History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 181

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 181
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 181

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).

IRON INTERESTS.

In 1874 Joseph Culver, from Madison, came to Westford, secured the services of Joseph Moll, and leased land from him and also Joseph Dresen and John Cobbledick, on sections 2 and 3.

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Mr. Moll was employed to prospect for iron ore, commencing first on the northwest quarter of section 2. They soon found ore sixteen feet below the surface of the earth. In the fall of 1875 a shaft was sunk on section 2, about forty- eight feet deep, and afterward several other shafts were sunk near by. In 1876 a company was formed, consisting of Joseph Culver, Gen. Lund and James Gunn. The company contin- ned operating the mines, and piled up the ore upon the ground. The vein became larger as they progressed, and finally Culver, Lund & Gunn sold out their interests to the Iron Ridge Iron Company, of which Leonard Bean was president. This company built a furnace at Cazenovia, and during the the summer of 1877 erected a foundry. Numerous shafts were sunk on sections 2, 3, and 4, and large quantities of good ore were taken from these shafts. The Iron Ridge Iron Company carried on the busi- ness until 1879, when they stopped work, and about one year later sold the buildings to C. E. Bohn, of Ironton, who converted it into a stave factory, for which purpose the buildings are still used.

CAZENOVIA CEMETERY.

The cemetery at Cazenovia was laid out in July, 1862, by Josiah McCaskey, surveyor. It was laid out under the supervision of the town board of supervisors. The land was donated to the town by Allen Perkins. Mrs. Gad Pome- roy was the first person buried here.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

Otis L. Gleason, one of the first settlers of Cazenovia, was born tn Northampton Co., Mass., Oct. 26, 1811. When he was but four years old his parents emigrated to York State and set- tled in Ontario county, town of Ogden, making the journey thither with teams, in the winter. He made his home with his parents until eleven years old, when he started out traveling in company with an older brother, selling jewelry and notions, visiting several different States. At twenty-two years old he engaged at work on board a boat, and run the river two seasons.

He afterward went to Cleveland, Ohio, and there engaged to learn the mason trade. Here he worked until 1846, then went to Michigan and bought government land in Ingham county. Eight months later he sold this and went to Kalamazoo, and worked at teaming on the rail- road, and thence to Chicago, where he engaged to go to "Big Bull" pineries, Wisconsin, making his way there with a team. In 1848 he went to Dane county and took government land in the town of Burke, remaining there until 1854, when he came to Richland county. Ile is a natural mechanic, and since coming here has worked as brick mason, and plasterer carpenter and joiner, etc. He is now living a retired life at Cazenovia. He was married in 1849 to Mila Butterfield, widow of David Fuller. They have one child-Effie May. Formerly Mr. Gleason was a democrat, but since the war has been a republican.

George Jarvis, an early settler in Richland county, was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1817. When a young man he came to America and settled at Columbus, Ohio, where he was married to Sarah Brockelhurst, and settled in Delaware county, where he was station agent at Orange station, remaining there until 1852, when he removed to Sauk county and lived un- til 1855, then came to Richland county and lo- cated at Richland City. In 1866 he removed to Cazenovia and made that his home until 1883. He is now at Redfield, Spink Co., Dak., where he has a land office. He was an attorney by profession, having been admitted to the bar in Ohio, and practiced in Richland county. He served as postmaster at Cazenovia. He has six children living-George, Birney M., Sarah, Martha, Emma and Fannie. Birney M., the owner of the flouring mill and water power at Cazenovia, was born in the town of Africa, Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1846, and was nine years old when his parents moved to Richland county. His early education was received at the district school and advanced at the State University at Madison. He enlisted in August,

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1862, in company A., 23d Wisconsin, and served with the regiment until the close of the war, participating in the following battles: Arkansas Post, siege and battle of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., on the Red River expedition, and with Banks and Fort Blakely, near Mobile. He was discharged with the regiment at Madison July 25, 1865. The following fall he bought the mill property at Cazenovia, where he has since made his home. He has greatly improved the property by building a new mill. He was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1881. He was married in 1869 to Janette Moore, of Michigan. They have five children-William, Birney, Moody Sankey, Carrie and Fannie.

