History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 197

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 197

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RICHARD LOWE, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Mt. Horeb; born in 1808 in Lincolnshire, England ; a son of Thomas and Mary Lowe. In 1831, was married to Miss Elizabeth Tesdail, by whom he has six living children, viz .: Amos, born Nov. 17, 1832; Lucy, born Oct. 25, 1836 ; Edward, born Jan. 16, 1839; Dawson, born Sept. 1, 1841 ; Elizabeth, born May 6, 1845, and Fannie, born Aug. 2, 1848. Amos, the oldest, is a successful farmer in Blue Mounds ; Edward and Dawson are in California. Mr. Lowe came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1851, and settled at Cross Plains, where he farmed it until sixteen years ago, when he moved to Mt. Horeb ; he owns 40 acres of land right in the center of the town, within eighty rods of the new depot, which he is laying out into town lots, valued at $3,000; he lost his wife on the 27th of February, 1876. They are members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican in politics ; has always been an active, hard-working man, and has always taken an active part in public affairs ; is the oldest settler in the town, and is remarkably smart for a man of his age; his mind is as sound as ever ; is a man that is respected by all, and he justly deserves his handsome competency in his old age.

ROBERT MARTIN, farmer, stock-breeder and feeder, Sec. 26 ; P. O. Mount Horeb. This old pioneer was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1823, a son of Hugh Martin and Ann McCracken. May 30, 1850, was married to Miss Isabella Anderson, of Pennsylvania, daughter of George Anderson and Jennie McKee, and sister of the Hon. Matt Anderson, of Cross Plains Township, by whom he has eight children, some of whom have received good educations and are settled in life-Auna M., graduated at Wis- consin University June 18, 1879, and now lives at home; George W., the oldest son, has been West, speculating and farming ; R. Newton, just married, and runs an adjoining farm ; Jennie, graduated in high school, and has finished freshman class in university ; David L., Willie, Samuel and Albert are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Martin came to Wisconsin from Pennsylvania in the spring of 1855, and located in Pine Bluff, Cross Plains Township, in the old stone house on the Mineral Point road, before the rail- road was completed, and were noted far and wide for their kindness and hospitality to traveling strangers ; they then went to Illinois and purchased a farm, sold that out and returned to Wisconsin, and settled where they now live in 1865. Mr. Martin has a beautiful stock farm of 320 acres, worth $12,000, with springs in every field ; he buys and feeds stock the year round, is a first-class business man, and one that can be depended upon. In religion, they belong to the Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Martin is conservative. Has always taken an active part in all school affairs and matters pertaining to the interest of the town ; has accepted the office of School Treasurer, but seeks no office.

H. MICKELSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23; P. O. Blue Mounds ; a native of Nor- way ; born in 1832, a son of Michael and Betsey Gilverson ; came to Wisconsin in summer of 1852, located in Vermont Township, and remained eighteen years ; then removed to Blue Mounds, on farm

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where he now resides. In 1852, was married to Miss Julia Mickelson, of Blue Mounds, by whom he has six children, all living in Wisconsin, and all at home except Miss Betsy, who married C. A. Bragger, and resides at Mt. Horeb. Has a beautiful farm of 180 acres, adapted to stock and grain, with living springs on place, worth $6,000 ; two-story frame house and bank barn, and all other first-class improvements. The whole family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Mickelson is a first-class farmer, and respected by his neighbors; his word can be relied upon ; has always taken an active part in all school and church affairs. In politics Republican.

PETER OLESON MOE, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Mt. Horeb; he came to Wisconsin in the summer of 1864, and settled at Black Earth; moved and bought the place where he now lives in 1866. In 1842, he was married to Miss Annie August, by whom he has twelve children, two sons in Minnesota and the balance of the family in Wisconsin. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church ; in politics, he is Republican. He has a fine farm of 80 acres, well watered, and com- mands a fine view of the surrounding country, first-class improvements, worth $2,500, two miles from Mt. Horeb; he runs his own farm with the help of his children ; he made all the improvements himself, and is a first-class farmer.

O. C. NUUBSON, general merchant and Postmaster, Mount Horeb ; he was born in Norway in 1843; is a son of Nuub Rustebakke and Olang Rustebakke. Was married, in 1877, to Miss Mary Ann Albertson, of Vermont, by whom he has two children-Nora O., aged 2 years, and Geneveva S., aged 7 months. He is Republican in politics, and himself and wife are members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. He came to Wisconsin in the summer of 1861, and located at Black Earth, where he clerked for a number of years; came to Mt. Horeb and started for himself in the general merchandise business in 1876 ; the same year, he was appointed Postmaster and still holds the office; he carries a gen- eral stock of about $5,000, and keeps it up in good shape; buys all kinds of produce, and has excellent facilities for handling butter ; has a fine store and dwelling, facing east, about eighty rods from the new site for the depot ; calculates to build a larger store on the corner. Mr. Nuubson is a first-class business man, attending strictly to his business, and justly merits his fine property and increasing business.

