History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 101

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > Wisconsin > Green County > History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The village has made a steady growth and in 1884 we find four general stores, one drug store, one hardware store, a large elevator, two hotels, a graded school, one church, postoffice, two blacksmith and wagon shops, harness shop, meat market, lumber yard, creamery, shoe shop, and barber shop.

FIRST TIIINGS IN THE VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN.

First settler, H. B. Capwell, 1855; the first merchant was B. S. Axtel, 1864; the first post- master, H. B. Capwell; first blacksmith, T. B. Conradson; first shoemaker, Thomas Qualley; first warehouse, H. B. Capwell; first elevator, E. J. Andrew; first lumber yard was owned by J. C. Carpenter.

PHYSICIANS.

II. C. Leach was the first physician to locate at this place. He came here a number of years ago, and practiced for several years. In 1884 he was proprietor of the Northwestern Hotel. The second physician was Dr. H. R. Bulson; he located here in 1878. He was well liked and had a good practice. In 1880 he removed to Evansville. The third and present physician is Dr. W. F. Howe, who located here in March, 1880. Ile is a graduate of Rush Medical Col- lege, Chicago.

RELIGIOUS.

The Methodist Episcopal society is repre- sented here, but their place of worship is

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

located in the eastern part of the village and is consequently in Dane county. The society was organized in 1854, and services were held at Union, Rock county, until 1866, when the church was removed to its present location. Rev. Chadeen was the pastor at that time. He was a wide-awake gospel worker, and at the same time he was not afraid of manual labor, for during the rebuilding of the church he took the part of a common laborer and assisted in whatever he found to do. During the winter of 1866-7, he conducted a series of revival meetings through which the membership of the society increased to nearly forty. The society at present has a good membership and holds meet- ings regularly.

BROOKLYN GRADED SCHOOL.

A school was taught at the residence of H. B. Capwell, at an early day, the teacher being Miranda Smith. But the first teacher who taught within the present limits of the village of Brooklyn was Julia Wheelock. A joint district was formed, comprising territory in Green, Dane and Rock counties, and in 1883 the present school building was erected. It is a two-story edifice, veneered with brick, and cost about $3,000. The first teachers in this build- ing were Nellie Gillis and Nellie Drown. The school is well graded and furnishes every op- portunity necessary in receiving an education, which will fit the young for any of the common walks in life.

FIRE AT BROOKLYN.

On the 2d of April, 1882, at about 10 o'clock P. M. a fire was discovered in the elevator of E. J. Andrew. The flames spread rapidly and soon the elevator, ice house, depot and a saloon building were destroyed. The people had just returned to their homes when, at 4 o'clock A. M. the cry of fire again rang out. This time smoke was seen issuing from the store of E. WV. Whitmore. In a few moments the flames burst out and in a short time E. W. Whitmore's clothing store, A. G. Ellis' drug store, and a meat market were burned to the ground. The

loss by this fire was about $25,000. Insurance, $15,000. This was a severe blow to the citizens, but they went manfully to work and soon re- built.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The first merchant in the village of Brook- lyn was B. S. Axtel, who erected a small build- ing and opened a store in 1865. As his busi- ness increased, he enlarged his store and con- tinued in trade until his death, in October, 1880, since which time the business has been owned and conducted by Mrs. Axtel.

The second store was opened by Samuel An- drews, who, in 1867, established a hardware business. Mr. Andrews sold to E. J. Andrew, he to Joseph H. Wood and he in turn to O. O. Gordon, the present owner.

The third store building was erected by Mr. Turner, but the firm of L. J. Wilder & Co., was the first to occupy it. The firm consisted of L. J. Wilder, W. F. Smith and A. Eager. They established their business in 1872. In 1875 L. J. Wilder became sole proprietor and still conducts the business.

The Evansville Mercantile Association estab- lished a branch store here in 1876. The store is still owned by the association, and has a good trade. C. S. Gray is the business manager.

A. G. Ellis was the first to embark in the drug trade. He established business in the spring of 1879. One year later he added a stock of jew- elry, which he has since carried in connection with drugs, books and stationery.

E. W. Whitmore became a resident of the town of Brooklyn, in March, 1865, where he was engaged in farming until 1879. Hle then estab- lished a clothing business at the village of Brooklyn. Unfortunately his store and goods were destroyed by fire, but he at once rebuilt, and has since carried on a general mercantile business. He was born near Attica, N. Y., June 26, 1832. His parents were James and Margaret (Edwards) Whitmore. IIe assisted his father, who was a contractor, in building the bridges and cattle guards on the New York & Erie Rail-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

road, between Attica and Warsaw, and after- ward served as locomotive engineer for a num- ber of years. He was married July 29, 1853, to Miss L. A. Lockwood, daughter of Horace and Maria (Brainard) Lockwood.

