USA > Wisconsin > Eau Claire County > History of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, past and present; including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county > Part 65
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Benjamin J. Churchill, deceased, for over half a century a resident of Eau Claire, was a native of Champlain, Clinton county, New York, where he was born February 22, 1831, the son of William and Isabella (Johnson) Churchill. His paternal grand- father. also named William Churchill, was born in Rutland, Ver- mont, February 10, 1763. He was a pioneer of Clinton county, New York, and by occupation a farmer. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and was prominently identified with affairs of eastern New York. He died May 24, 1828. Ilis wife was Eunice Culver, born December 31, 1762, and died October 3, 1839. They had a family of ten children of whom William, father of our subjeet, was born in Champlain, New York, March 27, 1795, and died in 1868. He was also a farmer. Ilis wife, Isabella, was the danghter of John and Margaret (Ellwood) Johnson, natives of England, and she was the mother of Wash- ington, Eleanor, Clarissa, Benjamin J. and William II. Churchill. She died in 1858.
Benjamin J. Churchill received an academic edneation in his native town, and for several years followed the trade of car- penter and joiner. In 1853 he located at Columbus, Wisconsin, where he married October 25, 1856, Hannah E. Pratt. She was born in Michigan, January 25, 1839. Their children who grew to maturity were : Charles W., Jennie E., Cora E. and Homer. Mrs. Churchill died Angust 10, 1905. In 1857 Mr. Churchill came to
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Eau Claire and soon after settled in the town of Brunswick, where he took an active part in all public affairs pertaining to the town and county, being a member of the county board, and for some time its chairman. IIe was constantly in office from 1858 to 1879, holding the positions of treasurer and town super- intendent of sehools, and from 1901 had continuously been a member of the county board, and since 1869 he was a continuous resident of Eau Claire. Ile was appointed by the county board to examine the accounts of the county treasurer and county clerk from the organization of the county until 1870, a task he fulfilled to the satisfaction of all. In 1871 he was elected county treasurer, and re-elected by the Republican party three consecu- tive times. Later he dealt in grain and bought and sold real estate. Being an expert accountant, he was often consulted on important financial matters. In religious belief he was a Presby- terian and for many years was an elder in the church. His death occurred January 10, 1914.
Guy E. Clark, D. D. S. Among the able doetors of dental surgery in Eau Claire eounty, none stands more prominent than does Dr. Clark. He is a native of Minnesota, born in Winona, Angust 28, 1878, a son of Asbury B. and Julia (Van Alstine) Clark, both natives of New York state. The parents moved West and settled in Winona, Minnesota, in 1860, and were num- bered among the sturdy pioneers of that section. Soon after their arrival at Winona, the father engaged in general contract- ing, was snecessful in his business, and still makes his home in that city.
Dr. Clark was reared and received his primary education there in the public schools; he began the study of dentistry in a dental office in 1896 and remained there in study and gaining practical experience for five years. He then entered the college of dental surgery at Milwaukee, where he took a three years' course, gradnating with the class of 1903. After his graduation, he spent two years in the practice of his profession in that city, after which in 1905, he moved to Eau Claire, where he at once began to receive a fair share of clientele, which has constantly increased until now he has probably as large a practice as any dentist in Eau Claire county. Possessed of a studious nature, Dr. Clark is a close student, continually reading up in his pro- fession, thus keeping thoroughly in pace with the times and well posted on all new discoveries in modern dentistry. Ile is a mem- ber of the Wisconsin State Dental Association and the Chippewa
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Valley Dental Association. Socially he is a member of the Ma- sonie Order, Eau Claire Lodge, No. 112, the Eau Claire Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M., and the Eau Claire Commandery, No. 8. Knights Templar.
On September 7, 1906, Dr. Clark married Miss Maude Moore, daughter of John and Margaret (Kelley) Moore, of Eau Claire, and their pleasant home on Third street is the center of attrac- tion of their many friends in the city.
William Albert Clark, for nine years principal of the Eau Claire County Training School, is another native son of Wiseon- sin, born in the town of Lueas, Dunn county, June 29, 1871. His father, Charles Tompson Clark, who was descended from Penn- sylvania Dutch stock, was born in Starkey, Yates county. New York, April 23, 1826. Ile was a carpenter by trade and a soldier in the Civil War, having served in the 194th New York Infantry. After the close of the war in 1865, he came to Wisconsin where he lived until his death, April 8, 1904. He was married in 1855 to Amelia Lavinia Munsel, who was born in Watertown. New York, and was descended from the Puritans of New England, and on both maternal and paternal sides, the ancestors fought in the army of freedom-in the Revolutionary War. She was the mother of six children, as follows: Frank M., Charles A., Peleg B., Fred L., William A. and Edith A., now Mrs. Will Sel- over. The mother died at Lucas, Dunn county, Wisconsin, March 1, 1910.