J. W. RACELY & BROS., blacksmiths and machinists, West Blue Mounds, Iowa Co., Wis. J. W. Racely was born in Pennsylvania in 1852; came to Wisconsin in 1859, and located at Verona; learned his trade at Mazomanie. Married Miss Gusta Gratz, of Iowa Co., in 1879. Has been established in business since the fall of 1874. R. A. Racely is a partner and the machinist; came to Wis- consin the same year as J. W. ; they are sons of Peter and Hannah Racely; they reside in Dane Co., and their shop is just across the line ; they have all the improved machinery ; make a specialty of horse- shoeing and machine repairing ; are noted far and wide for doing their work well; they are, in every sense of the word, first-class mechanics and straightforward business men, and justly merit their increasing busi- ness. In politics, they are Republican.

JOHN RIDER, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. O. Blue Mounds ; born in Massachusetts in 1813; a son of John Rider and Mercy Brigham. In 1839, was married to Miss Lydia Johnson, by whom he has had six children, two of whom are dead, three sons and one daughter living in Wisconsin. Mr. Rider is about the oldest settler in the township; came to Wisconsin in May, 1847, and located where he now lives ; has always been active and foremost in helping along the improvements of the town; in school affairs he has also taken an active part, and has held the office of School Treasurer. Thoroughly Republican in politics ; a good farmer and first-class business man ; is a man that can be relied upon, and commands the respect of the whole community. Mrs. Rider died in 1868.

OLE O. SALE, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Blue Mounds; born in Norway in 1829; a son of Ole Oleson Sale and Julia Sale ; came to Wisconsin in the summer of 1850, and settled in Ozaukee Co. ; remained there five years, then came to Vermont Township and located on Sec. 34; then moved and pur- chased the place he now lives on, in 1867. He held offices in Vermont; has been Supervisor of Blue Mounds one year, and Treasurer eight consecutive years ; has also been on the School Board. Married, in 1860, to Miss Emma Johnson, by whom he has ten children, all living at home. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. He is conservative in politics, always voting for the best man in his judgment; has a fine farm of 185 acres, adapted to stock and grain, five miles from market, worth $2,500. Mr. Sale started a poor boy; owed $30 on his body when he landed in the country; by hard labor, he has worked himself up, and justly deserves his comfortable home.

JOHN SAMPLE, farmer, Seo. 9 ; P. O. Blue Mounds. This old bachelor pioneer came to Wisconsin in 1840, and settled in Grant Co .; located where he now lives in the fall of 1846; was born in

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TOWN OF SPRINGDALE.

Ohio, in 1812; is a son of James Sample and Sarah Bush ; he was the first Assessor of the town; at present is one of the School Directors; has always been ready to help in all public improvements ; has a fine farm of 140 acres, near the new railroad, adapted to stock and graio, worth $3,500. In politics, he is a Republican; is a man of honor in every sense of the word, and is respected by all.

PAUL A. SLETTO, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, Mount Horeb; is a native of Norway ; born in 1837 ; is a son of Arne and Rachael Sletto; came to Wisconsin in 1848, and located in Rock Co .; remained there five years, then went to Dodgeville and embarked in the boot and shoe busi- ness, where he remained four years ; then went to Springdale and engaged in farming ; sold out and moved to Mount Horeb, in 1872, when he again went into the boot and shoe business ; has a store and dwelling combined, valued at $500; carries a stock of $1,000, and does a general repairing business ; he is about the oldest Norwegian settler now living in Dane Co. A Republican in politics and a member of the Nor- wegian Lutheran Evangelical Church. Mr. Sletto is a first-class business man, and one that can be relied upon in every particular.

JOHN W. SMITH, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. West Blue Mounds ; born in Southampton, En- gland, in 1841 ; is a son of John Smith, of Vermont Township ; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1850 ; located in Vermont; purchased and moved on the place where he now lives in 1867. The same year, he married Miss Elizabeth Powell of Blue Mounds, by whom he has three children-Emma E., born March 23, 1868; William H., born Ang. 17, 1870 ; John E., born Dec. 20, 1873 ; has a good farm of 80 acres, one mile from the new depot site, worth $2,000; has been District School Clerk four terms; always taken an active part in all public affairs. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Thomas and Hannah Powell. Mr. Smith was all through the late war ; enlisted October, 1861, and mustered out in September, 1865 ; Co. B, 11th W. V. I .; was in all the battles the regiment was engaged in. Is a first-class farmer and a good business man. Politics, Republican.

