History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 198

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 198

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H. HAROLDSON, deceased. Mr. Haroldson came to Wisconsin in the summer of 1852, and located where his widow now lives; was born in Norway in 1829. In 1856, he was married to Miss Betsy Knudson, by whom he had eight children, seven of whom are living on the homestead. Mr. Har- oldson was a good business man and thought much of by his neighbors ; was a very active man, and left his family in comfortable circumstances ; Knud Haroldson, the oldest son, runs the farm, a fine place of 160 acres, adapted to stock and grain, with first-class improvements. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church.

PETER HAROLDSON, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Mt. Vernon; born in Norway in 1827; a son of Harold Knutson and Anna Paulson ; came to Wisconsin in 1851 and located at Manitowoc, and remained there two years, then came to the town of Vermont and remained there a number of years, and removed to the town of Springdale in the spring of 1861. In 1854, was married to Miss Julia Oleson, by whom he has four children-one son and three daughters, all living at home. The family all belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. H. is Republican; has always taken an active part in all school and church affairs, and held responsible positions; has been member of Board of Supervisors ; is now School Treasurer, and one of the Directors of the Library Association at Mt. Horeb ; is a good farmer and business man.

JAMES P. HENDERSON, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Springdale; born in Arbroath, For- farshire, Scotland, in 1842 ; a son of William Henderson and Hannah Peters, natives of Scotland; came to America with his parents in May, 1844, and first located in New York City ; they purchased the farm they now live on in 1851. He married Miss Ellen Brown, of Jersey, by whom he has six children, four sons and two daughters. James P. owns and runs the old homestead, his father and mother still living on the place. William Henderson and Hannah Peters were married in Scotland in 1826; the family con- sisted of eight children, four of whom only are living-Bethia, now Mrs. William Reaoch, of Verona ; Jane, now Mrs. William C. Brown, of Michigan ; Alex P., a prominent business man in New York City, and James P., who is living on the old homestead ; they are the oldest Scotch couple living in the county, having lived together over fifty-three years ; they are still hale and hearty, and hold their memories remarkably. The farm consists of 200 acres, nicely located, with two-story stone house, and the finest stone barn in Dane Co., being 36x84 feet ; the stone were all quarried from the quarry on the farm, which is considered to be a No. 1 stone ; they are about five miles from Verona, and the new depot ; value of place, $5,000; the family belong to the First Presbyterian Church of Verona ; Mr. Henderson is conservative in politics, a good farmer, and a man respected by his neighbors.

FURMAN HOUSEL, farmer; Sec. 25, P. O. Springdale ; a native of New Jersey ; born in 1815 ; a son of Jacob Housel and Ose Hull; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1854, and located where he now lives. In 1840, he was married to Miss Margarette Carpenter, by whom he has had twelve chil- dren, nine of whom are living ; two sons in Nebraska, and the others in Wisconsin ; has been Treasurer of the school district eighteen years, and Supervisor one term ; always has taken an active part in all school and public affairs. In politics, Democratic. He has a fine farm of 120 acres, well improved, about five miles from Verona Corners, valued at $3,500; Mr. Housel has been afflicted with rheumatism. for some

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years past, still he superintends and runs his farm with the help of his son ; Mrs. Housel is the daughter of Philip and Sarah Carpenter.

A. JACKETT, Jr., retired farmer ; Sec. 12, P O. Clontorf; born in 1815 ; a native of Wash- ington Co., N. Y., and son of Abraham Jackett and Rachael Stockwell; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1849, and located where he now lives; has held office of Supervisor, and Director and Treasurer of school district. In 1838, he was married to Miss Lucy Taylor, of New York State, by whom he has three children, all living, in Wisconsin ; rents his farm to youngest son, containing 116 acres ; two miles from depot ; valued at $30 per acre; Mr. Jackett is one of the oldest American settlers in the township. Republican.

