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 144

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 144

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Hanford M. Selleck came to Green county into 1856, and purchased a farm in the town of New Glarus. His children managed the farm while he worked at his trade as carpenter and joiner in different parts of the county. In 1870 he sold the farm and went to Monticello, and bought a house and some land adjoining the village, and has since made that his home. He was born on Hart Island, Long Island Sound, Ang. 20, 1820 When he was but an infant his parents moved

to Connecticut, lived at Stanford a short time and then moved to Greenwich. He made his home with them there until fourteen years old, then went to live with an uncle on Long Island, where he remained one year, when he went to New York city and apprenticed to a carpenter and joiner to learn the trade, and served five years, nine months and seventeen days. He then did journey work in the city for a short . time, then engaged with Peter Lorillard,at West- chester, and worked for him two years. Then in 1845, went to Pittsburg, Penn., and remained one year; then, 1848, went to Nashville, Tenn., and spent one year, then returned to Pittsburg, where he remained until 1855; then he came to Wisconsin, and located at Janesville, where he remained one year, then came to this county. He has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1842, was Cata- lina Cunningham. Seven children blessed that union-George, Annie, Alfred, Guy, Lucian, Cat- alina and Charles. Mrs. Selleck died April 7, 1872. His second wife was Sarah J. Hill, to whom he was married Dec. 11, 1873, widow of Eli Fitch. She was a native of Lycoming Co., Penn., and has two children-Ernest M. and Floyd H.

Adrian Berryman, son of Ephraim and Mary Berryman, was born near Cedarville, Stephen- son Co, Ill., May 9, 1850, and was seven years of age when his parents moved to Green county, and settled in the town of Sylvester, where his younger days were spent. He obtained his ed- ucation in the district school, and remained with his parents until the time of his marriage, Oct. 7, 1874, to Emma Baldwin, daughter of Harvey and Margaret Baldwin, and a native of the town of Sylvester. They resided in that town until 1880, then bought a farm on section 26, of Mount Pleasant, where they now live. They have two children-Homer and Clyde.

Capt. John Fuett Annis was captain of com- pany G, of the 22d Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry. He enlisted April 19, 1861, at the first

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

ball for troops, in company C, of the 3d Wis- consin; but that call was filled and he did not serve with the three months troops. He imme- diately re enlisted in the same company and reg- iment, for a term of three years, was mustered in at Fond du Lac, in July, 1861, and went to the front and joined the army of the Potomac, at Harper's Ferry. After serving three months in this regiment, he was detached and joined the signal service, in which he remained until June, 1862. He was then discharged on account of disability, and returned home. July 28, of the same year, he re-enlisted in company G, of the 22d Wisconsin. He was commissioned as 2d lieutenant, and went with the regiment to Ken- tucky. He was promoted in November, 1862, to Ist lieutenant, and in December, 1863, to the rank of captain. He served until after the close of the war, and was discharged with the regi- ment, at Washington, June 12, 1865. He was mustered out at Milwaukee, June 22. Among the more important battles in which he took part, were, first: while serving in the signal corps, at Mill Spring, Ky., then, when a mem- ber of the 22d, at Thompson's Station, Tenn., Brentwood, in the same State, where he was taken prisoner, sent to Libby prison and con- fined one month, then exchanged. He joined Sherman's army at Chattanooga, went with them to Atlanta, participating in the battles on the way. From Atlanta he returned to Lookout Mountain, and was on detached duty in eastern Tennessee, some time. He then went to Dalton where he did garrison duty until March, 1865, then joined Sherman at Goldsboro and proceeded with his army to Washington. Soon after his return home, he moved to Iowa and settled in Taylor county, where he bought land. In 1867 he sold out there and returned to Green county and purchased his present farm on section 25. He has since purchased other land, and now owns 217 acres on sections 23, 24, 25 and 31. He was born at Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., July 28, 1841. He remained there until 1856, then engaged in farming one year, in Rock

county, then came to Green county, and worked on a farm until 1858, when he returned to New York. In the fall of 1860, he came back to this county and located in Decatur, where he was living at the breaking out of the war. He was married, March 22, 1865, to Olive, daughter of John J. and Magdalena(Fleek) Putnum, a native of Licking Co., Ohio. They have three chil- dren-John Burton, born in Iowa; Edith M., born in Mount Pleasant; and Flora B., born in Jo Daviess Co., Ill. In 1875 Capt. Annis rented his farm here and removed to Jo Daviess Co., Ill., where he lived three years, and then returned.

