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 151

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 151

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under the same Territorial government). Upon our arrival at that place we called upon our representative (William Boyls) from this county, who informed us that he had intro- duced a resolution in the assembly that would settle our county seat question, and kindly in- vited us to call in the next day, which we did in the afternoon, when we found Mr. Boyls' resolution under consideration. The resolution, in brief, was one defining what was the inten- tion of the former session in locating the county seat of Green county, declaring that the inten- tion of the legislature was to locate the county seat at the point known as Andrick Town. Now, to a novice like myself, I did not think there would be any opposition to its passage, but I was mistaken, for it met with a most de- termined opposition from a number of members. Finally the measure was disposed of by a mem- ber moving an amendment to strike out the words "Andrick's Town" and insert "New Mexico," which prevailed, thus leaving the question as it was. From Burlington we went to St. Louis, and upon the opening of naviga- tion in the spring we returned to Green county and again commenced work on Kline's mill. While at work on the mill, in one of our strolls through the timber, we came across the tree that we had tramped around the greater part of the night in May, 1837; it stood on the bluff, near the center of section 16. After the partial completion of the mill there arose a misunder- standing between the Kline's and a neighbor by the name of Judkins about the water flow of Judkins' land. Work on the mill was sus- pended. We then went to work on a small grist mill for Dr. Vanoaljah, on Cedar creek, in Illinois, and afterwards on a saw mill on Rich- land creek. In October, this year (1838), I was taken down with the typhoid fever at Mr. Chadwick's, where I lay a number of weeks, hovering between life and death, the doctors and everybody else, including myself, believing that I could not possibly live. But through a vigorous constitution, and the kind care and at-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

tention that I received from Mother Chadwick, I finally recovered; and here let me record, for the gratification and encouragement of her descendants, that if there ever was a mother, Mother Chadwick proved to be one to me at that time, and as long as memory holds its sway will I ever remember with gratitude with what care, sympathy and patience she adminis- tered to my wants on that occasion. But that is long years ago, and Mother Chadwick has long since passed to her final rest and reward, while I am left here to struggle on only a few years longer, at best. After my recovery we builtasmall house and barn for Levi Wilcox, some three or four miles south of where Cedarville now stands. In March, this year (1839), having learned of the death of my father, I concluded to visit my old home in Pennsylvania, but be- ing detained so much in Galena and other points on the river between there and St. Louis, on account of low stage of water in the river and the sinking of the steamer on which I had taken passage, I concluded to return, having, previous to starting, agreed to build a barn for Mr. Chadwick the coming summer. I returned in May, and we finished and started the Kline saw mill that month, as, previous to that time, Kline and Judkins had settled their difficulty, and Judkins had deeded to Kline a right of flow. After starting the mill we went to work on Chadwick's barn. And here I must relate a circumstance that shows what manner of man Jacob LyBrand was, who at that time kept a variety store in New Mexico. While working on the roof of the barn I broke my hatchet. The shingles for the roofing being made out of hard wood, and no pains being taken to joint the edges, it was impossible to lay even a fair roof without some means of straightening their edges. It's true, we might have fastened them in the bench vise and taken a plane or draw- shave to them, but this was a feat that I felt no disposition to undertake, so I went to New Mexico to buy one of LyBrand, knowing that he kept them on hand. After looking them

over and inquiring the price, (which I thought was enormous,) I asked LyBrand if his price was not pretty steep. "Why," he replied, "do you think it too much?" I said I thought that it was, whereupon he laid the hatchet back on the shelf. I then went to where some carpenters were at work on a building near by, thinking to borrow one, but they having none they could spare, I went back to the store, intending to buy. Upon going in I said to LyBrand that I guessed I would have to take that hatchet. He replied that I could not have it. "Why not?" I said. He replied, "Did you not say that the price was too much? And I don't intend any person shall buy any article of me that says the price is too much." I then related to him the circumstance of my breaking the hatchet, and the necessity of my having one. He said, "Oh, I will loan it to you," which he did. After I got through using it I returned it, proposing to pay him for the use of it, but he refused to take anything for the use of it. After complet- ing the barn we went south of Cedar creek and built a house and small barn for Dr. Vanvalzah, on his farm, he having previously sold his mill property on Cedar creek to Mr. Neightic. The winter of 1839-40 we ran the Wilcox saw mill, on Richland creek. In the summer of 1840 we built a house near Cedarville for Reason Wil- cox, and a barn at Walnut Grove for John Kleckner. In October, of this year, Chadwick took unto himself a life partner, marrying a daughter of Deacon David Davis; and I, feel- ing unwilling, if not unable, to fight the battle of life single handed, concluded to take a partner, choosing for this purpose a sister of Chadwick's wife, and no time throughout our married life have I regretted the choice I-or rather, I should say she made, for in my opinion, in this matter of marrying the girls have it all their own way, for Shakspeare, or some other person who has had experience in these matters, truly says that-