The first lumber yard was established by J. C. Carpenter. He was succeeded by Hiram Graves, and then in 1875 came the present proprietors, Lovejoy & Richards, both of whom are non-residents. The business is conducted by J. W. Blair. About 1,500,000 feet of lumber are handled annually.

The first public house opened under the pre- tentious name of "IIotel," was kept by Mr. Ames, but H. B. Capwell had, for several years, kept a boarding house. D. II. Glidden built a hotel and ran the same until 1879. It is now owned by Mr. Berg. The Northwestern Hotel is owned and run by Dr. H. C. Leach.

The first blacksmith shop was opened in 1865, by T. B. Conradson, who is still in business. The second was Robert Clough. He remained but a short time, however. The shop is now owned by A. J. Leonard.

WAREHOUSES AND ELEVATORS.

The first warehouse was erected by I. B. Capwell, in 1864. He sold to L. Parker, he to D. H. Glidden and he to E. J. Andrew.

E. A. Foot, of Footville, also built a ware- house, which was afterward purchased by E. J. Andrew.

The first elevator was built by E. J. Andrew & Sons, in 1874. It was destroyed by the fire in 1882. They then built the present elevator, which has a capacity of nearly 100,000 bushels, and is considered the best elevator between Chicago and Winona. It is now owned by Andrew Bros. This firm is the successor to E. J. Andrew & Sons, and the members are: Homer, W. W. and G. H. Andrew. They are all wide-awake business men, and through their energy, Brooklyn has become noted as an ex- cellent market for all kinds of farm products. The firm handles about 150,000 bushels of grain and 200 car loads of live stock annually, besides

dealing extensively in wool, poultry, game, butter, eggs and mill feed.

E. J. Andrew was born Oct. 31, 1821, in Her- kimer Co., N. Y., three miles east of the city of Utica, on the "Mohawk Flats." At the age of twenty-one he became a student at Clinton Seminary, receiving an academic education. In 1846 he was married to Martha E. Bettinger, of Little Falls, N. Y., by whom he had eight chil- dren, four sons and four daughters. In 1860 he removed to Wisconsin, and settled at Foot- ville, Rock county. In January, 1863, he formed a co-partnership with Hon. E. A. Foot in the grain and produce business at Oregon, Dane county, taking charge of the business at that place, under the firm name of Foot & Andrew. After carrying on the business at that place for three years he removed to the village of Brooklyn, his present place of residence, the firm having first established a warehouse at that place. In 1870 he bought out the entire inter- est of his partner (E. A. Foot), and formed a new partnership with three of his sons-Homer Andrew, William Wallace Andrew and George Howard Andrew-continuing the business un- der the name of E. J. Andrew & Sons. In 1882, after establishing branch warehouses at Footville and Oregon, he retired from active business, owing to failing health, first, however, turning over the entire business to his three sons, who still carry it on under the firm name of Andrew Bros.

BROOKLYN CHEESE FACTORY.

This factory was built in 1873 by F. R. Mel- vin and Hiram Graves. These gentlemen operated under the firm name of Graves & Mel- vin two years, when Mr. Graves sold his inter- est to A. A. Melvin and J. W. Blair, and the firm became Melvin & Blair. In 1880 F. R. and A. A. Melvin sold their interests to L. J. Wilder, and the firm became Wilder & Blair. This firm continued in business until 1883, in which year the property was purchased by E. Devereaux, who, in the spring of 1884, trans-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

formed the factory into a creamery, and is now operating it as such.

POSTOFFICE.

The Brooklyn postoffice was established with H. B. Capwell as the first postmaster. Ile was succeeded in 1865 by B. S. Axtel, who held the office until his death in 1880, when it passed into the hands of Mrs. B. S. Axtel, the present incumbent.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

The following named are a few of the enter- prising citizens of the town of Brooklyn who deserve notice in the history of their town and county.

A. C. Purington is a son of H. M. and Eunice Purington. He was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., on the 4th day of December, 1842. When he was five years old his parents emigrated to Wisconsin and. settled in Albany. He was married Dec. 4, 1873, to Julia Trow, daughter of James Trow. They now reside on section 33, of Brooklyn, where he owns 140 acres. They are the parents of three children-Albert J., Andrew H. and Lura May. Mr. Purington is politically a republican.

