History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 208

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 208

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

CHARLES NELSON, farmer and stock-grower, Sec. 21 ; P. O. Madison; native of Wis- consin ; was born at Madison on the 20th of December, 1847; his father's name was John Nelson ; his mother's name was Sophia Newcomb ; John Nelson was among the early settlers; they came from Ver- mont ; he was a builder and contractor, and put up some of the first buildings in Madison; Charles Nel- son, the subject of this sketch, has held a number of offices of trust in the town, such as Treasurer, etc., and filled the offices acceptably. His father died in July, 1850, and his mother in May, 1871 ; he is a good business man and good manager. He raises a large amount of stock, and does it successfully. Po- litically, he is a Republican. His farm is elegantly located and well adapted to stock.

WILLIAM H. OUTHOUSE, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Madison ; came to Wisconsin in the winter of 1853; he first located at Oregon, this county ; then moved to Middleton and lived nine years ; came to Madison Township in November, 1878; he was in the army ; enlisted in July, 1862, in Co. D, 23d W. V. I., and was mustered out the 4th day of July, 1865 ; the regiment was in eighteen battles, and Mr. Outhouse participated in them all with the exception of the time he was in prison ; he was taken prisoner at Carrion Crow, La., and was kept seven months before he was exchanged. Mr. Outhouse was born in Westchester Co., N. Y., in 1827. He married Julia Henika, in New York, in 1851. Mrs. Out-' house was born in Gorham, Ontario Co., N. Y. ; they have four children-Horace W., aged 25; Perry V., aged 23 ; Genevieve, aged 19; Fanny C., aged 4; one lives in Michigan and the other three live at home. Politics, Republican. Has sixty acres of land, value about $4,000.

BENJAMIN PIPER, farmer and stock-grower, Sec. 29; P. O. Madison ; came to Wiscon- sin in the summer of 1836, and first located at Milwaukee ; came here and located where he is now in the spring of 1855. He has held the offices of Supervisor, Assessor and Treasurer acceptably. Mr. Piper was born in the town of Bennington, Wyoming Co., N. Y., on the 29th of October, 1827 ; his father's name was Benjamin Piper ; his mother's name was Sarah Gault. Hc married Amelia Webber, in Madi- son, in 1856; they have four children-William Piper, aged 23; Benjamin F., aged 21 ; Sarah, aged 19, and Alice, aged 13-all living at home. They belong to the Methodist Church. Politics, Republican. Mr. Piper has 135 acres of land, worth $7,500 ; it is beautifully located, overlooking the city and Jakes.

S. C. POST, farmer and stock, Sec. 30; P. O. Madison ; came to the State of Wisconsin in the fall of 1854, and located on the farm he now occupies ; he is a native of New York ; was born on the 14th of January, 1811; his father's name was Abraham Post; his mother's name was Hannah Post. Mr. Post married Katie Miller for his first wife, by whom he had six children ; five are living in Dane Co., and one in Polk Co., Wis. He married for his second wife Mary Sanders, of Madison, in the year 1872. Mr. Post has a nicely located farm of 150 acres, valued at about $8,000 ; it is well adapted to stock and grain ; it is divided by the main road, and overlooks the city and lakes. Politically, Mr. P. is a Republican. He works his own place, and is hale and hearty.

D. G. SHELDEN, farmer and stock-grower, Secs. 31 and 32; P. O. Madison ; came to Wis- consin in the fall of 1849, and first located where he now lives. Mr. S. was born in Pittsfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1823 ; his father's name was Gardner Shelden ; his mother's name Nancy G. Gornm. He married Adeline C. Curtis, in the State of New York, in the fall of 1851; Mrs. Shelden was born in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1827; her father's name was Levi Curtis; her mother's name was Climena P. Roberts; they have three children living -- Levi G., aged 27; Mary V., aged 20, and Bertha F., aged 17. Levi G. married Roxie M. Benson, and lives in Brooklyn, Dane Co. ; the other two live at home. Mr. S. is conservative regarding politics. He has a beautiful farm of 240 acres, and valued at $12,000 ; it commands a splendid view of the city capital, lakes, and university; he still works his own farm and seems as vigorous as he was in early days ; he is a kind neighbor, and respected by the whole community.