MICHAEL JACKETT, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Clontorf; born in Washington Co., N. Y., in 1820 ; a son of Abraham Jackett and Rachael Stockwell; came from New York and remained one year in Illinois, then came to Wisconsin, June 4, 1847, and located where he now lives; about the oldest American settler in the town, and was one of the first organizers of the town; been Supervisor and held school offices for years ; has a beautiful farm of 240 acres adjoining the new depot grounds, with first-class improvements, the north branch of Sugar River having its source on the farm; valued at $10,- 000. He married Miss Mary Knapp, of New York, in 1845, by whom he has had six children, five of whom are living-two sons, married, and farming in Nebraska; one daughter, married, and living in Verona, and two sons at home, assisting in running the farm. In politics, Mr. Jackett is conservative, believing in voting for the best man ; he is a self-made man, having worked himself up to a competency, and justly deserves his beautiful home ; a first-class farmer and a man who can be depended upon.

H. JOHNSON, Farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Clontorf; born in 1815; a native of Norway ; came to Wisconsin in 1848, and located where he now lives. Married, in 1841, to Miss Caroline Christ, a native of Norway, by whom he has five children-two in Dakota, one in Greene Co., Wis. and two at home. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Springdale; has been School Clerk for three years. Politics, Democrat ; has a fine farm of 80 acres with good improvements. He is about the oldest Norwegian settler in the town-all wild when he first came; no nearer market than Mil- waukee; is erecting a new two-story frame house ; probable value of farm, $3,000.

MICHAEL JOHNSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 30; P. O. Mt. Vernon ; born at Bergen Stift, Norway, Jan. 4, 1832; received a common-school education; occupation a farmer ; first settled in the town of Windsor; subsequently removed to Vienna, and to Springdale in 1856, where he now resides. He has held a great many responsible positions, and has filled them with honor to himself and a faithfulness to his constituents, as the following record will show: Has been Justice of the Peace, and still holds same, for nineteen years ; Town Treasurer seven years ; was elected Chairman of the Board of County Supervisors seven consecutive years, in 1872-73-74-75-76-77-78; Member of Assembly in 1874-75-76, and was again re-elected, receiving 2,601 votes against 1,481 Republican. Michael John- son is an honest Democrat. His family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church ; he has always taken an active part in all church and school affairs, and, in fact, anything to promote the wel- fare of his town and fellow citizens ; he was one of the first settlers of his nationality in the town of Windsor ; he is what you may truly call a self-made man; has a beautiful farm of 336 acres, nicely located, with first-class improvements, all of which he has put on since he purchased it; a large, two-story frame house with large barns and granaries, and accommodations for stock; carries the water to each department in pipes. He sets no value on his beautiful home, as he calculates to live and die there. He is a first- class farmer and business man, and justly merits his comfortable home.

C. J. LEWIS, farmer and carpenter, P. O. Mt. Vernon ; born in 1847, in the State of New York; a son of Leonard Lewis (deceased) and Elizabeth Allen (deceased); came to Wisconsin in 1850, and located in the town of Springdale ; came to Mt. Vernon in 1852. Married Miss Lucinda Bunnell, of New Jersey, a daughter of James Bunnell and Mary Hull. Mr. Lewis and wife are members of the Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon, of which he is Clerk; has been School District Clerk for the past two years ; is quite a naturalist, and has some very fine prehistoric relics, taken from the mounds by himself ; has a fine place of 5 acres in the town, with good improvements, worth $1,000. Republican in politics, and a good man.

JOHN MCKINNEY, farmer ; Sec. 8; P. O. Mt. Horeb; born in 1810, a native of the North of Ireland ; a son of William Mckinney ; came to Wisconsin in 1849 and located at Milton, and remained five years; came to Springdale and located where he now lives, in 1854. In 1842, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah A. Arnold, who died Nov. 24, 1878; they had eight children, five of whom are living,

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one son and four daughters-Mary, married Harvey Scott, and lives at Mazomanie; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Joseph Harmon, living at Edgerton ; Anna, now Mrs. John Arnold, living at Fulton, Wis .; Sarah J. and John A. remain at home ; Sarah J. has been a teacher in the public schools. Mr. Mckinney has 120. acres of land, nicely located, with good improvements. They belong to the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Horeb ; in politics, Mr. Mckinney is a Republican.

