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 136

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 136

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).

George W. Bridge, one of the early settlers of this county, was born in Preble Co., Ohio, May 25, 1827. His parents were David C. and Catharine (Voorhis) Bridge, who were the par- ents of five sons and three danghters; six of these children are still living. When the sub- ject of this sketch was nine years old he came with his parents to the Territory of Wisconsin, and settled on section 31, town of Jefferson, and received his education in the pioneer "log cabin" schools of that period. He was married Aug. 31, 1850, to Sarah M. Delapp, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Eddinger) Delapp, of

Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Bridge are the par- ents of three children-Belle N., now the wife of S. P. Noble, of Clarno; Mary C., wife of J. M. Noble; and John F. Mr. Bridge after marriage engaged in farming, and followed that occupation until 1881, when he removed to Monroe. He came to this county in 1836. He has been identified with this county a long time, and has witnessed its development from a wil- derness to a desirable and fully settled country, possessing advantages and resources, far be- yond the anticipations of many of the pioneers. The substantial and commodious frame house has supplanted the premitive log cabin, and the evidences of thrift and enterprise abound. Mr. Bridge has done his part in effecting this trans- formation, and for a time subjecting himself to many privations and hardships, he now has the pleasure of a home honestly won, a property fairly gained.

Thomas J. Bragg was born in Fauquier Co., Va., Jan. 15, 1813. His parents were Dashur and Hannah (Moffitt) Bragg. In 1823, they all emigrated to Boone Co., Ky. In 1829 they re- moved to Edgar Co., Ill., and were among the first settlers of that county. The subject of this sketch wss reared on a farm and received but a limited education. In 1836 he came to Green county and for some time made his home at the house of Daniel Sutherland, working at various occupations and following various kinds of business. During the time he located 160 acres of land on section 13, town of Monroe, where he opened up a farm. In October, 1841, he was married to Emily J. Nobles, a native of Kentucky, born April 4, 1821. By this union there were five children-William P., of the firm of Glasgett & Bragg; Alice, now wife of .A Glasgett; Thomas J., Jr .; Emma C., wife of Rice D. Gorham, and Charles. Mr. Bragg fol- lowed farming until 1881 when he moved to Monroe where he is now living a retired life. When he came to this county he was in very limited circumstances, but by industry and good management has accumulated a considerable

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

property and is to day among the "well-to-do" farmers of the county. At one time he owned 700 acres of land, and has divided it mostly among his children leaving enough to support himself and wife.

S. S. Bragg, a resident of Edgar Co., Ill., was born in Fauquier Co., Va., Dec. 10, 1807. On the 2d of December, 1822, his parents, Dashur and IIannah (Moffett) Bragg, removed to Boone Co., Ky., where they engaged in farm- ing. In January, 1829, they removed to Clark Co., Ill., where Mrs. Bragg died, Aug. 13, 1829. In the spring of 1831 Mr. Bragg removed to Edgar Co., Ill., where he died in 1841. The subject of this sketch came to Illinois with his parents, and in the fall of 1831 returned to Kentucky, remaining there until the fall of 1833. On the 4th of April, 1834, he was married to May M. McClansey, of Edgar county. She was the widow of James Jackson, who died in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Bragg were the parents of six children, two of whom are living-A. J. and Mary M., wife of Robert Fleming. Mr. Bragg set- tled in Edgar county, a poor man, financially, but by hard work has accumulated a comfort- able property and home. Mrs. Bragg died Sept. 29, 1882. She was a life long member of the M. E. Church, and was highly respected and beloved in the community where she lived.

Jonas Shook is a native of St. Clair Co., Ill., born May 9, 1805. His parents went to that Territory in 1797. He is one of two living children from a family of seven. After making a settlement in Illinois, there was considerable trouble and great distress among some of the pioneers. His mother was a sincere Christian, a member of the Baptist Church, and was highly respected by all who knew her. She experienced many of the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. She died in Illinois. The subject of this sketch was brought up in a new country and educated in the pioneer schools of primi- tive date. In December, 1827, he was married to Polly A. Land, who was born in South Caro- lina, April 11, 1809. By this union there were

seven children, two sons and five daughters, six of whom are now living-Asa L., Samuel, Susan, Catharine Maria, Berthina and Sarah Jane. In 1837 he left Illinois and emigrated to Wiota, Lafayette Co., Wis. The following year he located in the town of Adams, this county, on what is known as "Shook's Prairie," a location named in honor of himself, where he remained for over forty years. In 1881 he came to Mon- roe, where he is now living a retired life. In 1827 he enlisted in the Winnebago War, and was sent to Fort Clark, where Peoria now stands.

