History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 177

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 177
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 177

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).

John Stayton, one of the pioneers of Rich- land county, is a native of Delaware, born Nov. 15, 1820. When he was five years of age, his parents removed to Ohio, and settled in Fay- ette county. They resided there seven years and then removed to White Co., Ind., where his father rented a farm and lived one year, then removed to Tippecanoe Co. Ind. and lived there one year, and then removed to Ful-

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

ton Co., Ind., where the father entered land, and they were among the early settlers. On that farm the subject of this sketch began his pioneer life. He assisted his father in clearing the land, and continued to live with his parents until the time of his marriage, July 7, 1849, to Nancy C., daughter of Isaac and Phebe (Lewis) McMahan. She was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, and her parents were also pioneers of Fulton Co., Ind. Mr. Stayton lived in Fulton county until 1854, and then, taking his family, started with a span of horses and wagon to join friends in Richland Co., Wis. They camped out on the way, arriving at their desti- nation on the 4th of October. He entered land on section 23, town 12, range 1 west, in what is now the town of Bloom. The family lived with Mrs. Stayton's father until he could build a log honse. Ile then began clearing a farm. In 1864 he enlisted in company G, 16th regi- ment, Wisconsin Volunteers, and went south and joined the regiment. He served until the close of the war, and was discharged in June, 1865. In the fall of the same year, he sold his farm in Bloom town and removed to Rock- bridge, where he purchased a farm on section 21, town 11, range 1 east. llere the family lived in the pioneer log cabin until 1881, when he built his present comfortable frame resi- dence. Mr. and Mrs. Stayton are the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living- Margaret A., Phebe J., James H., Robert T., Elizabeth A., David S., Carson R., George M., Lilly M., Isaac E. and William A. Margaret married J. W. Cook, and is living in the town of Rockbridge. Phebe married D. W. Hutehi- son, a resident of Berrien Co , Mich., and Robert is married and living in Day Co., Dak. David died May 10, 1861.

Stephen W. Chesemore, (deceased) an early settler of Rockbridge, was born in Rhode Island, May 10, 1799. When he was but ten years old his parents removed to Vermont, and became pioneers in Orleans county. His father purchased wild land in what is now the town of

Troy, cleared a farm and made this his home until the time of his death. The subject of this sketch was here brought up, and married Betsy Colburn, who was born in Rhode Island. Iler parents were early settlers in the town of Glover, Orleans county. Twelve children blessed this union. They lived in Orleans county until 1854, then came to Wisconsin and located in Johnstown, Rock county. That same year he came to Rockbridge and purchased the south half of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 9. In 1856 he commenced to make im- provements and built a house, into which, in January, 1857, he moved his family. Ilere he made his home until the time of his death, which occurred Sept. 4, 1877. His widow died in April, 1881. His son, Newton, was born in the town of Troy, Orleans Co., Vi., April 5, 1836. He was brought up on the farm, receiv- ing his education in the common schools. Hle came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1854, and to Rockbridge with them in 1857, where he remained a few months, then went back to Rock county, remained until 1859, then came back to Rockbridge. He enlisted in Angust, 1862, in the 25th Wisconsin, company B, and went to Fort Snelling, spent a few months in Minnesota, then went south and was with Sher- man on his grand march to the sea, through tlie Carolinas, and thence to Washington, partici- pating in many of the important battles of that remarkable campaign. He was discharged with the regiment in June, 1865, and returned to Rockbridge. He then purchased the south one-half of the southwest quarter of section 10, and commenced clearing his present farm. He was married in 1866 to Mary Fogo, widow of John Tippin. They have two children-Genie F. and John Stephen Wheeler. His son, Digh- ton was also born in the town of Troy, Orleans Co., Vt., in December, 1837. He came to Wis- consin with his parents in 1854, and that year he visited Richland county, made a short stay, and returned to Rock county. In the fall of 1855 he went into the pineries and spent the

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winter lumbering. The following summer he was employed rafting down the river and also each succeeding summer until 1861, when he enlisted in the 11th Wisconsin, company D, and went south. Among the many battles in which he participated, are mentioned the following : Siege of Vicksburg, Cotton Plantation, Jackson, Mobile, Fort Blakely and Montgomery. Here- enlisted in 1864, and served until after the close of the war, and was discharged in Sep- tember, 1865, then came to Rockbridge. Ile was married in 1868 to Delia Hazeltine. He first purchased land on seetion 4, town of Rock- bridge, cleared a small portion of it, and traded it for land on sections 4 and 5, where he cleared a farm and made his home until 1881. His . wife died the 9th of September of that year, leaving three children-Lee, Guly and Pearl. lle has rented his farm and now makes his home in Rockbridge.