THE MOUNT HOREB NORWEGIAN CIRCULATING LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

ANDREW E. THOMPSON & CO., Mt. Horeb, general hardware, coffins, paints and oils, wagon manufacturing and carpentering. Andrew E. Thompson was born in Norway, in 1851 ; came to Wisconsin in 1856, and settled in Vermont Township ; learned carpenter's trade, and located at Mt. Horeb, in 1874 ; embarked in hardware trade in 1878, and carries a good assortment of everything in his line. In 1874, was married to Miss Betsy Mickelson, of Blue Mounds, by whom he has two children. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. In politics, he is a Republican ; a good mechanic and good business man. The company, John A. Barsness, is a young man, a native of Norway ; born in 1858; came from the old country when a little boy and lived for six years near Racine ; came to Black Earth Valley and has lived in the vicinity ever since ; bids fare to be a good business man. Politics, Republican.

CHRISTIAN TORESON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec, 1; P. O. Mt. Horeb ; born in Norway in 1843; is a son of Rieir and Betsy Torrison. In 1867, was married to Miss Rhoda Arneson, of Blue Mounds, by whom he has six children, all living in Wisconsin ; came to Wisconsin in the summer of 1860, and located in Ridgeway, engaging in farmiog, moving from there to Green Co., and then came to Dane and purchased the farm he now lives on, in the spring of 1880. The family are members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Toreson is a Republican ; he has a fine farm of 160 acres, adapted to stock and grain, three-fourths of a mile from Mt. Horeb, with first-class improvements. He enlisted in the late war in 1862, in the 30th W. V. I., Co. B; mustered out in the fall of 1865.

TOWN OF SPRINGDALE.

WILLIAM W. ABBOTT, blacksmith and general repairer-horseshoeing a specialty ; Mt. Vernon ; born in Maine, in 1810; is a son of Michael and Alice Abbot; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1852, and located in Dane Co .; settled where he now lives in 1854. Married Miss Elizabeth Gupgil (deceased), by whom he had five children, three of whom are living. Mr. Abbott is a Democrat in politics; a good business man and a good mechanic ; has a nice property, consisting of shop, dwelling and building-lots, worth $2,500.

EVER K. BANG, farmer, Sec. 4 ; P. O. Pine Bluff; born in Norway in 1866 ; a son of Knud Knudsen Bang and Julia Eversdatter ; came to America in December, 1858, and located in town of

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Springdale ; purchased the farm he now lives on in 1868; lived two years previous in Blue Mounds. He was married to his first wife in 1860, by whom he had two children, who are living in Wisconsin ; she died in October, 1866 ; in 1869, he was again married, to Miss Annie Arneson, by whom he has four children. He has a fine farm of 80 acres, with first-class improvements, valued at $3,000. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Bang made all his improvements by hard work ; in politics, he is conservative, believing in voting for the best men.

JOHN BEAT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23; P. O. Springdale. This old pioneer is a native of Perthshire, Scotland, born on the 22d of November, 1826; a son of David Beat and Janette Watson, who came to America; his mother is dead, and his father still living in Madison ; he came to Wisconsin the 3d of July, 1844, and located first near Janesville ; remained there two years and then settled on Sugar River, in the town of Verona, in the summer of 1846; moved on the place he now owns in the fall of 1856. In 1850, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Edi, a native of Perthshire, Scotland, and daughter of James and Mary Edi, who came to this country and have since died; by her he has had seven chil- dren, five of whom are living-Mary Ann, born Nov. 13, 1851; David, born April 14, 1853 ; James, born Sept. 13, 1855 ; John, born Aug. 30, 1857; William, born May 4, 1858; William and Robert (twins), born April 20, 1859; (William died May 12, 1858; William, the twin, died Sept. 16, 1859) ; Nora L. Beat (adopted), born Sept. 16, 1869. Mr. Beat is about the oldest Scotch settler living in Danc Co., and is a self-made man ; is well informed on general topics, and a great reader of history ; has a fine collection of the best works, and is constantly adding to his library ; he is noted far and wide for his hos- pitality ; he never was known to turn a stranger from his door; has always been an active man and a hard worker ; a kind husband, an indulgent father, an honest man in every sense of the word, and enjoys the respect of all his neighbors and the community at large; he secured in Mrs. Beat more than his better half, a lady who fills the place of wife, mother and neighbor, in the full sense ; it is pleasant to sit by their board and hear the old Scotch tales and songs "that 'minds ye o' lang syne." He has a beautiful farm of 300 acres, with a two-story frame house, and one of the finest barns in the country. His youngest son, Robert, is a young man of promise; he remains at home, working the farm ; David, James and John. have settled on neighboring farms in Nebraska, and are doing well; David and John are married; Mary Ann lives at home. Mr. Beat is a stanch Republican.

