History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 137

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044

USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin > Part 137

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HENRY TIMM, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Hurricane Grove; owns 119 acres of land, valued at $15 per acre ; born in Prussia in 1838; came to America in 1863, and located in New York. Three years later, he removed to Wisconsin. He married Caroline Brinkman, a native of Germany. They have one child-Johnny. They are members of the Presbyterian Church.

JAMES TRELOAR, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Lancaster ; owns 200 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ; born in England in 1820 ; came to America in 1847, and settled on this farm. Mr. Treloar has been twice married, first to Mary Cock, a native of England. They had eight children, six of whom are living-James, Mary, William, Grace, Margaret and John (who died in April, 1860). Mr. Treloar's second marriage was to Frances Ellis, a native of Kentucky. They have three children-Lora, Thomas and Minnie.

THOMAS TURNER, farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. O. Lancaster ; was born in Canada April 16, 1837. He came to the State of New York in 1850; worked on a farm by the month ; then removed to Burling- ton, Vt., where he remained one year ; then to Wisconsin in 1856; worked by the month until 1864; then rented land for three years of J. A. Barber, when he then bought 80 acres with a fine large two story house 32x42 feet, a nice place. His wife, Catharine Frawley, a native of Grant Co, Wis., was born in 1844. Her parents came to this county in an early day, and are old settlers in Potosi. She was married March 29, 18 4. They have three children-Frank, born Dec. 29, 1865; Mary, born Aug. 16, 1867 ; Annie, born Sept. 22, 1873. He also owns 40 acres of land in Ellenboro, Sec. 17. What he has is by his own industry and labor.

F. VAN DEWALL, photograph artist ; is a native of England, and was born in the city of London Oct. 28, 1821. He grew up there, and served an apprenticeship of seven years as mechanical engineer. He emigrated to America in 1845, and came West to Wisconsin in the same year, and located in Grant Co .; entered some land, and began making a farm. In 1861, he established his present business in Lancaster, and, for the past twenty years, has continued the business here, taking all kinds of portraits, from miniature to life size, and is the oldest artist in this section of the State. In 1852, he was united in

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marriage to Miss Ann Russell, from Ohio. They have seven children-William, Frank, Emma, Mary, George, Carrie and Walter.

WILLIAM WALKER, farmer on Secs. 15, 16 and 25; owns 700 acres of land. He was born in Ireland, and, in his 16th year, left his native land for America. In May, 1840, he landed in Grant Co., Wis., without means. He has since resided there, and by industry has accumulated a comfort- able property. 'He was married in 1852, to Miss Emma Rawden, a native of England. They have five sons and two daughters.

DEXTER WARD, carpenter and builder, Lancaster; was born in Chittenden, Vt. He came to Walworth Co., Wis., in 1842, and Feb. 8, 1843, came to Grant Co. He was married, Feb. 8, 1835, to Miss Cecilia Ward, a native of Georgia, Vt. They have had five children-William W., Henry A., Eleanor M., Adeline S. (deceased) and Mary M. He was elected Constable in 1857, and re-elected, and served five years. He was Deputy Sheriff four years under Mathew Woods; also Deputy Sheriff under George R. Stuntz for two years, and in 1855-56, was Under Sheriff under Lorenzo Preston. . In 1857-58, he was elected Sheriff of the county, and in 1861-62, was again Under Sheriff under Goodnough.

F. WEDHASE, harness-maker and carriage-trimmer ; is a native of Germany, and was born in Prussia Feb. 5, 1823; grew up and learned the trade of carriage-trimmer; after the revolution, he emigrated to America in 1849, and the following year came west to Dubuque and entered the employ of L. D. Randall & Co., and was engaged in carriage trimming for that firm for fifteen years; he made the first top buggy ever made in Dubuque. He came to Lancaster and established his present business in 1869, and is the oldest harness-maker in Lancaster. In 1852, he married Augusta Koch, from St. Louis ; they have eight children-Frank, in Dakota; Lizzie, in Boscobel ; Fanny, in Dakota ; John, Clara, Ida, Della and Fred.

