from A. C. Daley, and forty acres from C. C. Woodman. His farm now contains 210 acres. He was born in Berkshire Co., Mass., in 1819. When a boy, he removed with his parents to Genesee Co., N. Y., and thence to the State of Pennsyl- vania. He was married in Erie county, of the latter State, to Permelia Emerson. After his marriage, he removed with his family to Kane Co., Ill., where he lived seven years, coming here from that county. Like many other settlers, Mr. Bills came into the county a poor man, but by industry and economy, has secured a pleas- ant home and a competency. Mr. and Mrs. Bills have had twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. One son and seven daughters are still living-Alonzo, born in Illinois in 1846: Mary, wife of Wesley Southard; Emma, wife of Foster Teeples; Jane, wife of Philip Bixler; Clarissa, wiferof William Gewald; Ellen, wife of £. Davis, in Colorado; Etta and Hattie. They lost one son, William, in the army during the War of the Rebellion. He was born Feb. 28, 1848. Ile enlisted in company A, 36th |

Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at Cold Harbor, Va. He was but sixteen years old at the time of his death, and although so young had already proved himself a brave soldier on the field of battle. He was killed by a confederate sharp-shooter, while conveying water to his comrades.

Abijah S. Davis came to Buena Vista in the fall of 1853, where he purchased a quarter sec- tion of land of Mr. Coffinberry. He was born in Canada, Aug. 2, 1824, where he lived until he was sixteen years old, when he left his home and came to the then territory of Wisconsin, locating in Dane county, where he lived many years. He purchased and improved a farm in Sun Prairie, in that county, which he after- wards sold, and located in the town of Berry, in the same county. Ile went to California in the early days of the gold fever in that State, where he engaged in mining, and was quite successful. He came to Richland county soon after his return from the land of gold. Mr. Davis is one of the successful farmers in the town of Buena Vista. Ile was married to Thankful A. Bresse, a native of Canada. They have had four children-W. II., A. S., de- ceased; Walter J. and Sallie A., also deceased. Walter J. Davis, who now owns the homestead where his father settled in 1853, was born on the old homestead in 1854. His wife was Lizzie Winterburn. They have two children-Benja- min U. and Abijah N.

William McNurlen resides on section 18, where he settled in 1854, purchasing his farm of George Mathews, upon which he has since made all the improvements. lle was born in Greene Co., l'enn., in 1814, where he lived until twenty years old, when he went to Richland Co., Ohio, thence to this county in 1854, during the month of July. He was married in Ohio to Willomine Trumbo, born in Tusearawas county. They have had twelve children, eight of whom are now living-Rebecca J., Thomas J., Hannah J., William Allen, Wilson S., Lewis C., Chapman and Preston. They lost two sons,

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HISTORY OF RICHILAND COUNTY.

John and Andrew, in the army during the War of the Rebellion. The former was a member of the 19th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and died at Norfolk, Va., in 1862. The latter be- longed to the 36th Wisconsin, and died of starvation in the confederate prison at Sauls- burg, N. C., in 1865. Thomas also served in the army during the the Rebellion, in the 19th Wisconsin. Mr. McNurlen's farm now contains 200 acres.

John A. Carswell is the son of George J. Carswell, and was born at the homestead in this town Nov. 29, 1854. Ile resides on seetion 26. Forty aeres of his farm was entered by E. M. Sexton and purchased by G. J. Carswell. Ile purchased eighty acres of his farm from N. Carswell, and 100 acres from Harry Pier, hav- ing, altogether, 220 aeres. Like a number of successful farmers of Bear river valley, Mr. Carswell is giving his attention to dairying, and like his father, possesses a fine herd of Devon cows. He is a practical dairyman, hav- ing learned thoroughly the business of cheese manufacture. He was educated at the high school at Lone Roek, which, for a number of years, was an institution of high merit. After leaving school he had charge of his father's farm for five years. He settled on his present place in 1878. Hle was married to Abigail, daughter of V. Brainard. She was born in Vir- ginia. Her father formerly resided on section 26 of this town, but has returned to Virginia.

Levi Runyan resides on section 13, town 9, range 2 east, where he settled in April, 1855. He was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., but was reared in Herkimer county, and brought up to the business of agriculture. Ile has made nearly all the improvements on his present farm. Ilis father, John Runyan, was born in Otsego county, and eame to Richland county with Levi in 1855. They purchased 160 acres and settled on the west eighty. The father died in Buena Vista, Dec. 24, 1874. Ilis wife, the mother of the subject of this sketeh, died in New York. There were six children of the !

family who came to Richland county, only three of whom are now residents. Mr. Runyan was married in New York to Maria Lane, who died in Herkimer connty. They had one ehild -Aliee. His second wife was Susanna Shontz, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in Craw- ford county in 1863. They also had one child- John S. Mr. Runyan's farm now contains eighty aeres.

L. G. Thomas, one of the well known settlers of the town of Buena Vista, is a native of Jef- ferson Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1807, but was reared in Otsego county, that State. Ile was brought up to agricultural pursuits, but previous to coming west was engaged in the mereantile business for a period of seventeen years. He has been a resident of Buena Vista since 1856, coming here directly from the Em- pire State. Ile purchased the farm on seetion 35, where he now resides, of A C. Daley. Mr. Thomas was the pioneer in the business of cheese making, which has now become au im- portant industry in Richland county. He be- gan the manufacture of cheese in 1365, with the milk of about 100 cows, including those of his own and neighboring farmers. He con- tinned the business for about ten years, increas- ing the amount of milk manufactured into cheese to the produet of 200 cows, manufactur- ing during the last years of his continuanee in the business, an average of 40,000 pounds a year. His factory was the first cheese manu- factory erected in the State. Another industry in which Mr. Thomas has been' largely en- gaged for many years, is the raising of broom eorn and the manufacture of brooms, which he still continues. Hle is also engaged in grain buying at Lone Rock. Mrs. Thomas, formerly Dolly Catlin, is a native of Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had four children, two of whom are living-IIenry C. and L. G. Jr,. The former resides in Sauk county. The latter, who resides with his father, was born in the town of Winfield, Herkimer Co, N. Y., in

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 141

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