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 118

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 118

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 winter of 1842-43 was very severe, with an uncommon depth of snow for this country. Very few settlers had seen such a depth of snow. To us, who just were from the eastern part York State, it was nothing unusual. Towards spring, feed became scarce, and in some places timber was cut down for the cattle to browse on, especially the linden or basswood. I well remember when Thomas Bowers' neighborhood was called Egypt, certainly very many went there to buy corn. Some of our neighbors were so scared at the deep snow, that they did not try to go to the mill, using hominy as a substi- tute for bread. I remember starting with two yoke of young oxen for mill below Monroe. I took my mother along as far as Mr. Thompson's,

in the town of Sylvester, and going on the next day to mill. The day I started home it thawed a good deal, the water started running in the ravines a little. Stopped at Mr. Thompson's all night. It froze very hard, and the low places next morning were all a glare of ice. My oxen could not travel in the yoke. I got Mr. L. True, at this time a resident of Sylves- ter, to take his horses and bring home my grist with the ox yokes, and I drove my oxen loose. Coming to Little Sugar river below Exeter, I found the water about three feet deep between the bridges. The ice was not strong enough to hold up the cattle. I had to go back to a rail fence and get a rail and break the ice between the bridges; the cattle went through Indian file and I got home all right. I remember the first pork we bought in the country cost us ten shil- lings per 100 pounds. We bought a good cow of Thomas Bowen for $9; a yoke of steers coming four years old for $30. One thing I can testify to, money was hard to come by in those early days. Author Smith was murdered for $200. It would seem a small sum of money to kill a man for now, but $200 looked full as large at that time as $1,500 would now. I see his name is called Arthur; it is a mistake, his given name was Author. He boarded with my father the first winter we were in the country. My father went to school one winter to Mr. Smith's father, at that time a resident of Ver- mont. It is an old saying that murder will out, but nearly forty years have passed by and poor Author's murderer's not discovered yet, that is to my knowledge.

"I have nothing more to say of my own adven- tures, they were the same as other early settlers. It is pretty generally known to all who take any interest in Major Deviese, that he is now living with me, three miles northwest of Belleville, he has lived with me over thirty years, and is now ninety-one years of age. Four years ago, the 2d day of last September, he fell from the door step and hurt his right hip, and broke the wrist

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

of his right arm. It was never fully ascertained what injury was done to his hip, as he could not stand the pain of a thorough examination, and he was so old the doctor did not dare to use chloroform. Since that time he has not left the bed only us he has been lifted; still his health is generally good, especially for a man of his advanced age. His mind and memory is re- markably good for a man of his age, he is a perfect chronicle of the past, and notwithstand- ing his afflictions and infirmity, he is cheerful and resigned; this is owing somewhat to his natural temperament, which is very cheerful, but is also owing in a great measure to a firm trust in Christ, and bright hope that when the trials of this life are over, he will be admitted into that rest that remains for the people of God."

MONTROSE, April 17, 1884.

"You speak of the drinking habits of the early pioneers, I must confess that in proportion to the number of population, there was far more liquor drank forty years ago than there is to-day, but it must be remembered that Exeter for a number of years was a mining town, and there - is almost always more drinking done in such places than where the occupation of the peo- ple is purely agricultural, but there was a good deal of drinking done in those days. Births, deaths, marriages, 4th of July, election, Christ- mas, harvesting, hog killing, house raising, were all good excuses for imbibing, but then, to offset this evil, I believe there was less pride, more open-handed hospitality in those days than at the present time. A young couple could get married in those days without ruining them- selves buying costly clothes. If a man was buried, it was not thought necessary to starve his widow and fatherless children in order to procure a $75 or $100 coffin, because other peo- ple did. You spoke about the Major telling some more of his early experience. Since you were here, I heard him tell one. Mr. Foreman, who used to live in Exeter in a very early day, had set a number of traps in a circle, with a

bait in the center, to catch a wolf. A Mrs. Powell lived near where the traps were set, and her little dog got into one of them, and of course set up a dreadful howl. Mrs. Powell went to the rescue of her pet and got caught in a trap herself, and of course there was more music. A large black dog belonging to Pierce Bradley, an old resident of Exeter, then thought it best to go and see what was the matter, of course he got caught, and then the chorus was complete. Fortunately the outcries brought Mr. Foreman to the rescue, and he set them all at liberty. When I think how the great west has settled up, even in my day, (I am fifty-six) it is wonderful. I can remember when going into the western part of York State was called going out west. If any one started togo as far west as Indiana or Illinois, their friends bid them fare- well, with about the same feeling they would, had they started for that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler returns. But now the Pacific can only stop them, and I am not sure as that will prove a barrier long, some en- terprising emigrant will want to colonize the Sandwich Island."