JOHN I. BERGE (deceased), came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1845, and located where his widow now lives ; he died Nov. 7, 1879; he was a native of Norway, and was one of the first settlers ; he also was one of the organizers of the town, and had held many prominent positions in the town, and fulfilled the duties to the satisfaction of all; he left behind him a clean record, and was mourned by the community at large. Mrs. Berge's maiden name was Julia Lee ; she was married to Mr. Berge in 1844, by whom she had seven children, one in Iowa and six in Wisconsin ; she runs the homestead farm, with the help of her eldest son. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Spring- dale. The farm consists of 160 acres, nicely located, with first-class improvements. Mrs. Berge is a lady of unusual capabilities, and respected by all.

MICHAEL BROWN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11; P. O. Clontorf; a native of King's Co., Ireland ; born in 1823; is a son of John Brown and Mary Martin ; came to America in 1844, and located in Westchester Co., N. Y., where he remained one- year, then moved to Ohio ; returned again . to New York, and then moved to Wisconsin in 1849, and located at Fitchburg, Dane Co .; sold out there and purchased the place he now lives on, in the spring of 1851. Married Miss Margarette Lynch in 1851, a native of Canada, by whom he has had twelve children, eleven of whom are living, six sons and five daughters, all living in Wisconsin. The family belong to the Roman Catholic Church of Pine Bluff. In politics, Mr. Brown is conservative, voting for whom he thinks is the best man ; he has been School District Treasurer, and always has taken interest in town affairs, though never seeking office. Mr. Brown is about the oldest Irish settler living in the neighborhood; he has a beautiful farm of 160 acres, near the new depot, with first-class improvements, worth $35 per acre ; he is a first-class farmer, an upright man in every sense of the word, and can always be depended upon.

A. D. COLEMAN, carriage and wagon manufacturer, repairer and painter, Mt. Vernon ; born in the State of Pennsylvania, in 1857; is a son of D. B. D. Coleman and Levina Mathews ; came to Wisconsin in 1878, and located at Mt. Vernon, and embarked in the business he is now engaged in. In 1878, was married to Miss Belle Conner, daughter of John Conner, of Pennsylvania, by whom he has one child-Jessie, born Deo. 11, 1879. He is a thorough mechanic and a good business man, and bids fair to make his mark; has a fine shop, new house and large lot, worth $1,000. In politics, he is a Republican.

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TOWN OF SPRINGDALE.

PATRICK CORR, general merchant and Postmaster, Clontorf; born in Tyrone Co., Ireland, in 1833; came to America in 1856; came to Wisconsin in the winter of 1858, and located in Dane Co .; commenced the mercantile business in 1864, and has followed it successfully since ; was appointed Postmaster in 1866. In 1856, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Corr, by whom he has ten children, eight sons and two daughters. The family belong to the Roman Catholic Church of Pine Bluff. In politics, Democratic. Mr. Corr has a fine farm of 80 acres, together with store and dwelling three-fourths of a mile from the new depot site ; he carries a complete stock of everything, and pays the highest price for all kinds of produce ; his store building is 24x60, nicely located, facing north. He is a self-made man, having worked himself up from a poor boy ; a good business man ; has always taken great interest in school affairs and matters pertaining to the good of the town, though never seeking office.

O. B. DAHLE & SON, general merchants and produce buyers and Postmaster. Her- man B. Dahle, the oldest son of O. B. Dahle, and the company of the concern, runs the store at Mt. Vernon, while his father, O. B., runs a large establishment in the town of Perry ; born in 1855. Mar- ried Miss Annie Kittlcson, of Perry, in 1877, by whom he has two children. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Republican in politics. They carry a large assortment of goods, and keep them up in good shape ; in every respect first-class business men.