JAMES P. McPHERSON, Sec. 25 ; P. O. Springdale ; born in Dundee, Forfarshire, on the River Tay, Scotland ; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1850, and located where he . now lives. Has been a prominent man in public affairs and politics, as the following record will show : Was elected Chair- man of the board for the years 1853 to 1871 inclusive ; elected County Clerk in 1858; elected Chairman of the County Board in 1861 and 1870; was one of the first County Superintendents of the Poor, elected in 1854 and re-elected in 1856, and resigned the Superintendency when he was elected as County Clerk ; appointed Postmaster in 1866, and still holds the office; has been Town Clerk for years, and Clerk of the school district ever since he came; elected Justice in 1863, and has held the office ever since, with the exception of three years; has always taken a great interest in all public affairs pertaining to the welfare of the town, and has made a very efficient officer. In 1842, he was married to Miss Mary Burns, a native of England, by whom he has nine children. He has a fine farm of 160 acres, adapted to stock and grain, five miles from Verona Corners. In politics, Mr. McPherson is a thorough Democrat; he is a great reader and a good writer; was one of the writers for the last history of Dane Co.

HENRY J. MILES, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Springdale; born in Pennsylvania in 1843; a son of Thomas B. Miles and Clarissa Burch ; came to Wisconsin with his parents when a little boy, in June, 1846, and located on the old homestead, where he now lives, and which he purchased in 1874. The same year he was married to Miss Ellen Morrison, of Scotland, by whom he has two children-Thomas H., born Oct. 15, 1875, and Marian E., born April 20, 1878. The homestead farm consists of 200 acres, with first-class improvements, worth $6,000. He enlisted, in the last call, in the 47th W. V. I., in February, 1865, and was mustered out in September of the same year. He is a Republican in politics. He has filled the offices of Justice of the Peace and Treasurer of the School District. He is a first-class farmer. Thomas B. Miles (deceased) was one of the oldest settlers and first organizers of the town, a prominent man in the town in an early day, and was always ready and willing to help in any enterprise for the pro- motion and welfare of the community; he was the first Postmaster of the town, appointed in 1850, and held it until he resigned in 1866; he was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1805. He was married in 1836 to Miss Clarissa Burch, who was born in New York in 1814. They raised a large family, three sons and six daughters, all living in Wisconsin; Mrs. Thomas B. Miles is still living on the old home- stead; Thomas B. Miles died in March, 1878.

W. W. MINOR, Mt. Vernon; born in the State of New York in 1822; is a son of W. W. Minor and Liddy Dorman ; came to Wisconsin in 1852, and located in Rock Co .; then moved to Sauk Co., where he remained two years, and came to Mt. Vernon, where he now resides, in the spring of 1856. In 1841 he was married to Miss Sarah M. Rogers (deceased), of New York, by whom he had four chil- dren, two of whom are living, a son in Missouri, and a daughter at home. Mrs. Minor died in 1869. Mr. Minor has a beautiful place of two acres, and now dwelling, right near the village, worth $1,500. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and a Republican in politics; he learned the trade of tanner, currier and boot and shoe maker, but, since losing a limb in the service, has been incapacitated for labor; enlisted in 1861, in 2d W. V. I., Co. H .; was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, and mustered out while in hospital, in September, 1864. Is a man respected by all.

