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 119

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 119

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).

chase. He is now in comfortable circumstances financially, and has retired from active business life. His wife died in 1875. They have had five children, two of whom are now living- Wallace W., who served in the 8th Wisconsin Battery during the war, and now lives in Fanlk Co., Dak .; Minerva, wife of Abner Townsend, Wadena Co., Minn .- George also served in the 8th Wisconsin Battery, and died soon after com- ing home, from disease contracted while in the service; Rowena, deceased, who was the wife of Elbert Bowker; and Henry, who died when about twenty-five years old. Mr. Morse married Mrs. Elvira Webb, widow of Thomas C. Webb, who died in September, 1865, in Dane county. She had six children by her first marriage- Franklin and James, living at Kendall, Monroe Co., Wis .; Mary, wife Albert Bowker, of Dane county; Helen, wife of William Chatterton, of Dane county, and her two youngest daughters, Emma E and Rose F., who make their home with their step-father.

John W. Norton came to Wisconsin in 1846, and spent one summer in looking over the State and also visited Iowa. The following winter he taught the first school in the present village of Clinton Junction. In 1847, his father, William Norton, came to this county, accompanied by his wife and daughter, and settled on section 10, of the town of Exeter. John W. was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., May 1, 1826, and was there reared upon a farm. His father's family consisted of eight children-Stella, deceased, wife of Daniel Owen, of Yates Co., N. Y .; Samuel, who died in Buffalo, N. Y .; Caroline, wife of Robert Turner, of Belleville, Wis .; Jerusha, wife of A. C. Ressequie, of Janesville; Rachel, wife of R. Gardiner, of Rhode Island; George W., who died at, Columbus, Ohio, aged twenty years; John W., the subject of this sketch, and Jane A., widow of Thomas Hills, living in Janesville. William Norton died in April, 1852. Ilis burial was the first in the Dayton cemetery. His wife, Amy Norton, died Tin June, 1872. The homestead farm is now

855

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

owned by John W., who was married March 5, 1853, to Emma A. Moore, in Monroe Co., N. Y. They were schoolmates in former days. The following year the great loss of his life occurred, in the death of his wife, who died at the birth of a child, who also died. Since that time Mr. Norton has lived unmarried. He sold his farm of 300 acres, in 1867, to E. Wade, but came in possession of it again, in 1878. He lived in Belleville, Dane county, during the meantime He is a much respected citizen and a man who tends strictly to his own affairs.

Peolin P. Havens was born in Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y., May 1, 1803. In his youth he learned the blacksmith trade, at which he became a master workman. At the age of twenty-two years he left home, and for the next ten years worked at his trade in different parts of the State. The last work which he did, as a hired man, was in New York city. In 1835, he went from there to Evans, Erie county, and worked in a shop of his own several years. He went from Evans to Orleans county, and in 1845 came to Wisconsin, and worked at black- smithing two years in Evansville. In the fall of 1849 he came to Exeter and bought 240 acres of land. The village plat of Dayton was made by him at the time of his purchase. He opened the first blacksmith shop in that part of the town, in 1847. He was at one time interested in the water power at Dayton. Mr. Havens was married in Erie Co., N. Y., to Betsey A. Phillips, who was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., Jan. 23, 1812. She died in Exeter, Dec. 29, 1872. The children born to them were-Luther, who was born in 1835 and died March 11, 1866, from disease contracted while a prisoner at An- dersonville. He was a member of the 8th Wis- consin regiment; Harriet, born in 1836, is the wife of James Morris, of Milwaukee; Forrester, born April 10, 1838, now owns the old home- stead, and his father lives with him; Livonia, born in 1840, died at the age of four years; Al- bert P., born in 1843, was a member of the 42d Wisconsin Volunteer regiment. Mr. Havens

has led an active and useful life. Now in his declining years he has the confidence and re- spect of many warm friends. Forrester Havens, who now lives upon the homestead farm, was married Jan. 3, 1865, to Elizabeth Ellis, daugh- ter of Mark Ellis. They have three children- Jessie, born in 1866; Aldulah, born in 1870; and Theodore, born in 1876.

