History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 151

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

USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 151

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ABRAHAM JACKSON, teamster ; P. O. Muscoda; was born Feb. 25, 1833, in Lanca- shire, England. He is a son of John and Sarah Jackson. His parents came to the United States when he was but 14 years of age, locating at Ft. Winnebago, Columbia Co., Wis., where Mr. Jackson remained fifteen years. He then lived in Vernon Co. for one year, going thence to Castle Rock, Grant Co., where he lived until 1881. He then came to Muscoda, where he lives at present. He was married, in 1864, to Amelia Bowden, daughter of John and Mary Bowden. In politics, Mr. Jackson is a Republican.

NELSON A. McCALLISTER, general hardware store and dealer in agricultural imple- ments, Muscoda ; born in Putman Co., Ohio, and came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1850. They located on a farm in the town of Pulaski, Iowa Co., where his parents now live. He came to Muscoda in 1869, and established his present business. He enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, in Co. A, 33d W. V. I .; served with the regiment during its term of service, and mustered out with them at Vicksburg Aug. 9, 1865.

ALFRED J. McCARN & CO., bankers, established 1874. Alfred J. MeCarn was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., March 27, 1838; is a son of James and Margaret Failing, both natives of New York State, and whose ancestors settled in the State near New York City, before the Revolutionary war. The great-grandfather of Alfred J. belonged to the New York militia when the Revolutionary war com- menced, and fought for the cause of American independence. In 1856, the family moved to Davenport, Iowa, where Alfred remained until the autumn of 1857, when he came to Platteville and engaged as clerk in the Bank of Grant Co. (which was one of the old State banks), which position he held until 1860, when he bought a small book store, and engaged in the book and stationery business. He enlisted April 21, 1861, in three months' service ; the company not being accepted unless for three years, he returned again to business, and again enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, in Co. A, 33d W. V. I., and was appointed Quarter- master Sergeant, in which capacity he served until February, 1865, when he was promoted to Quartermas- ter of the regiment. He was mustered out with the regiment at Vicksburg, Aug. 9 1865. He was married in January, 1868, to Olive McGonigal, a native of this county, by whom he has two children- one boy and one girl. His father was born in February, 1801, and died near Animosa, Iowa, October, 1880.

S. C. McDONALD, of the firm of Swingle & McDonald, dealers in hoop-poles, shaved hoops and box-straps, Muscoda ; was born in New York in 1831 ; came to Wisconsin in 1855, and located in Grant Co .; built fifteen miles of the railroad west of Muscoda in 1856 and 1857. Has held office of Chair- man of the town for three terms; Justice of the Peace at present, and Town Clerk one year ; had charge of railroad, buying wood and ties, up to the time it changed hands. He was married in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Hopkinson, a native of New York, by whom he has two sons, one in the St. Paul railroad office at St. Paul. Minn., and the other is attending school at Madison. He is a prominent member of the A., F. & A. M., an active business man, and has always been identified with matters pertaining to the welfare of the place. The firm ship five million hoops and poles per year, mostly to the Minneapolis mills. It is one of the main industries of the place.

PETER B. MCINTYRE, stock-dealer, Muscoda ; born in Bucks Co., Penn., July 8, 1819; when 4 years of age, he moved with his parents to Ithaca, N. Y., where they remained until 1832, when his father died ; the family then moved to Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio. In 1844, he came to Platteville, Grant Co., where he engaged in blacksmithing, having learned the trade at Warren, Ohio, remained there two years, and returned to Warren, Olio, and married Miss Martha A. Elston, the 4th of June, 1846 ; re- turning the same year to Platteville, established the blacksmithing business in company with George Haw- ley, engaged in the business five years ; then came to Muscoda and started a livery stable, which he con- ducted three years, and sold the business to William Johnson ; during that time he had established a blacksmith and wagon shop, which, in connection with his brother, John B., he conducted three years, and retired from the business and engaged in farming, in which he continued until 1867, when he opened a general store at Muscoda, the old town by the river, which he conducted in connection with his farm. In 1867, he took his nephew, A. C. V. Elston, into partnership in the store, which they continued until 1877, when he gave his interest to his son and only child, Robert B., and the firm name was changed from McIntyre & Elston to Elston & McIntyre. Mr. McIntyre then retired and turned his attention to deal-

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TOWN OF MUSCODA.

ing in stock, his present occupation. He has held nearly all of the town offices, and has been a respected and successful business man in the community in which he lives.