ANDREW PETERSON, general blacksmith and repairer, Mt. Vernon ; born in Norway in 1827, where he learned and worked at his trade twenty years; came to Wisconsin in 1868, and located at Madison, where he remained only a short time, and then came to Mt. Vernon, where he now resides. Married Miss Amanda Anderson in the old country in 1856, by whom he has five children, two in Chicago, and three in Wisconsin. The family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, and he is a Republican in politics ; has a well-appointed shop, dwelling and six lots, right in center of the town, valued at $1,500.

THOMAS THOMPSON, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Clontarf; born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1812 ; is a son of Thomas Thompson and Catharine Crombie; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1848, and located where he now lives. In 1834, he was married to Miss Isabella Birvie, by whom he has five children-John C, married and living in Iowa ; James, married and living in Missouri; Francis, married and lives on north eighty of the old homestead; Eliza, now Mrs. William Leslie, of Verona ; Charles

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lives at home and assists in running the farm. Mr. Thompson was Superintendent of the town two years, and has been Clerk of School District for twenty years ; has a fine farm of 160 acres, well improved, worth $4,500 ; he is about the oldest Scotch settler living in the town. The family belong to the Baptist Church ; politics, Democrat.

T. THOMPSON, farmer ; Sec. 5; P. O. Mt. Horeb ; a native of Norway ; born in 1819; came to America in 1839, and remained one year in Walworth Co., and then moved to Iowa and followed farming ; came to Springdale in the spring of 1846, and purchased the place he now lives on. In 1851, he was married to Miss Julia Thoreson, by whom he has had ten children, ninc of whom are living-one in Iowa, three in Minnesota, the other five are at home ; the family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Springdale. In politics, Mr. Thompson is a Democrat ; he is about the oldest Nor- wegian settler in the town ; has always been identified with the improvements of the town ; was the first one to start the school in his district ; has been Constable two years, and Supervisor three terms ; has a beautiful farm of 250 acres, near the Mt. Horeb depot, with the best of improvements, all of which Mr. Thompson made himself by hard work; his farm is considered to be one of the best in the town.

EVER THORSON, farmer and stock-raiser ; Sec. 10 ; P. O. Clontarf; a native of Norway ; born in 1818 ; came to Wisconsin in 1843, and located at Wiota; moved, and purchased the place where he now lives, in 1844. Married Miss Annie Thorson in 1844, by whom he has four children-Andrew, Thore, Thomas, and Caroline ; Thomas and Caroline live at home. Mr. Thorson is about the oldest Nor- wegian settler in the town; he has a fine farm of 244 acres, with good improvements, worth $4,000; the family belong to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. In politics, Democratic.

TOWN OF OREGON.

HENRY N. ALGARD, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. O. Oregon ; born Feb. 20, 1832, in Cayuga Co., N. Y .; son of Joseph and Eliza (Reemer) Algard, both natives of Pennsylvania; the family settled in Waukesha Co., Wis., in 1844, and, in the fall of 1846, on Sec. 17 in Oregon ; began on Government land in the openings ; the mother died in 1875 ; the father, marrying again, went to Coldwater, Mich., where he died in June, 1877. H. N. learned blacksmithing, and at one time owned a farm adjoining his present farm ; was also the Storytown blacksmith two years prior to 1867, when he settled on his present farm of 202 acres ; Mr. Algard has also cleared 25 or 30 acres, built a handsome farm-house and good barn, etc. He married Miss Phoebe A. Smith, born in Jefferson Co., N. Y. They are members of the Free Baptist Church. Mr. A. is a Republican, and this is his fourth term as one of the Supervisors of Oregon ; he has bred Durham grade cattle, merino sheep, etc .; is associated with O. S. Shepard in a country store, on Sec. 18, where his partner is in charge.

