History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 154

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 154
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 154

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).

Ransom E. Southard was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in April, 1838; came to Richland county with his parents and here grew to man- hood's estate. In 1867 he settled on his present farm on the northeast quarter of section li, where he lived with his mother in a small frame house which he had moved from Richland City. He was married April 18, 1868, to Harriet, daughter of Ira and Mary (Cook) West, early

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HISTORY OF RICIILAND COUNTY.

settlers of Richland county. She was born in Wayne Co., N. Y. Mr. Southard now owns 200 acres of land, 100 of which are under culti- vation. He has erected a large frame honse and barn, and is engaged in dairying and stock raising.

Hon. J. L. R McCollum, son of Asa and Hadas- sap (Kingsbury) McCollum, was born in the town of Leicester, Worcester Co., Mass., Jan. 4, 1842. He was but six years old when his parents emigrated to Wisconsin, and nine years old when they came to Richland county. Soon after their arrival here he went to Wiota, La Fayette county, to live with a brother-in-law, who was engaged in mercantile trade; in a short time he went with him to Elkader, Iowa. In both of these places he attended the public schools and assisted his brother-in-law in the store, and later attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Chicago, from which insti- tution he graduated and received a diploma. This instruction was afterwards supplemented by a course of study in the Sextonville High School, of which he was among the first gradu- ates. When twenty-one years old he engaged in the mercantile trade in company with A. H. Krouskop near the mill in the town of Ithaca. In 1865 he went to Lone Rock, following the same business, and dealing in live stock quite extensively. In 1877 he settled on his present farm, located in the Pine river valley, on sec- tion 12, town 9, range 1 east, now included in the town of Ithaca. This is one of the model farms of the county; is under a high state of cultivation, and has upon it excellent improve- ments. He is engaged in raising grain and stock and in dealing in live stock and railroad ties. He was married in 1864 to Eliza, daugh- ter of Jacob and Elizabeth (McCloud) Krous- kop. Three children have blessed this union- Charles L., Dock C. and Elmer E. Mr. Me- Collum is a prominent man among the best class of Richland county citizens, and was elected to the Assembly in 1875 and 1876, serv- ing the people faithfully. He has the confidence

and esteem of his fellow men, and would be a desirable acquisition to any community.

His father, Asa McCollom, was the first doctor at Sextonville. He was born in that part of the northeastern territory, now the town of Wind- sor, Morgan Co., Ohio. His father, the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Scotland and brought to America by his parents when five years old, and settled in North Caro- lina, where he grew to manhood. He was a stirring patriot of that day and enlisted during the War for Independence in the American army. Was taken prisoner by the English forces and sent to Nova Scotia, where he re- mained for some time. After he was liberated he was married to Lucy Fordyce, a native of Massachusetts. Her parents were loyal to the Crown, and during the war had emigrated to Nova Scotia. After his marriage he returned to the States and immediately started for the north- western territory. At that time there was con- siderable trouble with the Indians and they consequently stopped at Redstone, now Browns- ville, east of the Alleghanies, three or four years or until the Indian difficulties were in a measure settled, and they were for a time more peaceable, when they moved on and settled in the northwestern territory as before stated. Asa, the father of the subject of our sketch, made his home with his parents until eleven years old, when his father proposed to give him his time summers, and he could attend school winters, to which he agreed. He remained in that section of the county until eighteen years old, then joined an older brother in Illinois, and engaged with him surveying and farming three years, when his brother built a tavern in Vandalia. Ile continued to live with him one year longer and then returned to Ohio and en- gaged with another brother in a cabinet manu- factory. They carried on that business there three years, when he sold out and went to Massachusetts. He there located in Worcester county, and commenced to work as carpenter and joiner, and later as contractor and builder.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Ilere his health failed, and going to Boston, he entered an infirmary, and was there during the cholera epidemic. As soon as he was able, he was employed as an assistant, and here he com- menced the study of medicine, not theoreti- cally, under an M. D., but practically amid actual surroundings, which gave him an ex- perience very valuable and superior to any school. Soon after his return to Leicester, a child in the neighborhood was stricken with that dreadful disease, cholera, and he was called upon to prescribe. This was his first case, and in it he was successful. . He soon afterward erected a large building, opened an infirmary, and there continued the practice of medicine until 1848, when he came to Wisconsin and located at Fayette, in La Fayette county, prac- ticing medicine there until 1851, when he came to Richland county aud purchased land adjoin- ing the village plat of Sextonville, and imme- diately commenced the practice of his chosen profession. In 1858 be purchased a drug store and has since followed that business, and at the present time is the oldest druggist in the State. Ile was married in 1828 to Hadassap Kingsbury, who was born in that part of Ox- ford, now known as Webster, Worcester Co., Mass., Sept. 10, 1802. They have six children- Lney, now the wife of Spencer Ellsworth, now living in Lacon, Ill .; Lauraine, now the wife of Charles Schellenger; Van Buren, Curtis, Julien Lee Roy and Lewis Cass. As an M. D. he be- longs to the reformed botanical school. Politi- cally he adheres to democracy as it was, but has not voted for a President since Buchanan, and is not in sympathy with that organization as it at present exists.