JAMES WENZEL, painter, Lancaster; commenced this business in Lancaster, in 1871, beginning with Pravis & Bushnell; in February, 1875, he opened a shop, buying out his employer; he does sign and house painting, and employs two men. Mr. Wenzel was born in Delaware, Feb. 27, 1852, a son of Conrad and Margaret (Weeth) Wenzel, both natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1847 ; they moved to Liberty, Grant Co., in 1857, and to Lancaster in 1870. Mr. Wenzel was mar- ried in July, 1875, to Miss Alice Orton, daughter of Charles and Mary ( Willard) Orton.

JAMES WOODHOUSE, furniture manufacturer and dealer, Lancaster ; established this business in the fall of 1878 with about $1,000 capital invested. A native of Pennsylvania, born July 5, 1834, in Pottsville, a son of John and Ann (Newton) Woodhouse, both from Staffordshire, England ; they came from England to Pennsylvania in 1826, bringing with them four daughters and five sons ; from Pennsylvania they moved to Potosi, Grant Co., Wis., in 1836, and have since died. Mr. Woodhouse was married Feb. 13, 1858, to Miss S. J. Huey, daughter of Joseph Huey, who died in the army during the rebellion. Mr. W. enlisted in August, 1862, as private in Co. I, 20th W. V. I., he was in active service until December of the same year, when he was wounded at the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., by a gunshot which caused the loss of his right leg, was in the hospital until March, 1863, when he was discharged and returned to Grant Co .; from April, 1863, to January, 1869, he was employed in a plow-shop. He was elected Register of Deeds in the fall of 1865, and filled that office acceptably for eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Woodhouse have two sons and three daughters, Laura, Mary L., William, Eugene and Nettie.

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JOHN ALDERSON, was born July 8, 1811, in Muker Parish, Yorkshire, England, has been practical miner since he was 9 years of age. In 1840, he brought his family to the United States, anding at New Orleans, and coming thence up the Mississippi to Galena, locating at New Diggings, La Fayette Co., he spent fourteen years in the mines in that vicinity ; in 1855, he bought and settled upon is present farm, this has been managed by his sons to a great extent, while he continued mining ; las 117} acres and good improvements. He married in her native Parish of Marsden, Lancaster, Miss Margeret Anforth ; they have four children-James, Elizabeth, Ralph and Mary; the two eldest were vorn in England, and Ralph and Mary in Wisconsin. Mr. Alderson is a good type of the hardy and en- rgetic English miner ; he was the discoverer of the noted Champion mine at New Diggings, and has also ound other leads of a less important character.

J. H. BALLARD, dealer in butter, eggs, hides, etc., Platteville; member of the firm of Ballard & Co .; is a native of Kane Co., Ill., born in 1848; came to Darlington, Wis., in 1875, and was in business there till August, 1879, since which time he has been living in Platteville. He was married in 880, in Platteville, to Miss E. M. Carpenter, of that place. In 1859, he went to California and was here about four years. He enlisted in 1861 in the 7th Cal. V. I., Co. E. but was discharged on account if sick ness before going into the service. His father, Charles Ballard, was a native of Vermont.

N. W. BASS, builder and proprietor of the Valley Mills and the Platteville Woolen Mills; is i native of Barron Co., Ky. ; when he was an infant his parents removed to Indiana ; he came from Rock sland Co., Ill., to Platteville in 1847, and that fall began preparations for building the mill on the Little Platte, which was completed in 1848; it is best known as the old Bass Mill; he kept it in operation ibout fifteen years, and still owns it. The Platteville Woolen Mills were built iu 1865. (See history of Platteville.)