James Root, a prominent farmer of the town of Brooklyn, was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 27, 1841. He came to Wisconsin with his parents, Francis and Permelia (Spaulding) Root, and now owns the land entered by his father and Mr. Shell. Farming has been his occupation, and he now has 186 acres, with good improvements. Feb. 5, 1865, he enlisted in company I, 46th Wisconson, and served until mustered out. He was married in 1861 to Bar- bara Lozar, daughter of George Lozar. They have four children-Fred, Plinney, Homer and Ida. Francis Root, wife and two children, and Powell Shell, settled in the town of Brooklyn in 1847, the former on section 20 and the latter on section 29. Each of them entered forty acres. They duga well and erected their cabins near the section line. Mr. Root died in 1848, leaving two children-James and Harriet. Mrs. Root subsequently was married to John

McClarrinon, and by this union gave birth to seven children. She died in 1871.

Stephen Smith is mentioned among the pio- neers of 1847, having come here from Walworth county in May of that year, accompanied by his wife and six children. He settled in what is now the town of Brooklyn, and entered the southwest quarter of section 11, where he erected a log house. Here he resided, giving his attention to farming until the time of his death, in 1856. Mrs. Smith died in August, 1877. They were the parents of six children- Jonathan, Charles, Emmarilla, Euphrasia, Em- ory and Caroline. Stephen Smith was born in Massachusetts in 1798. He removed with his parents to Ohio, where he was married to Phil- ura Love, a native of the State of New York. After his marriage he followed farming in Ohio until he came to Wisconsin in 1843 and settled in Walworth county. In politics Mr. Smith was formerly a whig, and afterwards a repub- lican. He would not accept office, but always attended elections and voted. His religious preferences were with the Congregational Church, but after coming to Wisconsin he did not unite with any Church.

Emory Smith was born in Ohio, May 12, 1833, and came with the family to Wisconsin in 1843, and in 1847 to Green county, since which time he has been a resident of Brooklyn. He is still living on the land entered by his father, of which he owns 120 acres, and has first-class improvements. In November, 1856, he was married to Almira Smith, daughter of Roswell and Jane (Brown) Smith. She is a native of Michigan. Mr. Smith is a member of the Pa- trons of Husbandry. He is a member of the republican party and has held local office.

Charles Smith, son of Stephen Smith, came with his parents to Green county. He was married to Sarah Earl, and afterwards moved to Iowa. He now resides in Missouri.

Alonzo Purintun was born'in the State of New York, Nov. 23, 1825. His father, David H. Purintan, was also a native of the Empire

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

State, and his mother, Chestina (Messenger) Purintun, was born in Connecticut. Alonzo attended the district school and for four years worked on the Rochester and Olean canal. At the age of eighteen he came to Wisconsin, first stopping in Jefferson county, and later in Wau- kesha county, and followed teaming as a busi- ness, drawing freight to and from Milwaukee. In 1847 he came to Green county, his parents having preceded him. Here he helped to till the soil, also followed teaming. On the 14th day of April, 1850, Nancy Young became his wife. She was born in Erie Co., Peun., Dec. 25, 1827. He has since been engaged in farm- ing in the town of Brooklyn. In 1884 he re- sided on section 29 and owned 200 acres of land. Feb. 4, 1865, he enlisted in company I, 46th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until mustered out of service. He is a member of the G. A. R., and is a Royal Arch Mason. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Purintun are- Elvira A., who married M. X. Sisson, and died leaving one daughter; Talburt G., Elliott E., Leander A., Seymour J., Bertha, wife of James P. Ingals; Lois, wife of James Davis, Jr .; Hi- ram B. and Archilles.

Talburt Purintun, son of Alonzo and Nancy Purintun, was born in Green county, Nov. 16, 1852. He was educated in the common schools, and is a farmer by occupation. In 1875 he was married to Viola E., daughter of L. W. P. and Sarah A. (Boyles) Morton. They had three children-Emerald L., (deceased,) Everett L. and Lewis V. Mr. Purintun resides on section 32, where he owns a farm of eighty acres.