Jabez Clark settled in Green county in 1857. He was born in the parish of Haugham, Lin- colnshire, England, March 8, 1828. When he was very young his parents moved to the parish of Minting and there his father died when he was six months old. Soon after his mother moved to Hatton parish, where he lived with her until fourteen years of age. He then went to work to earn his own livelihood. He was em- ployed by a farmer who paid him £3, equal to $14.52, the first year. The second year his wages were increased to £33; the third year,to £5; and the fourth year, to £7. When nineteen years old he went to Derbyshire and worked upon a farm six months, then went to Yorkshire and spent two years. He then went to Sheffield and engaged in dealing in produce, in which enter- prise he was not successful, and continued it but a short time, then resumed farming. In 1857 he left his native land and came to A mer- ica, coming immediately to Wisconsin and locat- ing in Green county. His sole capital was good health and willing hands, and he rented land until the fall of 1859, when he bought forty acros on section 18, also a small frame house which he moved to the land and occupied for some years, until he built the more commodious dwelling which he now occupies. He has en- gaged in mixed farming, raising different kinds of grain and stock. He has been successful, and at different times, has added to his lan.l

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

until he is now the owner of a well stocked farm, containing 240 acres. He was married 1858 to Julia Dyson, who was born in the parish of Kirkburton, Yorkshire, England, Nov. 5, 1823. They have six children-Mary E., William S., George H., Jennie E., Alsinda B. and Burnett L.

Anthony Carroll came here in 1858, and pur- chased unimproved land on section 4, of the town of Mount Pleasant. Some of his neigh- bors assisted him to build a log cabin into which he moved, and lived seven years. He then built the frame house which he now occupies. He is a native of Ireland, born in Tipperary county in 1824. He was reared upon a farm, and in 1849 left his native land for America. He took passage in a sailing vessel and after a stormy voyage of five weeks, arrived at New York city. From there he went up the Hudson river to Albany, where he took the cars and went to Buffalo. At that point he embarked on a steamer for Milwaukee. On reaching that city he purchased a horse and dray and engaged in draying, which he continued four years. He then went to Janesville and carried on his brother's farm until 1858. He brought twenty head of cattle with him when he came to Green county, and has since engaged in mixed farm- ing, raising all kinds of grain and grasses as well as stock. He is a successful farmer, and has purchased adjoining land until he now owns 220 acres. He also owns a large number of cattle. He was married in 1849 to Bridget Cary, also a native of Tipperary county, Ireland. They have seven children-John, William, Alice, Mary, Anthony, Catharine and Dennis. Mr. Carroll is serving his third term as a mem- ber of the board of supervisors, and has been a director in the school district several years.

Adam Elmer, son of John U. and Franie El- mer, was born in the town of Mount Pleasant, May 12, 1858. Here he grew to manhood, and received his education in the district school. He was married on the 30th of November, 1880, to Mary Prien, born in Trenton, Dodge

county. They have two children-Melvina and a baby. Two years previous to his mar- riage he settled on his present farm, which is a portion of the old homestead. He has a frame house and barn. He has a cheese factory on his farm, which is run by himself and two brothers.

J. C. Steinman, of the firm of Steinman & Knoble, general merchants at Monticello, was born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, May 13, 1854. When he was six years old he came to America with his mother and settled in the town of Washington. His father had pre- viously come to America. He (the father) en- listed in a New York regiment in 1861, and was wounded in battle, in consequence of which he died. Mrs. Steinman was again married to Fred Ziminerman and settled in New Glarus. The subject of this sketch made his home with his mother until he was thirteen years old. He then worked at farming in the neighborhood until 1878. In the meantime he had saved enough of his hard earnings to purchase a farm on section 20, in the town of New Glarus, where he engaged in farming until 1882. He then sold his farm, and in January, 1883, began mercantile business at Monticello, in partner- ship with Fredoline Knoble. They carry a large stock of groceries, dry goods and notions. Mr. Steinman was married in 1878 to Barbara Legler, who was born in New Glarus, Green Co., Wis. They have three children-Lena, Barbara and George.