ELIJAH BAYLEY (deceased), was born Aug. 2, 1811, at Massena, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. ; he was one of a family of ten children, of whom he was the seventh ; the first twenty-five years of is life was spent at or near his native place ; in 1836, he came West and spent about three years in the vicinity of Davenport, and Rock Island, Ill., teaching a portion of the time and making occasional trips South for his health; from Rock Island he came to Galena, where he was engaged as clerk in the confec- ionery establishment of D. A. Barrows for about three years; in 1841, one of the creditors of E. B. Kimball, of St. Louis, failed, and the stock goods came back into Mr. Kimball's hands; at the suggestion of Mr. Barrows, the goods were entrusted to Mr. Bayley to be taken to some of the mining towns to be lisposed of. He selected Platteville as the most favorable point for that purpose, and his success was such hat further shipments were made, and a partnership was formed between himself and Mr. Kimball, which lasted till 1852, when Mr. Bayley purchased Mr. Kimball's interest in the business for $30,000 ; his success continued, and, in 1861, immediately after the death of Mr. Hammond, with whom he had for some time been associated in business, he closed up his affairs as a merchant, and lived in retirement till his death, which occurred Dec. 25, 1878. Mr. Bayley's first wife, to whom he was married in 1844, was Miss Caroline J. Bevans ; she died in 1868, leaving three children, one son and two daughters: the son- Leslie F., born April 13, 1850, and died March 5, 1870 ; Nora L., is now Mrs. D. B. Jones, of Chicago, ind Annie S. at home.

HAYDEN H. BEEBE, blacksmith ; was born in Platteville June 6, 1849; learned his trade with Butler & Cowley, of Platteville, and has been in business for himself since 1875 ; in November, 1874, he married Miss Jennie Hoskins, of Platteville, and has two children-Edith Mazette and Julius De Leslie. His father, William Beebe, was a native of Genesee Co., N. Y .; came to Platteville in the spring of 1845, and is still living in the city.

ARCHIE W. BELL. attorney at law, Platteville; is a native of Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio, born in 1840. His father, Christopher Bell, came to Wisconsin with his family in 1846, and has been a resident of Platteville ever since. He is now hale and hearty, at the age of 74. Mr. Bell studied law in Platteville with Judge S. O. Paine; was admitted to the bar in 1864, and has practiced in Platteville ever since, except when in the army. In January and February, 1865, he with Capt. W. H. Beebe, raised a company for the 44th W. V. I., and he went out as 1st Lieutenant of Co. K, and served till 1865. He was married in Platteville in 1862, to Mary E. Robinson, and has three children living.

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ANSON BENNETT, Sections 1, 12, 2, etc .; P. O. Platteville ; was born in Franklin Co., Vt., in 1812. He resided in the Green Mountain State until the fall of 1836, when he came to Platte- ville, coming by the way of the Erie and Ohio Canals, Ohio River and the Mississippi to Galena, thencs on the 1st of November, to Platteville. Here he hired out to the veteran pioneer, Maj. J. H. Rountree, and continued in his employ five and a half years. He then bought 80 acres of the Major, and began making improvements upon it. In April, 1850, he married Elvira Jones, born in Oswego Co., N. Y., in 1812; she came West in 1847. Mr. Bennett is a leading member of the Free Methodist Church of Platteville. He now owns 381 acres, a fit reward for the thirty-seven years of toil expended upon the soil of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have six children-Martha E. (Mrs. W. Davis), Susan E., Charles Lyman, Nelson J., Orrin J. and Annie May. Charles L. married Mary E. Aikins, of Platte- ville.