John Connery was born in Iowa county, Ter- ritory of Wisconsin, Jan. 29, 1838. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Cosner) Connery. His father was of Irish parentage, and his mother of German descent. His father came to Iowa county in the fall of 1836, it then being a wild wilder- ness. Being a millwright, he engaged in build- ing some of the first mills in the county; also farmed on a small scale, as most of his time was taken up at his trade. He remained in the part of the county known as Lafayette county, since the sub-division, until his death, which occurred at Wiota, July 29, 1854, of cholera. John Con- nery, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on a farm, until the year 1852. When but a little past thirteen years old he engaged to learn the blacksmith trade, with his uncle, the Hon. Samuel Cole, then carrying on the business in Gratiot. He lived with his uncle, as one of the family for years. In the spring of 1863 he came to Monroe and worked at his trade, in this city, until 1866, when he went to Green Co., Iowa, and remained there until May 25, 1868. He then went to Cass Co., Mo., where he resided until 1880, in which year he returned to Monroe on account of the bad health of his wife, and again engaged at his trade. He was married July 3, 1864, to Lydia Ann Trickel, a daughter of Ashford Trickel. They have five children- Charlie A., G. Edgar, Ida J., Emmett and S. Alma. Mr. Connery is one of the oldest resi- dents of Iowa county. Ile is a member of the Masonic order, and also a worker in the Temple of Honor, and is an ardent temperance worker.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

A Ludlow, president of the First National Bank, of Monroe, was born in Burlington, Vt., June 21, 1818, and is a son of James and Rosana (Morton) Ludlow, natives of Vermont. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, and obtained his education in the common schools. In 1838 he went to Lyons, Iowa Co., Mich., where he was employed as mail carrier between Grand Rapids and Livingston county, then a wild unsettled country. About eighteen months later, he went to Chicago and engaged in the peddling business, his route being through Monroe to Madison, Wis., traveling with a wagon. At that time there was but one house between Madison and Monroe, neither were there any bridges, and he was compelled to ford or ferry the streams. In 1846 he engaged in business in this city. Having accumulated some property and good credit, he was able to get all the goods he wanted. In 1846 he was married to Caroline Sanderson, of Winnebago Co., Ill., and a native of Cambridge, Mass. Five children have been born to them-Henry, now assistant cashier of the First National Bank, of Mouroe; Edwin, manufacturer of mixed paints, at Daven- port, Iowa; Willis, farmer in this county; Addie and Nellie. Mr. Ludlow has been closely iden- tified with the business interests of the county since 1839. He is an enterprising and public spirited citizen and has done much to advance the public interests of the city of Monroe.

A. W. Sutherland was born in Madison Co., N. Y., June 10, 1822, where he received a com- mon school education. In 1836 he went with his parents to Coles Co., Ill., then an unbroken wilderness; from thence to Wisconsin. They arrived in Green county about the 20th of May, 1839, and located in the town of Sylvester, on section 10, where A. W. grew to manhood. In May, 1847, he was married to Esther J., a daughter of Col. James Sutherland, a soldier of the War of 1812, who afterwards commanded one of the militia regiments of Genesee Co., N. Y. The colonel came to Wisconsin in 1838 and died in 1843, which was supposed to be the first

death in the town of Sylvester. A. W.Sutherland, the subject of this sketch, has two children-Oscar and Lois. He came here when it took some push and energy to get a start in life. In about two years he became of age and found him- self the fortunate possessor of $47, which not being enough to locate his land he borrowed $3 and made his first purchase. The following year he raised his house and commenced house- keeping. The furniture was of the rudest kind, and made by his own hands. He now owns 230 acres of land worth $65 per acre; the Skinner flouring mills at Browntown valued at $10,000 and a residence in Monroe, with seven acres of land, valued at $3,000.