Franklin Patterson is numbered among the pioneers of this county. He left Norwalk, Ohio, during the month of September, 1844, and as- sisted in driving 1,000 head of sheep to Elgin, Ill. He then visited friends at Geneva Lake, Wis., where he joined two of his cousins and a young man from Massachusetts, and the four started westward on foot. On the third day they dined at Monroe, and then continued their journey to Galena. There had been high water

in the Mississippi river, and they expected to find employment consequent upon the damage occasioned by a flood, but they were disap- pointed. Then they went to Dubuque, from which point they started down the river, finding occasionally a few days work chopping wood, and thus continued their journey to New Or- leans. March 5, 1845, they left New Orleans on the steamer John Aha, and after a trip of fourteen days' duration arrived at St. Louis. There they went on board another boat and went up the Illinois river as far as Ottawa, and from there they returned on foot to Geneva Lake. Mr. Patterson then worked for a farmer in Racine county until January, 1846. He then went to Manitowoc county, where he met a a friend with whom he took a circuitous route, and soon again brought up at Geneva Lake. He then went to Ohio, but returned again to Wis- consin, accompanied by his brother James Nel- son Patterson and family. They made the journey with teams, and in October arrived in Green county. They pre-empted the north- west quarter of section 22, in the territory now comprised in the town of Brooklyn. The fol- lowing summer Mr. Patterson worked at Geneva Lake, and then again went back to Ohio, and was married to Maria McCreedy, a daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Holt) McCreedy, and again came to Wisconsin. He resided with his brother one season, then with a younger brother, Emerson, he purchased 200 acres located on sections 27 and 28. He built a log cabin on section 28, where he may now be found. The log cabin, has, however, given way to a good brick house, and Mr. Patterson now owns 260 acres. He was formerly a republican, but is now a national green- backer. The children are-Hiram, William and Lawrence. Mr. Patterson was born in the State of New York, April 17, 1823. His father died in the State of Ohio in 1840, five children surviving him. The mother, in 1847, came to Green county, and in 1884 resided with her son, the subject of this sketch. Although now

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

eighty-three years old, yet she is in good health and sound mind.

Francis B. Stockburn has been a resident of Green county since 1848, with the exception of four years spent in Madison, during which he was engaged in draying. He is a native of England, born Nov. 8, 1805. His early life was spent upon a farm, but he afterwards engaged in various occupations, among the rest, pub- lished a newspaper four years. In 1841 he went to France, and in 1843 came to the United States. He stopped, for a short time in New York city, then visited other localities, but was not favorably impressed with eastern people as a class, and emigrated westward. He first locat- ed in Milwaukee, and there worked at shoe- making. In 1846, in company with E. M. Kerby, he purchased considerable land in Green county, but resided in Sheboygan connty until 1848. He then settled at Attica, in the town of Brook- lyn, where he at first worked at the shoemaker's trade, but soon drifted into farming, which he has since continued with the exception before mentioned. He was married in 1845 to Ann Walker, who died March 15, 1882. They had reared nine children. three of whom were living in 1884-Clara, wife of Samuel Watkins; Isabel, wife of Thomas George, and Maria, wife of Frank Butts.

Frank Butts is a son of John and Susan Butts. He was born in Rock Co., Wis., Sept. 5, 1857. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and edu- cated in the common schools. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Maria Stockburn, and they have two children-William F. and Olive.

James McCoy settled on section 17, of Brook- lyn, in September, 1848. He at first purchased 160 acres, to which he has added until his farm now contains 360 acres. He is engaged in stock farming, in which he has met with marked success. Ile has a good dwelling, four fine large barns, and other improvements. Mr. Mc- Coy was born in Ireland June 23, 1821. He re- ceived a good education and at the age of eigh- teen engaged as bookkeeper until May 10,

1848, when he was married to Margaret Galli- gan, and the same day sailed from Dublin for the United States. On reaching New York city, he intended to engage in his former oc- cupation, but, as no opportunity presented it- self, he left his wife with his brother who lived in that city, and started westward. At Milwaukee he found employment a few weeks as copying clerk in the office of John L. Doran. He soon became tired of this occupation and came to Green county and bought a farm. He had not worked on a farm since he was quite young, and his young wife was unaccustomed to the labors of housekeeping, and consequently getting a start on the frontier was somewhat difficult, but they did not despair, and are now enjoying the fruits of their labor. Mrs. McCoy is a self-educated woman, refined in her tastes, and highly esteemed by all who know her. They are the parents of ten boys and one girl. Those living in 1884 were-Joseph, book- keeper at Burkhardt's, St. Croix county; John, cashier in the New Richmond Bank; Mary, wife of Charles Burnham, who is cashier in the bank at Edgerton; Edward F., who is engaged in farming in Dakota; Robert H., bookkeeper for the New Richmond Lumber Company; and Charles, George and Arthur, who are still at- tending school. Politically, Mr. McCoy is a re- publican. His first ballot was cast for Gen. Winfield Scott. He served as town clerk for eleven years, and has been elected justice of the peace.