John M. Jax, deputy sheriff, was born at Fond du Lac, Wis., Feb. 5, 1852, and was three years old when his parents came to Richland county and settled in the town of Westford. Here his childhood and youth were spent. His education was obtained in the public schools. He was married in 1875 to Annie Timlin, a native of Ireland. Ile settled in Cazenovia and engaged in farming two years, and then in the manufac- ture and trade of hoop-poles and hand shaved hoops, in which he is still engaged at Cazenovia and Lavalle, doing a business of about $12,000 per year. He has served as town clerk of the town of Westford, and is now serving his sec- ond term as deputy sheriff, having been first ap- pointed in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Jax are the parents of four children-Theodore T., John R., George P. and Joseph F.

John Donahoe, one of the pioneers of the town of Westford, was born in county Cavan, Ireland, Dec. 28, 1818, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits, receiving his education in a private school. le came to America in 1845, landing in Boston May 10 of that year. Ile there worked in a chemical factory till the fall of 1846, when he went to New Orleans, return- ing to Boston in the spring. He continued to spend the summers in Boston and winters in New Orleans until the year 1849, when he was married in the latter city to Mary Murphy, a

native of county Fermanagh, Ireland. He had a contract there to construct a levee and ditch, and employed men on this work until 1852, then removed to Perry Co., Ohio, and bought a farm, living there until 1955, when he removed to Richland county and settled upon the farm where he now resides. He immediately began clearing, and built the log house in which they lived until 1868. In that year he built the good frame house now occupied by the family. He enlisted Nov. 11, 1861, in the 3d Wisconsin Cavalry, company F, serving with the regiment until his discharge, Feb. 17, 1865. Ilis rezi- ment participated in many engagements and skirmishes. Among the more important are the following: Prairie Grove, Cabin Creek, Lit- tle Blue, Kansas City and Lexington, Mo. For the past few years Mr. Donahoe has devoted his attention to stock raising. Mr. and Mrs. Donahoe are the parents of five children-John J., Ann, Owen, Mary and Dennis. Mr. Dona- hoe has been prominent in public affairs, has held offices of trust, having served as assessor and supervisor, and has been clerk and treasurer of the school district.

Ludger Phoenix, one of the early settlers of Westford, is a native of Canada, born at Riche- lien, province of Quebec, Sept. 29, 1831. When he was seventeen years of age he came to the States and engaged in farming near Troy, N. Y., for one year. Then for one season he was employed in running a ferry-boat across the Hudson, between east and west Troy. He then worked at Inmbering till 1855, excepting one season that he was engaged in rafting lumber from Oneida lake to Albany. In the spring of 1855 he came to Wisconsin and engaged in farming with Richard Frost, near Madison, re maining there until September of that year, when he came to Richland county and purchased the southwest quarter of section 11, town 12, range 2 east, now known as Westford. Ho built a small log house and then returned to Madison, and was there married to Mary Tooley. and came back to his new home with his bride,

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who shared with him the hardships of pioneer life, ever ready to assist him in every way that she could. She died in January, 1869. Seven children had been born to them, three of whom are now living-Franklin P., George E. and Alice E. His second wife, to whom he was married in 1870, was Eliza Lutz. She has three children-Charles E., Rosa N. and Lillie M. In 1865 Mr. Phoenix became agent for the Etna Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn. Ile now represents the Home and Continental companies, of New York; llecla, of Madison; Rockford, of Illinois; Baston Underwriters, and Northwestern Mutual Life, of Milwaukee, and is now farmer and insurance agent. Mr. and Mrs. Phoenix are members of the M. E. class at Cazenovia, as was also his first wife.

Moses Bible, one of the pioneers of Westford town, is a native of Tennessee, born in Green county, April 7, 1808. He was brought up on a farm. At twenty years of age he engaged with a blacksmith to learn the trade, with whom he remained five months, then followed that busi- ness one year with another party, when he re- sumed farming. In 1834 he erected a grist- mill, doing the work himself, which he con- tinued to operate until 1846, when he sold out and removed to Indiana, taking his family, and traveling with a four horse team. They located in Clinton county, rented land and there re- mained until 1855, when he again started to seek a new home in the northwest, came to Westford and settled on the site of his present farm. He was married in 1830 to Catharine Clary, who was born in Jefferson Co., Tenn., Dec. 14, 1812. She died June 8, 1873, leaving seven children-Martha, Rufus, George, Joshua, Newton, Moses and Sarah. Francis, Darius and Susanna were also born to them, but are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Bible were both mem- bers of the United Brethren Church, and were consistent Christian people. He was a member of the first board of supervisors for the town of Westford.

