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 115

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 115

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Joseph Warren Stuart, a prominent citizen of Brodhead, settled in the town of Decatur, April 1, 1851, on a farm he had purchased the previ- ons 10th of September. This farm is located on section 27, and was entered by Anson Shef- field. At the time Mr. Stuart bought it there was about ten acres improved, and a log cabin had been built by the former owner. Mr. Shef- field, from whom he made the purchase, was of Mormonistic tendency, and removed to Salt Lake. Mr. Stuart is a native of Delaware Co., N. Y., and was born in 1819. His father, Syl- vester Stuart, was formerly from Washington Co., N. Y., and his grandfather, Joseph Stuart, was a native of Massachusetts. The latter was a Revolutionary soldier. Ilis maternal grand- father, Ezra Doty, was also a soldier of the Rev- olution, and was present at the execution of Major Andre. When thirteen years old Joseph went with his parents to Ohio. At the age of seventeen he went to Bennington, Vt., and en- gaged at work in the cotton factory, where he remained two years, then spent six years on the farm, then returned and spent three years in

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

the factory. In 1849 he came to Wisconsin and engaged at work in a sash, door and blind fac- tory. He came to the town of Decatur in 1851, as before stated, but for a number of years was engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, cof- fins, etc., his shop being on the farm. In 1872 he sold his farm to B. H. Fleek, and removed to Brodhead. Mr. Stuart is numbered among the successful business men of Decatur. He has now practically retired from the more ac- tive business duties of life, and is in possession of a competence. He owns considerable real estate, including two good farms, besides village property in Brodhead. His wife, to whom he was married Jan. 21, 1844, was formerly Lydia R. Lasell, a native of Gouverneur, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. They have had but one child-Phebe Ann, who died on the 7th day of January, 1846, at the age of eleven months. They have had several adopted children, two of whom-Mary W. and Ezra H., they reared from the ages respectively of six and ten years. The latter enlisted in the army in 1862, in the 18th Wisconsin Infantry, re-enlisted in the 4th Cavalry, was one of the captors of Jefferson Davis, and served until the close of the war. Ile now lives in Hancock Co., Ill. Mary W. is the wife of Abner Mitchell, and lives near Wa- verly, Iowa. Another adopted daughter is now at Deadwood, Dak., and another, an infant daughter, died in 1858, but a few days after her adoption. Mr. Stuart is among the best class of Green county citizens, and as a business man has the confidence and respect of his fellow men.

John Douglas, a prominent citizen of Brod- head, came to Green county in 1854. He was born in the county of Sutherland, Scotland, on July 15, 1812, and came to the United States with his father's family in 1828. They settled in Monongalia Co., W. Va., where Mr. Doug- las lived until 1834, when he was married and removed to Fayette Co., Penn. In 1835, he came to Milwaukee Co., Wis., where he settled on a farm and lived nineteen years. At that