Fredolin Knoble was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Dec. 7, 1856. In 1860 his parents emigrated to America and settled in New Glarus, Green Co., Wis. In 1861 his fa- ther enlisted in company B, of the 31st Wiscon- sin regiment, and went south. He died in the service. Soon after, his mother married again, and settled in Crawford county. Fredolin lived with his parents until he was fourteen years old, then on account of ill-treatment, he ran away from home, and walked to Green county. He remained with his grandfather, Fred Schindler,

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

six months, then engaged in farming in the neighborhood, receiving for his services $6 per month. At the age of fifteen he attended the confirmation school, and was confirmed the next year. When seventeen years old, he went to work in a cheese factory, in which he continued five years. He then bought a farm in New Glarus and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he sold his farm and came to Monticello. He was married in 1877 to Chloe Babler, a native of New Glarus. They have one child-Fred.

Jacob Marty came to Green county in 1864 and bought a farm on section 31, Mount Pleas- ant. There was a frame house on the place, and he has since built a large frame barn with stone basement. He was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, in February, 1819, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He was married to Barbara Stauffacher. They have nine chil- dren-Henry, Conrad, Jacob, Barbara, Peter, Annie, Fred, Mary and Verena Anna. Mrs. Marty died in September, 1871, and was buried in the Evangelical cemetery, town of Sylvester.

James Pierce came to Green county in 1864, and remained in the town of Washington three months. He spent that winter in Jackson county, and in the next spring worked on the river, rafting lumber. In the fall of 1866 he returned to Green county and engaged in farm- ing with Ira Baxter, in the town of Mount Pleasant. In 1870 he purchased a farm on sec- tion 13, in the same town, and followed farming there until 1881, when he sold out and purchased 200 acres on section 19, of Mount Pleasant. A small portion of this farm is in the town of Washington. He has a good frame house and barn on his farm, and in fact, his farm is one of the best improved in the town. He was born in Crawford Co., Penn., July 11, 1845. He there grew to manhood, being reared on a farm. He lived with his parents until 1864, when he came to Wisconsin, as before stated. He was married on the 6th of September, 1868, to Susan Baxter, born in Vermont. This union has been blessed

with eight children-Ira, Celia, Arthur, Frank, Clinton, Edith, Lester and Charlie.

John Richards, who was for some years man- ager of the Grange store, is a native of Corn- wall, England, born Feb. 8, 1849. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Bartle) Richards, who emigrated to America when he was but a few months old. They settled in Iowa Co., Wis., where he grew to manhood, receiving his edu- cation in the district school. Ilis mother died when he was eleven years old, and six years later his father removed to Mount Pleasant. He resided with his father until 1870, when he was married to Martha J. Lewis, daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Smith) Lewis, old settlers of Green county, where Martha J. was born. After marriage, Mr. Richards went to Exeter and engaged in farming six months; then re- turned to Mount Pleasant, where he farmed un- til 1877. He then became manager of the Grange store at Monticello, conducting busi- ness successfully until. April, 1884, when he re- signed, having engaged as traveling salesman for Jacob Wellaner & Co., of Milwaukee, and also as agent for Power, Bayard & Co., commis- sion dealers in produce, at Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Richards are the parents of three children -Alice Blanche, S. Earl and Dane C.

Lewis Franklin Moore came to Green county in 1867. He was born in Gilmanton, Belknap Co., N. H., June 16, 1845. He was left father- less at the age of nine years, and went to live with a farmer near Moultonboro, with whom he remained two and a half years; then went to Meredith and lived until 1866. In that year he went to Chicago and remained working in a wood and coal yard until the time of his coming to this county. His first employ- ment here was farming in the town of Albany. He was married, June 24, 1869, to Sally A. Douw, daughter of Cornelius and Harriet (Flint) Douw, and settled at that time upon his father- in-law's farm, which he now owns and occupies. He has purchased more land and now owns 251 acres. He has good buildings, including a frame

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

house and commodious barn, which are located on section 24. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have two children-Arthur S. and Emma J.