William F. Fulton was born in Clarion Co., Penn., Oct. 13, 1817. In his youth he learned the carpenters' trade. He was married in 1839, to Sarah Silver, after which he lived in Mercer county, in the same State, until 1845, when he came to Wisconsin. He spent one winter at Richland Grove, then moved to the "Mitchell place," in Mount Pleasant, which he rented one year, then removed to Attica and remained till the spring of 1848. He then bought forty acres of land on section 35, of Exeter, upon which he settled permanently. He afterwards added 101 acres to his farm, making it contain 141 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton had, when they came to Wisconsin, three sons-William S., now living in Montcalm, Mich .; Albert and James T., who resides in this town. Seven children were born after their arrival-Elvira, wife of Theodore Torgorson, of Madison; Ella, who died at the age of three years; Cynthia, wife of William Edwards, of War- saw, Wis .; Alfred, who died aged seventeen years; Frank, living at Wilmot, Dak .; Edward, also living at Wilmot, and Arthur, who lives with his mother on a part of the homestead farm. In October, 1874, Mr. Fulton moved to Cresco, Iowa, where he died July 16, 1878. His widow remained there until the fall of 1882. Mr Fulton was prominently identified with the public affairs of the town, and was an honored citizen. He served several terms as town treas- urer, also as a member of the town board. Albert Fulton resides on section 35, on the homestead purchased by his father in 1848. He was born in Mercer Co., Penn., Oct. 19, 1842. He came west with his parents and remained with them until the time of his marriage, Nov.

856

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

27, 1869, with Dora A. Gater, who was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., March 27, 1846. They have four children-Alma, born in 1870; Lizzie, born in 1872; Blanche, born in 1874 and Grace born in 1876.

Mathew Edgar was born in Cumberland Co., England, in the Lake district, Aug. 24, 1817. In 1839 he went to St. Croix, West India Islands, and engaged on a sugar plantation, where he worked seven years; from there he went to Moore township, Canada West, and lived there, and part of the time near Wood- stock, until 1849, in which year he came to Wisconsin and made his present location on section 32. He owns here a fine stock farm of 140 acres; he lived the first five years here alone. In 1854 he married Jane Wallace, daughter of Samuel Wallace, of this town. She died Aug. 24, 1859, leaving two children-Isabell I. J., wife of M. L. Rossiter, of Dixon Co., Neb, and Anna, who is a school teacher in Butler Co., Neb. On May 21, 1860, Mr. Edgar married Nancy Hanson, of Troy, Wal- worth Co., Wis. They have two children- Mathew, Jr., born in 1862; Mary S., born in 1864. both are living at home. Mr Edgar does all he can to have his children fitted by education to help themselves through life, and counts noth- ing lost which aids in attaining that object.

Henry Albly was born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, May 8, 1823. He was an engraver by trade, but by reason of bad health had to give it up. With his father, Henry Albly, and his brother, Jacob, he came to the United States in 1845. They came directly to New Glarus, reaching there abont two weeks later than the first colonists. His father was enti- tled to twenty aeres of land, which he took on section 15. The father intended to have his wife join him here as soon as he could make a home for her, but he was taken sick and died in the fall of 1846, of intermittent fever. Jacob, the brother, was married in Jo Daviess Co., Ill., and made his home there, improving a good farm and accumulating money. His wife