time Milwaukee was but a small village, and Mr. Douglas became well acquainted with the first settlers of that place, who were Solomon Juneau, George Walker and Byron Kilbourn. He lived in Milwaukee county until 1854, when he came to Green county and settled in the town of Decatur on a partially improved farm, where he lived until he came to the village of Brodhead in 1872. He still owns a part of that farm. Mr. Douglas has good business qualifi- cations and has had good success, being now numbered among the wealthy and substantial citizens of Brodhead. ITis parents, James and Ann (Oliver) Douglas, were born on the border, between England and Scotland, the former on the Scotland side and the latter on the English side of the line. After marriage they removed to Sutherland county. Mr. Douglas' father died in the State of Maryland before he had reached his intended destination in Virginia. His mother died in Virginia at the age of about eighty years. The parents of Mr. Douglas had seven children-six sons and one daughter. He has been three times married. His first wife was Mary J. Brown, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in Mil- waukee county. His second wife was Mrs. Almira (Bates) Shaff, who died at Brodhead in 1881. His present wife was Mrs. Amanda (Hart) Holcomb. Mr. Douglas is the father of five children, two of whom are now living- James W. and William HI. The former lives in Brodhead, the latter resides on and owns a part of the homestead farm. Mr. Douglas has two brothers and one sister-Andrew in Milwaukee county, Mrs. Jane Barlow in Wheeling, W. Va., and Thomas, his youngest brother, who for- merly lived in the town of Decatur, but now resides in Johnson Co., Kansas. Mr. Douglas' education was limited. Politically he was for- merly a whig, but upon the organization of the republican party, he joined them, and continues to vote for those principles. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and is in favor of prohibition.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Stair Bros., of Brodhead, keep a first-class general grocery store, with which they have connected a drug department. The brothers, Jehu and Henry Stair, are sons of Peter Stair, who came to this county June 30, 1855, locating on section 36, in the town of Jefferson. In 1865 he removed to an improved farm on section 25. Ile retired from farming and settled in the village of Juda, where he died, Nov. 15, 1878. His wife died Sept. 9, 1882. There were eleven children in the family when they came to Green county, ten of whom, six sons and four daughters, are still living-William, in Clark Co., Dak .; Mrs. Samantha Obenchain, in Mono Co., Cal .; Mrs. Martha Regudtt, (widow) at the homestead in Jefferson; Mrs. Ellen Obenchain, in Mckinney, Texas; Jehu, Dr. M. P. Stair, of Black Earth, Dane Co., Wis .; Mrs. Antoinette Allen, at Darlington, Wis .; Dr. Theodore F. Stair, at Mazomania, Wis .; Henry and Dr. J. B. Stair, at Spring Green, Wis. A daughter, Elsie, the sixth child, died at the age of twenty-nine years. Jehu, the elder of the firm of Stair Bros., was born in Virginia in 1833. He was married to Eleanor, daughter of Benjamin Chambers, who settled on section 35, of the town of Jefferson, in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Jehu Stair have two children- Mary G. and Landus C. Henry Stair was born in Virginia in 1845. He was married to Mary E., also a daughter of Benjamin Chambers. They have five children-Elsie, Louis, Sydney, Mary and Henry. While Henry Stair and family were on a pleasure trip to the Rocky Mountains in the summer of 1879, an event of their expedition was the ascent of Pike's Peak. His son, Louis, went on foot and return, the dis- tance being about twenty miles, being then between ten and eleven years old. This was a feat probably never before accomplished by one so young. Stair Bros. have established an extensive trade, and their integrity and ability as business men are unquestioned.

Bowen R. Clawson dates his residence in Green county from 1855, but was here tempo- 1

rarily as early as 1852. He was born in Green Co., Penn, in 1837, where he lived till 1851. In that year he removed to Waukesha, Wis., with his parents. He early engaged in the grain business, buying for the Forest City Mills at Waukesha, Stoughton and also at Juda, in this county. He began his mercantile career, as elerk, in Juda, though he had previously sold goods at Waukesha. Ile began mercantile trade, for himself, at Juda, in April, 1860, and in 1862 came to Brodhead and engaged in busi- ness, in the firm name of Clawson & Roderick. After continuing some time, he sold to Mr. Roderick, and purchased the store which he now owns. He continued in mercantile trade alone and with various partners, until 1881. He was then succeeded by Aurand & Terry, but he still owns the store building. Mr. Clawson is an active, energetic business man, and has acquired a competence. Since his residence in Brodhead, he has not confined his business to merchandising, but dealt in wool and grain for many years, and lately has dealt extensively in wool. Mr. Clawson began business with noth- ing, but has succeeded by energy and a deter- mination to win. His father, Phineas Clawson, came to Brodhead in 1865, where he died in March, 1882, at the age of eighty-five years. His mother died several years previous to the death of her husband. Mr. Clawson was mar- ried to Matilda R. South, daughter of Abijah South, who settled in the town of Jefferson, in 1846, coming there from Pennsylvania. He died in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Clawson have two children-Bowen R., born in 1869, and Sadie, born in October, 1876.

Sceva P. Taft has been a resident of Brod- head since June, 1856. He was born in Pottsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1821, where he lived till twenty-two years of age, when he went to Ogdensburg, N. Y., and en- gaged in the business of piano making, to which he had served an apprenticeship in his native town. He remained several years at Ogdensburg, and then went to Vergennes, Vt.,

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

where he had charge of a piano factory one year. Thence again to St. Lawrence county, where his parents were still living. He soon after came to Wisconsin, and lived in Milwan- kee and Waukesha for two years. At Milwau- kee he was employed in the railroad car shop in the construction of passenger cars, assisting in building the first passenger car constructed in the State of Wisconsin. He returned to New York in the fall of 1855, and came to Brodhead, as stated, the following year. He engaged here, at first, in clerking in the drug store of E. C. Clinton, and bought out Mr. Clinton in 1858. He subsequently disposed of his drug business, and was engaged in the hard- ware trade for a number of years; later he en- gaged in real estate and insurance, which was his business for many years. Mr. Taft has been a justice of the peace most of the time for twenty years. He has been twice married; his first wife was Jane Critchet, a native of Og- densburg, N. Y., who died in Waukesha, in 1856; his present wife was Catharine E. Con- key, born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in the town of Canton. He has one child by his first wife-Edmond, now engaged at railroading. He has three children by his present wife-Jen- nie May, Nellie A. and George J. Mr. Taft's father, Silas Taft, came to Brodhead in 1856, and lived with his children till his decease. His mother is still living, at the age of ninety years. Two of his brothers were among the early carpenters of Brodhead. The elder, Ransom Taft, built the Clinton Hotel in 1856, and conducted it for several years. He is now in Chicago. The younger brother, Judson, resides in Racine.