Lucius Tracy (deceased) a pioneer of Rich- land county, was a native of the Green Mountain State, born in 1798, where he obtained a liberal education and became fitted for a teacher. He went to New York State and engaged in teach- ing. While there he made the acquaintance of Polly MeDowl, who became his wife. She was born near Elmira, N. Y. They went to Penn-

sylvania and settled ten miles from Erie City, where he purchased a farm. They lived there until 1851, then started west to seek a home. Richland county was then attracting the atten- tion of settlers and thither they came. lle bought the northwest quarter of Buena Vista, built a frame house and commenced improving the land. His death occurred in 1854. He left a wife and eight children to mourn his loss. Mrs. Tracy died in 1878. Five of the children are now living-Arza C., Alexander D., John V., Jane and Flora A During the short time that Mr. Tracy lived at Buena Vista he formed many acquaintances, and was respected by all who knew him. By his death Buena Vista lost one of her most honored citizens.

Amasa Grover, one of the pioneers of Rich- land county, was born in the town of Hume, Allegany Co., N. Y. When he had arrived at a seasonable age he was sent to the district school where he acquired a fair education. His father was a miller by trade but did not always have occupation at that business and at times engaged riving and shaving shingles, and Amasa when not in school assisted his father at such work. When he was thirteen years old his father rented a mill in Cold Creek village, and Amasa was placed in charge of it. Hle op- erated that mill one year when the family removed to Cold Creek village, when two years later his father died and the family removed to Erie county. The subject of this sketch was then sixteen years old and the oldest of six chil- dren, and the support of the family devolved to a great extent upon him. He engaged in farm- ing three years and a half then returned to Al- legany county with the family and engaged in teaming, drawing coal and iron from Rochester, a distance of sixty miles. He followed this business one summer then purchased a lot in Mixville and built a house for his mother. He then engaged with a blacksmith to learn the trade, and served two years, then bought the shop and carried on the business one year. About this time he joined a co-operative society,

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

remained a member a few months and then withdrew having lost all his property. He then went to the town of Pike, which was in that part of Allegany, now Wyoming, county, opened a shop at Patch Corners where he worked at his trade two years, then went to Loon Lake, Steuben county, and run a shop two years, then opened a shop in Cohocton where he remained until 1851, when he determined to go west and try farming. He started in September of that year for Wisconsin, departing with his wife and three children from Danville on a canal boat, going to Buffalo and thence on a steamboat to Milwaukee where he hired a team for $25 to take his family and household goods to Richland City and they arrived there on the 17th of October. Then he rented a cabin, moved in, and with his rifle on his shoulder started on foot in search of land. Ile went up Pine river to Faney creek, fol- lowed that stream up some distance and then went across the country to Rockbridge, and down the river to Sextonville without finding a place to suit him. At Sextonville he met James Good- rich, who informed him that he had a desirable piece of land to sell, and wanted him to go and see it. To this he assented and they started on foot. This was the Lawrence place located on section 17,the north half of the northeast quarter. There was a log cabin on the place and twelve acres improved. Mr. Grover was pleased with it and made the purchase, paying for it $300. He was, however, obliged to go Beloit for the deed, and they hired a team together for this purpose, returning they stopped at Janesville and bought a stock of provisions for the winter. He then moved to his new home with his family and arrived in November. He immediately started a blacksmith shop, the first in that part of the county north of Sextonville, and engaged in farming and work at his trade. The family lived in the log cabin five years when he erected a small frame house. The commodious house now occupied by the family was built in 1881. He also built a frame barn thirty feet wide and ninety feet long with a shed attached sixty feet

in length. He has engaged in raising grain and stoek. He also carried on the business of blacksmithing until 1880. He is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a great reader and well posted on the current events of the day. He has filled offices of trust in the town, having been elected assessor for the town of Buena Vista in 1853 which at the time included terri- tory extending from the Wisconsin river to Vernon county. He has since been elected to that office in the town of Ithaca. He is at present a member of the board of supervisors. He has been twice married, first in 1845 to Fidelia Tichenor. She was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., and died in 1848, leaving three children- Hiram, and twins, Fidelia and Amelia. His second wife to whom he was married in 1849 was Arvella Armstrong; she was born in the town of Cohocton, Steuben Co., N. Y. Twelve children blessed this union, eleven of whom are now living-Elizabeth, James, Madena, Alpha, Janett, Mary, Martin, George, Gilbert, Amasa and Evert.