Edward West, an early settler of Westford, was born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., on the 17th of January, 1824. Here his childhood and youth were spent in going to school and work- ing upon a farm. Ile was united in marriage with Sarah A. Fuller in April, 1848. She was a native of Oneida county. The same year he came to Wisconsin and located at Janesville, where he was engaged in farming and black- smithing until 1850, when he started for Cali- fornia overland, and arrived at his destination at the end of six months. lle worked in the mines there until 1853. In that year he re- turned to New York State by the way of the isthmus of Panama, remained five months, then went again to California and resumed working in the mines, which he continued until 1855, then came back to New York, and after stop- ping there a short time came to Richland coun- ty and settled on section 1. In 1863 he bought a house and lot in Cazenovia and moved his family there. After making them comfortable in their new home he enlisted in company I, 3d Wisconsin Infantry, went south, joined Sher- man at Chattanooga, was with him on his march to the sea and to Washington, participating with his regiment in the many important bat- tles of that campaign. He was discharged at Madison, Wis., at the close of the war, and re- turned to Cazenovia. Since that time he has worked as brick mason, and plasterer also as car- penter and joiner. Mr. and Mrs. West have three children-Thomas, Warren ard Birtsle.

Allen Tinker, one of the pioneers of Richland county, was born in Chenanga Co., State of New York, April 2, 1815. When he was but ten years old his parents died. Ile made his home in the same county until sixteen years of age when he moved to Otsego county and was there married in 1835 to Betsy Montgom- ery who was born in that county Dec. 29, 1812. Here he engaged in farming until 1843 then worked with a blacksmith at Cannonsville, Dela- ware county, to learn the trade and there contin- ued until 1849 when he enigrated to Wiscon-

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sin and settled in Jefferson county, erected a shop at Koshkonong, where he worked at his trade till 1855, when he came to Richland coun- ty and settled on section 9, township 12, range 2 east, now known as Westford with the inten- tion of becoming a farmer. Ile built a black- smith shop for his own convenience, but people came from miles around with work and he was kept busy at his trade. In February, 1857, he went to La Crosse and spent a few weeks. During his absence the town of Westford was organized and he was chosen chairman of the board. In the spring of 1858 he moved to Cazenovia built a shop and has since worked there at his trade. He has been prominent in public affairs and filled many offices of trust and honor, and is at this time justice of the peace. He has always taken a great interest in school and Church affairs, and was among the first members of the M. E. Church at this point and for many years class leader. Mr. and Mrs. Tinker are the parents of three children now living -Andrew M., Mary J. and William Henry. The oldest son, Andrew M., was born in York State, Feb. 24, 1839, and came to Wis- 1 consin with his parents. When a young man he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. Ile was married in 1859 to Mary J. Russell and settled in Cazenovia. He served during the war in the 42d regiment, company I. He now lives in Eau Clare county. Charles M. was born in York State, Oct. 4, 1845, and made his home with his parents until 1861, when he en- listed in the 3d Wisconsin, company F, and went south. Ile died in the service at Fort Scott, Kan., Nov. 24, 1862. William Henry was also born in York State, March 27, 1847, and was eight years old when he came to Richland county with his parents. He commenced when quite young to learn the trade of blacksmith with his father He enlisted in March, 1865, in the 50th Wisconsin, company II. and went south. He was discharged July 25, 1865, from the hospi- tal, where he was sick. He then returned home and resumed work at his trade, which he has

since followed, excepting eight months in 1881, during which time he was in the employ of a Milwaukee firm selling groceries on the road. Ile was married Nov. 5, 1871, to Nellie Nichols, a native of York State. They have five chil- dren-Amasa L., William II., Fred A., Maud I. and Enella. They also have a daughter Mary J., the wife of Joshua Bible, who lives in Sank county, near Cazenovia. Allen Tinker politically belongs to the democratic party, but is not so bound by party ties, as to always vote . for any candidate regardless of his personal fit- ness for the position, but is among those who exercise the right of suffrage intelligently, and always votes the democratic ticket, when good men are brought forward. He cannot be con- sidered a politician in any sense, and never solicited man's vote, either for himself or other persons. Electioneering for office is a thing of which he never was guilty, although an honest public servant whenever entrusted with public office in any capacity.