WILLIAM W. McKITTRICK & SON, general store, dry goods, groceries, hats and caps, etc., Muscoda ; was born in Morgan Co., Ohio, May 10, 1828 ; is a son of William and Alice Funda ; his father, a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer; William was educated and lived on the farm until 1855, when he came to this State and located at Springville, Vernon Co., where for two years he worked in the flouring.mill of Graham & Sons, and then moved to Crawford Co., and bought a farm, where he lived un- til the spring of 1865, when he sold his farm and moved with his family to Missouri. In the spring of 1866, owing to ill health of his family, he sold out and came to Muscoda and established his present busi- ness, and erected the building which he now occupies. In 1868, he built a warehouse, and, in 1871, an elevator ; since that time, has engaged in grain and live-stock trade. In 1850, he married Miss Mary A. Crider, a native of Ohio ; they have three sons and a daughter living. His sons assist in the business ; has always been in active life, and accumulated his property by his persevering industry. In addition to his business he owns two farms, one (of 160 acres) in Castle Rock, Grant Co., and one (of 136 acres) in Eagle, Richland Co .; both of which are worked under his personal supervision.

H. F. McNELLY, attorney at law and Notary Public, Front street, rear of printing office, Muscoda ; was born in Richland Co. in 1854 ; is a son of Henry McNelly, M. D., of Muscoda ; received his education at Madison, and established himself in present business in September, 1877 ; practices in the whole district, which includes five counties, and also in Supreme Court ; the youngest attorney in Grant Co .; is a member of the I. O. O. F., has passed all the chairs, at present Past Grand ; has always been in active life, and is a self-made man.

MASSMANN BROTHERS, engaged in blacksmithing, wagon and carriage manufactur- ing, Muscoda ; Henry, the oldest, was born in Pomerania, Prussia, June 16, 1842 ; is a son of Ernst and Lina (Wedon) Massmann, both natives of Prussia, where his father engaged in farming ; Henry learned his trade in the old country, and came to America in 1869, and stopped first in Muscoda, afterward worked at his trade in Richland Center, Prairie du Chien and Chicago ; returning to Muscoda, established their present business in connection with his brother and Mr. Schumaker. He married in 1875, Miss Caroline Schumaker, a native of Germany, by whom he has five children-four girls and one boy. Ernst Mass- mann was born in Pomerania, Dec. 25, 1844, where he also learned the trade ; he was three years in the army, from 1865 to 1868; came to America with his brother. Was married in 1873, to Louisa Rux, by whom he has one boy ; his wife died Dec. 5, 1874. On Nov. 30, 1876, he married Marie Mueller, by whom he has three girls.

FRANTZ X. MARKT, farmer and stock-raiser, Secs. 31 and 36; P. O. Muscoda ; was born in Wurtemberg March 11, 1819; he is a son of Joseph and Cresinsia (Blessing) Markt ; his father's occupation was that of cooper and brewer, and for six years was brewer for King Willhelm First. Mr. Markt lived with his parents until he was 14 years old, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of clock-maker ; after he had learned the trade, he commenced business for himself, and traveled through Austria, Italy and Switzerland, selling his goods; the first clock he sold, he made himself, it was in twelve pieces, and he traveled some 200 miles before he made the sale, and finally sold it near the Austrian line for $1.20 ; his clocks were called the Schwaslwald clocks; that was his first start in the business; he made his own goods and peddled them himself, conveying them upon his back and selling them for $1.26 each ; he came to America in 1840, locating first in Jersey, remaining a short time he went to Pennsylvania ; not finding employment at his trade, he engaged to work on the Baltimore & Ohio Canal, which was then being built; he afterward moved to Center Co., Penn., where he was employed for four years as a hostler. In 1845, he was married to Miss Katie Fletcher, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Penn- sylvania, and participated in the Revolutionary war; in the fall of 1846, they came to this State, and located at Mineral Point, where, during the winter, he engaged in watch and clock repairing ; during the year 1847, he located on the land upon which he now lives ; he has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and also been a member of the Town Board ; they have had ten children, seven of whom are living, and five married, the two youngest ; Charles and Amanda, live at home. Mr. Markt has been a very perse- vering, energetic, industrious man, and accumulated an estate through his own personal efforts.

