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 159

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 159

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John Elmer was born in Switzerland, June 15, 1845. In 1849 his parents, John U. and Verny (Marty) Elmer, came to the United States and settled in Washington, Green county, where they remained six years, then moved to Mount Pleasant, where Mrs. Elmer died Dec. 31, 1872, aged fifty-five years. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom twelve are now living. John, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth. He received his education in the district school. In 1869 he bought the farm upon which he now resides, and Nov. 20, 1870, was married to Anna Elmer, who was born in the town of Washington, Oct. 13, 1853. By this union there are five children -Mathias, John U., Jacob, Victoria and Eu- phema. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer are members of the Evangelical Church. He is politically a

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

republican, and has held local office. His farm contains 160 acres, valued at $50 per acre. Mr. Elmer's son, John U., in the fall of 1879, got caught in a threshing machine and lost his left arm, near the shoulder.

Alfred Barmore was a native of Green Co., Penn., born June 30, 1818, where his younger days were spent. He was reared upon a farm and obtained a common school education. He was twice married. First in 1841 to Ann Ridge- way, a native of the same county. Soon after which, he emigrated to Athens, Ohio, and in 1849, to Monroe, Green Co., Wis., where his wife died, May 21, of the same year. Feb. 27, 1850, he was married to Mrs. Nancy E. (Davis) Chadwick, who was born in Fayette Co., Penn., Oct. 7, 1818, and came with her parents to Green county in 1838. She was married Oct. 7, 1840, to James Chadwick, also a native of Fayette county, born Feb. 20, 1816. He came to Green county with his parents when a young man, and died here Sept. 17, 1846. By this union there were three children-Louisa R., Mary J. and James J. Mr. Barmore had, by his first marriage, three children-Sarah A., David R. and Joseph S., also three children by his second marriage-Harvey D., Thomas J. and Kesia S. The family are members of the Baptist Church at Juda. Mrs. Barmore resides on section 34, town of Sylvester, where Mr. Barmore died Aug. 14, 1882.

Samuel Cotherman, a settler of 1849, was born in Union Co., Penn., March 16, 1826. Ho grew to manhood in his native county, receiving a limited education. In 1848 he went to Rock Grove, Stephenson Co., Ill., and remained one year, then came to Monroe, Green county, where he engaged in the nursery business and also worked at the joiner's trade. He con- tinued the first about three years, but worked at joining business some time longer. In the spring of 1856, he bought a farm in the town of Sylvester, on section 32, where he lived twenty-two years. It contained 140 acres. He then sold, and in the spring of 1878 he bought

a farm on section 31, where he now lives. It contains 215 acres of good land, valued at $65 an acre. He is engaged in stock raising and dairying. He was married Feb. 9, 1854, to Elizabeth Bloom, a native of Centre Co., Penn., and daughter of George Bloom, an early settler of Green county. Six children have been born to them-Florence E., Allie E., Grace E., George Valentine, James A., deceased; and Ed- gar S. Mr. and Mrs. Cotherman are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He is politically, republican, and has held local offices.

Joseph Gans has been a resident of Green county since April, 1850. He was born in Mongalia Co., Va., Feb. 9, 1811. His parents removed to Fayettte Co., Penn., where he spent his younger days and obtained a common school education. At the age of sixteen he com- menced learing the shoemaker's and tanner's trades, and served an apprenticeship of four years. lle followed his trade until he came to this county, and also for a number of years after his arrival. He settled in the village of Juda where he remained until 1865. He now resides upon section 35 in the town of Sylves- ter, where he owns a farm of 175 acres, valued at $55 an acre. Mr. Gans was married in 1831 to Phebe Rodgers, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1850, leaving five children. He was again married in December, 1851, to Sarah Rod- erick, who was born in Fayette Co., Penn., Aug. 29, 1827. By the latter union there are four children. Mr. and Mrs. Gans are mem- bers of the Baptist Church at Juda.