Moses B. West, one of the pioneers of Rich- land county, is a native of the Empire State, born at Deerfield Corners, Oncida county, in 1814. When he was but one year old, his par- ents moved to Wayne county, where they were carly settlers. His father was a land specula- tor and purchased a large tract of land and commeneed to improve several farms. Here the subject of our sketch made his home with his parents until twelve years of age, then en- gaged on the Erie Canal as cabin boy, and worked in this capacity until eighteen years of age, then took charge of a boat, and was thus employed until 1854, when he started west to seck a home. Coming to Richland county, he purchased 160 acres of land on section 21, and commenced clearing a farm. He first built a log house, but in 1883 erceted the frame house in which he now lives. He has engaged in raising stock and horses. He is a lover of fine horses and always keeps a good team. He was married in 1846 to Naney Tadder. They have eight children living, -Delphina, Ada, Emma, Moses, Augusta, Florence, Sarah and Ruth.

Morris Freeman (deceased), an early settler of the town of Rockbridge, was born in Herki- mer Co., N. Y., in December, 1803. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Snell, was also a native of the same county. In 1846 they emi- grated to Wisconsin and settled in Waukesha county, remaining there until 1855, when they came to Richland county and located in the town of Rockbridge, as before stated. Ile lived on a farm but a few years, when he moved to the village, where he remained until his death. which occurred Jan. 29, 1879. Mrs. Freeman died March 4, 1883. They were the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are now living -Hiram, Gaylord, Elizabeth, now the wife of C. H. Smith; Marietta, now the wife of D. G. Peasc; Charlotte, now the wife of E. P. Austin: Norman and Levi B.

Angus Smith, son of Alexander and Eliza- beth (MeDonald) Smith, was born in Yellow Creek township, Columbiana Co., Ohio, on Sept. 2, 1832. His younger days were spent in school and on a farm. In 1855 he paid a visit to Rich- land county, in company with his uncle, Daniel McDonald. He remained but a short time, and started on his return, going to Highland, thirty miles distant, on foot. He traveled from there to Warren, Il., by stage, and the remainder of the journey by rail. He was married Jan. 3. 1856, to Matilda Hart, also a native of C'olum- biana county, and in 1859 started with his fam- ily for Richland county. His family then con- sisted of his wife and two children, his mother and sister. He purchased his present farm on section 19, town of Rockbridge. It contained 140 acres, the greater part of which was timbered. He has since purchased adjoining land, and now has 230 acres, 130 of which are cleared. He has paid considerable attention to the raising of sheep, of which he has a large flock, also to the raising of fine grades of horses and horned cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of five children -Lydia Ann, John A., Elizabeth Alice, who died at the age of four, Maggie and Phila. Mr. Smith's parents were natives of

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Scotland, and came to America in 1806. They were early settlers in Columbiana Co., Ohio, where his father bought land and cleared a farm, making it his home till the time of his death, in 1853. His mother is still living at the home of her daughter, in the town of Marshall.

Daniel McDonald, one of the pioneers of Rockbridge, was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1813. He is of Scotch descent, his parents having both been born in Scotland. They emi- grated to America in 1806 and settled in Colum- biana county, where they lived until the time of their death. The subject of this sketch was reared to agricultural pursuits, receiving his education in the pioneer schools of his native county, where he remained until 1855, when he came to Richland county, as before stated. Ile had previously, in 1852, visited this county, and entered land on section 19, town 11, range 1 east, now known as the town of Rockbridge, and had employed one of the settlers to build a log house for him. His aunt and sister pre- ceded him on the way, having come by cars and stage, and were at the log cabin to give him welcome. He immediately commenced to cut a farm out of the heavy timber, an under- taking of considerable magnitude and requiring energy and perseverance. Ilis farm How con- tains 203 acres, one-half of which is cleared. At first he made a specialty of raising grain, in a few years added a sheep husbandry, and now raises horses and cattle. Ilis aunt died in 1861, and his sister in 1868. He is a bachelor, has a good frame house and comfortable home.

