History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 144

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?]
Number of Pages: 1050

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After being admitted to the bar, with the exception of a few months spent in the Treasury Depart- ment at Washington, D. C., he practiced law at Amsterdam and Schenectady, N. Y., until the autumn of 1863, when he decided to settle in the West. His elder brothers, William and Gerry W. Hazelton, the present United States District Attorney for Milwaukee, had settled in Wisconsin some year previous. To be in their vicinity was the principal reason of his settling, in September, 1863, at Boscobel, in Grant County, Wis., where he has since resided. If there is any one trait that pre-eminently marks the charac- ter of Mr. Hazelton, it is self-reliance. Our great philosopher, Emerson, in his essay on this admirable trait of American character, says : "A sturdy lad from New Hampshire or Vermont, who, in turn, tries all the professions, who teams it, farms it, peddles, keeps school, preaches, edits a newspaper, goes to Con- gress, buys a township, and so forth, in successive years, and always, like a cat, falls on his feet, is worth a hundred of these city dolls. He walks abreast with his days, and feels no shame in not studying a pro- fession, for he does not postpone his life, but lives already. He has not one chance, but a hundred chances."

Mr. Hazelton was all this, and more, for he had the profession which he had struggled to obtain, and which he still loves. With a firm faith in his capacity to make his way upward and onward in life upon his own individual merits, and having decided, in September, 1863, where his home was to be, in the fol- lowing November, poor as he was in this world's goods, but rich in more than " a hundred chances," he wedded Ellen Van Antwerp, of Schenectady, N. Y., an accomplished lady, who has been to him a help- meet in the highest and truest sense of the word. Four children have blessed this union, two of whom-

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the eldest boy, Harry, and the only girl, Alice-are deceased. George and John Hampdon still live to cheer the home and bless the hearts of their parents.

Having decided on a home, and found a wife to preside over it, the self-reliant young lawyer went to work to win that which he came to Wisconsin for-a place among men. There were no shilly-shally efforts, but direct, forcible work. He had his chosen profession. He was a born orator. The country debating schools and the college lyceums always had special attractions for him. In his new home, these natural gifts were soon brought into full play. In November, 1864, he was elected District Attorney for Grant County, and, in 1866, was re-elected for the second term. Nor did this rapid progress cease here, for we find him elected to the State Senate, in 1867, and he was chosen President pro tempore of that body. He was again re-elected to the Senate in 1869. Feeling that he must gain a more solid reputa- tion in his profession, we find him, at the expiration of his last term in the State Senate, giving five years of close and diligent attention to the practice of law in the State and United States Courts. Here he soon became known as one of the leading lawyers of Wisconsin. His success as a jury lawyer was most marked, and soon gained him an extensive practice and a wide experience.

If he was anything, he was an active and ardent Republican. Each recurring canvass found him vigorously engaged. The result was that he was again called upon to represent his fellow-citizens, this time in the National Legislature, being elected to the Forty-fifth Congress, in November, 1876. He en- tered Congress at a time when he found himself numbered among the Republican minority. This was peculiarly unfortunate, for the Democratic majority, through their committees prepared and controlled all legislation, and never willingly allowed any Republican to do any work, or take any part that would test either his ability to work, his knowledge of politics, or his skill in debate. His real public life com- menced under these adverse circumstances. But he was not thus to be repressed. Whenever opportu- nity offered, his readiness and ability to state a point with rare terseness and force soon began to command the attention of the House. Such was the state of affairs with him when he was re-nominated in 1878. The leading question in the Third Wisconsin District was finance. Briefly stated, it was this: Shall the Nation have an honest dollar and keep faith with its creditors, or shall we enter upon another era of paper money inflation. All of Mr. Hazelton's convictions as to what was not only the best policy, but the soundest politics, made him believe that a speedy return to specie payments was the only sure road to future national prosperity. Although a majority of the voters of his district seemed against him, he never wavered for an instant. He was re-nominated in 1878, and at once took the stump on the Republican financial platform. Both Greenbackers and Democrats united to beat him, and it was only by the most persuasive speeches and untiring labor that he overcame the majority, and was re-elected to the Forty-sixth Congress.