HENRY B. STAINES, farmer and artist, Sec. 16; P. O. Madison ; H. B. Staines, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Peterboro, Huntingtonshire, England; he was born on the 21st day of July, 1800, and came to Wisconsin in 1840; located first, with his family, in Sauk Co., and, shortly after, came to Madison and located ; he holds the office of Justice of the Peace. Mr. Staines was in the navy in the old country, and in this country after the war commenced; he had charge of the Pocahontas gunboat, and did the business up to the handle; in 1861, he was sent by Commodore Porter to take and dismantle the confederate ponton then lying at Island No. 10; he had 400 men, of the 11th W. V. I., under Gen. Larabee, and the job was done up in good style. Mr. Stainos' father's name was Henry Staines ; his mother's name was Ann Bevan. Mr. S. married Jennette McIndue, in the city of Glasgow, in 1827 ; she was born in Glasgow ; they have had ten children, seven are living-oldest son in

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TOWN OF MADISON.

Australia, three sons in Kentucky, one daughter married and living in Chicago, one daughter married and living in Kentucky and one married and living in Madison ; he has thirty-eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren living. Mr. and Mrs. Staines are both members of the Presbyterian Church of Mad- ison ; he is a determined Republican ; he has a beautiful farm of 176 acres, worth $10,000. In justice to Mr. Staines, we must mention his hospitable and genial nature ; it is indeed remarkable to see a man 80 years of age retain his faculties intact. The scene from his house is picturesque in the extreme-views from every quarter which cannot help but please the eye; but when you go inside his art studio and view the reproductions, on canvas, from nature and also from the best artists, of his own handiwork, you can- not help but exclaim, It is wonderful ; he is 80 years old, and is just finishing a $500 painting of " Mt. Shasta," 52x44 ; you leave Staines' mansion always with regret, exclaiming, in the meantime, that you have met a gentleman.

D. STEPHENS, farmer, contractor, brick manufacturer, etc., Sec. 17; P. O. Madison ; came to Wisconsin in 1868; first located in the city of Madison, and came to this town in the fall of 1875. Mr. S. was born in Kincardineshire, Scotland, on the 20th of July, 1837; his father's name was John Stephens ; his mother's name was Mary Scott. Mr. Stephens married Isabella R. Herd, in Madison, June 21, 1870 ; Mrs. Stephens was born in Scotland ; her father's name was George Herd; her mother's name was Margaret Roberts ; they have three living children-Isabella M., aged 8 years; . Arthur D., aged 5 years, and Jessie, aged 20 months; Lucy, born Feb. 18, died Feb. 25, 1877. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Madison, Wis. Mr. Stephens has a fine farm of 205 acres, worth $20,000 ; there are valuable quarries on the place. Mr. S. is one of the largest contractors in the State; he built the Elgin Insane Asylum, part of the Oshkosh Insane Asylum, Institute for the Blind, at Janes- ville, the Normal School at Whitewater, Science Hall, at Madison, and was Superintendent of the build- iog of the custom house and post office at Madison, and he is now building the court house at Jefferson, Wis., and a schoolhouse at Albert .Lea, Mion. He is a stanch Republican, a thorough business man in every respect, and is considered a general benefactor in the county, as he furnishes employment to so many men ; he commands the respect of all, as he can be depended upon.