died in 1877, leaving several children, when he concluded to take his money and return to Switzerland. In this he was opposed by his children, and finally was murdered by his son Joseph, who was tried and convicted for this unnatural crime and sentenced to an imprison- ment in an Illinois penitentiary for life. A cousin of Joseph, son of a sister of his mother, was also tried for this crime. His name was Peter Miller. The jury failed to agree upon a verdict, and the prosecution was abandoned. Henry Albly, after his father's death, succeeded to his land. In 1847, October 26, be was mar- ried to Mary Becker. She was born March 18, 1827, and came from Switzerland with her brother, Josling Becker, settling in New Glarus in July, 1847. They have had six children- Solomon, born in 1848, who was killed by light- ning in the town of Exeter, Feb. 26, 1881; Henry Jr., born in 1850, now keeping hotel at New Glarus; Mary, wife of Nicholas Durst, of New Glarus; Magdalena, wife of Thomas Kun- dert; Elbetha, wife of Henry Durst, of New Glarns, and Jacob. Mr. Albly lived in New Glarus until 1864, owning 100 acres of land on sections 15 and 16. During that year he sold his New Glarus property and bought 235 acres on section 18, Exeter, where he has sinee re- sided. He served several terms as assessor in New Glarus, and one term as town treasurer. In Exeter he has been several times chairman of the town board, and has served several terms as assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Albly were the first couple married in New Glarus.

William Wilson was born of Scotch parentage in the north of Ireland, in 1809. When ten years old he emigrated with a brother to Can- ada. In June, 1837, he was married to Eliza Argue. In 1839 he went to Joliet, Ill., where he worked two years on the canal construction. In 1841 he settled in Milton, Rock county, where he lived until 1847, then he moved into Montrose, Dane county, residing there until 1853, when he settled on section 12, town of Exeter, where he made a farm and lived the

857

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

rest of his life. He died May 22, 1883. His wife died April 5, 1874. Five children were born to them-John, born in Canada; Eliza, de- ceased wife of Lyman Hoskins, of Dane county; William, of Idaho; James and Alexander, born Oct. 1, 1855.

John Wilson, son of William Wilson, was born in Canada in 1838. He lived with his father until he bought the old homestead of 200 acres. June 7, 1880, John was married to a daughter of Stephen and Margaret Ann Jackson. The parents are of Scotch descent, born in Ire- land. They came to the United States and set- tled in Montrose, in Dane county, in 1857. The parents are both dead. Mr. Wilson's wife died in October, 1872, leaving one son-William, born in June, 1872. In March, 1883, John sold the old homestead, and now lives in Belleville, Dane county.

James Wilson, son of William Wilson, lived with his parents until after his marriage, which occurred Jan. 1, 1874. His wife was Hannah Jackson, a sister of the deceased wife of his brother John. They have two children-Jes- sie, born March 7, 1881; and Mina, born Dec. 22, 1883. He rented lands until June, 1881, when he bought the farm he now occupies on section 8. This farm is well improved, and contains 120 acres.

Marion F. Ross was born in Indlow, Vt., Nov. 15, 1844. He was married Nov. 4, 1866, to Alma J. Gassett. She was also a native of Ludlow, Vt., born Oct. 16, 1844. She came west with her parents in the spring of 1854. They settled in the town of Exeter, on section 10. They now live a retired life in Belleville. Her brother Julius lives on the homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Ross commenced housekeeping with his mother after marriage, living there abont two years, then followed a residence of about eight months in Galesburg, Ill. Returning to this county Mr. Ross bought a farm on section 31, town of Brooklyn, where he resided until the fall of 1882, when he sold ont and bought his present fine farm on sections 3 and 4, of the

town of Exeter, containing 302 acres. They have five children -Archer F., born in 1868; Lucius A., born in 1871; Curtis H., born in 1873; Mabel A., born in 1875; and Vernon M., born in 1881.

David Sullivan is a native of Otsego Co., N. Y., born May 16, 1814. He lived in different parts of that State during his younger days. IIe was married Sept. 10, 1839, to Jane Doty, whe was born in Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 19, 1818. Mr. Sullivan owned a farm and followed that avocation, working a portion of each year in a saw mill, until he sold his prop- erty in 1850 and made his home in this town, locating on section 10, where he now lives upon a farm of 128 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have had twelve children, seven of whom are living-James, Catharine, Henrietta M., Caro- line A., William H., George E. and Oscar W. James and Catharine are living in Belleville, Dane county. The others reside with their parents.