William Albert received his early schooling in a log sehool- house, where he attended until sixteen years of age; he then had one term in the village high school at Knapp, Wisconsin, and later entered the River Falls Normal School, from which he graduated in 1897. Ile earned money between times at teaching, with which he paid his tuition and eventually entered the Uni- versity of Wisconsin at Madison, from which he was graduated in 1901. Ile specialized in philosophy and education and re- ceived from the University the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in Pedagogy. He taught school two years in the county of Dunn and three years in the grades at Menomonie, and was for.two years principal of the 10th Ward School, of Ean Claire, and for four years was supervising principal of the schools of Edgerton, Wisconsin, and for the past nine years has been principal of the Eau Claire county training school for teachers. As the first prin- eipal of the last named institution, it devolved upon him to or- ganize the school. plan a building for the same, and as he has
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from the start to this time (1914) been continuously connected with it, has had a great deal to do with its subsequent growth and development.
Mr. Clark served four years in Company Il, 3rd Regiment Wisconsin National Guards, and attained to the rank of First Sergeant. Ife has been president of the Rock county, Wisconsin Teachers' Association, and also president of the Northwestern Wisconsin Teachers' Association. He is a member of Eau Claire Lodge, No. 112. A. F. and A. M., Eau Claire Chapter. No. 36. R. A. M., Michael Griffin Camp Sons of Veterans, Beaver's Re- serve Fund Fraternity, National Fraternal League. Northwest- ern Wisconsin Teachers' Association, Wisconsin State Teachers' Association, the Y. M. C. A., the Eau Claire Order Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Association and the National Geo- graphical Society.
On June 26, 1901. Mr. Clark married Miss Anna Parker. daughter of Ole and Thora (Risem) Parker, of Eau Claire. Mrs. Clark was born and raised in Eau Claire, graduated from the high school in 1894, and for a number of years was a teacher in the public school of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of two children, viz .: Warren Parker, born January 8, 1903, and Annabel Edith, born October 31, 1904.
In February, 1914, Mr. Clark resigned the principalship of the Eau Claire County Training School to accept the principal- ship of the Lincoln County Normal School, at Merrill, Wis., which position he still holds.
Alexander Jerome Cheesbro, a veteran of the Civil War re- siding in Eau Claire, was born at Springwater, Livingston county. New York, July 6, 1845, a son of Alexander and Jane (Rowell) Cheesbro, both natives of Vermont, and comes of New England stock, though some of his ancestors were of English, German and French descent. His paternal grandfather, Stephen Cheesbro, a farmer by occupation, was a pioneer of Polaski. Jackson county, Michigan. His maternal grandfather was Ben- jamin Rowell, a native of Vermont, who spent many years of his life in New York State and in later life moved to Badger Mills. Chippewa county, Wisconsin, and to Lake Hallie where he died in 1869 at the age of 82 years.
The parents of Alexander J. moved from New York to Polaski. Jackson county, Mich., in 1847. and during the gold ex- citement in California in 1849 he made the trip overland in search of the precious metal, and later went to Arizona, where he died. His family returned to Ossian, N. Y., where our subject was
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reared until the breaking ont of the civil war. On Angust 30, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, 136th New York Volunteer In- fantry, of which he was one of twelve men later assigned to Company I of the same regiment. He took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spruce Creek and Gettys- burg. In September. 1863, he, with his regiment, were ordered to Tennessee and were placed on guard duty along the Nashville & Tennessee railroad. On October 26, 1863, he was relieved and joined the brigade at Bridgeport, Ala., and on October 28. 1863, was engaged in the famous midnight battle at Raccoon Ridge and Wanhatche Creek, at the foot of Lookout Mountain. The regiment then marched to the assistance of General Burnside at Knoxville, Tenn., then back to Lookont Mountain, where they went into winter quarters and did picket duty that winter. In April, 1864, the Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps were con- solidated and became the Twentieth Army Corps under Gen. Joe Hooker. On May 1 they broke camp and started with Sher- man on the Atlantic campaign; took part in the battles of Buz- zard Roost, Rockface Gap and Resaca, Mr. Cheesbro losing his right leg at the latter engagement, and was honorably dis- charged on June 19, 1865. The balance of that year and during the next he kept a grocery store at Byersville, N. Y., and then engaged in farming in that vicinity until 1872, when he came to Wisconsin and located near Lake Hallie, and there purchased land, which he added to from time to time until he had accumu- lated 500 acres. He was engaged in various vocations up to 1880, condneting a hotel, livery, barber shop, etc. For the next twenty years, until 1902, he was successfully engaged in farming, to which he gave his whole attention. In the latter year he dis- posed of a large part of his land and moved to the city of Ean Claire, where he has since lived in retirement.
