History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 154

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

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J. A. FARNHAM, druggist, Fennimore ; born in Greene Co., N. Y., in June, 1853; he removed with his parents to Elgin, Ill., about 1866 ; he came to Fennimore and engaged in his present business in October, 1878. His wife was Miss Ada Coleman.

P. H. FINNEGAN, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Fennimore; son of Michael Finnegan, who came from Ireland to this country about 1845 ; he lived in Carroll Co., Ind., for some time, when he removed to Will Co., Ill .; he came to Wisconsin with his family about 1854, and settled in the town of Liberty, Grant Co .; he is still a resident of that town. P. H. was born in Ireland in 1842. His wife was Miss Agnes Robinson, daughter of John Robinson ; they have six children-Emma, Mary, George, Albert, Julia and Robert. Mr. Finnegan was Assessor of the town of Fennimore for 1879 and 1880.

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TOWN OF FENNIMORE.

ANDREW GOVIER, merchant tailor, Fennimore ; he was born in Devonshire, England ; came to Grant Co. in August, 1862. He was married in 1855 to Miss Mary Sanders, also a native of England. She died Oct. 2, 1864, leaving four children, two sons and two daughters-Anna E., Emma, John and George. He was married a second time, Dec. 25, 1866, to Mrs. Elizabeth Tobler, widow of John D. Tobler, who died in the army ; she has a son by her former husband, John O. Tobler. They have four children-Ida L., William E., Grant and Albert.

WILLIAM GILLMAN, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Fennimore; a native of New Hampshire . Went with his parents to Vermont when 9 years of age, remained there until 1857, when he came West to Grant Co. Located on his present farm in 1867. He has been a member of the Town Board, and served two years as Justice of the Peace. He was married to Miss Julia A. Dexter, a native of Massachusetts. They have three sons and three daughters.

WILLIAM A. GRISWOLD, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Fennimore; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., February, 1826. He went to Reading, Penn., when a young man, where he learned his trade, that of machinist. He was connected with the machine-shops of the Philadelphia & Reading R. R. Co. for about seven years. He afterward went to Plattsburg, N. Y., where he was foreman of the shops of the Plattsburg & Montreal R. R. Co., and afterward to La Porte, Ind. He came to Lancaster, Grant Co., in 1856, where he and Richard Meyer built a saw-mill. He operated this mill for several years. In 1862, he went to Pittsburgh, Penn., and engaged as foreman of machinery in the construc- tion of the light-draft monitors, Umpqua and Manayunk; was afterward connected with the construction of the Chicago Water Works. He purchased his present farm of 240 acres in 1872, and is now engaged principally in the stock business. His wife was Miss Harriet Meyer, born in St. Petersburg, Russia ; she came to the United States in 1848; of German parentage. Her father was a sea captain, and owner of a line of vessels, which plied between Russia and England. Mrs. Griswold is a cultured lady, speaking Russian, German, French and the English languages; she was educated in Russia, where she learned to speak the English language. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold have four children-Ira W., born in 1855, at Plattsburg ; J. Lily, born in 1857, at Lancaster ; Mary H. and Joseph N., born in 1870.

GEORGE H. HORTON, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Fennimore ; was born in New Hampshire Feb. 16, 1835 ; came to Wisconsin in 1857, and settled in Grant Co. Was married to Mary A. Switzer in 1861. Mr. Horton enlisted in Co. K, 47th W. V. I., in 1865, and went South with the regiment, and was in active service until the close of the rebellion ; was honorably discharged, and returned to a farm- er's life. Mrs. Horton was born in Grant Co., Wis., in 1844; they have four living children-George, G., Charles A., Frank S. and Clyde S. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and has filled various town offices; has been Assessor of his town and Justice of the Peace, and owns a valu- able farm of 290 acres, well improved.

C. W. HINES, ticket agent, telegraph operator and express agent at Fennimore, for the Mil- waukee & Madison Branch of the N. W. R. R. Co. A native of Elgin, Ill. He took charge of this office Jan. 1, 1881.

