USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 84
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John O. Sime is one of the popular commercial salesmen making Stoughton a place of residence, and he is traveling salesman for one of the leading wholesale clothing establishments of the city of Chicago. He was born in Norway, August 5, 1869, and is a son of Halvor W. and Anna Nagel (Orebeck) Sime. He secured his fundamental education in Norway, where he remained until he had attained to the age of thirteen years, when he came to the United States, arriving in Stoughton, Wisconsin, April 19, 1882. Here he has since maintained his home. He supplemented his educational work by a course in Albion Academy, this county, where he remained a student four years, being graduated from the business course in 1887. He then learned the trade of machinist, in Madison, and followed the same as a vocation for seven years, at the expiration of which, in 1894, he took a position as traveling salesman, in which line of work he has since continued most successfully, also finding much satisfaction in the fact that his assigned territory is such that he is able to make Stoughton his home. In politics he is a Republican, fraternaliy he is identified with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he attends the Norwegian Lutheran church, in whose faith he was reared. March 15; 1898, Mr. Sime was united in marriage to Miss Ida Peterson, daughter of Peter and Marie Peterson, of Stougli- ton, and they have three children .- Harry, William and Laura. Sep- tember 1, 1906. Mr. Sime with his brother. Andrew H. Sime, and Maurice A. Hemsing, embarked in the clothing and men's furnish-
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ing business with the firm name of "Model Clothing Co.," under the management of Mr. Remsing, Mr. Sime still continuing on the road in the wholesale clothing business.
Thomas N. Sime is one of the able and popular representatives of the agricultural industry in Dane county, being the owner of a finely improved farm of two hundred acres, in: section 29. Cottage Grove township. He has passed his entire life in this county and is a scion of one of its honored pioneer families. He was born on the parental homestead, in Cottage Grove township. August 8, 1853, and is a son of Nels T. and Mary N. Sime, both natives of Sogen. Norway. The father was born in 1812, and died January 13, 1818, and the mother, who was born in 1820, died March 9. 1895. Nels T. Sime was a blacksmith by trade and made the first plow ever manu- factured in Cottage Grove, while he also owned the first threshing machine ever operated by a resident of Cottage Grove township. He was a man of strong individuality and progressive ideas and was one of the well known and highly respected citizens of the county. Thomas N. Sime was reared on the o'd home farm, early beginning to lend his aid in its reclamation and cultivation, while his educational opportunities were those afforded in the district schools. His parents came to America in 1814 and made the trip on foot from Milwaukee to Dane county. The father took up gov- ernment land in Cottage Grove township and the deed. signed by the president of the United States, is in the possession of the sub- ject of this sketch, whose beautiful landed estate is a part of the property thus secured by his father in the early pioneer days. After their arrival in the township the parents had no domicile, as the new home was in the midst of the forest, and for several weeks they lived under the grateful shadows and protection of four fine trees, which are still standing, being veritable patriarchs and land- marks. These trees constituted the only shelter until the father could hew logs to erect the log cabin home. Milwaukee was at that time the nearest trading point and the hardy pioneer. Nels T. Sime, made the trips to and from on foot, leaving his wife at home with their two small children. The Indians were frequent visitors and wild animals were still in marked evidence, including deer, while other game was to be had in abundance, so that the pioneers had no difficulty in supplying their tables with good meat. When Mr. Sime selected his land he could have taken that lying on either side of Williamson street. in the heart of the city of Madison, the future capital having at that time but one store. Mr. Sime was an auditor on the occasion of the delivering of the first ser-
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mon by a preacher in his section of the county. the settlers having assembled for worship under the trees,-where the village of Mc- Farland now stands. He also hauled the first two logs used in the building of the first church in this vicinity, contributing the same from his own land. Thomas N. Sime, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, was reared under the influence of the pioneer epoch. and during the entire career, from youth to the present he has been identified with agricultural pursuits, while he has been a witness of the magnificent development of his county and state and has aided in bringing about the material and civic progress which now indicates a great and prosperous commonwealth. He has gained a competency and his beautiful rural home is one which shows on every side the unmistakable evidences of thrift, pros- perity and generous comfort. He and his wife hold the unqualified regard of all who know them, and the attractive home is one in which hospitality is ever shown without reservation. Mr. Sime came into possession of his present homestead before the death of his father, having gained success through well directed effort. He is one of the loyal supporters of the cause of the Republican party, and he served for a number of years as a member of the board of township trustees. He and his wife are prominent and zealous members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and he is a member of the building committee of the new church edifice in McFarland. In 1880, in Pleasant Springs township, Mr. Thomas N. Sime was united in marriage to Miss Lena Herried. who was born in Sogen. Norway, August 12, 1850, being a daughter of Wilkin and Christina Herried both of whom were born in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Sime became the parents of eight children, one of whom died in infancy. unnamed. Concerning the others the following data are given as indicating names and respective dates of birth: Christina Amelia, May 24, 1881; Nellie Maria. September ?, 1882, died February 27, 1883; Nellie Maria (?d), November 19, 1883, died May 9, 1885; Thea Soveina, February 12. 1885, died April 16, 1886 ; Nellie Maria (3d), February 27, 1887; Ida Soveina, September 13, 1889; and Bertha Caroline, October 15, 1891.