Mr. Cheesbro has been twice married. His first wife was Hen- rietta Cole, danghter of Thomas and Catherine (Steffy) Cole, of Dansville, N. Y. They had one daughter-Georgia. On March 5, 1882, he was married for the second time, taking for his wife Nancy M., daughter of Aaron and Margaret (Overpangh) Van- Dresser, natives of New York and pioneers of Chippewa county, where they settled in 1861. In religious affiliations Mr. and Mrs. Cheesbro are members of the First Methodist church. Mr. Chees- bro is a member of Eagle Post, No. 52, G. A. R., of Eau Claire, of which he was commander in 1908. Mrs. Cheesbro belongs to the Colonel E. M. Bartlett Circle of Ladies of G. A. R., of Eau Claire, and previous to her marriage was a successful teacher for
.
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ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Cheesbro are members of the First M. E. Church of Eau Claire.
Louis E. Cleghorn, a popular farmer of Pleasant Valley and ex-sheriff of Eau Claire county, was born in the town of Pleasant Valley, March 26, 1869, the third son of a family of four chil- dren born to James Gilbert and Frances (Kelley) Cleghorn. Of the others William Gilbert was born April 21, 1861, is a resident of Stanley, Wis .; George, born November 18, 1867, died February 12, 1868, and Hattie, born September 29, 1874, married F. M. Buffington, who is now farming on the old Cleghorn homestead in Pleasant Valley.
James Gilbert Cleghorn, father of Lonis E., was a pioneer of 1858 and one of the first to locate on a farm in Pleasant Valley. He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, July 24, 1833, and lived there with his parents until 1854. Ile came west and spent the winter of '54 and '55 at Delphi, Ind., and in the spring went to Stillwater, Minn., where he was employed in a mill until the spring of 1858. On April 2 of that year he married Frances Kelley, danghter of Zebedia Kelley, of St. Croix county, Wis- consin, and came to Ean Claire county, where he located on a piece of land in Pleasant Valley, which he entered on a land warrant issued to his father for his service in the war of 1812. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Sixteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a private under Captain Whipple, and was assigned to Sherman's army and was with him from Big Shanty Station through the siege of Atlanta, Sherman's march to the sea, through North and South Carolina, Virginia, and took part in the grand review at Washington, and from there he was sent to Louisville, Ky., where he was mustered out in 1865 and returned home. He was prominently identified with the affairs of the county, and any movement for the betterment of his com- munity received his hearty support. A Republican in politics, he held several offices, besides being a member of the town board for years. He was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church and of Eagle Post, No. 52, G. A. R., and at the time of his death which occurred Jannary 19, 1913. owned 240 acres of highly im- proved land in Pleasant Valley. He was well known for his honorable methods and held the confidence and esteeem of all his acquaintances.
The great great grandfather of Louis E. was James Cleg- horn, who was born July 6, 1751, and was married three times. llis first wife was Salome Cottle, whom he married February 17. 1774, and died October 14, 1787. They were the parents of six
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children, viz .: William (the great grandfather) born November 13, 1774; Sarah, born October 12, 1776; Lydia, born February 11, 1780; Orinda, born October 30, 1781; Eliza, born April 8, 1784, and Martha, born August 28, 1786. Mr. Cleghorn took for his second wife Mary Wilde, who died February 21, 1796. They had five children, James, born January 26, 1789; Mary, born August 8, 1790; George, born June 14, 1792; Charles, born March 14, 1794. and Benjamin, born February 1, 1796. Five children were born to his third marriage, as follows: Mary, born March 9, 1797; Temperance, born November 7, 1798; Judith, born De- cember 21, 1800; Elmira, born December 23, 1802, and James M., born August 16, 1804.