James T. Sherman is one of the earliest set- tlers of Brodhead. He was of the firm of Sher- man, Clinton & Co., the first general mercantile firm of the village, a history of which appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Sherman is a native of New Haven, Conn., where he was born, April 17, 1819. He is of an eminent de- scent, being a great-grandson of the illustrious

Roger Sherman, of Continental and Revolution- ary fame. He was reared to the occupation of farming in Suffield, of his native State, not far from the city of Springfield, Mass. Mrs. Sher- man was formerly Abby Morgan. Her father was Deacon Jasper Morgan. She was born in Windsor, Conn., March 17, 1824, and is a sister of the late Edwin D. Morgan, the eminent states- man, and great war governor of the State of New York. Thus both Mr. and Mrs. Sherman are connected with men whose names will ever be conspicuous in the history of our country. Mr. Sherman came to Brodhead from Connecti- eut, in 1856, with his family, consisting of wife and seven children, and immediately engaged in mercantile trade, in which he continued two years, and soon after engaged in agricultural pursuits, to which he has since devoted the greater portion of his time, but has now retired from the more active duties of life. He pos- sesses one of the many beautiful homes in Brod- head, and is now passing his declining years in peace and comfort. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have been identified with the Congregational Church since its organization in 1856, he being one of the deacons of that society. They have had nine children-James Morgan, Abby T., Eliza M., Anna M., Charles J., John T. and Jessie T., (twins) Helen M. and Fannie B. The two young- est were born in Brodhead.

John B. Blanchard was one of the early busi- ness men in Brodhead, coming here when the town started in 1856, and erecting one of the first dwellings on the village plat. Soon after coming here, he engaged in buying grain, live stock, dressed hogs, etc., in which occupation, he was one of the first to engage. After a res- idence here of several years, he purchased the warehouse now occupied by Dunwiddie & Taylor, and continued the grain trade until his decease, which occurred March 13, 1876. His advantages for obtaining an education in early life, were only medium, but he was a very good business man, a man of sterling integrity, strictly temperate in his habits, and withal, an esteemed

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

and valuable citizen. He met with some unfor- tunate reverses in his earlier business enter- prises, yet by persevering effort, he was enabled to leave to his family a good competence. He was a native of Caledonia Co., Vt., born Oct. 13, 1820, where he was reared, and married to Helen M. Laird, in 1847, who was born in Barnet, Vt., in 1821. Mrs. Blanchard is still a resident of Brodhead. She has no surviving children, but has lost three-Azel A., born in Vermont, and died in 1859, at the age of ten years; Helen M., who died in infancy; and John A., her last surviving child, was killed while coupling cars, in November, 1881. Mrs. Blanchard occupies the home built by her husband, in 1868.

Harvey F. Moore came to Brodhead in 1856. He was born in Barnet, Vt., in 1809. He was married to Sophia B. Laird, a sister of Mrs. II. M. Blanchard. Capt. Moore, as he was famil- iarly called, was a man of prominence among the business men of Brodhead, and was also well known politically, and served a term in both branches of the legislature of Wisconsin. He was engaged in grain buying here for a number of years. He purchased a farm in the town of Spring Grove, and resided, alternately, on the farm and in the village, until his death, which occurred in April, 1877. Mrs. Moore now lives in the village of Brodhead, having sold her farm in Spring Grove. She has three children- Catharine, wife of P. J. Clawson; Harvey J., in St. Paul, Minn .; and Peter T.