Edward Skelley is now living retired in the city of Madison after years of ceaseless toil and widely varied experiences. He is a son of the Emerald Isle, having been born in the county of Louth. Ireland, and was one of eleven children born to Patrick and Judith (O'Neill) Skelley, life-long residents of Ireland. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native land and received his education in the public schools. In 1847 he migrated to America. and locating
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in the state of New York, remained there five years, his general em- ployment being as a laborer in a brick yard. After spending some time in the south and other portions of the Union he came to Wis- consin in 1856 and first worked in a brick yard near Madison. But after being thus employed for a short time he became afflicted with sore eyes, and the doctor advised him to change his occupation and also his locality. Thereupon he went to the Kickapoo Valley and conducted a boarding house for wood choppers for about six months, after which he returned to Madison and worked as a rail- way employee for the ensning five years. He then removed to the village of McFarland, in Dane county, where he held the position of section foreman on the railroad for several years, after which he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. After renting a farm in the town of Fitchburg for a few years. in 1876 he purchased one hundred and fifty-four acres upon which he resided until 1900, making all the necessary improvements. In the latter year he de- cided to retire from the strenuous activities of life, and he pur- chased the home on Main street, in the city of Madison, where he now resides and where he expects to remain until the end of his earthly career. His life has been a successful one, but Mr. Skelley very generously says that a great deal of the credit is due to the economy and encouragement of his faithful wife, who shared with him all the privations incident to a pioneer life. Of the eleven chil- dren of the Skelley family nine came to America, but only two of these are living, our subject and his brother Lawrence. who resides with him. Mr. Skelley is a member of that time-honored political organization, the Democratic party, and the religious faith of him- self and wife is expressed by membership in the Catholic church. Mr. Skelley was married in September, 1854, to Miss Margaret Tier- ney. born in Ireland in 1835, daughter of Francis and Mary (Mc- Kenna) Tierney, who were also natives of that country. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Skelley there has been born one son, John, who married Miss Mary Fox and resides in the town of Fitchburg.