George Hoke, son of John and Jemima (An- tisdell) Hoke, was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., in August, 1840. When he was eleven years old, he came to Richland county with his parents, with whom he continued to reside until 1863. In November of that year he enlisted in com- pany H, of the 37th Wisconsin, went into camp at Madison, and in the spring of 1864 went to Virginia, and joined the Army of the Potomac. He was severely wounded at the battle of Peters- burg June 18, 1864, in consequence of which, he lay in the hospital eight months. He then joined his command and participated in the more important battles, before Richmond and Petersburg, until the close of the war. He was discharged with the regiment July 26, 1865, af- ter which he returned home and engaged in farming. In 1866 Eliza Parker became his wife. She was born in the State of New York. He continued farming in Hoke Hollow until 1868, then removed to Sextonville and commenced to learn the cooper's trade. In 1871 he took a

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

contract to carry the mails from Sextonville to Cazenovia, which he continued one year, then sold out and again engaged in farming. In 1877 he opened a hotel in Sextonville, which he named the Sextonville House. In 1878 he went to Lone Rock and kept hotel one year, then re- turned to Sextonville, and in 1881 purchased the Parker House property, where he is now en- gaged in hotel keeping. Mr. and Mrs. Iloke are the parents of two children-Alma L., who is a teacher in the public schools, and Nettie A.

S. I. Freeborn, horticulturist and apiarist, first came to Richland county in 1851, with his brother-in-law, James M. Cass, with whom he lived, being unmarried at that time. Soon af- ter his arrival he engaged in the lumber busi- ness, in company with a man named Barber. They went up Pine river, cut the timber and rafted it down the stream. They had at one time 2,200 logs upon the river. Ile was married in 1859 to Elvira Iłowe, a na- tive of Canada. Two years later he settled on his present farm, on the northeast quarter of section 20, town 10 north, range 2 east. In 1856 he bought twenty colonies of bees of Green Mayfield, which were the beginning of the apiary he now owns. At present he has 320 colonies. He sold, in 1882, 28,000 pounds of honey. In the nursery business, he is the pio- neer of this place. He has met with decided success, and has made large sales, for a new en- terprise, and the stock being as represented, gives satisfaction and an increasing demand may be expected. In 1862 he associated A. L. Hateh in this business. They have at present, a nursery stock of 150,000 trees, an orchard of 4,000 trees and a general stock in proportion. Mr. Freeborn is a native of New York, born in Chautauqua county, April 30, 1833. His father died when he was ten years old. Soon after, his mother was married to Thomas Pound, and the family removed to Crawford Co., Penn., where they lived until 1847. In that year they emigrated to the territory of Wisconsin and lo- cated in Dane county, making the trip in thirty

days, traveling overland with teams. The sub- jeet of this sketch remained with his parents a short time, then went to Blue Mound, where his brother had charge of a stage station. He as- sisted him there in the care of the horses, two seasons. At the age of sixteen he went to Helena and engaged in ferrying on the Wiscon- sin river, two summers. During that time he ferried many persons across the river, who be- eame settlers of Richland county. Mrs. Free- boun died in 1872, leaving three children-Ar- villa, Elma and Ernest. In 1873 he was mar- ried to Hadassah Spyker. Two children have blessed this union-Simon A. and Lorena. Po- litically, Mr. Freeborn belongs to the republican party, having been identified with that organi- zation since its formation.