Andrew Bennett was born in Scotland. In 1828, he being then a young man, he emigrated to the United States and first stopped in the State of New York, where he was married to Lucinda Baxter, daughter of Zebulon and Lu- cinda Baxter. In 1848 they came to Wisconsin and settled in Green county. He engaged in farming in the town of Brooklyn until 1864, then removed to Austin, Minn., where they have since died. They reared five children- A. Z., Christie, Thomas, (deceased) George and Isabelle.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

A. Z. Bennett, oldest son of Andrew and Lu- cinda (Baxter) Bennett, was born in Franklin Co., N. Y., Feb. 25, 1831, and came with the family to Green county in 1848, since which date he has been a resident of the town of Brooklyn. He now resides on section 14 and owns ninety-nine acres of land. In February, 1854, he was married to Marion Hickok, a na- tive of Ohio, born March 29, 1835. Their chil- dren are-Lucinda, (deceased) Carrie E. and Fred E. Mr. Bennett belongs to the republi- can party and has held the office of town treas- urer and supervisor.

Zebulon Baxter was a native of Vermont, where his early life was spent. He served as a soldier during the War of 1812. He was mar- ried to Lucinda Oglesby and resided in Canada, where his wife died, leaving two children. He subsequently was married again in the State of New York, and came to Wisconsin about 1830. He first stopped in Milwaukee, and afterwards followed mining at Mineral Point. In 1848 he came to Green county and resided in the town of Brooklyn until 1854. He then went to Aus- tin, Minn., where he died at the age of 103 years.

C. D. W. Leonard was a pioneer of 1848, in the fall of which year, with his wife, he came to the county and chose the town of Brooklyn as a location. He was also accompanied by his brother Arah, then an unmarried man, and together they entered three quarter sections of land and improved the same. They also for a few years carried on a general mercantile busi- ness at Dayton. Arah Leonard was married to Mary Day, and in 1866 emigrated to Webster Co., Iowa, where he is now a prominent citi- zen, having held the office of county treasurer four years. C. D. W. Leonard continued farm- ing; also for some time carried on a store at Dayton and finally moved to Attica where he was engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness until 1884, when he sold out his business and moved to Rockton, III. Mr. Leonard was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1818. His

parents being Ariah and Lavisa (Slocum) Leon- ard. The father died in Ohio and the mother and one daughter came with her sons to Wis- consin. She died in Green county, in 1860. The daughter married John Utley and died in 1867. Mr. Leonard received an academic edu- cation and taught school. He was married to Margaret Widrig and in 1842 emigrated to Ohio from whence he came to Green county. His wife died in 1866, leaving four children- Ella, Hattie, Ardella and Charles. In 1867 he was married to Mary Ann Wood and by this union one child was born-Vernie. In politics Mr. Leonard was a republican until after the war, when he became rather liberal in his views. He represented his district in the assembly two terms, was superintendent of schools in Brooklyn under the old town system, and was chairman of the town several terms. Thus it can be seen that he is not alone an early pioneer, but his conduct was such that he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.

Lorenzo Amidon came to Green county, July 10, 1848. At first he followed the trade of car- penter and afterwards that of cabinet maker at . Monroe. In 1850 he came to the town of Brooklyn and purchased land on section 13 and has since been a resident of the town. In 1884, he resided on section 12 and owned 160 acres of land. Mr. Amidon was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 7, 1825. He learned his trade and resided in his native State until he came to Wisconsin. He has been twice married. In 1850 to Olive Starkweather, daughter of Anson and Incretia Starkweather. She died in 1874, leaving four children-William A., Etta, Ella and Emma. In 1879 Mr. Amidon was married to Fannie Lord and by this union two sons have been born-Gilbert and Byron. Politically he is a national greenbacker but was formerly a republican. He is not, however, a strict partizan, and believes in casting his ballot for a good man rather than a good party.

John Flood and family, in 1849, came to Green county, and, June 6, entered 160 acres of

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

land on section 21, of Brooklyn, upon which he settled. He was born in Ireland, and was there married to Elizabeth Mahar. In 1847 they emigrated to the United States and first located in the State of New York, where Mrs. Flood died, leaving eight children-James, Edward, Mary, Anna, John, Betsey, Ester and Nora. In 1849 Mr. Flood came with his children to Wis- consin and settled in the town of Brooklyn, where he resided until his death, March 26, 1871.

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History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 101

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168