Captain Thomas Clark Slagg is a well known merchant of Cam- bridge, Wis. He was born in Yorkshire, England, January 1. 1837. and came to the United States with his parents, Joseph and Eliza- beth (Clark) Slagg, in 1849. The family embarked on a sailing vessel that consumed seven weeks and two days in making the voy- age. The rest of the journey to Milwaukee was made by water. as was customary in that day. and from there teams and wagons car- ried the party to Albion, where Mr. Slagg opened a general store. the first one in that vicinity. With W. D. Potter Mr. Slagg pur-
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chased a store in Cambridge four years later and soon became sole owner. In 1861 the store and stock was destroyed by fire and Mr. Slagg retired to a small farm, where he spent the remainder of his life. Three children were born to Joseph Slagg and his wife; Margaret is the widow of W. D. Potter and lives in Beloit, Wis., Thomas C. is the subject of this sketch; Mary is the widow of Rev. Peter K. Rye. Mr. Slagg was a Whig and a Republican, held the office of justice of the peace and was a valued and prominent member of the community until his death in 1867. His wife sur- vived him but three years. Thomas C. Slagg was educated in the home schools and the Albion academy and enlisted when he was twenty-four years of age. He entered the service as a private in Company K, Third Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry, April 14, 1861, and remained in the army as a veteran until the end of the war. His regiment was present at the battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Beverly Ford, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Antie- tam. It was assigned to the Twelfth corps which was later con- solidated with the Eleventh to form the Twentieth corps. After the Gettysburg campaign the corps was transferred from the Army of the Potomac to the Army of the Cumberland with which it served until the end of the war through Sherman's campaign of many days' fighting on the way to Atlanta and the march following to the sea. After the war, Mr. Slagg who had earned the rank of captain of Company H of the Third Wisconsin Infantry, re- turned to mercantile business in Cambridge in partnership with W. D. Potter. He bought Mr. Potter's interest in the drug busi- ness after a short time and Ole Bilstad became junior partner and finally sole proprietor of the business. Captain Slagg engaged in the dry goods business in Janesville for two years and then re- turned to Cambridge where he is at present a merchant. Captain Slagg is an ardent Republican, has been postmaster at Cambridge and chairman of the village board. He is a prominent member of the Frank H. Potter Post No. 22? of the G. A. R. at Cambridge, of which he has been both commander and adjutant. Mrs. Slagg was born in Jamestown, N. Y., daughter of Solomon S. Butler, was mar- ried April 31, 1861. and died in 1890. Mr. Batler was a prominent farmer of Cambridge. His oldest son is S. H. Butler, deceased, Abbie S., wife of Albert S. Gray, residing in Laramie City, Wyo- ming, is the oldest daughter; Richard. the second son, resides in Laramie, Wyoming, and Mrs. Slagg was the youngest daughter. Harry L. Butler attorney of Madison, Wis., is the son of S. H. 52-iii
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Butler. Captain Slagg married a second time, his wife being Mrs. Olena Krogh, widow of Albert H. Krogh, who was born and brought up in Kroghville, Wis.
William H. Slatter, Jr., a prominent young farmer of the town of Sun Prairie, is a native of Dane county. He carried on until very recently a general farming business on the splendid farm of two hundred and eighty acres which was owned by his father before him. William H. Slatter, Sr., was born in Oxford, England, Feb- ruary 2. 1823, attended Oxford University and, in 1849, came to the United States and located in Dane county, Wis. He married Miss Isabella Jane Douglas, who was born on the Black river in Jackson county, Wis., in 1842. She was the first white child born in that locality and was the daughter of William Douglas, of Dumfries, Scotland, and Caroline (Walker) Douglas. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Slatter, three sons and five daughters are now living. Mr. Slatter was prominent in the community and always . active in its interests. He was a Democrat and held many, local offices. For many years he was chairman of the town board and was assessor for one term. He aided in the establishment of the Farmers Mutual Protective Fire Insurance Co., of which he was president until his death. He was a member of the Masonic Or- der and of the Protestant Episcopal church. William H. Slatter, Jr., was born on the farm purchased by his father in Sun Prairie, February 24, 1873, attended the district school and Waterloo school and always, until his recent sale, lived on the farm. In November, 1900, he married Miss Ada Paskey who was born in Jefferson county, Wis., a daughter of William and Amelia (Blaze) Paskey, who came to Wisconsin from Germany. Richard Douglas, born in 1901, is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Slatter. Like his father, Mr. Slatter is a Democrat in his political affiliations and takes an active interest in politics. He served a term as member of the board of supervisors.
Edward H. Smith, official court reporter for the ninth judicial circuit of the state, is a Wisconsin product. He was born in Mil- waukee on July 25. 1825, the son of Charles A. and Mary (Powers) Smith, natives of England and Ireland respectively. His education was received in the public and parochial schools of his native city and upon the completion of his studies he entered the law office of David S. Ordway as office boy and stenographer, holding the posi- tion for five years. He was then made reporter for the superior court of Milwaukee county, holding the position until his appoint- ment as private secretary to Justice S. U. Pinney of the state
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supreme court. Upon the latter's death he occupied the same position under Justice J. E. Dodge, retaining it until January 1, 1900, when he received the appointment to his present position. Since the creation of the new eighteenth circuit he has been official reporter for it as well. In the legislative session of 1897 he was clerk of the senate judiciary committee. In December of 1898 Mr. Smith took the examination under the state board of law ex- aminers and was admitted to practice in the courts of the state. On June 20. 1900, he was united in marriage to Miss Genevieve Coughlin, a native of Madison, and a daughter of Maurice and Margaret Coughlin. By this union he is the father of three chil- dren,-Gordon Pinney, Maurice Ordway and Edward. The family are all members of St. Raphael's Catholic church. Mr. Smith is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the college fraternity of Delta Tau Delta. For seventeen years he has been continuously engaged in stenographic work and has become one of the most skilled and efficient shorthand reporters in the state. He is known among his neighbors as a gentleman of courteous demeanor, genial manner and unexcelled ability.