E. J. BENTLEY, liveryman, has been a resident of Platteville since September, 1853. He was born in Yorkshire, England, Dec. 26, 1836; came to America in 1851, and worked in Elk Grove, La Fayette Co., Wis., till he came to Platteville in 1853. He attended school at the Platteville Acad- emy five winters, working at surveying during the summers, and followed that of teaching till the war broke out. April 1, 1861, he enlisted under the three months' call for troops, and was the second man in Platteville to enlist. He went with the 3d W. V. I., Co. F, and was in the service till August, 1863, when he was discharged. He was with his regiment during the whole time they were out. After leav- ing the army, he engaged in the livery business, which he has continued up to the present time. He was married Feb. 25, 1864, in Platteville, to Louisa Cheever, and has two children-Charles and Clara. Was Deputy Sheriff fourteen months under Sheriff Streeter.

ALLEN BIRKETT, deceased, was born in Goole, Yorkshire, England, in 1817. He mar- ried Sarah Cooper, also of Goole, and came in 1848 to America. He settled in Platteville. where he died May 10, 1869. His widow now resides with her brother-in-law, George Huntington, Esq., of Platteville.

M. A. BISHOP, Platteville, of the Wright House, was born in Huron Co., Ohio, where his parents, Alonzo and Louisa Bishop, settled in 1840, coming from the State of New York. The brothers M. A. and W. H. Bishop removed to Arena, Wis., and came from there to Platteville. The former leased the Wright House in November, 1877, and his popular management has largely increased the custom of this always first-class hotel His brother has a livery of from fourteen to eighteen horses, and both working in harmony are doing a good, live business.

DAVID BLOCK, Platteville, merchant ; was born in Baden, Germany, in 1818. Came to America in 1853, and has resided in Grant Co. ever since, most of the time in Platteville. Was never married, and has been in the mercantile business since 1866. He was in the military service in Germany about three years, and participated in three battles, in one of which, in 1848, he was wounded, depriving him of the sight of one eye, and nearly depriving him of the sense of hearing.

O. A. BOYNTON, liveryman, Platteville ; was born in 1818, in Grafton Co., N. H. Was ed- ucated at Haverhill. Married Oct. 5, 1840, in Detroit, Mich., to Miss Elizabeth A. Clark, of that place. Came to Wisconsin the 1st of November following, and has been a resident of Platteville since that time. He first engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he followed about three years ; then traveled selling dry goods till the spring of 1846, when he went into the livery business and also kept the Platteville Hotel till 1853. He continued the livery business till 1863; then sold out and followed farming till 1872, when he again went into the livery business, and has continued it up to the present time. His wife died Aug. 12, 1880, leaving four children. having lost three before her death. The oldest daughter, Mary, is now the wife of C. M. Henderson, of Platteville ; Eugene R. is single and living in Nevada ; Ida E. and Louis A., at home. Mr. Boynton has been a member of the Village Board three years, and President of the Board one year.

E. J. BUCK, M. D., Platteville; is a native of Franklin Co., Mass .; was born in the town of Heath in 1828. When 6 years of age his father. Erastus Buck, removed to Livingston Co., N. Y., whers he is still living at the age of 84. Dr. Buck was educated in Livingston Co., and graduated from Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, in the spring of 1854. He at once commenced the practice of liis pro- fession at Towlesville, Steuben Co., N. Y., where he remained till the fall of 1856, when he came to Wis- consin and practiced in Westfield, Marquette Co., till the war broke out in 1861. He was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in the winter of 1860-61, and attended the extra session in June of 1861. In the spring of 1861, he assisted in raising a company of sharpshooters, and enlisted as a private ; was ap- pointed 1st Lieutenant but resigned, and the following fall was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the 18th

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W. V. I. Soon after the battle of Shiloh, in which he was engaged, he was promoted to the position of Surgeon, in which capacity he served till the close of the war, and after the first year was one of the "board of operators" of his command. In August, 1868, he came to Platteville, and has practiced in that city since. He was married in 1866, at Beaver Dam, Wis., to Sarah E. Trask, a native of Maine, and has five children, all at home.