J. DONALD (deceased) ; born July 5, 1842, a native of New York, a son of the Rev. James Donald ; died Oct. 9, 1868. The subject of this sketch died in the prime of life; he was a first-class business man, and very ambitious; it was not his choice, when starting out in life, to remain on the homestead with his parents, as he wanted to go farther West, but duty to his aged parents held him. His father, the Rev. James Donald, preached for twelve years through Dane Co., and he always attended his father on his trips; he came to Wisconsin in 1855, and located where his widow now lives. In April, 1868, he was married to Miss Ellen Sweet, a native of New York, and daughter of W. Sweet and Sallie Clark. John S. Donald was born Jan. 12, 1869, the only grandchild in the Donald family, a bright young man, and a great comfort to his mother. Mrs. Donald still lives on the old home- stead, a beautiful place, worth $3,000, with first-class improvements. Mr. Donald was a kind husband, a thoroughly moral and upright man, and his death was an irreparable loss, not only to his family but to the community at large, who all speak of him in the kindest manner. Sec. 29; P. O. Mt. Vernon.

JOHN DICK, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Mt. Vernon. This old pioneer was born in Ebenshire, Scotland ; a son of James Dick and Elizabeth Thompson; learned the trade of shoemaker in the old country ; came to Wisconsin in 1843, and located in Green Co .; came to Dane Co. in 1867. In 1843, he was married to Miss Sarah Lawler, a native of Ireland, by whom he has had eight children, five of whom are alive, one son and four daughters, all living in Wisconsin. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 31st W. V. I., and was mustered out July 11, 1865; never was in hospital ; was at the siege of Atlanta; and with Sherman on his march to the sea. He has a nice farm of 40 acres near the village, worth $800. He is a Republican in politics.

N. H. DRYDEN, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. O. Mt. Vernon ; born in Bedford Co., Tenn., in February, 1820; a son of William Dryden and Abigail Henderson ; Mr. Dryden was raised in Illinois; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1846, and located where he now lives in the winter of 1847 ; it was a wilder- ness when he came, and he passed through many hardships in early days. In August, 1841, he was mar- ried to Miss Martha Balch, a native of Lawrence Co., Ala., a daughter of Theron Balch and Alpha Boyd, by whom he has had six children, all living-Elizabeth, now Mrs. John McDonald, of California; Abigail, now Mrs. John Beat, Jr .; John and Albert are in California ; W. T. is married and lives in Blue Mounds ; Nathaniel, the youngest son, is at home, assisting in running the farm. Mr. Dryden has a beautiful farm of 240 acres, with two-story stone house, living springs on the farm, adapting it to stock as well as grain. Mr. Dryden was one of the organizers of the town ; has held the office of Supervisor a number of times, and has always worked for the good of the town. He is a stanch Republican, fearless in his principles for the right, hence commands the respect of the community in which he lives. Mrs. Dryden is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Mt. Horeb.

HUGH EADIE, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. O. Mount Vernon ; a native of Perthshire, Scotland, born in 1814; a son of William Eadie and Margarette Davidson ; came to Wisconsin in the summer of 1851, and stopped in Verona until 1857, when he moved and purchased the place he now lives on, in the spring of 1857. He was married the same year to Miss Christina Black, a native of Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Eadie are members of the Presbyterian Church of Mt. Horeb. In politics, he is a Republican. He has a fine farm of 194 acres, suited for stock and grain, three miles south of Mt. Horeb. Mr. Eadie

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is about the oldest Scotch settler in the neighborhood; he made all his improvements, which are first-class; he is an honest man, a kind neighbor, and respected by all.

STEPHEN W. ELLIS, general merchant, Mt. Vernon ; Mr. Ellis is a native of Wolfborough, N. H .; was born in 1812; a son of Joseph Ellis and Mary Willey. In 1850, was married to Miss Louisa Lyford, by whom he has two children living in Wisconsin; came to Wisconsin in 1869, and located at Windsor, then moved to Madison, and started in business where he now is in October, 1879; he has one acre of land, store building, dwelling, and barn worth $1,000. The family belong to the Free-Will Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Ellis is an old-line Democrat.

H. N. FARGO, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 30; P. O. Mt. Vernon; a native of Erie Co., Penn .; born in 1819; a son of Robert Fargo and Ellen Randall; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1854, and settled where he now lives, which consists of 160 acres, adapted to stock and grain, with a fine growth of timber, three and a half miles south of Mt. Horeb. Mr. Fargo has held the offices of School Treasurer, Clerk and Director. In 1845, he was married to Miss Hannah Spence, of Pennsylvania, by whom he has nine children; Eugene, the oldest son, is on the railroad; Ambrose is in Dakota; George is a school teacher and book-keeper in St. Croix Co .; Eunice, now Mrs. Arthur Williams, of Colorado; Jessie, now Mrs. Thomas Brader, of Iowa; John, Harvey, Ralph and James are at home. They belong to the Meth- odist Church ; Mr. Fargo is a Republican ; a good farmer and a self-made man.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 197

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1304

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304