F. J. Breylinger opened a tin shop in Monti- cello, in 1872, and soon after put in a stock of hardware and cutlery. He is a native of Feld- kirch, Vorarlberg, Austria, born in March, 1847. He was reared in his native country and received a liberal education in the public schools. At the age of nineteen, he came to America. He spent nine months in Pennsylvania, working at his trade, then went to Freeport, Ill., where he worked for a time, at his trade. He then went to Milwaukee and thence to Monroe, where he was employed by Bloom & Ball, to go to Juda and open a tin shop, of which he had charge until 1872, when, as before stated, he came to Monticello. His store is a great convenience to the people in the vicinity, who patronize it lib- erally. He was united in marriage in 1871 with Mary C.Willoughby, a native of Belleville, Dane Co., Wis. They have two children-Leon and Otis.

August Milbrandt came to Sylvester, Green county, in 1874. He was employed in farming, two years, at Sylvester, then moved to Albany and rented the "Nicholas farm," four years, at which time he had succeeded in accumulating enough to buy a farm, and came to Mount Pleas- ant and purchased the "Swager" farm of 241 acres, located on sections 15 and 22. There was a log cabin on the place and a frame barn. He lived there two years, then bought the "Hilliard farm" on sections 22 and 23, where he now re- sides. He has a good frame house and two frame barns, and is now the owner of 421 acres of land. He is extensively engaged in raising stock and grain. Mr. Milbrandt is a native of Prussia, born July 11, 1838. His early life was spent in that country. He attended school un- til fourteen years old. In 1874 he came to America, landing at New York. He came di- rectly west to Chicago, and from there to Green county. He was married in 1861 to Wilhelmina Lupke, a native of Prussia. They have eight children-William, Frank, Amelia, Augusta, Julia, Charlie, Herman and Henry.

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

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CHAPTER XL.

TOWN OF NEW GLARUS.

[By Conrad Zimmerman]

TOPOGRAPHY.

The town of New Glarus is the second in the northern tier of Green county, beginning from the west. It is bounded on the north by the town of Primrose, Dane county; on the east by the town of Exeter; on the south by the town of Washington; and on the west by the town of York. The country is hilly and broken. A bird's eye view of the town might suggest the idea that a gigantic hand had strewed the hills on the surface, hills of the most diversified con- struction, although generally of about the same height. They are from 200 to 300 feet from the foot of the valley. The ascents to these hills are generally gradual, so that they are ac- cessible with teams from almost any side. The country is very well watered, almost every farm having springs and running streams. The main stream is the Little Sugar river, which is formed in this town by the confluence of a large number of little brooks. The main branch enters the town on the northwest of sec- tion 4, takes its course in a southeasterly direc- tion, and makes its exit on section 25. The numerous little streams arising in the western and southwestern part of the town flow through the northern part of the town of Washington, in an easterly direction, and unite with the Lit- tle Sugar river in the town of Mount Pleasant. The valleys are winding around in all possi- ble curves and angles, not unlike one of those ancient labyrinths, and just as well adapted to mislead a stranger. They are now widening and now contracting, in obedience to the freakish fancies of those lively promontories, projecting

here and there into the valley ground. There is one exception to this rule. The " Shmurzi Thale,"* running nearly due west of the village of New Glarus, is not only straight, but even without springs.

The land is well adapted for stock farms. The rich, well watered meadows in the valleys guarantee a heavy crop of bay, even in dry sum- mers, and afford a rich pasture for the Switzer's favorite, the cow, even at times when on the prairies all the grass is singed by the drought. The blessed timber-clad hills are the progeni- tors of innumerable springs, which send the refreshing element through those cozy valleys, that never fail to make the Switzer and his " Lobeli"t feel at home. The soil on the hills and slopes is a white clay, with a lime- stone foundation, whilst in the valley it is a rich black loam. The most common kinds of timber growing are: Oak, poplar, hickory, elm, walnut, and cherry. Limestone quarries are numerous. Mineral has never been found.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NEW GLARUS.

The settlement of New Glarus is perhaps more peculiar and more interesting than that of any other town in the county, because the social, political and religions conditions of the old and of the new world have come into imme- diate contact here. It has been remarked very many times in a superficial manner, that those experts, who were sent here from old Glarus in 1845, had selected a very poor locality, at a

* Roasting Vall. y. + Pet name for a cow.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

time, when all the land of the great northwest was open to them. It has been considered strange, that intelligent men, after traveling through the States of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, should recommend these trough-like val- leys, these rough, stony hills as being the most suitable place for a settlement. Many a visitor of this colony has received the impression, that if the same amount of work had been applied on some rich, fertile plain, the result would have been much better, the wealth of the popu- lation would now be much greater. Would it? It is indeed quite an interesting occur- rence.