General George B. Smith was born at Parma Corners, Monroe county, New York, May 22, 1823, son of Reuben and Betsey (Page) Smith. His father, Judge Smith, was a native of Rhode Island, who early immigrated to western New York; thence to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1825, where he was for two years engaged in the business of pork packing : moved to Medina, Ohio, in 1827, and was there a merchant, and judge of the court of common pleas of Medina county ; came to Southport, now Kenosha, Wis., in 1843, and died at Madison, Wis., in 1874, aged eighty years. General Smith was the only child of Judge Smith by his first wife, Betsey, who died when the son was only a few weeks old. He was only four years of age when his father moved to Medina, and the sixteen years of his life spent there gave him his only opportunities for attending school. He read law in various offices and was admitted to the bar at Racine, Wis.,' in July, 1843. August 29, 1844. he married Miss Eugenia Weed of Medina, Ohio. by whom he had five children, only one of whom is now living. Mrs. Robert J. McConnell, of Madison, Wis. A son. James S., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, was an accomplished musician of the same city. Gen- eral Smith began the practice of his profession at Madison in the fall of 1845, and acquired an enviable reputation as one of the ablest lawyers of the northwest. He had an extensive practice in
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both the state and Federal courts, and was retained in many import- ant cases both civil and criminal, wherein he brought into play his wonderful gifts of oratory. To these were added the attaction of a fine presence, an easy, graceful and dignified bearing, a subtle and logical power of argument, a wealth of illustration, and a wonder- ful self-reliance. Though often impassioned in his utterances, and speaking with great rapidity and energy, he never lost his perfect poise of manner and splendid self-control. His contemporaries were wont to compare him in this respect to the great Illinoisan, Stephen A. Douglas. His speech was also replete with humor. and his perception of the ludicrous quick and keen, while he had few equals in the power of invective, though using it sparingly. His charm of manner and many social gifts endeared him to a wide circle of friends. He will long be remembered for his qualities as an orator, an advocate, and as a political speaker, wherein he had few equals in the country. He was much in public life ; was for six years, by election and appointment, district attorney of Dane county ; a member of the first constitutional convention in 1846. of which body he was the youngest member ; attorney-general of the state, 1854-5; mayor of Madison for three successive terms. 1858-61; was three times elected a member of the assembly for his district, and though his party, the Democratic, was in a minority each time, he was by common consent assigned the position of leader on all party questions, and exercised a commanding influ- ence. Some of his elaborate speeches in the legislature commanded high admiration both at home and abroad. In 1864 and again in 1872 he was the Democratic candidate for congress, although de -- feated, and ran far ahead of his ticket. In 1869 he was the choice of his party as candidate for the United States senate, in opposition to Hon. Matt. H. Carpenter ; was presidential elector in 1868, and again in 1822. His last active participation in politics was given in support of Horace Greeley for the presidency. His death took place September 18. 1879.