Yours truly,

HOLLIS CROCKER.

BIOGRAPIIICAL.

Joseph Dunbar Sr., is a native of Ireland, born in 1814. At the age of ten years he came to the United States to live with his uncle, Robert Dunbar, near Wheeling, Va. After a few years residence there, he went to Philadelphia, com- ing from that city to Mineral Point, Wis. Ter., where he worked a short time in the mines and around the furnaces. He came to Exeter, then called " Exeter Diggings," in 1835, and worked here many years, but in 1840, he bought 160 acres of government land on section 22, and later eighty acres on section 23. These lands are now comprised in the fine farm which is now his home. His residence is on section 23. He partially improved this land before his mar- riage. He continued to mine a portion of the time, until it ceased to be remunerative. July

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

20, 1855, he was married to Mary Martin, daughter of John Martin, who settled in Exeter in 1849, and died here in 1864. His widow now lives in Richland county. Mr. and Mrs. Dun- bar have had fourteen children, nine of whom are living, all of whom reside with their parents, except two sons-Joseph, who lives in this town, and John, who lives in Golden, Col. The others are-Jane, Tilla, Jeremiah, Bertha R., Archie D. and Charles T. Those who have died are : Claude, Mary, wife of W. Q. Ross; Inez, Rozena M. and Sarah A. In 1836, while at the diggings, Mr. Dunbar and James Slater, spaded one acre of land and planted it with corn. The crop they sold to Joseph Kelley, who had just settled on a farm south of Monroe. The first death in Exeter, after Mr. Dunbar's arrival, was a child of Thomas Welch, the next was that of a man named Cheney, who died about 1838. It was thought desirable to bury Mr. Cheney beside the child of Mr. Welch, three miles distant. The miners at that time had nearly all left for New Diggings, just discovered at Blue Mounds, consequently help was scarce. The carrying of the body to its place of burial was undertaken by two or three men, who after accomplishing about one third of the distance, had to abandon it. Mr. Dun- bar went some distance after a yoke of oxen, with which the task was completed.

George Magee, a native of Ireland, was born in the county of Armagh in 1813. He emi- grated to Canada in 1821, and in 1836 went to Vicksburg, Miss. The following year he moved to Galena, Ill., and the same year came to the town of Exeter and bought 500 acres of land on section 25, on which he settled. He was one of the first men in Green county to make farm- ing an avocation. Mr. Magee was, in his prime, a pushing, energetic, money-making man, and at an early day, had the sagacity to see the ad- vantages which the county possessed as an ag- ricultural county. He was married in 1842, to Lucy Eggleston, who was of English descent. In 1852 he went to California and returned in

1855. He then devoted his time entirely to farming until 1875, when he moved to Evans- ville, where he now lives. He owns several buildings in that city, which he rents. He also owns his original farm of 500 acres in Exeter. His wife died in 1871. They had nine chil- dren-Jennie, wife of F. Shergar, of Evans- ville; Mary, wife of A. S. Lewis; Julia, wife of A. W. Patterson, of Howard Co., Neb .; Hattie, widow of John T. O. Swager, living in Evans- ville; Welsley died in infancy, in 1852; Emma, wife of O. Case, lives in Dane county; William, who lives on the homestead, and is unmarried; Lillie is the wife of Walter Hopkins; and George Jr. William and George Jr., rent the homestead farm of their father. George Jr. was married Sept. 11, 1883, to Effie Marshall, daughter of J. H. Marshall, of this town.

John Hosken, son of Richard and Mary Hos- ken, was born Jan. 15, 1844, in the town of Exeter. He now owns and resides upon the land bought from the speculators by his father, on section 22, in 1854. He was reared a farmer, and lived with his parents until their death, except during the short time he served in the army. Hle enlisted in company F, 42d Wiscon- sin Volunteers, and served until the regiment was mustered out, June 20, 1865. July 13, 1874, he was married to Mrs. Brabyn, widow of William Brabyn, of England, where her hus- band died. She came to this town in July, 1869, with four children-Joseph, now in Colo- rado; William H., now in Washington Terri- tory; Elena, wife of Charles Storrs, of Dane county; and Mary Jane, who lives with her mother. A child, named William J., of Mr. Hosken's deceased brother, Joseph D., was made one of the family, but he died Oct. 27, 1881, at the age of ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Hosken have no children. His father, Richard Hosken, was born June 20, 1801, in England, where he learned the trade of carpenter. In his youth he came to the United States, landing in New York in November, 1838 or 1839, in company with some others and their families. He