WILLIAM W. SWAIN, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Madison; came to Wisconsin in 1844, and first located in the town of Verona, this county ; he first came to the town of Madison in the spring of 1869; he held offices of trust in Verona; was Supervisor two terms, and Assessor five years ; he was born in Bradford Co., Penn., in 1825 ; his father's name was William B. Swain ; his father's name was Tamar Brooks; he married Roxannie C. West, of Verona, Dec. 22, 1852; they have three children-Eva E., aged 26 ; Blanche C., aged 19; William E., aged 9. Eva E. married and lives in Fremont Co., Iowa ; the other two children live at home ; he is one of the oldest settlers in the county ; when he came, the county was not organized into township governments ; he has a beautiful 10-acre farm at the head of Lake Wingra, worth $3,500. Mr. S. is a stanch Republican and a man who is respected by all.

JOHN SWETMORE, farmer and stone mason, Sec. 17; P. O. Madison ; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1848 : he first located in the town of Princeton, Marquette Co .; came to Madison in 1855. Mr. Swetmore is a native of Staffordshire, England; was born Oct. 23, 1836; his father's name was Alfred Swetmore ; his mother's name was Mary Leese ; he married Margaretto Dowd in Madison, 17th of June, 1861 ; they have one child, Franklin F., aged 9 years. Mrs. Swetmore is a member of the Catholic Church at Madison. Mr. Swetmore is a Republican; his place contains 19} acres, with two stone houses and a fine orchard ; there is a fine stone quarry on the place, probable valne, $2,500.

A. VIALL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33; P. O. Madison ; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1840; located first in Madison in the spring of 1841, and came to the town of Madison in the fall of 1859 ; have been Supervisor and Justice of the Peace most of the time, and has lived here. Mr. Viall was born in Stockton, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 3, 1820 ; his father's name was Hezekiah Viall ; his mother's name was Sally Andrus. Married Mary Lemon in the city of Madison, Feb. 10, 1847 ; Mrs. Viall was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 3, 1827 ; her father's name was John Lemon ; her mother's name was Mary Kelly ; they have five children-Udora, aged 32 ; Ella, aged 27 ; Edgar and Eva, twins, aged 25; Effie, aged 13. Udora married Edwin Larkin and lives in the town of Verona. Politically speaking, Mr. Viall is decidedly a Democrat ; he has a beautiful farm of 88 acres, overlooking the whole county ; capital, lakes, etc., and valued at $5,000. Mr. Viall has been a very active man ; he was one of the early settlers and took part in all the hardships incident to a pioneer life ; there were less than a bun- dred people in the city when he came, and no store, only about two houses west of Madison in Dane Co. In 1854, he had charge of the building of the State prison at Waupun, under Andrew Proudfit; built Brien's Block in 1853; built store block for J. T. Marston, nov Hess Brewery, in 1852, and several

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

other of the first buildings ; in the fall of 1845, he was elected County Treasurer, and in the winter of 1845-46, the county went into township government, and in the spring of 1846 he was elected Town Treasurer ; he was the first man in Wisconsin who ever took an appeal from Appraiser's damage when the railroad company went through his land, and he got judgment against the company ; he also worked three years on the custom house and post office, and, in fact, has well earned his competeney.