A. J. BUSS, marble dealer, Platteville. Has been in his present business in Platteville since the spring of 1870. He was born in Erie Co., N. Y., six miles east of Buffalo in 1847. His father, Abram Buss, came to Wisconsin with his family in 1854 or thercabouts, and settled in La Fayette Co., where he resided till 1873; then removed to Darlington, Wis., and remained there till his death Nov. 26, 1877, at the age of 72. Mrs. Buss died about seven months previous at the age of 73. Mr. Buss learned his trade in Mineral Point, and worked there till he came to Platteville. He was married in Platteville, Aug. 18, 1874, to Miss Hattie E. Loof bourrow, and has two children-Mabel and Nellie.

ALEXANDER BUTLER, wagon and carriage maker, Platteville ; has been a resident of Platteville since September, 1854. He was born in Moon, Allegheny Co., Penn., in 1832. He went to Ohio in 1852, and lived in Lima, Allen Co., till he came to Platteville in 1854. He learned his trade before he left Pennsylvania, and has always worked at the business since. In addition to his carriage making, he is now engaged in selling farming implements in company with H. J. Traber, of Platteville. He has been twice a member of the City Council, and has been chief of the fire department ever since its organization in 1874, and was one of the charter members of the hook and ladder company. He was married in Platteville Jan. 1, 1855, and has six children.

VALENTINE CARL, farmer ; P. O. Platteville ; was born in December, 1824, near the historic town of Sarbruck, in Rhenish Prussia. Up to the age of 14, he was in school; then for a year in a blacksmith-shop. He came to America in 1840 ; landed at New Orleans ; thence came to Platteville. For twenty years, he followed mining in various parts of Grant Co. ; then settled on his present 123 acres. He married Mary Klebenstein, who was also born near Sarbruck, and came to America in 1845, landing at New York City. They were married in Platteville, and have seven children-Mary, Louisa, Margaret, Annie, John, George and Katie, all born on the homestead farm, as were two deceased children. Mr. Carl and wife belong to the Old-School Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a Trustee.

W. E. CARTER, attorney at law, and senior member of the law firm of Carter, Carter & Cleary, Platteville ; is a native of Sussex, England ; born in November, 1833; came to America in the spring of 1850, and settled in Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis., where he read law with J. Allen Barber, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1856. In January, 1861, he came to Platteville, and went into partnership with the late Stephen O. Paine, with whom he was associated till the death of Mr. Paine. He then took his brother, George B. Carter, into partnership with him, and Jan. 1, 1881, took in the junior member of the firm-T. L. Cleary. Mr. Carter represented his district in the State Legislature three consecutive terms-in 1877, 1878 and 1879-and is at present a member of the Board of Regents for the State University.

THOMAS CHAPMAN, Platteville ; was born in Huby, East Ridney, of Yorkshire, England, March 27, 1815 ; came to America in 1838, reaching Platteville July 25, without a dollar in his pocket. He spent the first winter at mining; then rented a farm for five years ; began $500 in debt, and at the end of two years began the butchering business, which he carried on together with his farming until the expiration of the lease. Mr. Chapman is the veteran butcher of Grant Co., he having followed the busi- ness steadily from 1841 to 1874. Jobn Watkinson was his first partner. In 1853, he formed a partner- ship with J. F. Kirkpatrick, which partnership he continued up to the retirement of both from business. Mr. Chapman is the owner of several farms-one of 340, and one of 140 acres in Platteville, 80 in Smel- ser, 160 in La Fayette Co., 160 in Iowa Co., 240 in Kossuth and Wright Counties, Iowa, and a farm of 140 acres, part in Platteville and part in Harrison. He married Sarah Kay, who died leaving four children-Robert, Elizabeth A., Mary J. and Sarah M., the latter died in 1880. The second wife, nee Elizabeth Richards, died also, leaving four children-Sarah M., John, William and Nora. All the children were born in Platteville. The present Mrs. Chapman was Mrs. Fannie S., widow of John Bonson, one of the pioneer settlers of Platteville. Mr. Chapman served one year as Assessor of his town ; Treasurer two years, and Supervisor six years. He is a member of the Primitive Methodist Church, and is a Freemason. His home is now outside the city limits of Platteville, where he has 13 acres, in addition to the hun- dreds mentioned above.