In the first session of this Congress he had his first opportunity to show the real quality of his intel- lect. In February, 1879, when the majority were openly threatening the immediate repeal of the re-con- struction measures, he delivered a speech on the " Powers of Government," in which he not only exhibited a thorough knowledge of the legal and political phases of the question, but a boldness of thought in apply- ing principles that clearly showed that he had been a close student of our political history. In the follow- ing April, when the same majority were attempting to impede the resumption of specie payments, he spoke on the subject of the National Banks. This speech, made in favor of honest money and national good faith, was one of his greatest efforts. It attracted much attention at the time, and was widely published and commented upon in the daily press. His efforts during this session ranked him among the best ora- tors in the House, and, in the autumn of that year, he was invited to go to California and assist in the canvass in that State. The election was for members of Congress, and it was regarded as the test case of the coming national campaign of 1880. The Republicans carried the State, and no one man from outside of it contributed more to that success than Mr. Hazelton. He has, if any man has, the courage of his convictions. He was invited to deliver an address at the famous Arlington cemetery, on Decoration Day, 1880. Here he made a wide departure from the usual line of thought followed by most speakers on sim- ilar occasions. He said that we had apologized long enough for conquering the rebellion, and then he told the assembled veterans that the Union soldiers, living and dead, in putting down the rebellion had accomplished a work such as had never been accomplished before. This speech was also published in the daily press, and Union soldiers all over the land spoke of it in the warmest terms. The soldiers have in him a warm and energetic friend, and as more than a score of grateful pensioners can testify, and whether as a member of the committee on invalid pensions, or in helping along a case delayed in the pension office, he omits no effort to see that justice is done. In 1880, he was re-nominated for the third time, and most triumphantly re-elected, his majority ranking among the highest ever given for any man since the close of the rebellion.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

In a consideration of his marked traits of character : He did not die young; he is strong in his likes and dislikes, and often frankness itself in expressing them; he sometimes wounds the feelings of sensitive people, not that he would wrong any one, but being a man of positive convictions, and of a most sanguine temperament, he is almost the ideal of a "blunt man," and speaks just as he thinks. In a word, he has that good, but very iwpolitic habit of saying " yes," or "no," at once. Such a man must, at times, wound his friends and embitter those whom political and other reasons have made his enemies. But once let him see that he has been wrong, and, like all men of his temperament, he is the first to acknowl- edge his error. Nor does he cherish animosity toward political opponents in his own party. When once a struggle has been ended in caucus or convention, if he and his friends have been defeated, it is the end of the battle with him, no matter what personal interests may have been at stake, and he is one of the first to hold out his hand, and say, " All, right, boys ; we did our best to beat you, but now we are with you." When he says this, it means no half-hearted work either. On the other hand he possesses. in the highest degree, the power of attaching men to him. Often has he been heard to speak, in the warmest terms, and with real emotion, of the many helpful and faithful friends he has found since his home has

been in Wisconsin. " Whatever of success I have had," said he, " I owe to them." That his energy and ability as a lawyer and a man of politics, his fidelity to his principles and to his friends, are known and appreciated by those who are best acquainted with him, is shown by the fact that they have steadily called him to higher and more important duties. He is now in the prime of his mental power.

DR. C. M. HEWITT, physician and surgeon, Boscobel ; is a native of Oneida Co., N. Y .; . when a boy, he commencced the study of medicine with his uncle in Batavia, N. Y .; he afterward came to Canada and continued his course of studies with Dr. Merrick about three years ; studied with Dr. Nash about two years ; he then came to Detroit and continued his studies under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Henry ; graduated in the winter of 1838-39, at the College of Physicians at the New York University ; he then returned to Canada and commenced the practice of his profession at Port Rowen and St. Thomas ; continued about two years ; in 1841, came to Grand Detour, Ill .; thence to Grant Co., Wis .; in 1859, he removed to Boscobel ; he has practiced in Lancaster, Potosi and other places in this county; he is the old- est practicing physician in Grant Co. He was one of the School Commissioners whose duties were examin- ing school teachers, etc. He was married in 1840 to Miss Lizzie Nash; she was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y.

GEORGE F. HILDEBRAND, firm of Parker, Hildebrand & Co., general merchandise, Boscobel ; is a native of Prussia ; in 1856, came to Waukesha, Wis .; in 1858, came to Boscobel ; was em- ployed as book-keeper for Dwight T. Parker ; held this position five or six years ; he was then admitted as a partner into the firm of Parker, Hildebrand & Pepper; this firm continued some years, when George W. Parker bought out Mr. Pepper's interest ; since then the firm has been Parker, Hildebrand & Co. This firm carries on the largest business of any house in the county ; their sales are over $120,000 a year.