William Cleghorn, the great grandfather, was a resident of St. Lawrence county, New York, and his occupation was farming and lumbering. William Cleghorn, grandfather, was also a prominent farmer and lumberman and was twice married. IIe was the father of James Gilbert.
Louis E. Cleghorn grew to manhood in Pleasant Valley town- ship, attended the common schools and worked with his father on the farm until 1889, when he purchased a farm of 80 acres and commenced farming on his own account and which he suc- cessfully conducted until 1904 when he moved to the city of Ean Claire. Soon after taking up his residence in the city, he opened a restaurant and lunch room and later built a lunch car which he stationed on River street. Meeting with success in this line of business until 1908, he became a candidate for sheriff of the county and managed his own campaign, receiving the sanction of the people. He successfully managed the affairs of the office for two years and was instrumental in running to earth many criminals who are now serving time. At the expiration of his term, he acted as under-sheriff one year, and from April. 1913. to the Spring of 1914, he served as special police officer to look after the violators of the speed law of the city and county. He is now, 1914, candidate for sheriff of the county, with good pros- pects for election to the office.
Mr. Cleghorn is deeply interested in agricultural pursuits and is now carrying on a farm in Pleasant Valley which is under the immediate charge of an overseer. A man of public affairs, Mr. Cleghorn affiliates with the Republican party and is prominent in social, benevolent and fraternal societies. He is a member of Germania Lodge, No. 49, Knights of Pythias, the Modern Wood- men, Beavers, the Sons of Veterans and the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1889 he married Emma Segnin, danghter of Israel
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and Ozett Seguin, of Pleasant Valley township. They are the parents of four children, viz .: Claudia Fay, who was educated in the public and high schools and the Eau Claire Training School, is now a teacher in Augusta; Lila May, a high school student; Doris Evelyn, is attending the public schools of Eau Claire. Maurice T., the youngest of the family, and only son, passed away November ninth, A. D., 1909, age 4 years.
Joseph John Cliff,* deceased, was preeminently a self-made man. Beginning life with no capital other than his native ability, he by perseverence, industry and the force of a strong person- ality, attained to a place among the influential and substantial citizens of his community. A native of Ohio, he was born October 1, 1845, and while yet a boy of tender years, his father was lost at sea, and before he was ten years of age his mother died. Thus thrown on his own resources, he worked for a farmer in Ohio until he was thirteen and then started out in life for himself with only a change of underclothing tied up in a red handkerchief. He found employment among the lumber camps of Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, and finally came to Wisconsin, locating in the south- ern part of the state. He later moved northward, and finally settled in Washington township, Eau Claire county. During all this time, he was working in the woods, and gained a thorough knowledge of the lumbering business, and in 1870 he engaged in logging and lumbering on his own account, and at one time operated as high as five camps and had in his employ 200 men. He had 25 to 30 teams of oxen and horses and was one of the few men who owned their own equipment. During his logging operations, he purchased from time to time 360 acres of land, and in 1894 discontinuing his lumbering operations, he moved to his farm in Washington township which he improved with a fine residence and other buildings, and at the time of his death, March 14, 1909, had brought the land to a high state of cultiva- tion, and besides his farm, was the owner of large tracts of timber land in Canada and the Dakotas.
Mr. Cliff was one of the enterprising and progressive men of his town. In all his relations and dealings, he was actuated by manly motives and such was his demeanor that he maintained the confidence and esteem of all his acquaintances. He was one of the founders of and a stockholder in the West Eau Claire Ice Company, a stockholder in the Eau Claire Concrete Company, and was one of the organizers and directors of the Eau Claire Driving Park and for a number of years was a member of the Knights of Pythias.
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Mr. Cliff married Cora E. Butler, daughter of Henry W. and Adelia (Fairchild) Butler, who was born May 10, 1859, and whose many womanly virtues endeared her to all who knew her. She died June 20, 1895, and was the mother of three children, New- ton, born December 14, 1880, died February 13, 1882; Russell II., born June 14, 1883, a well known farmer of Washington town- ship, married Nellie Johnson. the daughter of Erick and Anna (Anderson) Johnson, of the town of Washington, and has three children, Lloyd II., Richard and Jannette E. and Earl H., born January 3, 1890. is now in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at St. Paul. Ile married Inga Winger, and has one child, Lenora. In 1897 Mr. Cliff married Ida Martinson, a woman of charming personality, culture and refinement. and to this union two children were born, as follows: Jessie Inga. born January 20, 1900, and Joseph Edward, born August 8, 1906.