James M. Cass, a pioneer of Richland county, was born in the town of Stanstead, province of Quebec, Canada, March 24, 1808. His grand- father was a native of New Hampshire, and had emigrated, in company with eight others, to Stanstead, then a wilderness. Here the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, obtain- ing his education in the common schools. Ile was married Feb. 19, 1829, to Mary Taplin, who was born in Stanstead county, Feb. 12, 1809. Hle built a house near his old home, where he lived two years, then moved to the homestead and remained till 1835, when he eame to the States, located in Ohio, near the Pennsylvania line and there formed a partner- ship with a mill owner and operated a flouring mill three years, then moved to Wellsburg, where he engaged in the same business. From there he went to Crawford county, and in com- pany with a cousin built a mill, which they operated about three years, successfully. He then sold his interest. In 1847, accompanied by his family, he started with teams, overland, for the territory of Wisconsin. After thirty days travel they arrived in Sauk county, and settled in what is now the town of Spring Green. Ile was chairman of the first board of supervisors of that town, and gave the town its

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

name. In 1851 he came to Richland county and purchased a claim on section 3, town 10 north, range 1 east, now in the town of Rich- land. Ile entered this land and then returned for his family. They started with two teams loaded with their household goods. There was no regularly traveled road in those days, and their progress was necessarily slow. They reached Beemer's Tavern in time for dinner, after which they again started, but had gone only a little distance when one load of their goods tipped over. They quickly re-loaded and started on, but before reaching their destination, the other load capsized causing another delay. They reached their cabin after dark, much fatigued by the day's journey. In one of the loads was some honey which, when the load tipped over, was spilled, rendering a number of household articles very sticky and sweet. The next day the wild bees scented the honey and came swarming around to gather it. I. S. Free- born, who had come with the family, noticed them, and knowing something of the habits of bees, made up his mind that their abiding place was not far distant. He persuaded Mr. Cass to start with him in search of it. They soon found two swarms from which they gathered 150 pounds of honey. Not long after this, Mr. Freeborn started out in search of a shoat that had been missing for several days. He had not proceeded far, before he discovered a bear. He raised his gun and fired, but it was nearly dark and the bear was partly concealed in the brush. He hurried back for lights and assistance. On returning, they found the bear dead. A team was procured and the bear drawn to the house. As soon as Mr. Cass got fairly settled, he com- menced building a saw-mill on Pine river. He constructed a stone and brush dam, procuring a fall of six and a half feet. The mill was fur- nished with an up and down saw. He operated it successfully four years, then sold to William Bowen, came to Ithaca and purchased his pres- ent farm, located on the northwest quarter of section 21. The place was first ocenpied by

William Butler, an Indian, who had built a log house upon it. They lived in that a few months, when they replaced it by the frame house they now occupy. Mrs. Cass died in 1840, in Penn- sylvania, leaving four children-Osman, Al- mina, George W. and Walter T. Mr. Cass was married again in June, 1840, to Esther A. Free- born, who was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., March 28, 1821. Mr. Cass is an enterprising intelligent man, and has filled offices of trust in the town.

William McCorkle, an early settler in Rich- land county and a member of the oldest firm now in business in the county, was born in New York city, Jan. 1, 1819. As soon as old enough he attended the city schools. During his school days here an incident occurred which has always been remembered The occasion being a visit to this city in 1825 by La Fayette. The school children, desiring to do him honor and express their appreciation of his attention, arranged themselves in line, while the hero l'e- viewed the ranks in soldier style, except that occasionally he would place his hand upon the head of some of the children expressive of his affection for them and indicative of a well formed physiognomy. The subject of this sketch was among those thus selected, and hoa- ored by the great La Fayette. Soon after this his parents moved to Long Island and settled in the town of South Hampton, Suffolk county. He remained here with his parents until about fifteen years of age when he went to New York city where he was employed as a clerk in a dry goods store three years, then went to Port Jefferson, L. I., and clerked there three years. He then concluded to go on a whal- ing voyage and made that his culling until 1855. During this time he sailed around the world six times and was once wrecked on the coast of South America. The vessel went to pieces on the rocks and about one-third of the cargo lost. He spent about four months in South America, viewing the country and having a good time generally. He then took passage

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HISTORY OF RICIILAND COUNTY.