Budington Kinyon, one of the pioneers of Rockbridge, was born in the town of Richmond, Washington Co., R. I., Ang. 19, 1800. IIe made his home with his parents until twenty years old, when he went to Connecticut and en- gaged in farming, stone-cutting and mason work in New London county until 1832, when he went to Illinois and purchased prairie and timber land in Edwards county, where he improved a farm, which he sold in 1855. The Ist day of May of that year, in company with his family,

he started with a team for Wisconsin. On the 3d of June he arrived in Iowa county and re- mained until Angust, then came to Richland county. Ile purchased the northwest of the southwest of section 6, town of Rockbridge, built a log house and cleared a part of the land, living there two years, when he bought his pres- ent farm-the south half of the southeast, and the southeast of the southwest of section 6. He has been twice married. The first time, to Mary Ann Price, in 1826, who was born in Long Island, York State. They had six children, two of whom are now living-Mercy and James. She died in 1840. His second wife was Eliza Morrell, a native of the State of Maine. They had ten children, four now living-George, Jede- diah, Elmond and Budington E. She died July 11, 1875. Mr. Kinyon, now in his eighty fourth year, is a hale, hearty man, with strong mind and good memory, a remarkable person for his age. Ilis son, George, with whom he now makes his home, was born in Ed vards Co., Ill., March 9, 1846; came to Wisconsin with his parents and made his home with them until twenty-one years old, meanwhile attending the pioneer schools and assisting his father in clear- ing a farm. He was joined in marriage with Alberta Braithwaite Sept. 12, 1874. She was born in Richmond Co , Va. They have four children-Clara Belle, Charles E., Lottie L. and Martha Eliza. In 1877 he settled on the old homestead.

Herman T. Hamilton, son of an early sett'er of Richland county, was born in the town of Stockbridge, Madison Co., N. Y., March 22, 1828. His younger days were spent in school and upon the farm. He came to Richland Co., Wis., in the summer of 1855, settled in Rich- land Center, bought four lots and built a house. In 1855-6-7, he was engaged in teaming from Madison and Galena to Richland Center, then the nearest railroad station. In 1859 he bought land on section 29, town of Richland, where he resided three years. Ile then sold and returned to Richland Center, where he remained one year.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

In 1865 he bought the west half of the north- west quarter of seetion 13, town of Rockbridge, and engaged in farming. In 1872 his house with all its contents was consumed by fire. lle then removed to his present farm, the cast half of the same quarter. Ile has since cleared about twenty acres of the land, and built the house in which he now resides. Mr. Hamilton was married in 1852 to Mary J. Kimball, a na- tive of Onondaga Co., N. Y. She died at Richland Center in April, 1856, leaving one child-Wilfred. He was again married in 1858 to Marian Kinney, daughter of Thomas Kinney and early settler of Richland county, who came to Richland Center with her father's family in February, 1855. In the summer of 1856, she taught one of the first schools in the town of Henrietta, receiving six dollars a month and "boarding around." She was born in Sidney Co., Nova Scotia, Feb. 21, 1838, and has four children-Jennie May, Orcutt S., Edward R. and Essie Bell.

(). S. Welton, one of the early settlers of Richland county, is a native of the State of New York, born Ang. 16, 1821. When he was eight years old his parents moved to Medina Co., Ohio, remained there eight years, then moved west and settled in Fulton C'o., Ind., when he was nineteen years old. He afterward went back to Ohio and learned the trade of car- penter and joiner and followed the same in In- diana until 1855, when he came to Richland county and located at Richland Center, where he worked at his trade until 1858, when he went to llenrietta and purchased land on section 17. lle cleared a part of this land and lived here three years, when he traded for land on the northeast quarter of section 22, town of Rock- bridge and moved there. Ile enlisted in De- cember, 1861, in the 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, company F, and went south. He re-enlisted in 1864 and served until the close of the war. After his return he sold the farm in Rockbridge, and went again to Henrietta and bought a farm on section 20, where he lived for about ten

years, then sold out and purchased his present place on the southeast quarter of section 22, town of Rockbridge. Since that time he has engaged principally in farming, occasionally working at his trade. He has a good farin con- taining 114 acres. In 1882 he built the frame house in which he now lives. He was married in 1858 to Caroline, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Stevens) Kinney. They have had six children-Eliza, Alvin, William, Ada, Clara and Millard.