George Bloom settled in Green county in the fall of 1851, upon a farm in the town of Jeffer- ton, which he rented and lived upon one year. He then purchased land on sections 31 and 32 of the town of Sylvester, to which he removed two days after the election of President Pierce. He lived in this place until 1878, then removed to his farm on section 32. He was born in Snyder Co., Penn., Nov. 9, 1802. His early live was spent in Union county, and he was

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

married in Centre county Nov. 23, 1826, to Elizabeth Kooken, a native of Northampton Co., Penn. He engaged in farming until 1851, when he went to Will county, and the same year to Stephenson Co., Ill., from whence he came to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Bloom had eight children-Mary A., Elizabeth, John K., William H., Thomas K., George W., James K. P. and Samuel R. Their eldest son, John K., is a Lutheran preacher in Linn Co., Iowa. Mrs. Bloom is a member of the Lutheran Church. On the morning of the 9th of April, 1884, Mr. Bloom went to the barn, fed the stock, and did what other work there was to do. He returned to the house and sat down in a rocking chair, and in a few minutes died without a struggle. Thus passed away another old settler of Green county; a loving husband and affectionate father. His words and kind deeds are indelibly printed on the hearts of a host of his acquaintances, who will ever remember him. He was aged eighty-one years and five months, and was a worthy member of the Lutheran Church.

Benona Milliken came to Green Co., Wis., in 1851. He was born in Green Co., Penn., Nov. 5, 1813, where he obtained a common school ed- ucation, and remained upon his father's farm until he was eighteen years old. He then began learning the saddler's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of three years, after which he went to Washington county and was there en- gaged in working at his trade seven years. He then removed back to Green county, where he was engaged in working upon a farm for seven years. He then, with his family, removed to Green Co., Wis., in the year 1851, and hired to McCracken & Sutherland, to run the engine in their saw mill. In 1852 he bought the farm on which he still resides, for which he paid $700. It contains 150 acres and is now valued at $55 an acre. Mr. Milliken is a member of the dem- ocratic party, and has held local office. He was married Sept. 13, 1838, to Casander Crabb, who was born Jan. 24, 1817, in Washington Co.,

Penn. She died March 12, 1882. Their chil- dren are-Sarah J., Ellen, Isabel, Matilda, Het- tie, Samuel E., Mary M., deceased, and Emma. Mr. and Mrs Milliken are members of the M. E. Church.

Charles J. Stephenson, is a son of William and Mary Jane (Harris) Stephenson, the former born in Ireland, March 18, 1825. William came to the United States with his father and settled in Ohio in 1838. They removed to Green county in the fall of 1843, and the father entered land on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 3, in the town of Sylvester, and was mar- ried April 8, 1851, to Mary Jane Harris, who was born in Wethersfield, Ohio. By this union there was one child-C. J., the subject of this sketch. The father was killed during the fall of 1855, by being caught in a threshing machine. He was an active, industrious man, and his loss was deeply felt by the whole community. Charles J. was born Oct. 2, 1852, in the town of Sylvester, where his young days were spent on the farm and attending school. He was mar- ried Nov. 19, 1871, to Hester M. Hare, born in Michigan, April 18, 1853. They have two chil- dren-Willie L. and Jessie. Mr. Stephenson, during his early days, was a democrat, but now votes for the best man regardless of party affili- ations. He takes an active part in town affairs, has been a member of the board, and is now assessor.

Samuel Hutzel settled upon his present farm, in the fall of 1856. It is located on section 34, in the town of Sylvester, and contains 303 acres, valued at $55 an acre. He was born in Somer- set Co., Penn., Dec. 3, 1827. 1Ie was brought up on a farm, and obtained his education in the common schools of his native county. In the fall of 1852, he came to Green county and re- mained until the spring of 1853, then returned to Pennsylvania. The following fall he came back to Wisconsin, and at that time, purchased the farm on which he now lives. For a time he made his home with his brother-in-law at Rich-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

land, in the town of Jefferson. He was married Sept. 3, 1854, to Lavinia Blackford, who was born Nov. 20, 1825, in Fayette Co., Penn. Her parents were early settlers in the town of Jeffer- son, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Hutzel are the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are living-Rachel E., Rebecca E., John W., Ida R., James O., Alice O., Ada L. and Nora G. E. Judson, George O. and Bertie are deceased.