T. N. HUBBELL, firm of Ritter & Hubbell, hardware, Boscobel. The subject of this sketch is a native of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio; when a boy, he came to Bloomington, Ill. ; afterward removed to Pana, Ill. ; he secured the position as expressman with Valentine's Express, running between Cairo and St. Louis ; he continued with this company until they retired from business ; he then returned to Bloomington and engaged in the hotel business both there and at Pana ; in about 1859, came to Lan- caster, Wis., and engaged in general merchandise business; he also opened the first store in Woodman, which he carried on for several years ; in 1874, he came to Boscobel and entercd upon his present busi- ness ; when in Woodman he was Chairman of the town about four years; also held the office of Town Clerk ; since coming to Boscobel he has held various offices ; among others was Chief Engineer of the Fire Department four years, and Chairman of the Town Board ; he is now Mayor of the city, having been elected in 1879 ; re-elected in 1880 ; he was one of the five members who served on the County Board under the old law. Married, October, 1856, to Miss E. A. Ritter ; she was born in Salem, Ohio ; they have one son, now assisting his father in his business.

DR. W. T. HURD, dentist, Boscobel ; was born in Wiota, Wis. ; in 1871, he came to Madi- son, and entered the profession of dental surgery, studying with Drs. Hurd & Chittenden ; graduated in 1874 at the State Dental Association of Milwaukee; practiced with Dr. Enos one year in Milwaukee; in 1876, he came to Boscobel and at once established himself in business, and has been a resident here since ; he is the only resident dentist in the city.

V. J. KRATOCHWILL, boots and shoes, Boscobel ; was born in Austria; in 1856, came to Muscoda, Wis .; there he commenced to learn this trade in 1857 with C. J. Molle ; he came to Boscobel July 30, 1860, with Mr. Molle, and finished learning his trade; he worked for Mr. Molle four-

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teen years ; this gentleman died in 1872, when Mr. K. bought out the business ; he was clerk in the sut- ler's department during the war in 1863-64. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Temple of Honor. Married in 1866 to Elizabeth Weibel, who was born in Switzerland ; they have six children, five sons and one daughter.

C. McWILLIAMS, firm of Pittman & McWilliams, drugs and groceries, Boscobel ; is a native of Ireland ; came to Eagle, Wis., in 1859 ; clerked in a drug and hardware store about two years ; in the spring of 1866 he came to Boscobel and commenced this business; they carry a stock of about $8,000, doing a trade of about $30,000 per year. Married, in 1865, to Miss Maggie E. Haslehurst ; she was born in New York ; they had three children, two living; lost George in 1870, aged 3 years.

EDWARD MEYER, firm of Meyer Bros., general merchandise, Boscobel ; is a native of Westphalia, Germany ; came to Waukesha Co., Wis., in 1848, with his parents; followed farming till 1859, when he came to Boscobel ; was employed as clerk with Fleete, Meyer & Co., who had opened their store in 1858, and was one of the first stores started here ; this business was succeeded to by Meyer, Hil- debrand & Co., in 1862; they continued this business till 1866, when it was changed to Meyer Bros. ; they carry a stock of about $20,000 ; their sales amount to about $75,000 per year ; has been chairman of the town ; married in 1867 to Miss Josephine Horn ; she was born in New York ; they have four children, three sons and one daughter.

N. B. MILLER, restaurant and saloon, Boscobel ; born in Livingston Co., N. Y .; followed farming till 1858, when he came to Ohio and worked at the daguerrean business about eight months ; in the fall of 1858 came to Lancaster ; worked at the same business there till the spring of 1861; then started a grocery ; firm of Barnett & Miller ; they continued about six months, when Mr. Miller bought out the business and continued it till July, 1863, when he sold out and removed to Boscobel and com- menced this business ; he owns this and other property in town, all of which he has acquired since eoming to Grant County ; married in 1864 to Helen M. Petty ; she was born in Ohio; they have one son- Nathan G.