Ashford Trickel, who settled in this county during the spring of 1840, was born in Picka- way Co., Ohio, Nov. 7, 1813. He is a son of Robert Trickel, a native of Virginia, who lo- cated there at an early day, and Catharine (Ben- syl) Trickel. There was a family of eight sons and one daughter, all of whom are now living but one. In an early day Robert Trickel moved to Indiana, and thence to Vermilion Co., Ill., near Danville, and subsequently to Danville where he built the first mill in the county, and thence he went to Champaign county in 1828,and in 1836 to Ford county of the same State. About 1845 he came to Green Co., Wis. and spent the rest of his days. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, and received his edu- cation in the primitive log school house. In the fall of 1840 he was married to Eliza J. Morton, a daughter of James and Mary (Mont- gomery) Morton, who came to the county that same year. By this union there were eleven children, eight of whom are now living-Mary C., wife of William Renhart; Robert W., Julia A., wife of Perry Rhodes; Lydia A., wife of John Connery; Joshua, John J., Jennie, wife of Sylvester Dwyer, and Amy Ellen, wife of Thomas Dwyer. Mr. Trickel owns 140 acres of land valued at $65 per acre, besides other property which he has accumulated by his own exertions.

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

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J. H. Bridge first came here in 1835, but did not settle here permanently until 1840. He was born in Preble Co., Ohio, April 3, 1815. His parents, Jonn and Deborah (Clark) Bridge, were natives of New Jersey, and emigrated to Ohio in an early day. They were the parents of five daughters and three sons, of whom three are living. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, and obtained his education in the log school house of pioneer days, which had puncheon floors, slabs for seats, and desks made by driving pins into the logs, with slabs laid upon them, and lighted by cutting out a log, putting up sticks and pasting greased paper over the opening. Mr. Bridge was married to Nancy Sample, a native of Virginia. By this union there were six children, one of whom is living- Joseph T. Mr. Bridge, on coming to the county, first located in Jefferson on section 30, and was elected the first treasurer of that town at its organization. In 1874 he came to Mon- roe, where he has since resided. He came to the county in limited circumstances, but by in- dustry and judicious management, has accumu- lated a competency. Mr. and Mrs. Bridge are members of the Christian Church.

Henry Thorp, one of the prominent men of the county, was born April 11, 1838. In 1840 he came to Green county, where he received a liberal education. He was married March 10, 1864, to Remember Bowen, a daughter of Hon. Thomas Bowen, one of the early settlers of the county. She was born in Green county, Jan. 28, 1847. By this union there are three chil- drem-George E., Frank W. and Eugene B. Mr. Thorp has always taken an active interest in agriculture and stock growing. He is at prosent president of the agricultural society of the county. Ile is one of the influential farm- ers, and a large land holder, owning 440 acres of valuable land in the town of Clarno. He removed to Monroe in 1883, where he is lead- ing a retired life.

Norman Churchill, one of the early settlers

of Green county, was born in Troy township, Madison Co., Ill., Jan. 17, 1826. His father, William B. Churchill, was a native of Vermont, and left his native county when a boy, remov- ing to New York and remaining in that State a short time, then removing to Illinois. His mother, Almira Humes, was a native of New Hampshire. The family consisted of the par- ents and five children. The subject of this sketch left Illinois and came to this county in 1840. From 1842 to 1847 most of his time was spent in the pineries on the Wisconsin river. Then he learned the trade of millwright, which he followed for a number of years, and then engaged in house building. In 1858 he built the first planing mill in the county, having an interest in the same. In 1854 he was married to Anna E., daughter of Dr. Sherman, of this place. By this union there were six children, four of whom are living-Carlos B., William, Minnie and Ernest. Mr. Churchill is now en- gaged as part owner of a saw mill, a planing mill and cheese box factory. He is an enter- prising citizen, and has done much toward the development of the town and county.

George W. Thorpe, one of the influential business men of the county, was born in Green Co, Wis., Nov. 17, 1841, and was brought up on his father's farm, receiving his early educa- tion in the log cabins of his native county. Ile afterwards attended the academy at Saville, Ohio, also Oberlin College one term. In Jan- uary, 1867, he was married to Flora Mease, a daughter of Dr. L. A. Mease, of Freeport, who was widely known through this portion of the country, and was one of Stephenson county's most prominent physicians. The doctor was a native of Union Co., Penn., and came to Ste- phenson county in 1845, immediately after grad- nating at Rush Medical College, and later at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe are the parents of four chil- dren-Edwin M., Lizzie C., Lura L. and Nora S. Mr. Thorpe has been largely engaged in

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

farming and stock growing. He has a beautiful farm in the town of Clarno, of 428 aeres, valned at $55 per acre. In 1864 he enlisted in the 38th regiment, serving until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Madison, Wis. Mrs. Thorpe was a graduate of the high school at Freeport, and attended the State Normal one year.