Hiram Bowen came to Green county first in 1850, and settled here permanently in 1858. He is a brother of Ephraim Bowen. He was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1827. His parents were Pardon and Maria Bowen, who removed from Cayuga county to Erie county. Pardon Bowen died in 1840, and his wife a number of years previous to that time. Hiram Bowen grew to manhood in Erie county, and in 1853 was mar- ried to Catharine E. MeMartin. Her father, Daniel MeMartin, was a native of Scotland, who came to this country when a child. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bowen went over-

land to California, being about four months in reaching their destination. After crossing the Missouri river, settlers were not numerous on the route which they took to the Pacific coast. The first building they saw after crossing that river was Fort Laramie, about 500 miles west of Council Bluffs. This was Mr. Bowen's sec- ond trip to California-he having gone there in 1851 by way of the Isthmus. They remained several years in California, and returned to the State of New York. On coming to this county, Mr. Bowen engaged in merchandising with his brother Ephraim, at Albany. He afterwards engaged in farming in the town of Mount Pleasant. He came to Brodhead in the spring of 1873 and engaged in the lumber business, which he continued until January, 1881, when he was succeeded by his son, Albert M. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen have three children-Albert M., born in California, in 1854; Addie, born in 1860; and Nellie, born in 1870. Albert M. is married and has three children-Kittie Maude, Lotta Emeretta and Edith E.

Harmon B. Stewart has resided in the town of Decatur, this county, since April, 1858. He was born in the town of Silver Lake, Susque- hanna Co., Penn., Jan. 18, 1818. He is a brother of J. W. Stewart, of Brodhead. His father, Syl- vester Stewart, removed from Vermont to Penn- sylvania, and soon after the birth of H. B. re- moved to the State of New York, and settled near the Vermont line. The family removed to Clinton, Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1833, and lo- cated on a farm. In 1835 Mr. Stewart went to Vermont, and engaged in cotton manufacturing at North Bennington. The factory in which he was engaged was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Stuart then engaged at the work of a machinist and built a number of looms. He returned to Ohio in 1837, but went in the fall of the fol- lowing year to Adams, Mass., remained eight months, then returning to Vermont, pur- sued his former occupation at Bennington until 1845, when he returned to the homestead farm in Ohio, where he remained twelve years, then

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

came to Green county, and has since been a res- ident of this town. In the spring of 1862 he bought an interest in the flouring mill near old Decatur village, and was connected therewith until the close of 1866. Since the beginning of 1867 he has been engaged in farming, real es- tate, loaning money, etc. Mr. Stewart is num- bered among the most successful and substan- tial business men of Brodhead. He now owns at least 1,200 acres of land in the vicinity of Brodhead, and is a man of sound financial ability. Ile has been three times married, first in Vermont to Harriet C. Tanner, a native of Wilmington, Vt. She died in 1871. His sec- ond wife was Mrs. Clarinda Harrington. His present wife was Mrs. Lavina Dubois. By his first wife he has three children-Sylvester, a former successful merchant in Brodhead, now at Hancock, Stevens Co., Minn., where he is a large land owner and produce dealer; Mrs. Emma Walling, wife of Percy Walling, who now resides in Kansas; and Harmon T., now liv- ing in Brodhead. By his second wife he has one son -- Gerald.

J. Brant is a harness maker, of Brodhead, that business there now being represented by him, Joseph Gramm and Henry Richards. The first to open a shop of this kind in the place was Albert Shearer, in 1858, who employed his brother-in-law, Michael Ott, as workman, who made the first harness manufactured in the vil- age. The shop was continued but a short time. Mr. Ott is now a resident of Janesville. The second shop was opened in 1859, by J. Brant, the subject of this sketch, who has since been in the business, except his service in the army, and another recent short interval. He was born in Ohio, in 1832, and when but seven years old removed to Indiana with his step-father, his own father, Abraham Brant, having died when he was but two years of age. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. He learned his trade in Wabash City, Ind., after which he spent a number of years traveling and working at his trade at different places, until he engaged in

business in Brodhead, in 1859, as stated. He enlisted in 1861 in the regimental band of the 3d Wisconsin, and was discharged in October, 1862, by virtue of an order issued by the war department for the discharge of regimental bands. He re-enlisted in 1863 as a member of the band of the Ist brigade, third division, fifteenth army corps, and served until August, 1865. He participated in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, and in the march to the sea. He was married to Ellen Cowen, a daughter of Mrs. Charlotte Cowen, who was an early settler of Green coun- ty. Mrs. Brant died a number of years since, leaving two children-Fred, born in 1867, and Tina, born in 1869.