"When a woman will, she will, and you may depend on it; But when she won't, she won't, and that's the end on it."

The result of this double marriage was the dis- solution of partnership between Chadwick and

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myself-a partnership that had lasted nearly three years, and during all this time, so far as I know, there was no a harsh word or unkind feeling existed between us. Shortly after mar- rying, Chadwick settled on and opened up a farm on section 22, in now the town of Jeffer- son, this county, and myself on section 19, town of Spring Grove. In the spring of 1841 I built a house for Samuel Myers, at the then saw mill of Kline & Myers (formerly Kline's mill), on section 20, being the first frame built in the town. In the summer, fall and winter of this year, I did a number of jobs in the neighborhood, laying floors, (which formerly consisted of hewed puncheons,) making doors, putting in additional windows, etc., in houses, as the lumber for that purpose could be obtained at the saw mill. In the summer of 1842 I built a barn for John Kline on section 29, now owned by Hugh Alexander, the first frame barn erected in the town, and in the fall I assisted in the building of a store house for John Fisher, in Rock Grove. The winter of 1842-3 was an unprecedented hard one, snow falling to the depth of one foot or more, on the 12th of No- vember, and by March had accumulated to fully three feet, and continued to lay on until in April. The month of March was terrible cold, the thermometer at Rock Grove ranging from one to six degrees below zero every morn- ing throughout the month, except the last morn- ing, when it commenced thawing, and a great number of cattle throughout the country died from exposure. In the spring of 1843 I built the carding mill on Spring creek for Kline & Myers. After completing the carding mill, I was employed by a Boston company to run a a grist mill at Winslow; they having erected one there in 1841. I ran the mill until the fol- lowing May. Returning to Spring Grove, I built the second saw mill on Spring creek, on section 15, for William Bussey. This summer (1844) was a terrible wet one, raining almost con- tinuously from March to September. Work on the mill was much delayed on account of the

rain and high water in the creek. We laid the foundation timbers for the mill three different times, and as often having them washed out. At one time some of them being washed two miles below. The wheat and oats crops were nearly ruined by the continuous wet weather. In the fall of this year I built myself a new res- idence, on section 30, being the second frame house built in the town. This winter (1844-45) the residents of Spring Grove and adja- cent country petitioned the postoffice depart- ment for a postoffice to be named Spring Grove, and located at my residence and the appointment of myself postmaster. This request the depart- inent refused to grant, on the ground that the office asked for was not on any established mail route. The residents then entered into an ar- rangement whereby each one was in turn to carry the mail from Monroe and Rock Grove, the nearest postoffices to this point, and through the kindly intercession of Mr. Walworth, then postmaster at Monroe, I was granted permis- scion to handle the mail and account to Mr. Walworth (a kind of side office). In 1847 or 1848 Congress established a mail route from Rockford, by way of Monroe to Mineral Point, and the office was included in the lettings, and I was commissioned postmaster. This office I held until the summer of 1857, when I resigned, as I intended to change my residence to a more easterly part of the town, for the purpose of farming, as I had become tired of carpentering, having to be absent so much from my family, a profession that I have since followed, except at short intervals, when I would starve out at it, and was forced to resort to the tools to replen- ish my larder. Upon my resigning the postoffice the patrons of the office petitioned for the ap- pointment of Matt Herrington as my successor. Herrington & Hauver at that time, were in trade at what is now called Oakley. The de- partment referred the application to Alpheus Goddard, then postmaster at Monroe (that be- ing the rule of the department at the time). Mr. Goddard being an uncompromising demo-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

