History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 174

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 174
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 174

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).

Hon. Henry Conner was the first man elected to represent Richland county in the State As- sembly. lle was the candidate of the demo- cratic party, and his opponent was Sexton. He served the people one term and gave good sat- isfaction, but has since had but little to do with politics. He has, however, held the office of justice of the peace almost continually for thirty years, also served as chairman of the town board. Mr. Conner was born in Virginia in 1793, learned the tanner's trade, and in 1827 united in marriage with Jane Colton. In 1832 he moved to Ohio and one year later to Johns- ton Co., Ind., from whence he came to Wiscon- sin and has since been engaged in farming in the town of Richwood. He is a Presbyterian in his religious views, and a man who has the esteem of all who know him. His wife died Oct. 23, 1878. She had given birth to nine children, five of whom survived her in life- William 11., Mary E., Margaret S., Rebecca C. and Nancy A.

L. M. Thorp first visited Richland county during the month of May, 1849, and spent a lit- tle time looking over the country. On the 21 day of June following he entered 160 acres on section 24, Richwood town, so that he was among the pioneers in making selection of a lo-

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

cation. He then returned to Indiana. In 1851 he brought his family, consisting of a wife and three children, and settled on the land he had entered, making the trip with teams. In 1854 he removed to section 6, where he accumulated a large body of land and became a well-to-do farmer. Upon his arrival in the county his earthly possessions consisted of one team and wagon, and $100 in cash, so it may be con- eluded he was an industrious man and a good manager. After securing his provisions for the winter he found himself with but $5 in money, and nothing coming in, as is always the case in a new country the first year, so he tanght school and spent what time he could upon the farm, and thus made a start in life. At one time he was extensively engaged in the culture of hops, which promised large returns, but prices unexpectedly declined to such an ex- tent as to involve him in serious loss. Diseour- aging as was the result of this enterprise, he did not falter or spend any unnecessary time in complaint, but with characteristic energy pushed forward and recovered himself from pe- cuniary difficulty. Mr. Thorp was a member of the first republican convention held in the county, and was prominently identified with that party until 1878. Being a man who thinks for himself, he was among those who could not be held by party ties, and since that time, gov- erned by high and honorable motives, he has acted independently of party. He has held froin time to time positions of trust, and in 1856 was elected county sheriff, and again elected to the same office in 1862. Ile was a candidate on the greenback ticket, in 1878, for member of the Assembly, and made a good canvass, polling a strong vote, but was nevertheless defeated with the rest of that ticket. The subject of this sketch was born in Connecticut, Dee. 24, 1816, where he received a good education and taught school thirty-nine terms. In 1840 he went to Indiana, where in 1847 he was married to Mary Jane Miller, a daughter of Henry Mil- ler, who settled in the county in 1852. Mr.

and Mrs. Thorp have reared eleven children- Janette, Julius C., IIenry M., Lawrence M., who died at the age of twenty-four years; Mary J., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Oc- tavia, who married A. H. Floaten; James A., Louisa, Levina, Ida M. and Florence. In addi- tion to other good qualities, Mr. Thorp is a temperance worker and a woman's rights man. He is not a narrow minded bigot. A man of his calibre and thought could not well be such, and his religious views are liberal. When the county seat removal question was agitated, Mr. Thorp, feeling that Richland Center was the proper and desirable place, worked for its loca- tion at that point, and through his influence one-half the vote of the town was east in favor of such removal.

Levi Persinger settled in. the county in 1851 and soon purchased land on section 17, where he made improvements, and in 1858 located on the same. He continued farming and now owns 240 aeres. From 1861 to 1883 he acted as mail carrier, and although the country was rough and the roads bad, yet he never missed having the mail reach its destination at the appointed time. Mr. Persinger was born in Virginia, in 1816; moved with his parents to Cincinnati when nine years of age. From Ohio he went to Indiana and in Johnston county, in 1838, Christena Brunnemer became his wife. The children are-Margaret, Levi, died at the age of thirty-five years; Catharine, died at the age of thirty-three years ; William, Joseph and Mary. Politically he is a republican. Mr. Persinger is a member of the I. O. O. F.

J. S. Ellsworth was a native of Vermont, born in August, 1808. He learned the shoe- maker's trade, moved to Ohio and thence, in 1852, came to Wisconsin and settled in this county, and followed farming, also kept a small store at Independence, between Lone Rock and Rich- land City. In' 1856 he purchased a water power on Knapp's creek and built the Ellsworth mills and operated the same until 1882, then moved to Benton Co., Mo. He was twice married, first

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

to Didama Buxton. She died in Ohio leaving two children-Diana and Oliver. He then married Amy B. Stockwell, and by this union reared three children-Thomas J., M. D. and II. B. Politically he is a democrat.