J. B. Miller, one of the pioneers of the coun- ty, was born in Lebanon, Madison Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, 1814. His parents were William Mil- ler and Lucy (Ford) Miller, the father formerly from Vermont and the mother from Worcester Co., Mass. They were married in Madison Co., N. Y., and were the parents of nine children, four of whom are now living. About 1828 the parents removed to Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., and in 1842 came to this county, where they both died. The mother had been a life-long Chris- tian and at the time of her death was a mem- ber of the Free Will Baptist Church. The sub- ject of this sketch was brought up in Madison Co., N. Y. He. was married in Cattaraugus county, of that State, by Elder Platt, to Patty Crowel, a native of Penfield, N. Y., Sept. 8, 1839. She was a daughter of William and Polly (Day) Crowel. By this union there were four children-Lucy Jane, born Oct. 29, 1841, and died March 12, 1859; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Al- bert Post, of Chippewa Falls; Eugene, born Aug. 12, 1849, is married and lives on the farm where he was born; and Viola D., wife of James R. Campbell. On the 21st day of April, 1841, they emigrated to this county, coming through with a team in eighteen days, and lo- cated in the town of York, on section 24. Here he took up wild land, and while building their shanty, which was 18x20 feet in size, lived with William Green. Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to the county with about $50 in money, a good team and a poor harness and wagon as capital, but by energy and hard work they have placed themselves in comfortable circumstances. He has held local office, and is among the solid

men of the county. They are members of the Free Will Baptist Church.

A. L. Cleveland, a native of Washington Co., N. Y., was born July 23, 1820. His father, Job Cleveland, was a soldier in the War of 1812. IIis mother, Almira (Fenton) Cleveland, was a native of Connecticut. About 1836 they removed to Genesee Co., N. Y., where they lived for many years. Job Cleveland died at the age of seventy-four. Ilis wife is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native State, attending Alexander Classi- cal Seminary. In 1842 he came to Green coun- ty, where he was employed in teaching school seven years. About 1845 hs went to Rockford, Ill., and took a course of study in surveying, under Prof. Huntington. He went, in 1850, across the plains to California, where he was engaged in the mines three years. In 1853 he was united in marriage with Lucy Charles, and soon after came to Green county, which has since been his residence. He has held the office of county surveyor, school commissioner and other offices in this county.

Jacob Hammon, who located in this county in September, 1841, was born in Jackson Co., Ind., on the 3d day of April, 1820. He is a son of John H. and Catharine (Isimenger) Hammon. The former was a native of Georgia and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in< Ohio, and soon after went to Jackson Co., Ind., where they remained a short time, then re- moved to Morgan county, and thence to Ver- milion county. In 1842 they came to Green county and purchased land in the town of Syl- vester, on section 17. He died in Monroe in 1873. Mrs. Hammon died in 1861. They were members of the M. E. Church. Jacob Ham- mon, of this sketch, was married Jan. 21, 1841, to Eliza James, a daughter of Dr. William and Mary (Wasson) James, and a native of Vermil- ion Co., Ind. In September, 1841, Mr. Ham- mon started for Green county with his wife and all their worldly goods, which consisted of

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

a pair of plug horses valued at about $70, and an old wagon, besides $10 in money. On their arrival he set himself about making a home, but the first few years met with many difficul- ties and discouragements. He persevered, however, and is now in prosperous circum- stances, having 252 acres of land, valned at $40 per acre, and forty-two acres within the city limits, valued at $150 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Hammon have had six children, five of whom are living-Jane, now Mrs. M. Hurlbut; Sarah, wife of A. E. Hare; Ida A., wife of Albert Berryman; Amos N., married to Ida Sissons, of Monroe; and Mary E., married to Richard Smith.

George Adams, a native of Bedford Co., Penn., was born May 27, 1802. He is a son of Jacob and Clara Adams, of German descent, who were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters. The father and mother both died in Bedford Co., Penn. The former was a man of sterling qualities, and quite prom- inent in the community where he lived. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and received his education in the subscription schools. He was married Nov. 17, 1825, to Margaret Mills, of Bedford Co., Penn. Six children blessed this union, four of whom are now living-Jacob, living in Monroe; Michael, living in Washington Territory; William, now in Missouri; and Clarasa, wife of Abram Smith, now in Iowa. In the fall of 1835 he left Bed- ford Co., Penn., with teams, crossing the moun- tains and locating in Hardin Co., Ohio, then a wilderness. There he purchased land and cleared up a farm. They had to go forty miles for provisions and family supplies. They built a small log cabin, with puncheon floor, and en- dured the privations of pioneer life. There Mrs. Adams died, Aug. 20, 1839. In the fall of 1842 he came to this connty and the year following located some land. He was again married Oct. 18, 1813, to Jemima Boyls. She was born in Green Co., Penn., Dec. 16, 1817. She was a daughter of Capt. William and Mary