William M. Brooks came to Green county in 1854, settling then in the town of York, where lie entered 200 acres located on sections 31 and 32, and resided until 1878. Then having the place well improved, he sold it to G. Post, and moved to Monroe. In the spring of 1881 he came to Brooklyn, and in 1884, removed to Day- ton, Green county. Mr. Brooks is a native of Pennsylvania, born April 26, 1824. There he spent his younger days and was married to Fan- nie Rogers, also a native of Pennsylvania. He came from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have six children-F. M., (. E., Stella E., E. G., W. R. and Sarah.

F. M. Brooks was born in Bradford Co., Penn., and came with his parents to Green county. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of nineteen years began teaching school, which he continued eleven terms. He has also engaged in selling farm machinery four seasons. Ile sold farm machinery for J. S. Bell & Co., in 1884, at Brooklyn. Green Co., Wis.

858

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Calvin Morse and his brother, Elias C., came to Exeter in 1854, arriving May 1. Their fa- ther, Milton M. Morse, came the next month, and settled on section 15, where he purchased 160 acres of land, upon which he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Milton M. Morse were married Sept. 8, 1831. Their son, Elias C., lives with them at the homestead. They have one daugh- ter living-Mrs. Frances Byington, of Juneau county, in this State. Calvin, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1832. Ile made his home with his parents till Aug. 15, 1862, when he enlisted in company F, of the 31st Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and served gallantly until June 20, 1865. He took part in the Atlanta campaign, following Sherman's banners to the sea and up through the Carolinas. He was pres- ent at the review of Sherman's grand army in June, 1865. After the war, he continued to re- side with his parents until 1872. He was mar- ried in that year, to Mrs. Martha A. Dunham,a sol- dier's widow. Her former husband, Willard H. Dunham, was a member of the 13th Michigan Volunteers, and died in the hospital at Wash- ington, D. C., in May, 1865. She was born in the town of Wheeler, Steuben Co., N. Y., and is a daughter of Asa Wilson, who died in this town, in 1864. Her mother is now the wife of Robert Turner, of Belleville, Dane county. Her brother, John Wilson, served in the 68th regi- ment of Indiana Volunteers, and died in 1874, from disease contracted while in the service. Mr. and Mrs. Morse have no children. Their residence is on section 15, where he has a finely improved farm of 100 acres. Mr. Morse was sheriff of Green county in 1879-80.

Thomas Green was born in Derbyshire, Eng- land, March 8, 1841. His father, Joseph Green, with his wife and seven children, came to the United States, in 1851, coming directly from New York to Rock county, and locating in the town of Porter, where they bought a farm. There he lived until April, 1854, when he sold out and came to Exeter, where he bought the

mill property from A. D. Kirkpatrick. He en- larged this mill, refitted it with new machinery, and successfully operated it until 1866, when he rented it to his son, Thomas, the subject of this sketch. The children who came to the United States with the parents were-Thomas, John, who died in Dane county, in 1877; Richard, pro- duce dealer, at Middleton, Dane county; Mary, deceased, wife of W. B. Norris, of Topeka, Kansas; William, now in trade at Albany; Chau- try, who died in this county, in 1884; and Isaac, now a resident of Dedham, Iowa. Born in this State, were Herbert, (now in Albany); George, who lives in Dakota; and Frank, who lives on the old homestead farm in this county, town of Exeter. Joseph Green was one of the prominent citizens of this part of the county, always fore- most in all work which would advance the in- terests of his village. He was a member of the M E. Church, and a consistent, honest Christian man. He died Feb. 28, 1881. Ilis widow, Ruth Green. survives him, and lives in the village of Dayton. Thomas Green succeeded to the mill property, by purchase, from the estate of his father, in the spring of 1881, and is now (1884) proprietor of the same. He was in the army a little more than four years, a member of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers, known as the "Eagle regiment." Ile was a gallant soldier, as his comrades testify. The family did loyal service during the war, for, John Green went out as captain in the 37th regiment, and was promoted to colonelcy; another brother, William, rose from the ranks to a lieutenancy. Sept. 17, 1866, Thomas Green was married to Isabella Beattie, who was born in Northumberland, England, Jan. 20, 1840, and came to this country, with some friends, in 1861, the year following, came to Monroe, and lived with a brother until her marriage. They have four children-Maggie, Ida, Jessie and Charles. Mr. Green owns fifty- two acres of improved land on section 11, bought from his father's estate. This with the mill property, gave him title to 105 acres. He is an energetic, reliable business man.