M. D. Ellsworth was born in Ohio in 1847 and came with his parents to this county. Ile assisted his father on the farm and about the mill until 1876, since which he has operated the Ellsworth mills, of which mention is made elsewhere in this book. In 1875 he was mar- ried to Miss A. L. Hodgins. They have three children-Fannie, Lelia and Mabel.

Thomas J. Ellsworth was born at Johnstown, Lieking Co., Ohio, April 20,1842. Ile came to Richland county with his parents in the spring of 1851. Ile remained with his father until the summer of 1859, when he left home to seek his fortune elsewhere, taking the advice of Hor- ace Greeley to "go west, young man." He brought up in Kansas and was at Fort Scott at the breaking out of the Civil War, engaged in carrying the mail from Fort Scott to Greenfield, Mo. He enlisted in August, 1861, in company 3, 6th regiment, Kansas Home Guards. The company was mustered out of the service March 7, 1862, and on the 9th of the same month he enlisted in company F, of the 24 Ohio Cavalry, for three years or during the war. Becoming disabled in the right knee, while drilling on horseback, he was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, where the regiment had been sent to re- mount. He then came home, sick and a cripple, and with little hopes of getting well, but thanks to a good constitution not broken down by bad habits, and plenty of the article called grit, he did get well enough to be drafted in the fall of 1864, but he had broken his leg a few weeks before, while engaged in getting out saw logs for his father. As soon as the bone was healed sufficient to pass muster he again enlisted, this time in company HI, 44th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Houtz's company, in which he served as corporal and was detailed as company clerk, but before he had served one month an-

other aceident overtook him and his leg was once more broken, this time in a playful scuffle with a comrade, and he was again sent to the hospital where the surrender of Lee at Appo- matax found him, and he was sent home under the general order discharging all men in hos- pital. In the year 1867 he started a tannery in the town of Richwood, in which he was fairly successful, but failing health forced him to to quit hard labor so he quit the business, hay- ing by honesty, industry and fair dealing ac- quired sufficient of this world's good to be com- fortably situated at present. In the year 1875, on the 30th of May, he was married to Mrs. Ellen (Cosgrove) Burns, by whom he has one child-Ada Augusta, aged eight years. In polities he is independent, having taken quite an active part in both the democratie and green- back parties, and in 1880 was the candidate on the tickets of both those parties for county clerk, but party spirit run very high and he could not overcome the large republican major- ity in the county; yet he had the satisfaction of running ahead of his ticket in both his own town and that of his opponent. Ile favors free trade, free schools, free religion and free men, and plenty of greenback legal tender money. In religion he is a pronounced mate- rialist; his motto, "do good."

Jeremiah Dingman is another early pioneer, he having chosen Richland county as his resi- dence in 1853. He was an unmarried man, and thus worked for various parties until 1861. He then enlisted in company HI, 11th Wisconsin, and served three years and three months. Re- turning home, he purchased eighty aeres ou section 25. and in 1866 united in matrimony with Permelia Bergham, and has since followed farming as an occupation. The children are- Emmett F., Pearl and Edmund C. Mr. Ding- mam is a member of the G. A. R.

A. M. Stratton, on first coming to the county, located at Cazenovia, where he was connected with the mill for one year. He then had charge of the mill at Sextonville four years, and

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Bowen's mill six years, after which he came to Excelsior, purchased the mill property and operated both grist and saw-mills. Mr. Strat- ton was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., July 8, 1843, and came with his parents to Berlin, Wis., in 1854. He enlisted in 1862, in company G, 32d Wisconsin, and served until the regiment was mustered out of service. Returning home, he, with H. Scarles, raised a part of a company, which was assigned to the 50th Wisconsin, and served until June, 1866. After the war he en- gaged in milling at Lemonware, Wis., where he remained three years, then spent a short time in Iowa, after which he came to Richland coun- ty. Mr. Stratton was married in 1865 to Jes- tinie Buck, and about a week afterwards re- turned to the ranks of his regiment. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stratton arc-Ella G., Cassius M., May Belle, Robert T. and Guy L. Mr. Stratton is a good business man, courteous to all, and highly respected.