OLIVER P. MANLOVE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22; P. O. Muscoda ; was born in Russell, Ill., Sept. 12, 1831, and was one of the first children born in that village ; he is a son of Moses and Elizabeth (Huff ) Manlove, who died at the age of 28, in the year 1841. His father is now living and is 76 years of age. He is a native of North Carolina, and located in Illinois in 1824 and engaged in

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farming and milling. He moved his family to this town, and entered the land upon which he now lives with his son Oliver, and where Oliver has always lived, with the exception of about six years. In 1854, he went overland to California, being five months on the road ; during his sojourn there he was engaged in mining. He returned in 1857, and came by water, taking passage in the Central America, which was wrecked during the passage, off Cape Hatteras, having on board some five hundred passengers, only forty- nine of whom were saved, and they were fortunately picked up by the Norwegian bark Hellm, loaded with logwood, and bound for Falmouth, England ; Mr. Manlove was one of the forty-nine that were saved. The Central America was commanded by Licut. Herndon, who refused to leave his ship and sank with her, and has been greatly commended for his bravery. Mr. Manlove entered the army in December, 1863, and was assigned to Co. H, 37th W. V. I., participating in the battles of the regiment until the close of the war; was taken prisoner at the blowing up of the rebel fort in front of Petersburg, July 30, 1864. He has engaged somewhat in literary pursuits, and has contributed to several journals, among which are the Waverly Magazine and New York Weekly. He was married, Nov. 3, 1867, to Miss Carrie Carell, by whom he has two boys-Norman C., the oldest, aged 11, and Howard P., aged 4. Has served the town as Assessor two years.

GEN. J. B. MOORE, Muscoda. Gen. Moore was born in Posey Co., Ind., March 14, 1825. His early years were passed in the place of his birth. In 1837, his parents removed to what was then the Territory of Wisconsin, settling near Muscoda. During his youth, he received a common-school education, completing his studies at the Platteville Academy during the years 1843-44. In 1853, Mr. Moore opened a store at Muscoda, and continued in mercantile pursuits for some time. He served in the Legislature of 1860 as member of the Assembly for his district, and, the succeeding year, was elected Sheriff of Grant Co., making one of the most popular officials that had held that office. During this interval, the great war of the rebellion had broken out. Recruiting had been actively going on from the first throughout the county ; and, at one time, it was intended to form a Grant County Regiment, to be composed, rank, file and field officers, of the inhabitants of this county. Prominent among those whose names were men- tioned for appointments in the proposed regiment was Sheriff Moore. Circumstances prevented the con- summation of the project ; but, upon the formation of the 33d W. V. I., the colonelcy was tendered to Mr. Moore, and accepted by him, the commission bearing the date of. Aug. 30, 1862. On the 8th of September, he was commissioned Post Commandant at Camp Utley, Racine, at which place the compa- nies composing the Forty-third were ordered to report. Col. Moore took command of the post on the 29th of September, and commenced at once preparing his regiment for the field. The regiment soon after left for the South, aud, upon arriving at Memphis, Tenn., Col. Moore was detached from his regiment, and assigned to the command of the Third Brigade. Upon the transfer of the Thirty-third to the Fourth Division, at the request of Gen. Lawman, Col. Moore once more assumed command of his regiment. In March, 1864, Col. Moore was ordered to assume command of the First Brigade of Gen. Kilby Smith's Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. With his brigade, Col. Moore took part in the ill-fated Red River expedition of that year. Upon the organization of the detachment of the Army of the Tennessee in December, 1864, Col. Moore was assigned to the command of the Third Division. In the January follow- ing, he was relieved from the command upon the return of Gen. Kilby Smith. In the order announcing the change, the Commanding General took occasion to say : "In relieving Col. Moore, the Major General Commanding desires to express his high appreciation of the able, thorough and soldierly manner with which he has executed the trust confided to him in this command." He was, however, soon after returned to the command of his old division. On the 17th of August, Col. Moore was relieved by Gen. Carr, the former being assigned to the command of the First Brigade. While in command of this brigade, he took part in the attack on Mobile and Spanish Fort, leading the charge against the latter in person. A little later, he was ordered to Vicksburg, where he was mustered out Aug. 9, 1865. During his term of serv- ice, Col. Moore participated in three sieges, nine battles and eleven skirmishes. He was twice com- missioned Brevet Brigadier General. The first commission bearing date April 7, 1865, for gallantry at the battle of Nashville, where he commanded the Third Division Detachment of the Army of the Tennessee. The second commission bore date April 9, 1866, being issued " for faithful and meritorious services during the campaign against the city of Mobile and its defenses." Upon his return from the South, Gen. Moore located at Muscoda, where he soon after erected the bridge across the Wisconsin River at that point, an undertaking which marked the turning-point in Muscoda's commercial history. Gen. Moore is at present the owner of a large amount of real estate, in and about Muscoda, which, with operating of his bridge occupies the greater portion of his time. In the political questions of the day, the General takes a deep interest, being a thorough and consistent Republican. Endowed with a kindly, generous nature, affable and public spirited, Gen. Moore is a noticeable figure among the many prominent men of Grant Co.