J. N. AMES, farmer, Secs. 13 and 14; P. O. Oregon ; was born July 7, 1822, in Stenben, Oneida Co., N. Y .; bis grandfather, Nathaniel Ames, born April 25, 1761, in New Hampshire, was a farmer and a Protestant M. E. preacher ; served under Washington, and experienced the miseries of that winter camp at Valley Forge ; in 1800, he settled in the wilderness near the headwaters of the Mohawk River ; his wife, once Sarah Hall, born in Albany Co., N. Y., was the mother of eleven children ; of these, David H. Ames, born near Albany, married Betsy Norton, of Herkimer Co., N. Y., and a granddaughter of the Revolutionary Gen. Norton ; D. H. Ames served through the war of 1812, is now a pensioner, and lives, aged 88, near Trenton Falls, N. Y .; his wife is, aged 81, and both are vigorous. John N. was the only one of their eleven children to come to Wisconsin. Grandfather Ames, wife and five children, viz .: Frances, Jonathan, Naomi, Persamus and Ira, settled on Sec. 22, town of Oregon, in the summer of 1845; J. N. came with them, and lived on the original half-section until 1870; Nathaniel Ames removed, after fifteen years, to Oregon Village, where he died in August, 1863, doubtless the oldest white man who ever lived and died in Dane Co .; a Mason, he was buried by that order ; his wife died in July, 1851, aged 84. J. N. Ames married, in his and her native town, Miss Mary A., daughter of Eusevious Ball, who was born in Massachusetts; he was of Revolutionary ancestry, as was his wife, Keturah Weld; she was born in Orange Co., N. J. Mr. and Mrs. Ames have five children-F. M., John F., Sarah A. William L. and Florence A., all born on the old Oregon farm. Mr. A. has 244 acres, lying on both sides of the track of the C. & N .- W. R. R., two miles south of Oregon Village, and in the heart of the best farming land in this section of Wisconsin ; on this he settled in 1870, then building a large two-story farm-house, substan-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

tial basement barn and other buildings ; yet he began in Oregon with $100, earned as monthly wages; few men have made more constant progress or a more pleasant home. Mr. A. is a Liberal in politics and religion.

O. K. BARTLETT, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Oregon; born Nov. 16, 1821, in the town of Strafford, Orange Co., Vt .; resided in his native State as a farmer until the fall of 1844, when he came to Milwaukee; J. S. Frary and himself then proceeded to Oregon on foot (see sketch of J. S. Frary) ; after a look over the country, he hired out to Dr. Fox, and, while in his employ, was badly hurt by a thrashing-machine accident ; he entered an 80 on Sec. 34, Fitchburg, that fall, and spent the winter with one Dike, in a shake-roof shanty, his nights spent in a windowless loft, and his days at rail splitting. His present wife was Mary Preston ; her sister, Jane Preston, married F. Ross, and, in the fall of 1845, she accompanied them from Stafford, Vt., to Wisconsin ; Mr. and Mrs. B. were made one in Madison soon after, and began housekeeping in a log house, with furniture made by him, he manufacturing tables, chairs, etc., with an ax from the forest trees around them ; five years later, just before a trip to the East, Mr. B. burned this homely furniture, and, on their return, more was bought in Milwaukee. In 1854, he built a good frame house ; soon after this sold out, then resided for a short time in Dunntown, and later in Iowa; in Oregon Village he built four houses, selling three, his sister, Mrs. Frary, owning one he built for her ; Mr. Bartlett settled on his present farm of 120 acres in 1866; has erected two houses and many other improvements upon this. Mr. and Mrs. B. have one son, Preston V., born June 17, 1851, in Fitch- burg. His wife made a visit East in 1862, and he one during the Centennial.