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

reached Wiota, where he worked at his trade among the miners until 1841. He was married to Mary Cherry, a native of Dublin, Ireland, who came from there with a brother and two sisters in 1840. After marriage he bought land in Exeter, where he settled. Four children were born to them-Joseph D., who died in 1871; John, the subject of this sketch; William, who died in 1867; Ann J., wife of Charles George, died in 1879. Mr. Hosken died Nov. 17, 1869. His wife died April 1, 1872.

John Ferguson was born in county Derry, Ireland, in 1810. In 1836 he came to the United States, and in November of that year came to Wiota, Lafayette county, where he engaged in mining, which business he followed successfully a few years. Meanwhile he purchased 200 acres of land on sections 26 and 27, town of Exeter, with a view of making it his future home. Later he added 200 acres to this pur- chase, and after his marriage made his resi- dence thereon. Ile was married Oct. 3, 1845, to Almeda Porter, Jacob Lindslay, Esq , officiat- ing. Six children were born to them, of whom are now living-William, living in Pocahontas Co., Iowa; Elleanor, wife of Isaac Green, of Dedham, Iowa; John and Nathaniel, living at home; and Sarah, who is a school teacher, makes her home with her mother. John Fer- guson died at his home March 13, 1875. He was a good citizen, and will long be remem- bered for his sterling qualities. He was quite ·prominent in town affairs. His widow now lives on the old homestead with three of her children. Mrs. Ferguson was the daughter of an old pioneer, John Porter, who was an early settler in every place he ever lived after attain- ing manhood. Mrs. Ferguson was the third child born where the city of Springfield, the capital of the State of Illinois, now stands. It was then, April 29, 1826, only a squatter vil- lage. John Porter was born in Harrison Co., Ky., in 1796. He was married in his native State to Nancy Turley. Two children were born to them-James, now a resident of Cali-

fornia; and Urana, widow of Joseph McConnell, who lives in this town. Mr. Porter removed to Sangamon county about 1820, where his wife died, and he was married to Sarah Brents in 1825. He was one of the early settlers of that county. Sarah Brents was born in Kentucky in 1801. Her widowed mother and family came into Livingston Co., Ky., as pioneers. John Porter, by this second marriage, had eight children, and all were living in 1884- Almeda, widow of John Ferguson, the subject of this sketch; John, living at Fort Dodge, Iowa; Nathaniel, now in California; Susan, wife Christopher Steele, now living in Missouri; William, in California; George, in Fort Dodge, Iowa; Rebecca, wife of T. D. Day, of this town; and Mary, who is married, and living in

Iowa. John Porter, as stated, was always a frontier man. He removed from Sangamon county to Pike Co., Mo., in 1831, and from there to Lafayette county, this State, in 1833, where he farmed until 1838, then came to Monroe, this county, and lived three years, then to the old village of Exeter in 1841, and later bought land on section 35, where he lived until about 1865, when he made a home with his son, George, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. His wife died in July, 1875, and he died the May previously.

Milton Ross was born at Wiota, Wis., July 7, 1839. He is the son of Capt. Leonard and Sarah E. Ross. Capt. Leonard Ross was born at Ludlow, Vt., in 1806. When eighteen years of age he left home and learned the cabinet- maker's trade, and afterwards went to Little Falls, N. Y., where he kept tavern, in company with another man. He removed from thence to Wisconsin, in 1836, locating at Wiota, Lafay- ette county, where he rented land and engaged in farming and mining. Jan. 8, 1838, he was married to Sarah E. Burritte, who was born in Indiana, Jan. 30, 1821, and came to Lafayette county with her father's family, in 1828. Her father's name was William Burritte. He came to Wisconsin with Major Deviese, who was the first permanent settler in Exeter. Mr. Burritte