Richard Wade Hampton, one of the pioneers of Richland county, was born in Richmond, Va .. April 24, 1807. When he was a young man he learned the carpenter's trade. He was married in 1829 to Sarah Smith who was born in Gooch- land Co., Va., Dec. 26, 1800. They lived in Richmond until 1832, then when the cholera raged they fled the city, and went to Fluvanna county where he engaged in farming until 1849, then moved to Lewis Co., W. Va., and there worked at his trade until 1856, when he came to Richland county and settled in town 11, range I west, bought land on section 24 and lived here until the time of his death which occurred Nov. 18, 1862. His widow died in March, 1880, while on a visit to her daughter in Missouri. They had seven children, three of whom are now living-Elizabeth, now the wife of Samuel Schoonover, lives in Rockbridge; Sarah Ann. now the wife of Thomas Schoonover, now lives in Missouri; and Wade R., the only son, who was born in Fluvanna Co., Va., Feb. 21, 1837. He came to Wisconsin with his parents and made his home with his mother until 1865, when he purchased a tract of timber land on section 30, town of Rockbridge and commenced clearing a farm. Hle now has 183 acres of land, eighty- five of which is in a good state of cultivation. lle was married in 1859 to Sarah Collins, who was born in Gilmore Co., W. Va. They have eight children-John, Richard, Nancy E., Al- varetta, William, James, George W. and Mary A.

Isaac Johnson, Sr., (deceased) a pioneer of Richland county, was born in Virginia, June 9,

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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1800. While he was quite young, his father died and he was apprenticed to a miller to learn the trade. At the age of twenty-one, he went to Fredericksburg, where he was employed in a flouring mill. In 1830 he was married to Elizabeth Calhoun, a second consin of Jolin C. Calhoun. She was born in Culpepper Co., Va., Feb. 19, 1810. They remained in Culpepper county where he was engaged in running a four mill on the Rappahannock river, nine years. They then went to Ohio and settled in Logan county, where he bought a farm, and lived till 1856, then came to Wisconsin and settled on section 32, of the town of Rockbridge. le pur- chased timber land which he cleared and made his home till the time of his death, July 15, 1875. Mr. and Mrs Johnson had thirteen chil- dren born to them, ten of whom lived to attain their majority-Robert Calhoun, Mary, Wil- liam, Martha, Enoch, Ann, Isaac, Hattie, Cleve- land and Willis II. Their son William was born July 23, 1835, and came to Wisconsin with his parents. Ile enlisted in the 11th Wisconsin, company D, on Jan. 4, 1864, and went to the front. Ile died in Brazee City, La., in Sep- tember, 1864. He had been married but two weeks when he enlisted. His widow is mar- ried and lives in Iowa. Enoch was born Ang. 5, 1840. He enlisted in 1864 in the 6th Wis- consin, company B, and died at Huntsville, Ala., in June, 1864. Ilis widow now lives at Red- wing, Minn. Isaac was born Oct. 2, 1845, and was reared to agricultural pursuits, receiving his education in the district school. He was married in 1875 to Ida, daughter of John C. and Ilarriet (Stockwell) Davis. They have four children-Martha, William C., Harry and Isaac. Ile now occupies the homestead with his mother.

John S. Scott, one of the pioneers of Rock- bridge, was born in Erie Co., Penn., July 5, 1806. When he was but one day old his father died, having been accidentally killed. When he was three years old his mother died. He then went to make his home with an uncle named John Shaddock, in Erie county. Here

he was well cared for and given an opportunity to obtain an education. When he was but fifteen years old he went to New York State and worked on the Erie canal, at Lockport, one summer. He then returned home and labored at farming for two years; then went east, labored and taught school one year in Herkimer Co., N. Y., then visited Philadelphia and other places and taught school in North- ampton Co., Penn., and acted as book-keeper for a contractor on the Manch Chunk & Schuyl- kill Railroad Company for over one year. After an absence of five years he returned home and engaged in the mercantile trade in Erie county, in company with his cousin, two years, then went to Erie City and elerked two years, He then engaged in an iron foundry as book-keeper and general manager until 1843, when he came to Wisconsin and visited differ- ent parts of the State. In the spring of 1844 he went to Walworth county and purchased land in the town of Hudson, where he built a house, improved a farm, and lived until 1848, when he sold out and removed to Dane county, purchased land in the town of Oregon, and im- proved another farm. In 1854 he sold out there and came to Richland county, prospect- ing as before stated. He has been twice mar- ried. His first wife was Ann Whitmore, and they were married in 1848. She was born in New York State, and died in Rockbridge, in December, 1860. Ilis second wife, to whom he was married Jan. 1, 1862, was Martha Thompson, who was born in Bakersfield, Frank- lin Co., Vt. They had one child-lda May. A young lad named George Handy has made his home with them since six years old.