EDWARD CHAPPELL, retired farmer, Platteville; was born in November, 1813, in Camborne, Cornwall, England, where his younger days were spent at mining. In 1839, he came with his

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family to America, and spent a number of years in the coal and iron mines of Pennsylvania. Later, he was one of the owners of a Greencastle, Pennsylvania, foundry. and, still later, interested himself in farni- ing. In 1856, he sold his farm, and came West, purchasing of J. C. Wright the splendid 270-acre farm, which he still owns. It was a prairie farm, under improvement, though Mr. Chappell has since erected a new house upon it, and is located partly in Smelser and partly in Elk Grove. Since 1876, he has been a resident of Platteville. His wife was formerly Eliza Pearce, of Illogen Parish, Cornwall. They have eleven children-Edward, born in England, Mary J. (Mrs. James Ivey), John M., William C., Ann E. (Mrs. John Rogers), Sarah (Mrs. Abel Gill), Gilbert, Alfred P., James R., Thomas L. and Anna M. Eight of the children were born in Pennsylvania, and the two youngest on the Elk Grove homestead. The eldest daughter resides near Parkersburg, Iowa, and six of the others are on farms of their own in Taylor Co., Iowa. Edward is farming in Elk Grove, and Thomas is on the old farm. John M. is also a farmer in that town. The children and grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Chappell number about sixty. Mr. Chappell is a Democrat, and served five terms as Chairman of Elk Grove. Is a member, with his wife and most of his children, of the M. E. Church.

F. R. CHASE, merchant, and member of the firm of Sanford & Chase, Platteville ; is a native .of Niagara Co., N Y. ; was born in 1833. In 1834, his parents removed to Trumbull Co., Ohio, and came from there to Platteville in 1855, where they continued to reside till their death. F. R. Chase was engaged in the drug business in Platteville from 1861 to 1865, then sold out in 1867, went into general merchandising, in company with R. C. Sanford, which he has continued up to the present time. He was married in 1862, in Whitehall, Ill., to Miss Jennie McCollister, and has three children-Albert, Mary and Jennie. He has been Alderman two terms.

LEONARD COATES, one of the representative pioneers of Platteville, was born Aug. 8, 1814, in Yorkshire, England. Here he spent his early life in the mines. In May, 1836, he came to the United States, arriving June 26, 1836, in Platteville. Beginning as a miner on his own account, he fol- lowed it until 1838, when he and James Vineyard built a furnace on the Rountree Branch. This fur- nace they operated three years, at the end of which time Mr. Coates took a contract by which he " cleaned up " the old furnaces of Thomas Perrish, on the Blue River; also did some mining at Centerville and Franklin ; returning in 1841 to Platteville, he engaged in mining until the fall of 1844, when, in com pany with Robert Chapman, he re-purchased the old Vineyard-Coates furnace. During 1847 Mr. Coates operated the Shullsburg furnace, then owned by himself and partner. The partnership was dissolved in 1848, although Mr. Coates continued smelting until in 1873. He was conspicuous in securing railroad privileges to Platteville, and has ever been in the foremost ranks of its most public-spirited citizens, hav- ing served as Mayor and City Treasurer. His elegant brick residence was completed in 1870, it making a most pleasant resting-place for one like him,, who has spent a long and active life in the turmoil of the business of this nineteenth century. He married Jan. 2, 1852, Miss Caroline Gear. She was born in Columbus, Ohio, and has been a resident of Platteville since 1840. Their only child, Lucy A., born in Platteville, is the wife of W. H. Diffenbacher. Mr. and Mrs. Coates united with the Platteville M. E. Church in 1857, since which time Mr. C. has been class-leader almost without interruption.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 137

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044