CHARLES WARREN LONEY, Fennimore. (Autobiography.) I was born Aug. 21 1808, in the town of Franklin, Ross Co., Ohio; was brought up in a Methodist family, and taught to believe that it is wrong to break the Sabbath, or to attend church festivals ; I embraced religion in Indiana in 1834, and joined the Methodist Church. Was married, June 3, 1832, to Mary Switzer; removed with my family to the Territory of Wisconsin in October, 1846, and bought land and settled in the town of Fennimore, Grant Co .; for personal abuse by those who should have been my friends, and for corrup- tions in the church, I called for and obtained a letter of recommendation from said church in 1871; in 1875, myself and wife presented our letters to the United Brethren in Christ, which church holds the same doctrines as regards the conditions of salvation, and have some church rules that I esteem more highly and vital importance in a religious view of the matter. This church is also more strict in the observance of their church discipline. These are some of the causes which led me to leave the M. E. Church and join the United Brethren. The love for and the tenacity wich which the former church clings to Freemasonry and other minor secret organizations, its organs, its church festivals and its church music all tend to deprive it of the power for usefulness which it formerly possessed. There is no man or woman that can be a true follower of the Savior, and at the same time deny Him. With regard to poli- tics, I always voted with the old Whig party while that party existed, and since its disorganization have voted with the Republican party. I was elected a Justice of the Peace in the town of Fennimore in . 1847, and re-elected each succeeding two years for sixteen years. I taught the second term of school taught in the town in the winter of 1847-48. Mr. R. Dixon taught the first term the previous winter.

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I was elected Town Superintendent of Schools in 1849, and again in 1852 and 1853; was elected Town Clerk in 1865, and re-elected annually for sixteen years in succession. I have tried different occupations for a livelihood, but have never made much money at anything, but have always endeavored to deal hon- estly with all with whom I have done business. We have had four children, all born in Indiana, three of whom are living-Mary Ann (now Mrs. Mumms), Charles W. and Wm. H.

WILLIAM MARSDEN, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Fennimore ; son of Henry Marsden, who- was born in Yorkshire, Eng., in 1806. He emigrated to Wisconsin with his family in 1842, and settled in Waukesha Co. the following spring. In 1853, he settled in the town of Liberty, Grant Co., where he died in November, 1880. Had five children, all born in England, and all of whom are living-Mrs. Rebecca Rook, Thomas, William, Mrs. Jane Thomas and John; the last two live in Kansas. William was born Jan. 1, 1838 ; settled where he now lives in 1863. He was married to Jane Warne; they have five children-John, William, George, Anna and Frank ; his farm contains 160 acres. Mr. Marsden is the present Treasurer of the town of Fennimore; he has held that office for three years.

JOHN MONTEITH, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Fennimore; son of Andrew Monteith; born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, in 1829 ; he came to the United States in 1850 ; he lived for a time in the State of Vermont; thence to Western New York ; he went to Indiana in 1851 ; he passed the winter of 1851-52 in Texas; in the spring of 1852, he came to Grant Co. and settled in the town of Liberty. He went to California in the winter of 1853-54; returned in the fall of 1857. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Dinsdale, daughter of John Dinsdale ; they have three children-Willie, Bertha and. Cornelia ; lost one son, their third child. Settled on present farm in 1866; has 320 acres of land. Mr. Monteith is one of the present members of the Town Board ; was Chairman of board for three years; he was a soldier in the war for the Union; he enlisted in Angust, 1861, in the 7th W. V. I .; served about two years, and was discharged for disability ; he participated in several severe engagements, including Gainesville and Second Bull Run.

GEORGE MOODY, stone-mason, Fennimore ; son of Isaiah Moody, one of the early settlers of Grant Co., who settled in the town of Smelser and went to California in 1849, where he still lives. George was born in the town of Smelser in 1847. His mother died when he was an infant. He has always resided in Grant Co. Has one brother, Sylvester, living in Grant Co.

H. A. W. McNAIR, farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Fennimore ; is one of the prominent early settlers of Grant Co .; he was born in Lincoln Co., N. C., in 1818. His parents, natives of South Carolina, were of Scotch descent. He removed with his father's family to Bond Co., Ill., about 1820, where his mother died . Mr. McNair was on what is now the town of Fennimore in April, 1842; he removed here permanently in 1846. His father, with his family, came at the same time. He entered his present home in 1849, but had occupied the place since the spring of the previous year. James McNair, a brother, settled at the same time on an adjoining farm ; he is now a resident of the town of Mt. Ida. John McNair, the father of the subject of this sketch, died at the residence of his son in 1858. Parents had five children, two of whom died in Illinois. The third child, Matilda, resides with her brother James. Mr. McNair was married to Mary Dorland, born in Pennsylvania ; they have two children-Fred W., born in December, 1862, and Bessie, April, 1864; lost two youngest children, a son and daughter. Mr. McNair was a member of the Legislature three terms, 1859, 1867 and 1870; he was County Surveyor in 1861 and 1864.