Edward Murphy came to Rockbridge in 1856. Being an unmarried man at the time he did not immediately settle, but engaged to operate a steam saw-mill, on section 29. In 1858 he went to Iowa and spent a few months in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties, then returned to Richland. In 1864 he went to Colorado and engaged in mining at Pike's Peak, seventy-two

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

days. He spent two years in the territory prospecting and milling, then returned and went to West Virginia, where he remained one and a half years. At the end of that time he came back to Richland county and purchased forty acres of land on section 34. After com- pleting a log house with a shake roof, he com- menced to clear the land. Ile has, since that time, bought other land and now has 200 acres, sixty of which are cleared. He has a large frame house and barn. Mr. Murphy is a native of Frederick Co., Md., born Feb. 26, 1837. While he was very young his parents moved to West Virginia and settled in Lewis county, where he grew to manhood, obtaining his edu- cation in a subscription school, and living there till 1856. He was married in 1859 to Cynthia, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Oswalt) Wag- goner. Ten children have been born to them- James William, Joseph Warren, Mary A., Margaret, Alice, Robert, Cora, Eklora, Lewis and Simon. Mr. Murphy is well known throughout the county and has served as a member of the county board.

Jacob Anderson, one of the early settlers of Richland county, was born in Carroll Co., Ohio, Feb. 1, 1822. When he was eighteen years old his parents moved to Indiana and settled in Allen county, where they purchased timber land, cleared a farm of 120 acres, and his father died. The subject of this sketch assisted his father in clearing this farm, and made his home there until 1853. On the Ist day of September, that year, he was married to Elizabeth M. Kever, who was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Nov. 21, 1825. They remained in Allen county until 1856, then came to Richland county, bought a house and lot in Richland Center, and lived Silas L. Carpenter, son of Halsey and Sarah (Vannetter) Carpenter, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 8, 1839. He made his home with his parents in York State and the eastern part of Wisconsin, and came to Rockbridge with them in 1856. He was then but seventeen years old and started out for himself, and by there until the spring of 1857, when he engaged in farming on rented land in the town of Ithaca. In 1859 he purchased timber land on section 36, town of Rockbridge, but did not settle on it until 1866, until which time he was in the em- ploy of William Bowen. In 1866 he erected a good log house and commenced clearing his / energy, industry and economy has secured a

present farm. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of four children-Ilugh Wiley, Ma- tilda C., Cyrus Newton and John M. Mr. Au- derson has been a member of the town board, clerk of school district, and served a number of terms as school director.

Enoch Gray, one of the early settlers of Rich- land county, is a native of Maine, born in Wal- do county, June 2, 1835. He received a com- mon school education. When young he learned the cooper's trade. In 1856 he started west to seek a home, came to Richland county and rented land in Ithaca and commenced farming. In 1858 he took a pre-emption on section 35, town of Ithaca, but sold without making any improvements, and again rented land. lle en- listed in August, 1862, in the 25th Wisconsin, company B, and went south. He served eleven months, and was then discharged on account of disability and returned home. Ile again en- listed in September, 1864, in the 43d Wisconsin, company F, and returned south. Among the more important engagements in which he par- ticipated were the battles of Johnsonville and Nashville, Tenn. He served with the regiment until the close of the war, and was dischargel with them in June, 1865. While he was in the army his family settled on section 25, town of Rockbridge, where he had bought forty acres of land previous to his enlistment. Since his return from the army this has been his home. He has since purchased other land, and his farm now contains eighty acres. He was married in March, 1856, to Ruth Spaukling, also a native of Waldo county. They have nine children- John, Charles, Eben, Enoch, Steven, Frank, Burt, Lillian and Melvin.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

good home. Ile first went to Lone Rock and engaged in farming. He was married to Clar- issa E., daughter of Stephen and Sarah (Glazier) Smith. She was born in Windham Co., Vt. They spent the winter in Rockbridge. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in the 16th Wisconsin, company H, went south and joined the regi- ment at Marietta, was with Sherman on his march to the sea and through the Carolinas to Washington, where he was discharged with the regiment in June, 1865. In the fall he bought land on section 10, town of Rockbridge, joining the village plat. He buih a log house, in which he lived until 1869, when he created the frame house in which he now tives. Ilis farm con- tains seventy acres, sixty of which are cleared and in a good state of cultivation. His wife died Sept. 29, 1879, leaving six children-Leroy, Alice, Fred, Elma, Nellie and Edith. His sec- ond wife, to whom he was married March 29, 1880, was Delia, daughter of Tilas and Hannah (McCann) Knapp, early settlers of Marshall.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 177

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