for New York on an English brig. Meanwhile his brother Andrew had come to Wisconsin and stopped for a short time in Sauk county and in the spring of 185] had come to Rich- land county. William, accompanied by three other brothers, Samuel, Robert and Charles, concluded to give him a surprise in his new home, and started for Richland county. An- drew was at this time a single man, and boarded at the well known tavern called "The Ark." The brothers found on their arrival that he had gone out looking for land. They waited patiently several days. He was finally seen coming down the road and the brothers stood behind the door. As he came up William stepped out and greeted his brother, who was much surprised to see him. By the time he had partially re- covered his surprise another brother stepped out, then another, and finally the fourth, "for God's sake," said Andrew, "is the whole family here?" William remained in Richland county for a short time, then removed to Long Island, and went on another voyage. He joined in mar- riage, Oct. 14, 1856, with Harriet F. Toping, who was born in the town of South Hampton, Suffolk Co., L. I., July 27, 1837. In the spring of 1857 he returned to Richland county, and located in Sextonville, purchased village property and engaged in mercantile trade. In 1857 the firm of McCorkle & Thomas was formed and is now the oldest firm doing busi- ness in the county. Mr. and Mrs. McCorkle have had two children-Engene W., born July 15, 1857, and Lillian, born Nov. 23, 1861, and died Nov. 14, 1868. Andrew remained a resi- dent of Sextonville several years. Hle was mar- ried to Rebecca, daughter of E. M. Sexton. Ile now resides in Webb City, Mo. Charles and Robert both settled in Richland county. Charles was a young unmarried man, intelligent and enterprising. He had filled offices of trust in the town and county; was at the time of his death, register of deeds. Robert lived here some years then removed to Lloyd where he is interested in a flouring mill. Samuel returned

to Richland county some years later and engaged in mercantile trade at Lloyd.

George W. Cass, son of James M. and Mary (Taplin) Cass, was born in Ohio, Feb. 19, 1836, and was fifteen years old when his parents set- tled in Richland county. He was married in 1859 to Margaret J. Beaver, daughter of Chris- tian and Catharine Beaver, and a native of Mifflin Co., Penn. He then went to Spring Green and purchased a farm, lived there one year, after which he returned to this county, and settled in the valley of Little Willow, on section 7, land that he had bought in 1856. It was then in its natural state, mostly covered with brush. He now has 120 acres of the 160 under cultivation; has erected good frame buildings and has altogether a pleasant home. Mr. and Mrs. Cass are the parents of six children-Mary, Charles, Jennie, Frank, Nellie and Lucy. Jen- nie died March 7, 1883, of diptheria.

Joseph Sippy, M. D. (deceased), one of the pioneers of Richland county, was born near Harper's Ferry, Va., in March, 1791. His father was a native of France and came to America with La Fayette during the War for Inde- pendenec. He left home withont the consent of his parents, and was not mustered into ser- vice until his arrival in America. After the declaration of peace he settled in Virginia and was there married to Lucretia Johnson, who was born in Fredericksburg, Va. When the subject of this sketch was seven years old his parents moved to Pennsylvania and settled in Beaver county, where he grew to manhood, re- eceiving his education in the subscription schools. He was a stirring patriot and volun- teered in the War of 1812, served a short time when he was honorably discharged, and soon after was married to Martha Cogswell. Her mother was a sister to Gen. Gates, of Revolu- tionary fame, and was born in March, 1796. In the year 1813 they emigrated to Ohio, making the trip with one horse, without a wagon, paek- ing upon the back of the horse their household goods, including bedding and camp kettles.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Such a method of transportation at this day would indeed seem slow and irksome, and shows that these persons must have been of pluck and energy. They made their way to the Cuyahoga river in Cuyahoga county and remained a few months. It was at that time an unhealthy country and consequently he moved and settled in the town of Granger, Medina county, where they were early settlers. They lived there a few years and then moved to the town of Hink- ley, in the same county where he commeneed the practice of medicine, and also having pur- chased eighty acres of land carried on a farm. In 1836 he sold out and again started west and this time settled in Fulton Co., Ind., where they were again pioneers. A history of Medina county, published subsequently, makes particu- lar mention of this pioneer, as he was a promi- nent representative man. In Indiana he made his ehosen profession a business and had a lu- crative practice. This country also proved to be somewhat unhealthy and in 1852 be concluded to again change location, and accordingly made a visit to Richland county, coming from Indi- ana on horseback. Thinking this would be a desirable, healthy country, he returned to Indi- ana, and in September of that year, returned with his family and settled on section 31. 1Ie was not well pleased with this place but bought it on account of the improvements. As soon as he was comfortably settled he started, accom- panied by his son, Thomas, to explore the val- ley of Willow creek. There was no road and they went prepared to cut their way through. At night they camped under the protection of a shelving rock on section 9. The road now runs under this same rock. Isaac Welton had been following their trail and overtook them at this place, and the next morning, leaving the team, they started on foot. Mr. Sippy at this time selected three forties of land-the south half of the west quarter of section 4, town 90, range 2 east, and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 4; he afterward bought additional land adjoining land near by

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 154

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