David Dewey, one of the pioneers of 1854, settled on section 2, town of Richwood, where he entered eighty acres. One year later he removed to Sheboygan county and there en- gaged in operating saw-mills about three years, then went to the State of Ohio and continued in the same business. In 1860 he returned to Richland county and lived for a short time on the land he had entered, then removed to Port Andrews and served as engineer on river boats until 1865, when he purchased the mill property on Byrd's creek, of which mention is made else- where. Mr. Dewey was born in Rutland Co., Vt., May 5, 1833. When he was very young the family moved to Ohio. At the age of six- teen years he left his father's farm and com- meneed work in a saw-mill. He also served as fireman of a railroad engine. In 1854 he went to Iowa, and there was married to Ann Dud- geon. The same year he came to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey have had three children, two of whom are living-Lydia and Zilpha. Mr. Dewey is politically a republican, and has

held local offices. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

E. D. Clark was born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., Oct. 12, 1813, and the winter following removed with his parents to Berkshire Co., Mass., where he lived until he was sixteen years old, when he moved to Steuben Co., N. Y. He was a natural mechanic and always performed his own earpenter work. Dec. 28, 1834, Mary Ann Clark became his wife. He came to Wisconsin in 1855 and soon purchased land on section 33, Richwood town, and turned his attention to farming, in which he met with moderate snc- cess. He is a man with many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Clark had three sons-Ansel H., who died at the age of twenty-seven years; George and Joseph S.

J. S. Clark was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Sept. 17, 1848, and and in the year 1855 re- moved with his parents to Richland Co., Wis., where he was raised on a farm, receiving a com- mon school education. Heis a natural mechanic, having inherited it from his father. March 28, 1868, he was married to Ellen S. Elliott, and in the following winter gave up farming entirely, and commenced learning the jeweler's trade in the village of Excelsior, but found that the man he was learning from was not thoroughly posted in all the intricacies of this trade, so the follow- ing winter went to St. Paul, Minn., and there took a thorough course of instruction in watch repairing, and the manufacturing of jewelry. After leaving St. Paul Mr. Clark went to Lans- ing, Iowa, and there took more thorough instruc- tion in the art of making jewelry, and Oct. 12, 1871, he moved back to Richland county, where he now lives, and has established a business second to none in the county, for the repairing of watches, and manufacture of jewelry. He has all the work he can do, orders coming from from a eireuit of twenty-five miles around. Mr. and Mrs. Clark had seven children, five boys and two girls, four of which are now living- Emory J., Roy E., Myrtle E. and Glen; the other three died when quite small. Mr. Clark's

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social standing is good, having a wide circle of friends, and he has been frequently honored with the small local offices, and is a member of De Molai Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templars, Boscobel, Wis.

J. Robert Coumbe, of the firm of Logan & Coumbe, is a son of John Conmbe. He was born in 1855. He received a common school education and helped till the soil until 1878, when he engaged in the general merchandise business. On Oct. 31, 1883, he was married to a daughter of George Kronskop.

Warrington Jones, in the spring of 1853, pur- chased land on section 7, but did not move till the spring of 1855, and thus became the first settler on the west branch of Knapp's creek. He engaged in farming, and continued the oc- cupation. lle was born in Georgia, May 14, 1811. Ile went to Tennessee, where he was married to Minerva Howard, and in 1847 came to Wisconsin. He first engaged in mining, after which he came to this county. His wife died in 1874. She had reared seven children, all of which are living at this time -- Hannab, Sarah, James W., Miranda, Felix, John D. and Martha. Ile is a member of the Christian Church and of the I. O. O. F. lle is strictly temperate in all of his habits; not using intoxicants, or tobacco in any shape. He is liberal in all his views.

J. W. Jones, son of Warrington and Minerva Jones, came with his parents to this county in 1855. In 1856 he was married to Julia A. Kin- der, daughter of Peter Kinder. Mr. Jones was born in Tennessee, Nov. 3, 1836, came to Wis- consin in 1847, and followed mining until he came to this county. He is now a successful farmer, resides on sertion 27, and owns over 300 acres of land. His polities are democratic and although his party was greatly in the mi- nority, he has been often elected to local office. He is a member of the Christian Church and of the I. O. O. F.

John D. Jones was born in Iowa Co., Wis., near Mineral Point, Nov. 4, 1819. Hle came to Richland county with his parents, Warrington

and Minerva Jones, in 1855, and has lived here ever since. In 1870 he was married to Libbie Turk, daughter of James and Sarah Turk, of Crawford county. This union has been blessed with four children-Charley P., Frank J., Sadie E. and John E. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are mem- bers of the Christian Church and of the I. (). G. T.