WILLIAM R. WARREN, farmer and stock-grower, Sec. 28; P. O. Madison; was born in the State of New York, French Mills, Franklin Co .; his father was a builder and contraetor; built the mills and factory at Hogansburg; also made nine miles of turnpike for the State of New York, through the heavy pine timber, at $3.50 per rod, in the years 1828-29 ; he lost both health and money in this job, and started West with a family of ten in the fall of 1832, calenlating to locate in Chicago, but the cholera set in and changed his course to Chautauqua Co. In the winter of 1837, W. R. Warren, the subject of this sketch, made his start by chopping cord-wood at 372 cents per cord ; in 1838, he started for the West with two suits of clothes in a pack and what little money he had saved; reached Chicago, did not like the place and footed it to Milwaukee; worked on the dock at first, and then hired out to go before the mast on a vessel of 180 tons; Aug. 25, he started on foot for Janesville, Wis., where he found his father and mother and the other seven children; here he passed through all the hardships of a pioneer life; located a claim on Rock River, and sold it in the spring of 1840; located land on shares from a man named McNeil, on the Janesville road; had post office established called Warren's; his brother, then only 15 years old, helped him erect a log shanty, where they lived and kept hotel. Here we must add that his brother, Dr. J. H. Warren, has been State Senator from Green Co., and held other high positions. In 1842, on this farm, Mr. Warren raised 120 acres of wheat that averaged thirty-seven and a half bushels to the acre, which had to be teamed to Milwaukee, eighty miles, and sold at 55 cents per bushel. He first came to the town of Madison in the fall of 1854; he has held the office of Supervisor for a number of years, and is now Justice of the Peace; his father's name was Lemuel Warren; his mother's name was Betsey Richardson. W. R. was born April 4, 1819 ; married Catherine Larkin at Madison, Wis., March 13, 1849 ; his wife was born in Erie Co., N. Y .; her father's name, Jonathan Larkin; mother's name, Nancy Rhodes. They have two children-William L. Warren, aged 29; Charles M. Warren, aged 22 ; William L. remains at home, assisting in farm duties ; is of a literary turn of mind; keeps well posted in all agricultural and stock matters; Charles M. is employed on railroad. W. R. Warren, politically, is con- servative; he has a farm of 100 acres, beautifully located, overlooking the capital city and lakes ; proba- ble value, $6,000. Mr. Warren is what you might call a live Yankee-a good business man, a good neighbor, ever ready to help the sick and needy, as hundreds can testify.

S. B. WILLIAMS, farmer and lime business, Sec. 33; P. O. Madison ; came to Wisconsin in 1846 and located on Stoner's Prairie, Dane Co .; he first moved upon the place he now occupies in the spring of 1864; he has held the offices of Supervisor and Treasurer. Mr. Williams was born in the State of New York Jan. 9, 1828; his father's name was Daniel Williams ; his mother's name, Mary Williams. He married Miss Sarah Kinney, at Lodi, in 1868; Mrs. Williams was born in Pennsylvania; they have two children, living at home-J. L. Williams, aged 20; Laura Williams, aged 18. Mr. Williams has 5 acres where he lives, situated on a high eminence overlooking the country for miles in every direction ; he has a fine limekiln on the premises, and has sold as high as 25,000 bushels per year ; this property is val- ued at $4,000; he has 102 acres on Sec. 34, valued at $3,000, and 140 acres in the town of Fitch- burg, valued at $2,000; he is a good business man and manager.

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TOWN OF VERONA.

GEORGE BAIRD, deceased, was born in Scotland March 24, 1833, and emigrated to America in 1851 ; he landed in New York and remained there till 1853, when he removed to Wisconsin, and lived near Portage about six months ; from this he removed to Minnesota and remained about two years ; he engaged in prospecting and mining in Washington and Idaho, and other places for about six years, when he returned to Portage ; here he stayed but a short time, and then removed to the farm known as the James Young estate, in Verona, where he lived nearly two years; from this he removed to the present home of his wife, and died in 1878, on the 11th of September; Mr. B. was an energetic and enterprising gentleman. He married Maggie Muir, June 25, 1866, who was born Feb. 6, 1845, in Illinois ; they have had six children-James P., born May 13, 1867; George R., Nov. 21, 1868; Hugh M., Nov. 10, 1870; Jennie M., Nov. 25, 1872, and Mary J., June 25, 1875-all of whom are now at home.

DANIEL BELL, blacksmith and general repairer; P. O. Verona ; a native of Scotland ; born in 1842; a son of A. Bell and Catherine Brown; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1853, and located at Cross Plains ; learned the trade of blacksmith when a boy, his father being a blacksmith before him ; settled in Verona in 1865, and bought dwelling and lots and started in business, which he has followed successfully since ; afterward bought 80 acres, half mile north, which he still owns aud farms; he has held office of School Treasurer for two terms. In 1864, was married to Miss Charlotte Hope, of Middleton, by whom he has four children, three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Bell belongs to the Presbyterian church of Verona. In politics, Mr. Bell is thoroughly Republican. Heis a good business man and a thorough mechanic.