(Robins) Boyls. Her father proposed the name for the State capital of Wisconsin which was adopted, and also the name of the city of Monroe. Her father came to this county in 1835 from Indiana, where he had settled in 1826. He was a soldier of the Black Hawk War, and in 1836 and 1837 was a member of the Territorial legislature. In 1860 he removed to Black Hawk Co., Iowa, where he died in the fall of 1881. Her mother had died some years previously. By the second marriage there were eight children, seven of whom are living- Margaret, wife of W. Counet, now living in Nebraska; Mattie, wife of Peter Withington, now of Montana; Lissie, Charles H., a resident of Nebraska; Helen, wife of Eugene White; Tyre A., wife of Thomas J. Stauer; and A. V., married to Ollie Morton, and lives on the home- stead. In 1876 Mr. Adams removed to Monroe, where he is living a retired life.

B. L. Wood came with his parents, Stephen and Betsey (Loveland) Wood, to Green county in 1844. They first lived in the town of Jef- ferson upon a farm owned by Joseph Forbes. They afterwards removed to the village of Exe- ter, where they resided a number of years. B. L. Wood lived at home until he was fifteen years old. He then purchased a farm of 110 acres in the town of Mount Pleasant, which, in 1866, he sold, and removed to Monticello. Ile purchased another farm of 260 acres upon which he lived until 1876, then bought the farm known as the Adams place, in the same town. It consisted of 360 acres. In 1880 he sold this place and bought a farm in the town of Monroe, containing 260 acres. He commenced business in Juda, buying and shipping grain and stock in 1883. He was married Nov. 3, 1861, to Judith Griffin, daughter of Hiram and Helen (McCall) Griffin, of Dane county. They have three children-Alva S .. Stella M. and Helen P. Stella is married to W. C. Sheffer and Jiv- ing in Juda. Mrs. Wood's parents live in Michigan, where her father is engaged in the business of growing and shipping fruit. Mr.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Wood's parents are dead. His father is buried in Monticello, and his mother in Pennsylvania. Mr. Wood was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 14, 1838.

J. H. Foster was born in Kennebec Co., Maine, June 5, 1831. His parents were Wards- worth and Lucy (Haywood) Foster. In 1845, his father emigrated to this county, having in early life followed the ocean, plying between Nantucket and the West Indies. He settled in Monroe, and purchased land adjoining the vil- lage limits, and laid out what is known as Foster's addition. Mr. Foster, Sr., was a man highly respected in the community, and was twice elected to the office of county treasurer, and was a member of the board on the organiza- tion of the town. The subject of this sketch in 1855, engaged in the furniture business. He was married in 1861, to Helen Scovil, a daughter of Lyman Scovil, one of the early settlers of the county. Four children blessed this union, three of whom are now liv- ing-Eva, Nellie and Florence. Mr. Foster has been closely identified with the county for nearly forty years, and has seen the develop- ment from a vast wilderness to one of the best counties in the State. In 1859 he was appointed deputy sheriff, and served six years. He is a member of the Masonie lodges, Blue and Chapter.

George Goodrich, retired farmer, is a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y., born April 9, 1812. He is a son of Jacob and Betsey (Ames) Goodrich, who reared a family of five sons and five daugh- ters, of whom George, subject of this sketch, is the only one now living. He was brought up on a farm, and educated in the conimon schools. In February, 1841, he was married to Marthena Cushman, a daughter of Oliver and Clarissa (Thomas) Cushman. In 1845, they came to Green county, traveling with a team to Buffalo, thence by water to Little Port, a small harbor north of Chicago, completing the jour- ney from that point by team. They settled in

the town of Clarno, where he broke the prairie and opened a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich came to Green county, poor in purse, but with good health and plenty of energy. They have accumulated a competency. He owned at one time, 330 acres of fine land, which he sold for $65 per acre. In 1870, they came to Monroe, where they are now living in the enjoyment of the fruits of their past labor.

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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 136

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