S. B. Marsh arrived in the county May 18, 1855, and as he was yet an unmarried man, he worked for other parties. Ang. 3, 1855, he chose Rebecca Miller, daughter of Henry Mil- ler, as his wife. He then removed to land previ- ously purchased on section 30, town of Eagle, where he resided until 1861, then purchased the estate of Henry Miller, located on section 26, town of Richwood, and he now owns 220 acres. He is a successful farmer and a highly respected citizen, ranking for honesty and in- tegrity among the best. Mr. Marsh is a native of Indiana, born Dec. 8, 1830, and resided in his native State until he came to Wisconsin. Politically he is a republican. He is a member of the Christian Church and the I. O. O. F. r. and Mrs. Marsh have had six children, five of whom are living-James A., Lenora, Mary, Maggie and Albert. Alvin II. was born July 29, 1875, and died Ang. 29, 1876. Mr. Marsh received a limited education in the district school; attending school during the winter months and working on the farm in summer. He raises some stock, but his attention is prin- cipally given to grain farming.

Edmund Clark came to Richland county in the fall of 1856, and in the spring of 1857 set- tled on section 34, where he had purchased eighty acres of land. He was industrious, and soon his log cabin gave way to a large frame residence, and he increased his real estate to several hundred acres. He gave his entire at- tention to farming, and thus made a success of life. He is a native of Massachusetts, born May 12, 1817. When fourteen years of age he moved with his parents to Schuyler Co., N. Y., where, on Oct. 11, 1845, he was married to Sally

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Benson. They reared three children, one of whom is living-Homer J. His wife died, and in 1854 he was married to Rosetta Ann Benson. By this union one child was born, but died in infancy. Mr. Clark is unpretentious in his ap- pearance, honorable in his dealings, hospitable to strangers, and highly esteemed.

Nathan Winton, settled in the town of Richwood in 1856, and first purchased land on section 21. He continued farming in the town, and in 1875 settled on section 17. His resi- dence was destroyed by fire in August, 1880, which was a severe blow to Mr. Winton, as he was carrying no insurance. Mr. Winton was born in Crawford Co., Penn., June 17, 1818. His father owned a saw mill about which young Winton assisted, also taught school. In 1846 he started for the far west, visited Iowa, and in 1847 came to Wisconsin and first stopped in Dane county. In 1848 he married Mary Otto. He afterwards resided near Reedsburg about three years, then came to this county. Mr. Winton is a good citizen, served as town super- intendent of schools, town clerk, assessor and justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Winton have six children-Viola, Omer E., David, Dora, John and Maggie.

H. F. Coates was born in Canada, Jan. 1, 1835, moved with his parents to Ohio in 1837, and to Grant Co., Wis., in 1851, from whence in 1856 he came to Richland county, and for thirteen years spent most of his time operating saw-mills. In 1859 he was married to Nancy Connor, daughter of Hon. Henry Connor. In 1860 he settled on section 18, where he at first purchased eighty acres, but has since made ad ditions, until his farm now contains over 400 acres. He is engaged in raising stock. Mr. and Mrs. Coates have reared the following named children-Vellorus, Frank, Adny, Elmer, Nora, Myrtie, Clara and Lester. Mr. Coates acts with the republican party, has held local offices, and for a number of years was post- master at Excelsior. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

W. H. Coates, in 1855, formed a partnership with S. W. Knowlton and purchased the water power and mill property of William Haskins. They soon erected a grist-mill, and on the day they raised the mill Mr. Coates named the place "Excelsior," a full history of which ap- pears elsewhere. He was instrumental in hav- ing the postoffice established, an active temper- ance worker, and an enterprising and influential citizen. In 1864 he sold out, moved to Iowa, and engaged in hardware and agricultural im- plement trade. Mr. Coates was a brother of Dr. J. T. Coates. He was born in Canada. His wife was a daughter of S. W. Knowlton.