Harry G. Smith, one of the enterprising young business men of Madison, was born in Hammond. St. Croix county, Wis. His par- ents are J. B. and Marcia A. (Bradford) Smith, natives of New York state. J. B. Smith is an attorney in Madison and is widely and favorably known in Dane and surrounding counties. Harry G. Smith is the second of the three boys in the family. Ernest B., the eldest, graduated from the University of Wisconsin with the degree of B. L. in 1892. He is a teacher by profession, his specialty being economics. He at present is located at the University of Pennsyl-
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vania. The third son was Everett J., who died in 1895 at the age of fourteen. Harry G. Smith received his education in the schools of Hudson and Madison, and subsequently (in 1900) graduated at the University of Wisconsin. Two years after graduation were spent in teaching, one at the Bayfield, Wis., high school, and one year as principal of the Belleville. Wis., high school. During this time he was dealing in lands more or less, and he found that his business had grown to such an extent that it demanded his whole time. He is now manager of the State Land & Loan Company, treasurer of the Palmetto Industrial Company, which owns some 8,000 acres of valuable land near Tampa, Fla., secretary and treas- urer of the Adjustable Gate Company, supreme treasurer of the Defenders, an insurance organization, and owns and oversees the management of the Wisconsin stock farm of 4,000 acres in Dane county. In all the business enterprises he has been eminently suc- cessful ; not only has he been fortunate in his investments but he has exhibited a "business sense" in all his dealings which has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Smith is unmarried. In religious matters he is affiliated with the Con- gregational church, and takes an active part in its work. Politi cally he is independent : he does not "belong" to any party, but votes as his judgment dictates.
Henry S. Smith, of Brooklyn, was born at Gorham, Ontario county, N. Y., April 12, 184℃. His father, Henry S. Smith, was a native of Vermont, and came west when the country was new ; he came across Lake Michigan, landing at Milwaukee. and came on to Dane county in November of 1841. He had the facility of adapting himself to new conditions which made the Yankees such excellent pioneers, and as the means of transportation were few and the de- mand considerable, he took up that line of business for a while, carrying goods and passengers between Madison and Milwaukee. He took up land in the town of Oregon, cleared and improved it and made a home for himself and family. His wife was Miss Phoebe Halford, a native of New York, and they both remained on the homestead .- now the property of their son, Harry S.,-until their death ; his occurred May 4, 1883, and hers June 6, 1885. The subject of this sketch attended school in the Dwight district in Oregon township. and followed the business of farming succeed- ing his father, and enlarging his boundaries; he now owns two hundred and thirty-three acres. of which thirty acres are wood-land. He is one of a family of seven children, four boys and three girls, of whom only three remain, Henry S., and one brother and one
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sister. Mr. Smith is a Republican, and has held the office of justice of the peace for twenty years, he has also served as supervisor for a number of years. He is a member of the church of the United Brethren, of Rutland. He was married March 13, 1870, to Miss Jenette S. Wood, daughter of David and Naomi (Worden) Wood, of Sextonville, Richland county. Their nine children were all born in the town of Oregon, and educated there and in the high school of Oregon village. They are Lulu M., (Mrs. George Sholts), of Rutland ; Ruby, (Mrs. Glidden), of Oregon ; Glenn W., of Oklahoma ; Nina P., at home ; Floyd W., of Rockford, Ill .; Ethel V. ; of Oregon ; H. Burns, Dean F .. and Dale, at home.
James S. Smith, deceased, was another of the native sons of Dane county who won an enviable distinction in his chosen profession, and it is eminently fitting that in a publication of this character mention should be made of him and his life-work. He was born in the village of Marshall, in Dane county, on July 4, 1844, and was the son of George B. and Eugena (Weed) Smith. old and highly respected citizens. The father was one of the leading lawyers of Wisconsin and at one time filled the responsible position of attor- ney-general of the state. When he was but ? small child. the par- ents of our subject removed to the city of Madison and here he was reared and received his literary education. He early evinced a pre- dilection for music and as he grew older his unusual talents in that direction became more manifest. After suitable preparation he went to New York city and there enrolled himself as a student tin- der Prof. S. B. Mills, soon becoming very efficient as an instructor of the musical art. His talents and accomplishments soon won recognition and he was given the position of instructor in the musical department of the University of Wisconsin which position he was occupying at the time of his death, May 20. 1901. Mr. Smith was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and in religious belief was a consistent member of the Episcopal church. He was married. July 31, 1895, to Mrs. Mary Louise Campbell ( Brooks), widow of Daniel Campbell, and daughter of Abiel E. and Mary (Bort) Brooks. the parents being natives of New York who re- moved to Niles, Mich .. where the daughter. Mrs. Smith. was born. Later, they came to Dane county, Wis., where Mrs. Smith has re- sided since she was four years of age, the pleasant home which she owns and occupies being situated on East Gilman street. She is the trustee of her deceased husband's estate. Mrs. Smith is a highly cultured lady, is a prominent member of the Presbyterian
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