E. H. MOORE, stone-mason and plasterer, Sec. 18; P. O. Fennimore ; was born in Camden Co., N. J., Nov. 11, 1837 ; removed with his parents to Indiana in 1840; had a liberal education in the public schools ; removed to Wisconsin in 1856 and settled in Fennimore, Grant Co. He married Mrs. Elmyria Eaton, daughter of David Hood, of Venango Co., Penn., Jan. 27, 1861. Mrs. Moore first mar- ried Clark Eaton, March 2, 1853, who died in 1860. Mrs. Moore has two daughters by her first husband -Mary, aged 26 years, who has followed teaching for ten years ; Melissa, wife of Rev. A. J. Hood, of this county. By her second marriage Mrs. Moore has one child-Alferetta, aged 19 years, a dressmaker. Mr. Moore enlisted in Co. E, 25th W. V. I., Jan. 4, 1864, and was in active service until the close of the war ; was honorably discharged. Is a member of the United Brethren Church, and is an active Repub- lican in his town.

JOSEPH MORRISON, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O: Fennimore; was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, July 28, 1833 ; removed to Illinois in 1851, and to Grant Co., Wis., September, 1858. Mr. Morrison enlisted in Co. C, 25th W. V. I., Aug. 12, 1862; was in active service with his regiment until the close of the rebellion ; was honorably discharged. He was married, Dec. 25, 1866, to Catherine E. Smith. Mrs. Morrison was born in Lake Co., Ind., in 1847. They have five children-Saralı C.,

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TOWN OF FENNIMORE.

Jaseph L., George W., Frank E. and Margaret. Mr. M. is an active Republican ; has been Deputy Sheriff and Constable. Owns 100 acres of valuable land.

CONRAD NAPP, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Fennimore; was born in Rhine Province, Germany, Oct. 15, 1829. His father, with his family, emigrated to Wisconsin in the fall of 1846, and settled in Hurricane Grove, Grant Co. He now resides at Cassville. His parents had nine children when they came to this country, six sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living except one daughter. Mr. Napp was married to Elizabeth Brek, daughter of Philip Brek, who emigrated from Germany to Grant Co. in 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Napp have nine children-Elizabeth, Mary M., Conrad, Charles, Carrie, Emma, John C., David and Mattie. His farm contains 340 acres. Is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

T. POPEJAY, proprietor of meat market at Fennimore; a native of Fayette Co., Ohio. He same to Grant Co. in 1836, and was one of the earliest settlers. In September, 1842, he was married to Miss Mary Tindal. She died in 1844, leaving one daughter-Alice. He was married a second time, in 1859, to Miss Sarah T. Kelley. They have a son and daughter-Terrance and Stella D.

JOHN G. PERKINS, farmer, Secs. 18 and 19; P. O. Fennimore; a native of Vermont ; porn in 1827. He came to Grant Co., and located on the farm where he now lives, and built the first house in the village of Fennimore Center. He has resided here for the last twenty-three years, and, dur- ing that time, has held the offices of Constable, Assessor and District Clerk. He was married, in 1849, to Miss Elzina E. Gillman, a native of Vermont. They have three sons.

W. H. PEDICORD, manufacturer of harnesses and saddles, Fennimore; born in Vanwert Co., Ohio. He came to Grant Co. in November, 1878, and established his present business the same year. He was married, Oct. 14, 1879, to Miss Mary Shiffman, a native of Grant Co. They have one daughter, Marcia. Members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Pedicard is a member of the I. O. O. F.

D. O. PICKARD, M. D., Fennimore; born in Northern Ohia, October, 1837. His par- ents afterward removed ta Michigan, and came to Stephenson Ca., Ill., in 1838. When 18 years of age, the Doctor went to Minnesota, where he lived till 1861, when he enlisted in the 2d U. S. Sharpshooters, organized by Col. Berdan. He re-enlisted, in 1864, as Hospital Steward and medical student. During his service in the army, he participated in many important battles and campaigns. His regiment was dis- banded just before the close of the war, and he was discharged as a supernumerary. He continued the study of medicine after the close of the war. He took his first course of lectures at Charity College, Cleveland, Ohio ; graduated, in 1879, at the Detroit Medical College. He began practice at Richland Center, Richland Ca., Wis., where he lived three years; thence to Boscobel, where he was in practice seven years. He came to Fennimore in March, 1879. His wife was Miss Ida McClain, daughter of John McClain, and adapted daughter of Alfred Palwer, of Boscobel.

JUDSON PERKINS, proprietor of Railroad House, Fennimore; born in Rutland Ca., Vt., in 1840. He came to Feonimore from Vermont, in February, 1866. He was engaged for a time in farming, afterward, in buying and shipping horses to Boston, Mass. He has been connected with the railroad for several years ; built his hotel in 1880. His wife was Cornelia Clark, born in Vermont. His parents, Amasa and Lucy Perkins, came to Fennimore about 1864. They are now deceased.