REUBEN BOYCE, farmer, Secs. 35 and 36; P. O. Brooklyn ; born in Grafton Co., N. H., Nov. 26, 1826 ; son of Reuben and Polly (Watleigh) Boyce, who left Onondaga Co., N. Y., in July, 1843, and came up the lakes to Racine, and, in August, 1843, bought the Boyce homestead of J. A. Griffith ; he had broken 27 acres and built a 16x18 log house, where, for a time after, the Boyce family settled ; here sixteen persons lived, though part of them slept in the adjoining county (Green); the small- ness of the cabin and proximity of the county-line explain this. Reuben Boyce, Sr., held many official positions, Chairman of Oregon, etc. His son has proven himself worthy of his heritage, having erected a substantial farm-house in the place of the pioneer cabin, also the needed barns, stables, etc .; he has 480 acres as the home farm ; 200 on Secs. 31 and 32, Oregon, besides land in Trempeleau and Grant Counties. He married in the town of Brooklyn, Miss Ann M. McLoughlin, born Aug. 1, 1831, in Clark Co., Ohio; her father, W. W. McLoughlin, was one of the foremost of the pioneers of Wisconsin, a member of the Legislature, Chairman of Brooklyn ten or twelve years, and lost his life from exposure on a return from Madison, where he had been to look after the interests of his town in war times. Mr. and Mrs. Boyce, have six children-Willis C., Frank L., Clara L., Jesse W., Anna L., and Fred L., all born on the home- stead. Mr. B. is a Republican, and was Chairman of his town in 18 ---; has devoted much time, money and work during the past ten years to the breeding of superior stock ; his Clyde stallion, Banker, bought of Lysaght & Oglesby, was imported from Canada ; he weighs 1,960 lbs., is sixteen hands and three inches high and cost Mr. Boyce $1,600 ; a year ago, this horse and five of his colts took the sweepstakes and special (Anderson) prizes at the State fair. The name and face of Reuben Boyce are familiar on the fair grounds at both Madison and St. Paul, where he has captured many premiums with his superb stock of horses and Poland-China hogs; his Durhams have taken off many ribbons at the county fairs, but his specialty is horses; a pair of 5-year-old grade Clyde mares, weighing 3,550 lbs., are among his drove of draft horses, which is a hard drove to beat in Wisconsin.

HARRY BROWN, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. O. Oregon; born in Strafford, Orange Co., Vt., June 28, 1819 ; was a farmer in Vermont; resolved to come West ; he came up the lakes to Milwaukee, and with a teamster rode across the wilds of Wisconsin, reaching Madison, June 2, 1846; his route led past Watertown, across sloughs and marshes full of water, and over the swollen, unbridged streams ; near Water- town they drove through a small lake about two and a half feet in depth ; after looking over Dane and Rock Counties, Mr. B. bought his present 160-acre farm in July, of the Government, later adding 40 acres, on which was a log house ; sowed wheat that fall, and during the winter got out fencing for 50 acres ; Sept. 2, 1848, he married, in his and her native town, Miss Harriet Chandler; returning, they spent the first ten years in the log house; he then erected the large and pleasantly located farm-house, which burned, with all its contents, Sunday, Oct. 15, 1876; on this site he again built, an equally fine home, which, though unfinished, was occupied four weeks after the fire. Mrs. B. died Aug. 9, 1871, leaving two chil- dren-Adeline and Frank E .; George E., the oldest son, died in March, 1867, aged 19 ; Adeline, Mrs. L. W. Chapin, lives in town of Rutland; Frank E., grew to a sturdy young manhood, and while visiting friends in Iowa Co., Wis., joined them in a hunting frolic, accidentally discharged his gun, by which his

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TOWN OF OREGON.

forearm was shattered, and, in spite of the care of the best physicians and the tender nursing of heart- broken parents, died Jan. 18, 1879; he was born Oct. 6, 1858. The present Mrs. Brown was Miss Amelia, daughter of Reuben and Rachel Slauson ; her father was born in Connecticut, and her mother in Orange Co., N. Y .; they settled in June, 1846, on the farm where they still reside, in Union, Rock Co., Wis .; she was born there and married Mr. B. June 22, 1873. Harry Brown is one of the early settlers of Dane Co., who has made a record of progress, his 160-acre farm being almost a model, and he still is as active in its management as when he was clearing and breaking it thirty-four years ago.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 198

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