crat and a firm believer in the Jacksonian policy, that to the victors belong the spoils, re- fused to endorse Mr. Herrington upon the ground that Mr. Herrington could not repeat the party shibboleth, and not finding a democrat to his liking in the neighborhood who would accept the office, the office was transferred into the town of Jefferson, two miles north west of its then location, and Israel Lake appointed postmaster. After the removal of the office it became very inconvenient to those patrons living in the east part of the town, so they petitioned the depart- ment for a new office to be named Pee Dee, and located at the northeast corner of section 33, and with our recent experience in choosing an in- cumbent, we thought best to select a democrat for that position. This office was established in June or July, 1859, with G. W. Zimmerman postmaster. In a short time Zimmernan be- coming tired of the office, as it interfered too much with his farm duties, he arranged with my wife to run the office as deputy, and the office was transferred to my house, on section 18. In the fall of 1862 we were having a very exciting congressional election, growing out of our diversity of views on the war measure. The State central committee (of which Mr. Rublee was chairman) sent to the office (di- rected to the postmaster,) a package of political documents, including the address of the central committee with a request that the postmaster distribute this package (as was the rule with all packages so directed), was given to the post- master, who upon receiving it declared he would not distribute them, saying that if the commit- tee wanted them distributed they could come and do it themselves. Upon hearing this I wrote the chairman that in the future in send- ing such documents to the office, to direct them to either E. R. Allen or myself, saying that the postmaster was an old line democrat having no sympathies with the republican party, not even suggesting a change, when in less than a month, I received a commission as postmaster, with a notice to the incumbent to turn the office over

to me, which was the cause of two of the most surprised men ever in the town. This office I held until 1867, when I resigned (having sold my farm) for the purpose of changing my loca- tion, and Fred Teis was commissioned my successor, who ran the office a short time, re- signed, and the present incumbent, Mrs. Coul- ter, was commissioned. In 1868 I moved with my family to Kansas, intending to make that State my future home, but becoming dissatis- fied with the country, I returned in 1870, with broken health and $800 out of pocket, to Spring Grove, where I intend to reside until the Mas- ter calls, "Come Home." In politics, from boy- hood I was a firm believer in those divine truths as promulgated from that immortal instrument, the Declaration of Independence and corner- stone of our American edifice, that all men are created equal, and from early manhood I have been a persistent advocate of those truths, and when in 1842, the first political anti-slavery society was organized in Green county, I was one of the immortal seven (as we were face- ciously called) that assisted in its organization, and continued a member of that party until 1854, when the party was merged in the repub- lican party, and have been a member of that party up to the present time; and I have voted at every election that has been held in the county since its organization, excepting the two years that I resided in Kansas. Upon the tem- perance question my neighbors say I am fanat- ical, and perhaps I am so, as I have not taken any alcoholic or fermented beverages for over fifty years, and I can see nothing but evil, and only evil, in its use. I am also a strenuous ad- vocate of woman franchisement, as I cannot comprehend by what theory or law of creation men have rights that women are not entitled to; and I fully endorse the exclamation of the old deacon, who, when his elder was preaching, (his subject being man) said when he spoke of man he included woman as by creation they were the same as man, with a little variation," exclaimed, "Yes, bless God."

SPRING GROVE, March, 1884.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

PROMINENT CITIZENS.

The following biographical skecthes of promi- nent citizens of the town of Spring Grove, will give an idea of the enterprise and thrift of this town:

Mrs. Mary Clemans, the widow of J. H. Clemans, lives on section 22, town of Spring Grove. She is a daughter of Isaac Kline, who settled in this town in May, 1837. Daniel Baxter (who came the same year) and Mr. Kline were the first two permanent settlers in this town. Mrs. Clemans was born in April, 1822. In November, 1839, she was married to J. H. Clemans, and settled the next year on the place where Mrs. Clemans now lives. To them were born nine children-Catharine, now wife of Samuel J. Smith; Isaac, now living in Todd Co., Minn .; Jane, deceased, wife of Jacob Newcomer; Eliza Ann, now wife of Ira Mellen, of Yankton, Dak .; Elizabeth, who died when four years old; Thomas J., who lives with his mother; Charles A., now living at Yankton, Dak .; Lucinda, now wife of Francis Jenkins, of Todd Co., Minn., and Estella, wife of Henry Long. Mrs. Clemans was bereaved by the death of her husband in April, 1877. Ile was formerly from Kentucky, and came to Green county in 1838. Thomas J. Clemans, who lives with his mother on the old homestead, was married Nov. 29, 1874, to Polly, daughter of J. W. Kildow. The have two children -Orpha G., born Nov. 1, 1880, and James F., born Oct. 12, 1875.