EBEN COLLINS, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. O. Verona ; a native of Wisconsin; born the 12th of February, 1844; a son of William Collins and Margarette Campbell. Married in 1869 to Miss Ella McGill, of Detroit, Mich., by whom he has six children, three sons and three daughters ; Eben Collins, was the first male child born in Verona ; has always followed farming, and now owns 80 acres, nicely located, with good improvements, about one and three-fourths miles from new depot, worth $3,000; has held office of Town Treasurer and Clerk of District at present. Family belong to the Episcopal Church of Madison. In politics, he is Democratic. Mr. Collins' father, William, was one of the first settlers ; came in 1838; he was a mason and stone-cutter by trade, and worked on the basement of the capitol ; he died in an early day. His mother is still living with him.

HENRY P. DONKEL, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Verona; born in 1835; a native of Penn- sylvania, and son of Peter Donkel and Lydia Wendling; came to Wisconsin when a boy, in 1842, and settled in Verona, with his parents ; in 1858, purchased part of the old homestead farm, where he now resides. Married in 1865, to Miss Christina Flory, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has four sons, all living in Wisconsin. Family belong to the Baptist church of Verona. In politics, Mr. Donkel is a Republican. Has a fine farm of 160 acres, about two and a half miles from depot, worth $3,500, with first-class improvements. Enlisted in 1861, in the 11th W. V. I, Co. F; mustered out in 1865; was with the regiment all through the war.

JOHN DRIESBACK, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. O. Verona; born in 1813; a native of New Jersey ; a son of Fredrick Driesback and Elizabeth Matz; came to Wisconsin in April, 1856, and located in Verona. Married Miss Margarette Sharps, by whom he had five children-two in Nebraska, one in Minnesota, one at home, and one in northern part of Verona. Mr. and Mrs. Driesback are mem- bers of the M. E. Church. He is a Democrat; has held office of Chairman of Board, and is Trustee of M. E. Church ; has 98 acres of land, one mile from depot.

JOSEPH FORSELL, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Verona; born in Leicester, England, in 1816, and emigrated to America in 1853; he remained in New York and Connecticut about a year, and, in 1854, came to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Springfield, Dane Co., where he resided about twelve years ; he burned lime there a number of years, and from some of this product many of the first houses of Madison were built ; he removed to his present home on Sec. 2, in the. towo of Verona, about fourteen years ago, and has been farming ever since. He was married in 1836, to Adelia Jordan, a native of En- gland; they have no children. When young, they were deprived of the advantages of an education by having to labor in the factories, but have overcome many obstacles and are now able to enjoy the comforts of life; Mr. F. is a quiet, good citizen.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

WILLIAM HOLM, P. O. Madison ; was born in Weismar, Germany, in 1837, and re- mained there until about 26 years of age ; by occupation he is a tailor ; in 1863, he emigrated to Amer- ica, and went at once to Madison, where he remained four or five years, working at his trade; in 1866, he purchased his present farm on Sec. 35, in the town of Verona, and has made that his home part of each year ever since ; he works at his trade in Madison during the other part of the year. He was married in 1865, to Minnie Charles, a native of Germany ; they have three children-Henry, William and Lena, all at home. Mr. H. is an industrious and enterprising man and a valuable citizen.