859

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Frank B. Green, son of Joseph and Ruth Green, was born May 17, 1859. He was married to Emma B. Jordan, Jan. 4, 1882, who was born in this town, Aug. 7, 1859. Mr. Green lives on the farm formerly owned by his father. This place is located on section 11, and contains 108 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Green have one child-Mabel Mary, born July 4, 1883.

Arad Ross was born in Ludlow, Vt., April 8, 1808, and was brought up on a farm. After at- taining his majority, he ran a peddling wagon about four years, selling dry goods, notions, etc. Then, shortly after being married, he went to farming. His wife was Hannah Batchelder, who was also a native of Vermont, born Sept. 29, 1803. They were married Feb. 28, 1832. With his wife and five children he came west in 1854. The children were-Abel E., now in this town ; George H., David B., who lives on the homestead with his father; Hannah M., wife of Robert Richards, of Belleville, Dane county; Thomas A., of Belleville, and George, who served in the 46th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers. Thomas A. served in the 5th Wis- consin regiment during the last two years of the Rebellion. The family first settled on section 6, in 1854, where Mr. Ross bought 326 acres of land, made a farm and lived there two years, but not being able to give his children the de- sired school advantages, he sold out and moved to Mount Pleasant, renting there two years, and then bought his present place, located on section 36. The original purchase was 200 acres ; he now owns 100 acres, the care of which is in the hands of his son David B. His wife died March 1, 1872.

David B. Ross was born in 1840, and has al- ways lived with his father. He was married Feb. 6, 1866, to Sarah Dodge, a daughter of Everett Dodge, a settler of Albany in 1845, and now a resident of Washington Co., Kan- sas. Mrs. Ross is an only child. Her mother died in 1852. Her maternal grandfather, J. Davis, came from Wyoming Co., N. Y., and was one of the early settlers of Attica. Mr.

and Mrs. David B. Ross have five children -Linda. C., born in 1867 ; Percie H., born in 1871 ; Irvie D., born in 1873 ; Myrtie E., born in 1876, and Luta M., born in 1883.

Abel E. Ross, son of Arad Ross, was born Oct. 15, 1832, and came west with his father, and lived with him most of the time until his marriage with Rosina Redmond, Feb. 24, 1857. He owns a well improved farm, on section 36, consisting of 100 acres, where he lives.

Henry G. Silvor was born in the town of Ship- ton, county of Sherbrooke, Canada East, Oct. 9, 1820. He was reared a farmer, but learned the carpenter trade when a young man. He followed that occupation until 1854. He was married in Canada, March 28, 1847, to Betsey M. Baker. She was born in the town of Ship- ton, Aug. 17, 1821. Two children were born to them in Canada-Augustus H., born Sept. 3, 1850, and Clarence H., born June 10, 1852. The latter died Sept. 5, 1552. In the month of May, 1854, Mr. Silvor came to Wisconsin and stopped in Janesville about three months, then came to Dayton, Green county, and purchased his present farm, which contains 160 acres. He went to Mineral Point and obtained his deed to the land of Washburn & Woodman, September 10, of that year, then returned to Dayton and went to work on Joseph Green's grist mill. December 1 he returned to Canada, and the following spring removed with his family to Dayton, where they arrived May 31, 1855. He soon after com- menced building a house on his land, which when partly completed, the family moved into, and in which they have continued to reside until the present time (1884). The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Silvor, after their removal to Wisconsin, are-Mary E., born March 27, 1856, and died in infancy. John A., born April 26, 1858, and Arthur E., born Oct. 15, 1861. Sept. 12, 1864, Mr. Silvor was bereaved by the death of his wife. He was again married Feb. 28, 1865, to Lucinda E. Church, who was born in Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y., Ang. 19, 1832, and came to Wisconsin in August, 1860, stop-