J. T. Coates, M. D., is a native of Trumbull Co., Ohio, born June 18, 1840. His father, Francis Coates, was a native of England, and his mother, Eunice E. (Harvey) Coates, was born in Canada. In 1854 the family came to Wisconsin and settled in Grant county, where the father died in 1858. J. T. Coates first came to Richiland county in 1857, and for some time had charge of the postoffice, also assisted his brother, W. HI. Coates, about the mill. In 1861 he enlisted in the Ist Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry and served three months. He then re- enlisted and was mustered into service with the 2d Minnesota Sharp Shooters. He was wounded at the battle of Antietam, which disabled him so that he was discharged in February, 1863. He afterwards served as first lieutenant of a company stationed in the northwest to ward off the Indians, but resigned his commission and returned to Excelsior. He soon went to Iowa and engaged in mercantile trade, which did not seem congenial to his tastes, he having from early boyhood had a desire to study medi- cine. He first entered the university at Iowa City, and afterwards graduated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk. Ile commenced practice in 1871 at Excelsior, was afterwards at Muscoda and Montfort, but in 1883 returned to Excelsior. In 1876 Sarah S. Kite became his wife. They have one son -J. Floyd. Dr. Coates is a democrat in politics, a.

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member of the I. O. O. F., the I. O. G. T., the G. A. R., the State Medical Society and the Southwestern Wisconsin Medical Association.

L. E. Atkinson was born in Minnesota, Jan. 22, 1858, and came with his parents to this county in 1859. At the age of twelve years he commenced work at the blacksmith trade, which he followed most of the time, until 1883. In April of that year he leased the Excelsior House and engaged in hotel keeping. Oct. 6, 1882, Rebecca J. Whitcomb became his wife. She is a daughter of Myron Whitcomb. Mr. Atkinson is a member of the I. O. O. F.

George H. Hillberry, son of George and Catharine (Roberts) Hillberry, was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., Aug. 25, 1836. ITis parents moved to Virginia, when he was very young, and afterwards to Monroe Co., Ohio, where he attained his edneation in the common school. He came to Richland county with his parents, with whom he lived until 1863. In November of that year he was married to Mary. daughter of George W. and Sarah (Johnson) Waller. In the spring of 1861 they went to Colorado, and were absent from Richland county until the fall of 1865, then returned and purchased land in the town of Richwood, the southwest of the northeast and the northwest of the southeast of section 25. Ile erected a log house and began clearing. Ile lived there five years and improved quite a tract of land. He then purchased the northeast of the north- east of the same section, on which was a small log house. One year later he purchased the southeast of the southeast of section 24. Ile improved a farm and lived here six years. At the end of that time he bought the farm on which he now lives, on section 24. There was a frame house on this place, located on the northeast of the southwest quarter. He has since moved it to the southwest of the same quarter, and built an addition. In 1883 he erected a frame barn, 32×50 feet, with a stone basement. He is considered one of the best farmers in the town, and is largely engaged in

raising stock and grain. His farm now con- tains 425 aeres, and is located on sections 23, 24 and 25. Mr. and Mrs. Hillberry are the parents of five children-David W., Sarah M., Philip A., John H. and Wade H.

James Logan was born in Knox Co., Tenn., and resided in his native State until after his marriage with Margaret MeComas. He then removed to Ohio, thence to Illinois, and from there to Wisconsin, and settled in Rock county. In 1864 he came to Richland county and en gaged in farming on Willow creek, in the town of Ithaca. Ilis wife died Oct. 21, 1869, and he died July 23, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Logan were earnest Christians, and consistent members of the Baptist Church for many years. They reared twelve children, eight surviving them in life.

T. P. Logan was born in Illinois, Sept. 12, 1844. lle came with his parents, James and Margaret Logan, to this county in 1864. He was educated at Sextonville and subsequently followed teaching. In 1870 he commenced mercantile life as clerk, and was afterwards in partnership with B. F. Washburn for a short time. In 1878 he became associated with .. R. Coumbe as partner, and established the busi- ness of Logan & Coumbe. Mr. Logan is a good business man, active in the cause of tem- perance, and a member of the I O. G. T. Ile was married Dec. 23, 1874, to Elizabeth An- drews, daughter of Thomas Andrews. They have two children-Alta Lula and Clyde R. Mr. Logan was appointed postmaster in 1880, and has served as town treasurer.

Robert Buchanan is a native of Ireland, born Sept. 2, 1809. Ile emigrated to Canada in 1832, on account of cholera in the old country. lle did not remain long in Canada, but went to Otsego Co., N. Y., and in 1835 to New York city, where he served an apprenticeship to learn the trade of mason, which he followed in the cities of New York and Brooklyn about twenty years. In 1855 he moved to Schoharie county, and three years later to McHenry Co., Ill.,

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 174

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