Joseph Moody, an early settler in the State of Wisconsin, was born in Summit Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1821, where he received a common school education. When he was seventeen years old, his parents moved to Hancock county and he made his home with them until 1841, in which year he was married to Sarah Milledge, who was born in Franklin county. In 1844 he came to Wisconsin and settled in Waukesha county. purchased forty acres of land which he ocenpied until 1848, then he traded it for a land warrant, which he placed on land in Mt. Pleasant, Green county, which was at that time a new country. lle improved a farm, which, in 1858, he traded for timber land in the town of Westford, on see- tion 34. Here he cleared a valuable farm, planted an orchard, and is one of the few suc- cessful fruit growers in the town. He built a two story log house, a large frame barn and was engaged in raising both grain and stock. Il. enlisted Ang. 14, 1862, in company B, 25th regi- ment Wisconsin Volunteers, and went to Mit .- nesota to meet the Indians, remaining there

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until February, 1863, then went south and joined the 16th Army Corps. Ile was with Sherman on his mareh to the sea, and through the Caro- linas to Washington, participating in the many battles of that ever memorable campaign. He was discharged with the regiment at Washing- ton June 7, 1865, and returned home. He was an exemplary citizen and prominent in town af- fairs, filling many offices of trust-having served as assessor and chairman of the board. Mr. and Mrs. Moody were the parents of eight chil- dren-Sophronia, Elizabeth J., Lewis C, Wil- liam B., Louisa V., James B., Thomas F. and Ephraim L. In the early part of December, 1883, Mr. Moody was strieken down with a com- plication of diseases, and suffered greatly from the outset, until the night of Jan. 25, 1884, when surrounded by many friends and relatives, the soul took its departure, and on the 27th, the body was conveyed to its final resting place, under the auspices of the 1. O. O. F., assisted by the G. A. R.

Wenzel J. Hanzlik, postmaster at Cazenovia, received his appointment, June 28, 1883, which position he had filled, as deputy, for six years. previously. He is a native of Bohemia, born in September, 1838. When he was twelve years years of age, his parents emigrated to America, and located in New York city, where he lived six years, then came to Hillsborough, Vernon county and worked upon a farm till 1861; then at the first call for three years men, enlisted in the 6th Wisconsin, company I, and with the regiment, joined the Army of the Potomac. Ile was discharged at Arlington Heights, Jan. 16, 1862, on account of disability. Ile returned to Ironton, Sank county, and, as soon as able to work, engaged to learn the trade of moulder. Feb. 15, 1855, he re-enlisted in the 12th Wis- eonsin, company II, and went to Raleigh, N. C., to join Sherman's army, and served till after the elose of the war. His regiment was discharged Ang. 9, 1865, when he returned to Ironton and resumed working at his trade as monlder. He remained there until 1877, when he came to

Cazenovia to take charge of a store for E. & N. G. Blakeslee. He has continued in the same business until the present time, and has built up an extensive trade. He was married on the 10th of February, 1861, to Kate M. Dressen, a native of Prussia. They are the parents of eight chil- dren-Joseph W., Annie T., Martin H., Frank WV., Hattie E., Eva M., Katie M. and William A.

John Keane, town clerk of Westford, first eame to Richland connty in 1862, and purchased land on section 36. At that time much of the land of the town was owned by speculators, who employed him to aet as agent for their sale, Being extensively acquainted, he soon disposed of considerable land, and in the mean- time partly improved his own, which he sold in 1867, and purchased his present farm on section 25. Mr. Keane is a native of Ireland, born in county Clare, in December, 1829. Ilere his younger days were spent on a farm and in school. He spent two years attending the graded sehool, at the village of Kilkee. At the age of nineteen, he left his native soil and came to America, and at first located at Mont- pelier, Vt., where he engaged in farming. After remaining there four years, he came to Wisconsin and was employed for six years as clerk in the executive department at Madi- son, under Govs. Bashford and Randall, con- tinuing there until 1862, when he came to Westford. He was married to Bridget Faren, in 1851. Eight children have been born to them-Mary, James, Kate, Jane, Margaret, John Edward and Simon. Mary is a native of Ver- mont ; the other children of Wisconsin. Mr. Keane has been in office the greater part of the time since coming to Westford, having served as elerk several years, and also as assessor and chairman of the town board. Mrs. Keane is a native of county Clare, Ireland. They were married at Burlington, Vt., by the Rev. Father O'Caligan. Mr. Keane's parents always lived at the place of his birth. His father died April 22, 1883, at the age of eighty-seven. His mother is still living. The town of Westford

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owes much of her prosperity and early settle- ment to Mr. Keane, through his earnest and upright manner in selling lands and bringing in settlers.