DWIGHT TIMOTHY PARKER, Sr., deceased, was born Dec. 21, 1821, in the village af Malone, N. Y. When a mere child, his parents removed to Georgia, Franklin Co., Vt., on the shores of that beautiful and historic lake-Champlain. Enos, his father, a pious, industrious and highly respected citizen, was one of the pioneers of that region, and possessed much of that ambitious spirit and determination which sa signally characterized his son in after years ; he departed this life only some sixteen months previous to the demise of his san Dwight, in the 76th year of his age. Mary Todd, che mother, whose death occurred during her son's infancy, was a sister to the late Dr. John Tadd, a devout Christian, warm-hearted and noble, and a woman of rare intelligence. Here on the farm, near Georgia Plains, where the rising sun appears among the grand old mountains, and sinks serenely behind the little lake, Dwight T. Parker, Sr., was reared. Assisting his father in the fields during the summer months, he was taught that lesson of industry, perseverance and frugality that was never to be forgotten. In the winter he trudged wearily through the deep snows of Northern Vermont to and from the simple district school, where he learned the rudiments of figures, in which he afterward proved himself so thoroughly proficient. For several years after his majority, a desire grew upon him for more of fame ind worldly goods than secmed likely to be acquired among the hills and densely populated regions of old Vermont. Thus, in the year 1843, he emigrated westward, his objective point being Wisconsin, then

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a Territory. Arriving here, his first stop was made at Watertown, penniless and among strangers. From here he journeyed, principally on foot, to Lancaster, Grant Co., having been prompted thither with an eye to mining, then the principal vocation in that section, arriving there with but a small bundle of clothing and $12 in money, which constituted his entire worldy effects. Nothing daunted, he struck out for the mining business, but not having had sufficient experience, he met with poor success, and conse- quently pursued that occupation for only a brief period. The Boscobel Journal of 1870-71, in biograph- ical sketches of his life, speaks of Mr. Parker as follows : " Coming to Lancaster, he sought, by working at whatever chanced to yield a return, to add to his greatly reduced purse, and we are told that while stopping with a distant relation, some question came up as to his poverty, and with a voice full of resolu- tion, he replied that he would yet be at the top of the ladder. He took the job of digging for a mill a short distance from here, and by working night and day, completed his task, whereby he earned $50 in less than a week. We give this instance as illustrative of the indomitable will and wonderful power of endurance which he possessed. And it was by this industrious spirit, perseverance and economy that he has secured for his family a competency. * Abandoning the pick and shovel for the book and rod, we next find him 'teaching the young idea how to shoot' in one of our smaller country towns. In 1848, we first hear of him in the mercantile business, as one of the firm of Kendall & Parker, located at Lancaster." Dec. 27, of this year, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Mary E., daughter of Lenhart O. Shrader, a man quite prominent in his time, whose sister, Mary E., was the esti- mable wife of Hon. Charles Dunn, first Chief Justice of Wisconsin, and afterward Judge of the 5th Wisconsin Circuit, and mother of Mrs. ex-Gov. Nelson Dewey, of this State. By this union four chil- dren were born, all of whom, together with the mother, are living-the eldest, a daughter, May Louise, and three sons, Dwight Timothy, Frank Arunah and Charles Dewey. The daughter, a woman of culture and refinement, and graduate both of music and letters, receiving instructions in the former at Rockford Female Seminary, and in the latter at Milwaukee Female College; was married in February, 1875, to Andrew J. Pipkin, at present a banker and prominent citizen of Boscobel. The eldest son, Dwight, Jr., an industrious, frugal and temperate young man, inheriting many of the father's excellent qualities, though "but 22 years of age, has," says a correspondent of the Chicago Tribune of 1879, " shown himself to be one of the best business men in the county." For several years prior to 1876, he pursued studies at Beloit College and the State University. In January, 1879, he was elected Vice President, and shortly afterward became President of the First National Bank of Bos- cobel, an institution founded by his father, and of which he was principal owner and President; but now in voluntary liquidation. Thus Dwight, Sr., was its first, and Dwight, Jr., its last presid- ing officer. Oct. 13, 1880, he was married to Cora B. Anderson, of Ripon, Wis. He resides on his fine stock farm in Fennimore. Frank A., the second son, 22 years of age, for some time attended school at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and afterward, owing somewhat to ill health, visited Colorado; he is at present in New Orleans. Frank is a young man of excellent habits, and possessing great pride of character. The third and youngest son, Charles D., now in his 19th year, resides with his mother at Boscobel, at ending school. He, too, is a youth of bright prospects and fair promisc.