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WILLIAM NORTHEY; P. O. Muscoda ; farmer of 360 acres in Sec. 14; he was born in Cornwall, England, Feb. 19, 1836; he is a son of Robert and Martha Edwards, both natives of Corn- wall; he came to America with his parents in 1840; they located at Greenville, Mercer Co., Penn., where his father engaged in farming and copper mining. They remained there until 1854, when they came to this State. William, preceding them two years, had entered some land in the town of Millville, upon which they located. His father died in 1856, and his mother in 1859. William engaged in the butcher- ing business at Platteville until 1859, when he went to Lancaster and kept the old United States Hotel ; also carried on the butcher and provision business there until 1863, when he went to Woodman in the employ of the old Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad; he remained there one year and went to Boscobel, where he was employed by the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad as telegraph operator ; was also express agent ; remained there until 1869, when he came to Blue River, where he was station agent and operator until Dec. 7, 1879, when he resigned and took charge of the farm where he now lives. He was married, Feb. 2. 1851, to Miss Martha J. Simpkins, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has six chil- dren ; she died May 20, 1868. On Oct. 6, 1869, he married Miss Cornelia Simpkins, by whom he has six children, in all eight boys and four girls ; one son and one daughter are married. His oldest son, Louis Henry, is in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, as clerk and operator at Minne- apolis. Thomas C. is in Nebraska, engaged in farming. While living in Waterstown, was twice Chairman of the Town Board.

DR. JOSEPH E. PEEBLES, surgeon and mechanical dentist, Muscoda, was born in Cort- land Co., N. Y., in 1846. Graduated at New York College of Dental Surgery, in 1873, and established prac- tice at Marathon, Cortland Co., N. Y., where he remained until he came to this State, in 1875, and located at Spring Green, remaining there until he came to Muscoda. He is a practical engineer, also pattern maker, in fact, a natural-born mechanic. He did the fancy woodwork for the bank in the Smalley House, also made the patterns for the lathes for the new building of the Elgin Watch Factory. Enlisted Sept. 14, 1864, in Co. G, 185th N. Y. I., joined the Army of the Potomac and was first engaged in the battle at Hather's Run, and was wounded in the arm ; the bali still remains in his arm. Participated with the regiment in nine engagements, and mustered out with them at Syracuse, N. Y., at the close of the war. He is a son of Joseph C. and Diana Campbell Peebles ; his father was a native of Vermont, and mother of New York. He was married April 15, 1866, to Elizabeth T. Gray, of Cortland Co., N. Y., by whom he has two sons.

JOHN D. PFLEISTERER, owner and proprietor St. Charles Hotel, corner Wisconsin and Walnut streets, Muscoda, was born in Wurtemberg in 1831. He is a son of Philip and Catherine Mueller Pflisterer, both natives of Germany. His father was a soldier under Napoleon during the cam- paign in Russia, with the rank of a non-commissioned officer. John D. was educated and learned the butcher's trade in his native place ; he came to America in 1852, and located in Cincinnati, where he remained two years, then came to Champaign Co., Ill., where he worked for Frank Cass, farmer and stock raiser, for ten years ; then he came to Muscoda in 1865, and bought the old Muscoda Brewery, and carried on the business until 1869, when he sold the brewery to John Postel, and bought the hotel he now occupies. In 1857, he married Miss Elizabeth Hus, by whom he had three children, who are all deceased, and his wife died in 1863. The same year he married Miss Anna Meyer, a native of Bohemia, by whom he has one girl. He has always been in active life, and accumulated by his own economy and industry.

JOHN J. POSTEL, brewer, Muscoda, born in Florida in 1842. Came to Wisconsin in 1857 and located in Muscoda, purchased the brewery in 1869, and remodeled the same. Has worked the business up to one of the main industries of the town; employs seven men, and ships beer all over the western portion of the State. Enlisted in 1861 in the 14th W. V. I., Co. K; mustered out as a Captain in 1865, at the close of the war. Married, in 1865, to Miss Mary Smith, a native of Wisconsin, by whom he has six children-two sons and four daughters. Is a good business man, and has built around him a large property, and justly deserves his increasing business.