Mrs. Elizabeth A. Davis lives on section 30, occupying the same land settled upon by her husband, Archibald Davis and herself, July 7, 1838. Mrs. Davis was born in Pocahontas Co., Va., April 1, 1812. She is now (1884) vigorous, doing all the house work, and attending to care of stock, etc. She was married Sept. 19, 1834, to Archibald Davis. Ilis father, Jeremiah Davis, moved from Maryland to Warren Co., Ind., in 1822, where he died Jan. 16, 1853. His wife, Mary Davis, died there Oct. 2, 1863. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Davis' father settled in Warren Co., Ind., in 1830,

where he died. His wife died there also in 1832. Archibald Davis had two children by a former marriage, who made a part of the family when they came to this town. Their names were - Mary, who married James Ken- yon, who died in 1863; Jeremiah, in Warren Co., Ind., in 1853. By the second marriage of Archibald and Elizabeth A. Davis. The chil- dren born are-James D., who served in com- pany B, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, and now lives in Brodhead; Sarah C. M, wife of John Ostrander ; Benjamin S. also served in company B, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, and was killed in a bayonet charge at the battle of Jackson, Miss .; George W., member of same company and regiment; Rachel J., wife of Samuel Brant; Nancy E. and Archibald A., both living in this county; Elizabeth A., wife of John Massy, of Benton Co., Ind .; Maria V., wife of John Alex- ander, of Durand, Ill .; Nancy E, wife of Philip Kilwin, of Decatur. Mr. and Mrs. Davis came from Warren Co., Ind., to this town. Mr. Davis was a great hunter and fond of the chase. Many an early settler was in- debted to his prowess for his fresh meat. Mr. Davis was a good specimen of a pioneer, active, full of life and energy, generous and true to his friends. He died Dec. 30, 1879, aged nearly seventy-four years.

George Davis, son of the early settlers, Arch- ibald and Elizabeth A. Davis, is one of the first born of the town of Spring Grove, that event having occurred Jan. 24, 1842. He lived with his parents, working on the farm and at- tending school winters until he reached man- hood, or nearly so, when he enlisted in company B, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, and one week from the day of leaving the State was in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, a rough beginning for a soldier boy. He participated in every en- gagement of the regiment until the battle of Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863, when he was wounded and taken prisoner, and carried east to Libby prison at Richmond, and later released on parole, and taken to Annapolis, Md., and then

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sent to the parole camp at St. Louis. In De- cember, 1863, he was exchanged, and rejoined the regiment at Huntsville, Ala. He was in the campaign against Atlanta, and in the heroic battle at Allatoona Pass. Mr. Davis has a trophy captured in that battle, a Queen Anne musket full six feet in length, captured on the skirmish line. Veteranizing with a part of the regiment, he returned to Wisconsin on a furlough in December, 1864. Then returning to the command rejoined Sherman's grand army at Goldsboro, N. C., in April, 1865. He was in the battle of Kingston, N. C., and was in line at the grand review of the army at Washington in June, 1865, and was mustered out with the reg- iment at Milwaukee. Mr. Davis was married to Ann E. Brant, daughter of John A. Brant, Oct. 1, 1865, and commenced keeping house on seventy acres of land purchased from his father on section 30. He has since added eighty acres of adjoining land in the town of Jefferson. They have a very comfortable home enlivened by four children-Francis E., born Oct. 25, 1866; Mattie J., born July 8, 1869; Judd E., born Aug. 24, 1870; and George B., born June 10, 1873. From 1866 to 1883, with the excep- tion of one year, Mr. Davis has served as justice of the peace. He is a member of the W. W. Patton, G. A. R. Post, No. 90.