D. C. Day, of Brodhead, settled in the town of York, Oct. 3, 1843. His father, D. B. Day, located in that town the previous year, coming from Geauga Co., Ohio. D. B. Day was a native of Madison Co., N. Y., born in 1798, in which county he continued to reside until he reached manhood, when he moved to Genesee county, thence to Ohio, in 1840, and to this county in 1842. The wife of D. B. Day was formerly Hannah Cass. They had nine children who grew to maturity, seven of whom, five sons, and two daughters, are still living. They removed to Kansas, in 1856, during the existence of border warfare in that State, where Mrs. D. B. Day died. Her husband removed to Iowa, in 1863, where he died. D. C. Day, the subject of this sketch, was born in Canada West, where his parents were then living. He was reared in the State of New York, removed to Ohio with his parents, and came to Green county, in 1843. He first settled on a farm in the town of York, which he had obtained from the government. At that time there were living within the borders of that town: John Stewart, Sr., William Crowell, Albro Crowell, son of William; Will- iam C. Green, Joseph Miller, William Spears, Simeon Alden, Ezra Wescott, Amos Conkey, D. B. Day, Philander Pebbles and Henry Hurl- bert. Of these families only that of Philander Pebbles now (1884) remains. Mr. Day has been

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

twice married. His first wife was Mary Bryant, a daughter of Jesse Bryant. His second and present wife was Mrs. Mary A. Crosby, a daugh- ter of Elder Decker, of Newark, Rock county, and the widow of Haskell Crosby. Mr. Day has six children by his first wife-Albert L., a phy- sician located at Postville, in the town of York; Edwin R., living near Lemars, Iowa; Lewis E., in Nebraska; Rosella, widow of Francis Grin- nell; Nellie, wife of E. A. Lynn; and Willie B., near Lemars, Iowa. His youngest son died in 1880. Mrs. Day has seven children, five daugh- ters, and two sons, by her former marriage- Martha, Angelia, wife of A. E. Hali; Ella, wife of F. E. Darling; Emma, wife of R. E. Hoyt, Erwin C., Hattie and Harvey.

E. R. Sprague, Esq., the present police justice of Brodhead, is a native of Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., born in 1830. He received a good com- mon school education. In 1846 he came with his parents to Rock county, and in the winter of 1847 engaged in teaching school in the town of Spring Valley. He followed teaching and farming for a number of years in Rock county. In November, 1854, he came to Clarence, in this county, and taught a number of terms. He was well known as a successful teacher, for inany years, and there are many men and women in Green and Rock counties who have reached or passed the meridian of life, who received the benefit of his instruction. After taking up his residence in Green county, he was absent for a number of years. He went to Menomonee, in Dunn Co., Wis., where he was engaged in the construction of the extensive saw mill of Knapp, Stout & Co., at that place. He remained there three years. He went to Orfordville in 1860, and there resided until 1867, thence to Evansville, where he was engaged in business three years, thence to a farm near Stoughton, Dane county. Two years later he came to this county and located at Albany, re- maining there a year and a half. He then came to Brodhead. He has been a justice of the peace for several years, and superintendent of the

city schools, two years. Mr. Sprague has been three times married. His present wife is a na- tive of St. Johns, N. B. He has four children -Flora May, F. Guy, Alberta, a teacher in the graded schools of Brodhead, and Hugh. His oldest son is an expert printer, and a compiler of city directories, also a step-son, C. W. Murphy, a clerk in W. W. Roderick's dry goods store in Brodhead for several years. Mr. Sprague is a genial gentleman, socially, and well liked for his many excellencies of character.

Joseph Thompson and wife are engaged in a general millinery and fancy goods business in Brodhead. They were engaged in the same business at Albany, in this county, previous to coming to Brodhead. Mr. Thompson was born in Canada, in December, 1833, of American parents. When a child he removed with his parents to Ohio, and thence to Rockford, Ill. Ile enlisted the first year of the war, Sept. 18, 1861, in the 8th Illinois Cavalry. He served three years in the army, and was discharged Oct. 28, 1864. He participated in many im- portant battles, including Yorktown, Williams- burg, seven days' fight, and retreat of McClel- lan, second battle of Bull Run, South Moun- tain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, where he had a horse shot under him and was taken prisoner. After remaining three days in the hands of the rebels, he succeeded in escaping from his guard at midnight and and reached the Union lines in safety. He participated in twenty of the most important engagements of the Rebellion, includ- ing Gettysburg. After the war he returned to Rockford, and thence to Waterloo, Iowa, where he lived two years. He came to this county in 1868, locating at Albany. Mrs. Thompson was formerly Charlotte Marson, a native of Notting- ham, England. She came to the United States in 1847, with her parents, who settled at Roch- ester, N. Y., and removed to Ogle Co., Ill., in 1854, and during the late Rebellion took an ac- tive part in woman's work for the Union at Washington City, under a government commis- sion.

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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 115

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