MICHAEL REMY, farmer ; P. O. Muscoda ; born in Luxemburg, April 15, 1817, where he was educated and learned the trade of stone-cutter and mason ; is a son of Peter and Anna Remy, both natives of Luxemburg. His father carried on the cooper, grocery and saloon business. Michael came to this State, and located at Mineral Point in 1852, where he worked at his trade of stone-cutting and mason until 1857, when he bought 300 acres of land in Sec. 30, town of Muscoda, which has been his home ever since. Feb. 2, 1862, he enlisted in Co. I, 19th W. V. I., Capt. Rawley, of Oshkosh, com- manding the company. They joined the 9th Corps, commanded by Gens. Butler and Gady ; served until

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the close of the war, and mustered out with the regiment. His health became impaired by exposure and hardships. He was married, Aug. 14, 1841, to Katrina Herbert, also a native of Luxemburg, by whom he has had eight children-one son and five daughters-two of the girls deceased.

JOSEPH ROGGY, saloon, Front street, Muscoda; was born in Bavaria in 1818; came to America in 1851, and located in Muscoda. He built and run successfully for sixteen years the first brewery in Muscoda ; learned the trade of brewer in the old country. He was married the first time to Miss Barbara Renkbarg, in 1846, by whom he had two children-one son and one daughter-and for his second wife he married Miss Lena Oswald, a native of Germany, married in Muscoda in 1853. He was in the army in the old country six years. The family are members of the German Lutheran Church ; has been on the side board two terms. He is the oldest German settler living in Muscoda.

CHARLES RODOLF, Muscoda ; was born at Zurzach, in the canton of Aargan, Switzer- land, in the year 1818; his early education was received here; at the age of 11, he attended the high school in his native town, and when 16 years age, commenced the study of law with his uncle, Henry Ro- dolf; two years later, young Charles quitted Switzerland, sailing for the new land of promise, America ; he landed at New Orleans in December, 1833, and immediately took passage up the river for St. Louis ; arriving at that city, he attended school for a short time, when he made a second move, coming to Wis- consin and locating at Wiota, La Fayette Co., where he commenced farming during the year 1834; in 1837, young Rodolf went to Muscoda, then a small settlement of a few houses, and engaged with Col. William S. Hamilton, the then proprietor of the place ; he remained here eight months, during which time he devoted his leisure moments to reading law ; returning to his farm, he engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1840, when he removed to Mineral Point, taking an interest in a store with his brother, Theo- dore Rodolf; two years later, Mr. Rodolf opened a store of his own at Centerville, and commenced opera- tions in mining for lead, and the succeeding year ran a smelting furnace at Wingville ; about this time, he began to put his legal knowledge to the proof by engaging in mineral cases before the Justices' courts ; in 1852, Mr. Rodolf purchased the Eagle Mills and moved to Richland Co .; this same year he was admitted to the bar ; up to 1858, he remained a citizen of this county, engaging in various mercantile pursuits ; the year succeeding his removal (1853), Mr. Rodolf was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Richland Co., a most flattering testimonial of the confidence and esteem he had in so short a time in- culcated in the minds of his neighbors and constituents ; previous to his removal from Towa Co., he had been elected to the Assembly from the Northern District of Iowa Co .; in 1858, he was again returned to the same body, this time from Richland Co., and, during the years 1859-60, he served as State Senator for the Fifteenth District, comprising the counties of Iowa and Richland ; in 1864, Mr. Rodolf was nom- inated for member of Congress from the Third District on the Democratic ticket, but was not elected ; the later fortunes of Mr. Rodolf were cast in Muscoda, at which village he continued the mercantile business until 1876, and where he has since resided ; in 1875, he was elected Chairman of the Town Board, which position he held with credit to himself and advantage to the town until 1879; he was re-elected again the present year to the same position.

JOHN C. SCHAEFER, Jr., retired farmer, Muscoda ; was born in Prussia Dec. 29, 1811. He is a son of John C. and Anna Klin Schaefer. His father's business was raising grapes and making wine. He received his education in his native town, and worked for his father until 25 years old, when he established the same business for himself, which he conducted for ten years. He also served two years in the army in the old country. He came to America in 1847, and located in this county, and engaged in farming until 1875. when he retired and came to Muscoda to live. He was married, Feb. 7, 1837, to Miss Anna Margaret Meyer, a native of Germany. Peter Schaefer, a son of John C., was born in Iowa Co. in 1849. He lived with his parents until he was 12 years old. He then engaged as clerk in a gen- eral store for Mr. Daniel Zimas in 1867. He came to Muscoda, and clerked for McKittrick & Son five vears ; then engaged in his present business, selling agricultural implements. He was married, Nov. 21, 1872. to Miss Mary Stedle. They have five children. He has been Town Clerk seven terms, and mem- ber of the Board two years.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 151

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