DWIGHT T. PARKER, deceased ; he was born in Malone, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1821; in about 1843, came to Lancaster, Wis .; followed mining and taught school a short time; he then, in company with Mr. Kendall, opened a store, which they carried on several years ; in 1857, he removed to Boscobel opened a general store, which is now operated under the firm name of Parker, Hildebrand & Co., and is probably the largest in the county ; he died in 1871, aged 49 years ; he organized and was Presi- dent of the First National Bank; he was always successful in all his business engagements, and at his death left property valued at over $200,000, all of this he acquired since coming to this county ; he mar- ried Miss Mary E. Schrader, December, 1848; she was born in Vandalia, Ill .; have four children three sons and one daughter.

GEORGE W. PARKER, firm of Parker, Hildebrand & Co., general merchandise, Bos- obel ; born in Franklin County, Vt .; came to Lancaster, Wis., in 1856; was employed as clerk in his brother's store, Dwight T. Parker, who had established business there in about 1843; removed his store to Boscobel, in 1857; in 1860, they opened a branch store at Wauzeka, continued it about five years, when they closed out this business ; he then bought an interest in the business at Boscobel, since then has been connected with this firm ; they are probably doing the largest business of any in the county ; their sales amount to about $120,000 per year; has been Chairman of the Town, and Mayor; married in 1872 to Miss Ida Cannon ; she was born in Logansport, Ind. ; they have one daughter.

JOHN PEPPER, live stock, Boscobel; born in Mineral Point; when about 2 years old came with his parents to Lancaster. His father soon after was elected Sheriff, and held this office two terms. He also opened a hotel and ran it till his death, which occurred in 1842. At the age of 15 he was employed as clerk for D. T. Parker ; held this position five years. In 1854 he went to California ; remained a few months, returned to Lancaster and started business with Col. John B. Callis ; carried this on about two years. Mr. Parker then opened a store at Boscobel, and retained the services of Mr. Pep- per to close out his business at Lancaster. He came to Boscobel in 1859, and bought the Barnett House ; ran it about six months. Soon after he and Mr. Hildebrand bought two-thirds interest in this store. The firm became Parker, Hildebrand & Pepper; continued until 1865. He then engaged in live stock and grain a short time ; Jan. 1, 1869, was employed at book-keeping for Parker, Hildebrand & Co. ; held this position till 1873. He then resumed the grain and live-stock trade, which he continued till April 1, 1879, when he sold out his warehouse to Parker, Hildebrand & Co. Since then he has been engaged in the live stock business.

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A. J. PIPKEN, banker, successor to First National Bank, Boscobel, is a native of Union Co., Ill. ; commenced reading law in 1857, with the Hon. John Dougherty, of Union Co .; graduated in Lex- ington, Ky., in 1858; came to Watertown, Monroe Co., Ill., in 1860, and opened a law office, which he continued about eighteen months, then went to Chicago in 1865 ; went to Milwaukee and engaged in the wholesale grocery trade; afterward transacted a merchandise brokerage business; continued till 1876, when he came to Boscobel, and soon after entered his present business, which he has since continued ; married in 1875 to Miss Mary L., daughter of Dwight T. Parker, deceased, President of First National Bank, Boscobel. She was born in Lancaster, Wis.

J. B. RICKS, farmer ; P. O. Boscobel; born near the city of New York. In 1852, he came to Platteville, Wis., where he followed farming. In 1853, he came to the town of Marion, and bought 176 acres of land, which he improved. He enlisted in 1861 in Co. K, 12th W. V. I., and served to the end of the war; was in. the siege of Vicksburg, Sherman's march to the sea, Peach Tree Creek, Stone Moun- tain. Jonesboro and others. He came to Boscobel in 1871, and owns his residence property with ten acres of ground, and other property. All of this he has acquired since coming to Grant County. He has been Chairman of the town of Marion four years, and Town Superintendent of Schools of Marion one year ; married March 20, 1860, to Miss Myra A. Rice, who is a native of Massachusetts. They have three chil- dren-two sons and one daughter.

LEONARD SALZGABER, farmer and dairyman, Sec. 35 ; P. O. Boscobel ; was born in Baden, Germany, where he worked in an oil mill for five years. He came to America in 1862, landing at New York May 27 ; he went from New York to Canada, where he remained until October, when he came to Chicago, thence to Boscobel in 1867, and has since been engaged in farming ; he owns 35 acres of good land, which he has been enabled to purchase by industry and perseverance; married in 1868 to Margaretta Rean, who is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt. They have six children-three boys and three girls.