C. M. LONGSTREET, carpenter and joiner, Verona Corners; boro in New York in 1827, a son of Christopher Longstreet and Ruth Sted; came to Wisconsin in 1855, and located in the town of Fitchburg and remained there four years ; removed to Verona Corners in 1859, where he has lived since, with the exception of a few years in Madison. Married in 1852, to Miss Lydia A. Pratt, of New York, by whom he had nine children, one of whom only is living. Married for his second wife, Mrs. Caroline Muchler, a daughter of John Myers. Mr. and Mrs. Longstreet belong to the Baptist Church of Verona. In politics, he is thoroughly Republican ; he is at present one of the Republican Town Committee ; has always taken an active part in all church affairs. Enlisted in 42d W. V. I. for one year, and served out his term ; was with the regiment all through. He is now engaged in erecting a new house east of the Corners, hav- ing sold out his place to the railroad for depot grounds ; works at his trade the year round and is a first -. class mechanic.

JACOB MARTY, deceased. Was born in Canton Glarus, Switzerland, in 1833 ; he emigrat- ed to America in 1854, and came to Wisconsin the same year and settled in town of Berry, Dane Co. ; in 1867, he settled on the present liome of his wife, on Sec. 2, in the town of Verona, where he farmed till the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 12, 1879. He was married in 1860, to Maria Marty, a native of Switzerland ; her parents came to Wisconsin in 1847, and she lived in Madison up to the time of her marriage ; they have three children-Matthew, born Oct. 8, 1862 ; Anna, deceased ; Grace, born. May 12, 1868. Mr. M. was connected with the I. O. O. F.

JOHN MEYERS, deceased. Was born in Pennsylvania in 1807 ; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1847, and located on Sec. 21, in the town of Verona ; entered the land and made all the im- provements ; built himself a fine brick residence at the Corners, where his widow now lives; he held prom- inent offices in the town in an early day, and was always ready to help promote the welfare of the town ; was a good business man and a first-class farmer ; he raised and educated a large family, who are mostly living in Dane Co., and are prosperous ; he died June 30, 1865 ; he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married in 1830, to Miss Deborah Fleck, by whom he had eleven children, eight of whom are living-Aaron, the oldest son, has purchased the old homestead ; Caroline, now Mrs. C. M. Longstreet, resides in Verona ; Reuben, married and lives in the town of Verona ; Jesse S., married, and Superintendent of the Dane Co. poor farm; Lydia, now Mrs. George Pitman, of Verona; Barbara, now Mrs. George Gordon, of Verona ; Johnston, married and farming in Iowa ; Miss Henrietta, resides at home with her mother. Mrs. Meyers and her daughter belong to the First Baptist Church of Verona.

ANDREW PATTON, deceased. Was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1805; came to. Wisconsin in June, 1838, and lived at Cross Plains two years ; purchased the place his widow now lives on in 1840. In 1839, he was married to Miss Eleanor Campbell, a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, by whom he had eight children, six of whom are living-three sons and three daughters-one daughter in Madison, one in Middleton, and one in the State of Oregon ; the youngest son, Edward, is farming in Ne- braska; John and David run the old homestead farm in partnership ; both are married ; John, the eldest, was born at Cross Plains Feb. 15, 1842. In 1875, he was married to Miss Melvina Proud, of Verona, by whom he has two children. David was born on the 14th of October, 1848, on the old homsetead, and, in 1874, was married to Miss Jessie Henderson, of Verona, by whom he has three children. The farm con- sists of 260 acres, with first-class improvements, adapted to stock and grain, valued at $6,000. The boys are first-class farmers, hard workers and enterprising. In politics, they are Democratic. Andrew Patton was about the oldest Scotch settler in the county ; he died April 16, 1877.

JOHN QUIGLEY, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Verona; born in Ireland, in 1820, in the County of Monaghan ; he emigrated to this country in 1845, and remained in New York about two years, and then. removed to Massachusetts, where he lived about ten years ; he then came to Wisconsin and settled on Sec. 3, of the town of Verona, where he has continued to make his ho ne ever since. He was married in 1850, to Sarah Falls, who was also a native of Ireland ; they have eight children-Margaret, deceased ; Catharine and James, who live in Chicago; Sarah, John E., Owen, Maria, William, at home. Mr. Quigley is an. energetic man and a good citizen.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 208

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