Thomas Hamilton lives on section 34. He has a farm of 240 acres, with fine buildings. He was born in the State of Indiana Aug. 4, 1822. When quite young, his father, George Hamilton, moved to Edgar Co., Ill., where he died in 1842. When sixteen years of age, Thomas took his fortune in his own hands. Leaving home he went to Winnebago Co., Ill., worked at farm work until 1842, when he came to Green county. The first few years he worked summers in the villages of the county, and in the winter in the pineries, running in the sea- son on rafts below; thus he was occupied until he was married in 1845. His wife was Levanche Randall. By this marriage six children were born, five of whom are living-George, resid-

ing in Brodhead; Thomas, of Winnebago Co., Ill .; Alexander, in the same county; Emma, wife of Myron Bliss, of Winnebago Co., Ill; Eva, wife of F. Burke, resides at Virginia City, Nev .; Lenora, wife of Isaac Davis. She died at the residence of her father in February, 1875. In March, 1866, Mr. Hamilton was be- reaved by the death of his wife. He was again united in marriage with Mrs. Jane Forbes, wid- ow of Isaac Forbes. She was living at the time of marriage in Davids township, Stephenson Co., Ill. By her first marriage she had two children-Emma and William. Emma married Mr. Hamilton's son, George. William Forbes is married and lives in Brodhead. Thomas Ham- ilton has by his second wife five children-Wal- ter E., born in 1868; Josephine E., born in 1870; Kate Maud, born in 1873; Scott, born in 1878; and Eleanor, born in 1881.

Daniel Dedrick was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1836, and came to this town with his father's family in 1842. His father, Nicholas Dedrick, came from Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. Daniel lived with his father until 1847, in which year, March 3, he was married to Melissa A. Ward, who was born in Michigan. Her mother was the second wife of Daniel Vanderbilt. Mrs. Dedrick has one boy-Ed- die Dedrick, living in Topeka, Kansas, and a daughter, Lovinna, also at Topeka, Kansas. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dedrick moved to Durand, Wis., and later a short distance out in. Bear creek valley, taking a homestead claim, and working at carpenter's trade,in which work he was engaged at the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, in company G, 25th Wisconsin Volunteers, and served two years and two months, when he was discharged on account of disability. After this he moved to Pontiac, Mich. Remaining there only a few months, he went to the oil country in Venango Co., Penn., locating at Rouseville. He there engaged in livery and express business and kept a boarding house three years or more, but domestic trouble caused a separation from his

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

wife. Then he gave up his town business and be- came a contractor for drilling oil wells, and followed that occupation until he lost his prop- erty. He returned to Spring Grove in 1877, and bought lot 6, on section 2, thirty-three acres, where he now (1884) resides in a house built by an old settler, B. J. Tenney, who about thirty-four years ago sold out and went to Salt Lake with the Mormons. Mr. Dedrick's pres- ent wife was Sarah Jane Gordan. He was married to her in June, 1870. She was born in Pennsylvania. Their first child, Charlie, died at the age of thirteen months. They have two daughters-Mabel F. M., born May 15, 1872, and Zada Bell, born Jan. 11, 1880.

Charles A. Warner was born in Madison Co., N. Y., June 20, 1820. He learned the black- smith's trade when a boy,and at nineteen years of age was out from his apprenticeship. In May, 1842, he came west to Milwaukee, and in September of that year to this county, buying 160 acres of land on section 11, town of Syl- vester, remaining only long enough to com- mence some improvements. He went to South- port, on Lake Michigan (now Kenosha) and worked at his trade the following winter, re- turning to improve his land the summer of 1843. In the fall he returned to Southport and remained there at work until the fall of 1844, when he went to McHenry Co., Ill. There he ran a shop which he owned four years, then in the fall of 1848 he returned to this county and located in the village of Decatur, then about to be platted. While in McHenry county, Mr. Warner was married to Elizabeth Ward, Dec. 7, 1847. She was born in Vernon, Oneida Co., N. Y. At Decatur Mr. Warner built a shop and worked there about eight years, when (1856) he moved his family to the village of Clarence, in order to be able to improve 192 acres of land which he had some years previ- ously bought on section 1, town of Spring Grove. Mr. Warner worked at his trade a short time in Clarence, but in the spring of 1857 made his residence on his land on section 1,

where he now (1884) lives. Mr. and Mrs. War- ner have had four children born to them-Ella E., born Nov. 1, 1849, now wife of Willie D. Bigelow, of Sun Prairie, Wis .; Francis Ward, born Nov. 20, 1851, and died Sept 26, 1856; Charles M., born July 8, 1857, and now lives at home; Catharine C., born July 18, 1861, now living at home. Mr. Warner has led an active life, never idle in his younger days, if not hard at work, could generally be depended upon to bring in game or fish. He and Dr. Springsted were fast friends, and it was a bad day for all kinds of game, when they started out for a hunt. Mr. Warner speaks kindly of his old friend as a man, and of his skill as a physician.

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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 151

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