M. A. SAWYER, of the firm of Sawyer & Favor, drugs, books and fancy groceries, Boscobel ; is a native of Vermont ; when a child, he came with his parents to New Hampshire; clerked in a drug store in Meridith and in Concord, N. H., several years; in 1858, he opened a drug store in Bristol, N. H .; continued it till September, 1860, when he sold out and went to New Orleans ; remained about six months ; at the breaking-out of the war, he returned to New Hampshire, and was appointed Hospital Steward in the 3d N. H. V. I .; in 1863, he came to Milwaukee, where he remained till the following February ; he then went to Louisiana and engaged in raising sugar and cotton, having, in company with others, leased a Government plantation, employing about seventy hands ; they continued this about two years ; in August, 1866, he came to Boscobel and bought an interest with Mr. Mortimer in the drug busi- ness : Mr. Mortimer died soon after; the firmn then changed to Sawyer & Ames ; afterward to Pittman & Sawyer, which continued till May, 1870, when he sold out to Mr. McWilliams; in September, 1870, the firm of Sawyer & Favor was established. He was married July 1, 1865, to Anna M. Prescott; she was born in New Hampshire ; they have one daughter.

FRED SCHAEMPFLUG, furniture dealer. Boscobel; born in Prussia; came to Balti- more, MId., in 1854; thence to Cincinnati ; in 1856, went to Milwaukee; followed the mason trade there about five years, having learned this trade in Prussia; in 1861, cnme to Boscobel ; has followed this trade more or less since coming here; in 1867, he established his furniture store, which he still continues ; car- ries a stock of about $1,000 ; his sales amount to about $6,000 per year. Is a member of the Lutheran Church. He was married in 1861 to Lizzie Martin ; she was born in Germany ; they have three children -one son and two daughters. He owns h's store, also his residence and other property in town.

GEORGE SMITH, Jr., livery, Boscobel ; was born in Prairie du Chien, Wis. When a child, he came to Dane Co., Wis., and at the age of 10 years, came to Boscobel, where he worked for his father in the livery business until 1875, when he commenced business for himself. He first bought a watch for $3 ; this he traded for a cutter ; he then traded the cutter for a harness ; then bought a buggy, and so continued until he has accumulated considerable livery stock. He now owns nine horses and seven buggies and wagons, and is considered the leading livery-man of the town.

E. O. SPIEGELBERG, firm of Spiegelberg Brothers & Co., general merchandise, Boscobel. Is a native of Saxony ; came to Portage, Wis., in the fall of 1869. Since the age of 12, he has followed this line of business. In 1877, the firm came to Boscobel ; they opened with a stock of about $7,000 ; now are carrying about double this amount ; their sales amount to about $40,000 a year. Married in 1877 to Miss M. Schumacher ; she was born in Germany. They have one son. Charles Werner, a mem -

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ber of this firm, was born in Saxon Weimer, Germany; came to Portage, Wis., in 1868 ; he has followed the brewing business about twelve years ; he also came to Boscobel in 1877. Married in 1871 to Bertha Schirschswitz ; she was born in Prussia. They have three children, one son and two daughters.

REV. E. C. STICKEL, Pastor Congregational Church, Boscobel ; is a native of York Co., Penn .; received a regular college course at Amherst, Mass .; graduated in 1874 at the Andover Theolog - ical Seminary ; intervening this time taught school, and was appointed Superintendent of Public Schools in Selma, Ala. ; served two years ; then Professor of Latin in Tallmadge College one year ; was Pastor of the First Congregational Church, Montgomery, Ala., about three years; in 1878, came to Mazomanie, Wis .; supplied the pulpit in the absence of the regular Pastor two years; February, 1880, came to Bos- cobel, and became Pastor of the Congregational Church. Married in 1874, to Miss Luretta R. Cham- berlin ; she was born in Michigan. They have one daughter. Mrs. Stickel is a music teacher and por- trait painter.

M. D. TILLOTSON, Cashier Exchange Bank of Boscobel ; is a native of Genesee Co .. N. Y. When a child, he came to Michigan, where he received his education, and in 1867, he came to Chi- cago, and engaged in the banking business until 1875, when he removed to Boscobel, and was appointed Cashier of the First National Bank. This position he held until 1878, when the bank dissolved. Then the Exchange Bank of Boscobel was organized, and he was appointed Cashier, which position he now holds. Married in September, 1868, to Miss Mary Burchard ; she was born in Michigan. They have two children, one son and one daughter.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 144

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?] Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?]
Number of Pages: 1050