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

died in Wiota, Lafayette county, in 1859. Mr. and Mrs Ross lived in Wiota, after their mar- riage, two years, then came to the town of Exc- ter, and settled on section 8. He was a man of means, and a most valuable acquisition to the new settlement. He bought land on sections 7, 8, 9, 16 and 17, about 900 acres in all. Ile died, deeply regretted, at his residence on section 8, June 3, 1856. His widow still survives and lives with her son, Milton, at the homestead. She has a vivid recollection of the excitement attending the Black Hawk War. Her father took an active part in attending to the safety of families of the settlers, and in restoring confi- dence among the timid. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross-Milton, William H., Leonard and Otis, who was killed at the battle of Petersburg, June 18, 1864. Ile was a mem- ber of the 37th Wisconsin Volunteers. Henry died in infancy; Daniel died at the age of twenty months. Ile became entangled in a rope swing, and died from strangulation. On the same day that this sad accident occurred, one of their twin children, Edward, died, aged five months. The other twin, Edwin, died eight days later. Milton Ross, after the death of his father, remained with his mother until he enlisted in the 8th Wisconsin regiment, the "Eagle" regiment. He was in all of the engagements of the regiment, except during the Red River campaign. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the battles of Corinth and Iuka. After the war, he returned to farm life, and April 15, 1866, was married to Laura A. Brayton, daughter of Joseph Brayton. She was born in Juda, in 1840. IIer father settled in New Glarns, in 1848. He now lives in Fayette Co., Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have no children.

Leonard Ross, son of Capt. Leonard Ross, was born in the town of Exeter, April 3, 1842. He lived with his mother until after his mar- riage with Mary Turner, which occurred Dec. 25, 1863. She was a daughter of Robert Turner, who came from New York, to Racine county, in an early day, and, about 1860, to Dane county,

and now lives in Belleville. Five children were born to them, of whom four are living, and at home-Otis, William L., Edgar L. and Franklin Grant. Henry, the last born, died young. Mrs. Ross died March 11, 1880. June 30, 1881, Mr. Ross was married to Mary J. Rossitter, of Brook- lyn. By this marriage there are two children- John Henry and Luella. Mr. Ross owns one of the fine farms of Exeter, containing 198 acres, on sections 8 and 9. He also has thirty acres of valuable timber land on section 17. Ilis im- provements are excellent, and the farm is in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Ross has served as town treasurer, and was, in 1884, elected to the town board.

Dr. Augustus Ross was born in Ludlow, Vt., May 27, 1816, and was married to Amanda Smith, Oct. 13, 1837, who was born in the same town May 26, 1818. Mr. Ross became a botan- ical physician, commonly called in those days " Thomsonian." In 1849 he came to the town of Exeter on a visit to his brother, Capt. Leon- ard Ross, and in 1855 brought his family here, and bought 100 acres of land on sections 16 and 17, making his residence on the latter, where he died Jan. 26, 1863. His widow, in good health, in 1884, was residing on the home- stead. Dr. Ross was an able and good man. In Vermont he had an extensive practice, in fact, had too much to do, causing him to desire a home life on a farm, hence he came west. In this town, with the exception of attendance upon a few families, personal friends and rela- tives, he did no medical work. His death was much regretted by all his acquaintances. Their children were-Margaret, born July 8, 1839; Edgar II., born May 26, 1847. He enlisted in the 3d Wisconsin Volunteers, Capt. Flood's company; was wounded and taken prisoner near Harper's Ferry, and died of lock-jaw at Charleston, Va., Nov. 1, 1861; Joseph W., born March 18, 1843; Marion F., born Nov. 15, 1844; A. E., born Dec. 13, 1846; Ada E., born April 6, 1849; Columbus C., born April 16, 1851, and died April 13, 1855; Wilbur born March 29,

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

1854; Louisa A., born Jan. 27, 1857; and Carrie, born Nov. 24, 1862. Wilbur Ross lives on the homestead with his mother. He was mar- ried March 13, 1881, to Caroline Hallarbush. They have two children-Myrtie May, born Feb. 1, 1882, and George A., born April 1, 1884.

William H. Ross, son of Capt. Leonard Ross, was born Sept. 8, 1840, in the old village of Ex- eter, where his parents resided a few weeks after their arrival in this town. Mr. Ross is probably the oldest person living in the town who was born within its limits. He lived with his parents until the death of his father, and re- mained with his mother until he enlisted in company H, of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers. His brother, Milton Ross, enlisted on the same day, Sept. 8, 1861, that being the day on which William H. attained his majority. His mother had refused her consent previously. His regi- ment was a part of A. J. Smith's corps through the siege of Vicksburg and battles of Corinth, Iuka, etc. He took part in the Red River cam- paign, and participated in twenty-seven battles and skirmishes. He was a gallant soldier, and was discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment, in September, 1864. He was mar-

ried Dec. 12, 1871, to Margaret Greiden wise, born in New Jersey in 1845. They have had four children-Dnane, Eldora, who died at the age of seven years; Bertha, who died at the age of four years, and Theron. Mr. Ross owns a valuable farm of 160 acres on section 16, where he resides; also twenty acres of timber on sec- tion 17.