860

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

ping at Janesville with her brother, Jonathan Church. By this marriage there were two chil- dren-Herbert G., born June 9, 1867, and Leon E., born July 26, 1870. Mr. Silvor's eldest son, Augustus H., while in the discharge of his du- ties (temporarily engaged as brakeman) coup" ling cars at Harvard Junction, was caught be- tween the cars and thrown down, the train pass- ing over one of his legs. The injury resulted in his death Jan. 10, 1874. The four remaining sons make their home with their father and are all promising young men. Mr. Silvor is a stock- holder and director in the Grange store, estab- lished at Evansville, in 1874. IIe is a citizen who can always be counted upon to support any and all measures conducing to the good of the public. Mr. Silvor has held town offices nine years since he became a resident of the town of Exeter.

Amos Scott purchased a large tract of land in the town of Exeter in 1854, and was there en- gaged in farming until his death. Mr. Scott was born in the State of Vermont, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was thrice married, and reared a large family of children. Religiously he was a close communion Baptist.

Moses W. Smith is a son of John B. and Amy G. Smith, who live in Belleville, and was born in the town of New Glarus, Aug. 31, 1857. John B. Smith, the father, was born in Paxton, Mass., May 24, 1812. His mother, Amy G. (Hilton) Smith, was born in Somerset Co., Maine, March 9, 1823. They were married Jan. 8, 1854, at Monticello, by A. P. Ross, Esq. John Smith came west in 1849, and settled on section 34, town of Brooklyn, in November of that year. IIe was then living with his first wife. She was formerly Vashti II. Stratton. and they were married in Worcester, Mass., by Rev. Dr. Bancroft, father of the great historian. This Mr. Smith is a lineal descendant in the eighth degree of Henry Smith, one of the Ply- mouth colonists. His wife died at Beloit, July 20, 1852, aged thirty-six years. The children of John B. Smith by his first marriage who came

west were-Sarah, wife of H. W. Smith, of Evansville; Mary, deceased wife of Joseph Hilton, of Washington; Josephine, wife of Samuel Lumbers, of Iowa; John S., living in Dakota; James S., of Minneapolis; Ellen, wife of Abijah Sissons, of Dakota; and Jason, living in Colfax Co., Neb. Two children were buried in Massachusetts. By the second marriage he has had four children-Gustavus B., who died when young; Moses W., Marcia HI., wife of W. Jordan, of Belleville; and Jane Grace, now living with her parents. Mr. Smith's pres- ent wife was the widow of David M. Lane, to whom he was married in Embden, Somerset Co., Maine, Oct. 9, 1849. By this marriage there is one daughter living, now the wife of William Z. Trow, a resident of Plymouth Co., Iowa. Mrs. Smith's father, John Hilton, was one of the early settlers of the town of Washington. He and four sons took adjoining lands in that town. He is not now living, but his widow sur- vives, and lives with her youngest son, James Hilton, in York. Moses W. Smith lives on sec- tion 1, town of Exeter, where he owns 150 acres of land. Ile lived with his father until his marriage with Maria Jarman, which oc- curred, Nov. 11, 1882. By this marriage there is one daughter-Amy Grace, born May 18, 1884.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 119

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