In 1850, Mr. Parker bought the entire interest of his partner, Kendall, and for seven years stood alone, when, in 1857, discontinuing shortly afterward his Lancaster interest, he opened a branch store at Boscobel, calling it the " People's Store," a name that soon became nearly as familiar to the people of northern Grant and Crawford Counties as their own. He was really the founder and most prominent business man of the latter place, at the time of his death (1871) an enterprising village of about 1,500 inhabitants. " Up to five years ago," again quoting the Journal, " Mr. Parker's time and fortune were mainly devoted to merchandising, in which, with speculating in live-stock and grain, he was always suc- cessful. During the last five years, still furnishing capital for three stores, located at Boscobel, Wauzeka and Fennimore, Mr. Parker's time has been devoted mainly to farming and stock-raising. He is the owner of about 4,300 acres of wood and tillable land in this county." Speaking of his home farm, the Prairie du Chien Courier, in its obituary notice of Mr. Parker, says: "Though he was a successful mer- chant, he was equally as successful an agriculturist ; he was a great lover of fine stock, and many of the most pleasant hours of his life were spent on his large farm. His stock farm, the largest in Grant Co., is situated in the town of Fennimore, about fourteen miles southward from Boscobel, and embraces nearly a score of eighties of the choicest lands in the State, 1,000 acres of which, in a body, are under an excel- lent state of cultivation, and the remainder heavily timbered land, a feature extremely important in con- nection with so large a farm. Here he put the best stock that could be found; and through a complete knowledge of the business, aided by a good judgment and well-directed energy, he became one of the most thorough and prosperous farmers in Wisconsin. This induced the members of the Grant County Agri-

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TOWN OF FENNIMORE.

cultural Society to eleet him their President, a position which he filled for three years, and with great ability." Speaking of him at home on his farm, the Journal again remarks : " Mr. Parker, ever ready with his fine conversational powers, and a mind well filled with all there is good of poetry or prose, will keep his guest a willing listener for hours to his quotations from Burns and Saxe, giving the peculiar dia- leet of the former to perfection. * * Of surety, Mr. Parker is peculiarly blest with a helpmate, one who has been chiefly instrumental by saving what he has by persevering industry secured. Mr. Parker is as liberal as hospitable ; we could enumerate many instances of his generosity had we the time and space." Suffice to say, though a member of no religious denomination, he was a man of high moral character, and bequeathed, in several instances, sites for the erection of church edifices, in addition to liberal support otherwise ; he gave generously for educational purposes, and those in adversity always found in him a friend and sympathizer. Mr. Parker was by far the heaviest real estate owner in Bosco- bel, being the possessor of at least a dozen buildings, and lots innumerable. In 1869, he erected here the largest and finest store building in Grant County ; occupied after its completion by Parker, Hildebrand & Co .- Mr. Parker as the senior partner-a firm then doing the heaviest mercantile business in South western Wisconsin. The last important business movement in which Mr. Parker distinguished himself was the establishment of the First National Bank of Boscobel, but a few weeks prior to his death, of which, as we have said, he was principal owner and President. The Courier, in its obituary notice of him, again adds : " He was a successful man in almost every enterprise he undertook, and at once gained the fullest confidenee of his friends and patrons by his integrity and close attention to business. The hundreds with whom he was connected in business relations bear testimony to his just, honorable and generous dealings. He was singularly devoid of ostentation. Nothing was needed to secure his respeet and confidence, but honesty and industry ; and for nothing had he greater contempt than idleness and affectation." Having thus given an outline of Mr. Parker's life, brief mention will be made of his last moments and death. When, on the 19th day of May, 1871, after many months of suffering caused by a tumor, the result of an accident some two years previous, he was informed that there were no hopes of his recovery, he ex- pressed no surprise, but regretted exceedingly that he might not be spared to see his children, whom he as fondly loved as ever did a parent, grown to honorable manhood and womanhood, under the guidance and protection of a father's loving hand. Thus, at 6:15 P. M., on the 21st day of May, 1871, his useful life went out, while yet " in the full strength of years ;" and, to still more sadden the seenc, at that period of the year when nature appears at her best, having but barely assumed that rich and perfect verdaney that so pleases life, as to cause not only the winged creatures to respond in sweetest notes and creation in gen- eral to acknowledge in their respective ways, the beauties of the Creator, but man himself to proclaim life, even at its worst, well worth the living.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 154

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