Were those experts deep, thorough histor- ians, reasoning from historical facts, that the most energetic, enterprising and enduring peo- ple have been educated in and by such localities, where nature mostly depends on human labor and perseverance to do any good for man?

Did they compare the civil virtues of those people living in the naturally richest parts of the world with those living in the poorest? Did they ponder the fact that nature is modifying man, as well as man is modifying nature, and that this reciprocal modification is the natural source of the character of a community, and that consequently the physical disadvantages of a country, challenging his industry and stimu- lating his energy, are more favorable to man's ultimate progress, than the mere agency of a fertile soil, which tends to make the occupant unwilling to perform even the small amount of labor necessary for the reproduction of a rich harvest? Or have they simply been attracted by the similarity of this region with landscapes in Switzerland?

We do not know what idea was predominat- ing in their minds. But one thing we do know, and that is, that no other class of people were as well adapted for this district, or could have made New Glarus what it is to-day. And we feel confident in saying that not only *"mar-

riages are contracted in heaven," but that Divine providence also ties the knot that unites men and their habitation.

It is an act of great self-denial, a self-sacri- fice, a sort of re-generation, that is forced upon every grown person, who undertakes to make a home in the new world. Did you ever notice a foreigner move through the streets of your city or village the first few days after he came across the ocean? Did you ever observe his embarrassment, arising from the consciousness of being different in manners, clothes, appear- ance, language, in most all the objects of in- terest, pleasures or aversions? Did you ever stop to think, that every one of these has been taken away from relations and connections, that have become a part of his nature? He has grown up in a country, where the government, the Church, the school, the society, the family,- in short all the public and private relations have virtually guided, directed, superintended and carried him in the way he should go, and prescribed the course that his individual life had to take, leaving hardly any question for him to decide. Did you ever realize that these for- eigners had to conform their whole being, phys- ically and mentally to a new world? They have to abandon their old, form new habits, learn a new language, a new way of living and think- ing. This is the gravest of all the sufferings that an emigrant has to endure, the root and foundation of home-sickness, which is the most intense of all sicknesses; and the more a person is attached with piety to the venerable customs of the society of the fatherland, the harder will be the combat.

This sacrifice has been offered by the first set- tlers of the town of New Glarus. They were perfect strangers in every respect. Not even one of them knew how to handle a plow, or how to sow wheat, or to plant corn, or to build a grain stack, or to do anything of the kind that was daily required of them in their occupation as farmers. They only knew how

*Ehen werden im Himmel geschlossen.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

to tend cows. It will never be fully understood by any one who has not had a similar experi- ence, what privations, inconveniences and hu- miliations they suffered. "We often cried," says one of the old ladies now, jokingly, "until our heads were like *Laegele, and wished we were at home again, even if we had nothing else to live on but +Schotte and Chrut." But it was worse with them than with the Helvetians of olden times, who tore down the bridges and burnt the villages behind them when they started out to take possession of Gallia. They could come back and restore things, and were glad to do so, whilst the New Glarusers were very much in the dilemma of the bird in the adage: #"Vogel, friss oder stirb!" They had to stay and try.

It would take up too much room to give a full description of the journey of the first settlers, which took up nearly the whole summer of 1845; but in order to give an idea of what traveling was in that day, we will select some of the dates of a day book which Mathias Durst, one of the fellow travelers, has left us.

We started from Biasche, on the lake of Wal- lenstadt, in Switzerland, on the 16th day of April; 155 persons were expected to assemble there, but when we were ready to start our number was 193. We understood that our con- tract was including our board, but our captain told us that he had nothing to do with it. This created quite an animated dispute between our leaders and the captain. But we could not take what was withheld from us. When we arrived at Zurich, those of us that had to stay on deck were half frozen, and those who found a standing room in the cabin were half lame. There we learned that there was no room for all of us in the ship that was to take us to Basel. In great haste and during a heavy rain we had to procure four wagons, in which we put our women and children, and were afterwards glad

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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 144

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