Thomas B. Richards, a native of Cornwall, England, was born Feb. 25, 1827. ITis father, John Richards, with his wife and seven children came to the United States, landing at New York in November, 1839, and came west by way of the Erie canal and the lakes to De- troit, where they remained until the following February, then started overland with a team, which he purchased in Detroit, and went to Chicago, thence to Freeport, then a village of half a dozen houses, and one hotel. He then

proceeded to Wiota, where they arrived March 1, 1840. Here he remained three years, work- ing in the lead mines He then came to Exeter and bought 200 acres of land on section 22, up- on which he settled permanently. Of his chil- dren, Louisa was married to John Toay and re- sides at Mineral Point; Thomas B., subject of this sketch, lives in Exeter on his finely im- proved farm of 160 acres, on section 10; John V. B. owns the homestead farm in Exeter and lives at Dayton, with his widowed sister, Eliza- beth, as housekeeper. Her deceased husband was Alfred Pascoe. Mary Ann is the wife of Edward Ellis, of Brooklyn; Robert lives at Belleville; James lives in Smith Co., Kansas; Sarah, widow of Jasper Orvis, lives at Mineral Point; Joanna is the wife of Edward Curnew, of Mineral Point. Joanna and Elizabeth were born at Wiota, in this State. The father, John Richards, died Aug. 7, 1854. His widow sur- vived until Aug. 14, 1882. Mr. Richards is well and kindly remembered by the early set- tlers of this town. The subject of this sketch, Thomas B. Richards, was wedded with Abigail Winston, Feb. 20, 1856. She was a resident of Rock county, but born in the State of New York. Two sons were born to them-John W., who now lives in Idaho; and Willie B., who is married and living in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. Mrs. Richards died Jan. 24, 1875. Mr. Rich- ards was again married Nov. 22, 1876, to Nancy Moore, daughter of Joseph Moore, who settled in Exeter in 1851, and died in January, 1882. His widow still survives, residing with her sons, James and Leslie Moore, at the homestead farm. Mr. Richards has by his second marriage two children-Mary Louisa and Elizabeth Elsie. HIe has owned and resided upon his farm since 1856. Hle has made valuable improvements.

Peter Parkin was born in Yorkshire, England, in the year 1825. His father, Robert Parkin, came to the United States in 1842 with his wife and nine children, landed at New Orleans and proceeded directly to St Louis, remaining there one year before deciding where to make a

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

home; but in 1843 came to this county, reaching the village of Exeter January 22, and shortly afterward bought land in New Glarus; made a home there ten years or more, then sold out and moved to the town of Exeter, buying 160 acres of land on section 18, and died in 1856; his wife died in 1870. They had nine children-George, now in Minnesota; John, who died in the town of Exeter; Charles, who died in Mount Pleasant; Peter, the subject of this sketch; Ann, a dangh- ter left in England, deceased; James, who lives in Eden, Dak .; Henry, living in Butler Co., Iowa; Robert, living in Canton, Dak .; and Eliza- beth, wife of Eli George, now living in Kansas. Peter Parkin, the subject of this sketch, was married to Mrs. Eliza Ilolland in 1851. She was born in Malburn, England, in 1823. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Steed, died in St. Louis. She has one sister, Mrs. Hannah Muir, living in New Orleans, and a brother, John, in Malburn, England. An adopted . son, Peter, taking by them when he was eleven months old, lives at home; Frances, an adopted danghter, was married to Mortimer White, and lives in Dayton. Mr. Parkin was put in the coal mines at seven years of age, where he worked with his father. He was not given an opportunity to secure an education, but nevertheless he has been successful. His farm consists of 102 acres, and is pleasantly located on section 11, almost adjoining the village plat.

Josiah P. Morse was born in Swanzey, Cheshire Co., N. H., Dec. 31, 1803. ITis father, Josiah Morse, was born in the same town. The latter, when the son was quite young, moved to Massachusetts, and from there, after a short residence, to Erie Co., N. Y., where he died. Josiah P. Morse was married in Erie county, in 1827, to Azubah Estey, and lived in the State of New York until 1843, when he came west and lived on a rented farm in MeHlenry Co., Il., a short time, then came to Green county and bought 400 acres of land on section 10, town of Exeter, where he has since lived, although he has disposed of nearly all the original pur-

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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 118

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