Sebastian Wenker, merchant at Cazenovia. came to this village in December, 1865, and purchased a one-half interest in the store of A. Fix. In March, 1866, they dissolved partner- ship, Mr. Wenker becoming sole proprietor. He is a good business man and has been successful in building up a large trade. He still continues business here and carries a good stock of goods. He was born in Alsace, when it was a part of France, Aug. 20, 1833. Whenhe was twelve years old his parents emigrated to America and loca- ted in Dodge Co., Wis., where they were among the early settlers. His father took government land and he assisted him in clearing a farm. He was joined in marriage when twenty-four years old, with Eva Derr, a native of Bavaria. He then settled on the old homestead and remained until 1862, then removed to Dane county and engaged in farming in the town of Bristol, re- maining there until 1865, then came to Cazo- novia. Mr. and Mrs. Wenker have had six children, four of whom are now living-Mary, Teressa, Anna and Sebastian. A daughter, Ellen, was born May 5, 1861, and died Jan. 11, 1875. Eva was born June 3, 1862, and died Jan. 26, 1875. Mr. Wenker has always thus far adhered to the democratic party.

Converse Pierce, town treasurer and justice of the peace, came to Cazenovia in 1866 and en- gaged in mercantile trade in company with M. O. Tracy, continued in that business one year, then sold out and engaged in farming. In 1869 he purchased Perkins' addition, consisting of twenty-four lots, where he built the frame house he now occupies, and has also erected a good frame barn. He was born in the town of Ham- burg, Erie Co., N. Y., Oct. 11, 1832, where he grew to manhood. llis early education was ob- tained at the district school, supplemented by two terms in the Oberlin University, at Oberlin, Ohio. In 1859 he moved to Wisconsin, lived

in Green county one year, then moved to Me- Henry Co., Ill., where he bought a farm of 120 acres. In 1866 he sold out and came to Caze- novia, as before stated. Ile was married in 1855 to Ellen E. Coon, also born in Erie county. They have one child-Glen Irving. His father, Dryden Pierce, was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1805. When he was two years old his parents emigrated to York State and settled in the town of llamburg. When a young man he went to Vermont, where he was married to Me- linda Hamblin, who was born in Utiea, N. Y. They now live with their only son, Converse, in Cazenovia.

James Moyes came to Richland county in 1867 and opened a blacksmith shop at Cazenovia. In 1870 he bought a lot in block 2, and built the frame dwelling in which he now lives. He sold his blacksmith shop in 1875 and purchased a farm of eighty aeres, on section 7, of the town of Ironton, Sauk county, and has since that time engaged in farming. He was born in Devonshire, England, in 1842, and brought up on a farm. At the age of seventeen he en- yaged with a blacksmith to learn the trade, served four years, and then went to South Wales to work at his trade, remaining there till 1867, when, as before stated, he came to America and to Richland county. lle was married in 1865 to Mary Marshall, also a native of Devon- shire.

Mrs. Carrie M. Atkins, the proprietor of the . hotel at Cazenovia, was born in the town of Or- leans, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Dec. 7, 1842. She was joined in marriage in 1858 to Sanford Col- lins. He was born in the town of Orleans in April, 1839. Eight children blessed this union, six of whom are now living-Sanford, Chloe L., Sturgis F., Birney A., Burton and Lula M. Ile was a machinist by trade, at which he worked in York State until 1867, when he came to Wis- consin and purchased a farm on section 7, town of Ironton, Sauk county. Here he made his home until the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 30, 1874. Iler second husband, to whom

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she was married Oct. 11, 1877, was Thornton Lee Atkins. One child-Nellie May-was born. Mr. Atkins was born in the town of Garnavillo, Clayton Co., Iowa, in 1848. His father, whose name was Elial Atkins, was a native of Ver- mont, settled in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1845, and moved from there in 1848 to Garnavillo. In 1852 he went to California, and his wife, with her two children, returned to Vermont and lived there five years, then returned to Garna- villo, where the subject of our sketch grew to manhood. When he was sixteen years of age he engaged in the brick city machine shop at Claremont, Iowa, and there learned the trade. The past few years he has been engaged as en- gineer. In the summer of 1883 he run the engine of the steamer Red Star, at Minnetonka, in Hennepin Co., Minn.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 181

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