Mrs. Ida Martinson Cliff, since the death of her husband, has carried on the farm of 360 acres and employs a number of hands who work under the direction of a foreman whom she has to oversee the work. The father and mother of Mrs. ('liff, Ole and Rena (Christianson) Martinson, were born in Christiania, Nor- way. They emigrated to America and were among the pioneers of Northern Wisconsin. They now reside at Chetek, Barron county, where he lives at the age of 80 years, retired from active farming. This family consisted of twelve children, as follows: Ida, Sevil. Ole, Frederick, Henry, Andrew, (deceased), Martin, Annie, Tena, Ella. Cora and Richard.
Ilenry W. Butler, father of the first Mrs. Cliff, was born in New York State, October 19, 1826, the son of Augustus Butler, a native of Connecticut and of English descent. Henry Butler who was fourth in a family of seven children. attended the dis- triet school until he reached the age of seventeen and then started out for himself, working on a farm and later engaging in farming on his own account, an occupation he followed during his aetive life. In 1843 he came to Wisconsin with his parents who settled in Dodge county. In the Spring of 1856 he came to Eau Claire and purchased a farm of 245 acres in section 5, town- ship 26, range 9. in the town of Washington, and there carried on general farming until his retirement. During the Civil War in 1864, he enlisted in Company K, 36th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and fought in many battles, including Cold Harbor, where he received a wound in the left hand and was honorably discharged from the service June 3, 1865.
On July 4, 1850, he married Adeline L., daughter of William
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and Abigail (Western) Fairchild. To them were born three children who grew to maturity, Christabell I., born March 8, 1857, married Charles Bigelow, and had two daughters, Pearl and Annie. Pearl married Charles Whittaker, and Annie mar- ried Harry Daniel, and all reside in Los Angeles, California; Cora E., deceased wife of the late J. J. Cliff, and Mortimer E., born September 18, 1868, died February 1, 1882.
William King Coffin, the genial president of the Eau Claire National Bank, is the dean of the bankers of Eau Claire eounty. Fifty years have elapsed since he began his banking career, and for forty years of that time he has been continuously and actively a banker.
Mr. Coffin is a native of the state of Illinois, and was born at Jacksonville, August 9, 1850. In 1853 his parents removed to Batavia, Ill. IIe attended the public schools of Batavia, and completed his education at Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., grad- uating in the class of 1871.
His inclination toward a business career manifested itself early. At the age of fourteen he was working in his father's bank, the First National Bank of Batavia, learning the principles of banking as well as the methods of conducting finaneial insti- tutions. He was made cashier of that bank before he was nine- teen-a record with few, if any, parallels. He desired, however, to continue his college eourse, so resigned his position as cashier of the Batavia bank and finished his eourse in Knox College, as already stated.
Immediately after graduating he went to Chicago and took a position as clerk in the First National Bank, remaining there until 1873, when he was offered the position of secretary and treasurer of the Menomonie Barge Line Company, which he ac- eepted. He remained with that company during 1873 and the winter of 1874. In the spring of the latter year he returned to the First National Bank of Batavia to become its eashier. In 1877 that bank was succeeded by the Banking firm of Coffin & Young, and in 1880 that house sold out to Gammon & Newton. Under all ownerships Mr. Coffin remained as cashier until 1882. when he moved to Eau Claire. In that year he organized the Eau Claire National Bank, which succeeded the banking house of Clark & Ingram.
Mr. Coffin has been connected with the Eau Claire National Bank since its foundation and has been the guiding spirit of its remarkably successful eareer. From 1882 until 1902, a period of twenty years, he was eashier of the bank. In 1902 he was
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made vice-president and cashier, and in 1905 he became presi- dent of this strong financial institution.
While Mr. Coffin has been an indefatigable worker for the success of the Eau Claire National Bank, he has also engaged in many other activities and has helped to foster not a few im- portant enterprises besides aiding the banking system of the state. Ile is president of the Ean Claire Savings Bank and vice- president of the First National Bank of Fairchild. Wis .. and a director in the Chetek State Bank and in the First Wisconsin Land Mortgage Association. He was one of the founders of the Wiseonsin Bankers' Association, and was a member of its executive council from 1894 to 1896, and was president of the association during the years 1897 and 1898. He is a member of the American Bankers' Association, and during the years of 1903-4-5 he held a seat in the executive council of that body. He is a member of the Bankers' Club of Chicago.
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