George Sadler was born in the town of Scriba, Oswego Co., N. Y., Aug. 17, 1839. He is a son of Lewis and Hannah (Morgan) Sadler, natives of New York, who emigrated to Wisconsin in August, 1852, leaving their home in New York to make a new one in the western wilds. They settled in the town of Mount Pleasant. There the subject of this sketch was brought up on his father's farm, and received such education as could be obtained at that time in the district schools. He was married Oct. 23, 1867, to Mary J. Beach, who was born June 4, 1843, in the town of Hadley, Saratoga Co., N. Y. She is a daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Wilcox) Beach, natives of Luzerne Co., N. Y., where they were married, and afterwards moved to Saratoga county, and in 1846 to Walworth Co., Wis., re- maining one year, then removed to Columbia county, where the mother died Oct. 21, 1879. The father, in 1884, was living in San Jose, Cal. There was a family of thirteen children, seven boys and six girls. Mrs. Sadler was the seventh. In March, 1882, Mr. Sadler bought the farm, on which he now lives, from Hiram Phillips, an old settler, who entered the land from the government. The farm contains eighty acres, valued at $50 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Sadler have two children-Myrtie Belle aud Frank Ernest.

Andrew Streiker is a native of Germany, born Oct. 20, 1831. He grew to manhood in his na- tive country, and received a common school edu- cation. He learned the baker's trade. In 1853 he emigrated to this country, locating in Green county, where he worked for John Smith at brick-making in Monroe for three years. He

· also worked for awhile in a saw mill. In 1865 he purchased a farm near Albany. In 1867 he sold out and bought the farm on which he now resides. He was married on the 2d of June, .1865, to Eliza Riley, born in Ireland. By this union there were three children-Mary, Eliza- beth and Joseph. Mr. Streiker is a member of the Catholic Church. His farm contains 238 acres, valued at $50 per acre.

Eli Steninger was born in Union Co., Penn., April 22, 1838. He is a son of Henry and Catharine (Fetrulf) Steninger, born in Pennsyl- vania, of German parents. His father was born in August, 1801, and his mother in No- vember, 1805. They followed coopering in connection with farming until the fall of 1853, when they came to this county and settled on section 16, where they resided until December, 1881, when they removed to Linn Co., Iowa, where they still reside. Twelve children were born to them, eight of whom are living. Eli, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm, and also worked in the cooper shop. His father being poor, his education was limited. At the age of twenty-one years he crossed the plains to California and Nevada, remaining un- til the winter of 1864, when he returned to Green county. The next year he went to Mon- tana. Returning that fall, he purchased the farm upon which he now lives. It contains 276 acres, and is valued at $40 per acre. He was married Dec. 24, 1874, to Mary Pratt, born in Monticello, this county, Oct. 29, 1850. They have three children-Will, May and John H. Mr. Steninger and family are members of the German Evangelical Church.

D. W. West, second son of of Mathew West, and old settler of the town of Sylvester, was born Aug. 13, 1854. He was reared to agricul- tural pursuits and received a common school education. Ile was married April 7, 1875, to Libbie C. Hall, who was born in Green Co., Penn., Aug. 5, 1853. Her parents settled in Magnolia, Rock Co., Wis., where her father died in 1856. Her mother removed to Green

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

county, where she was married to David Taylor, and died Feb. 14, 1861. Mrs. West is the sixth of a family of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. West are the parents of two children, Olo and Matthew. Mr. West owns a farm of 120 acres, valued at $50 per acre. He is a republican, and has held local office. Mrs. West is a member of the Baptist Church at Juda.

Henry Chesbro was born in Albany Co., N. Y., March 8, 1844. He is a son of Eliakim and Sarah (Ripley) Chesbro, natives of New York. They emigrated to Wisconsin in 1854, and settled in the town of Mount Pleasant, Green county, where the father died Nov. 17, 1874, aged seventy-nine. The mother still resides in the town, aged eighty-three. They had four children, of whom Henry was the third. He grew to manhood and received a common school education. In 1882 he bought the farm where he now lives, of S. T. Mallory. Mr. Chesbro never married, preferring single blessedness.

John L. Sherbondy, was born in West More- land Co., Penn., July 15, 1834. He is of French-German extraction, and his parents were natives of the same State , where his father died. His mother moved to Ohio, where she died. John was the tenth of fourteen chil- dren. He received a common school education and when nineteen years old, went to Ohio, and in the fall of 1854 came to this county, where he worked at his trade of carpenter until 1861, when he took charge of the old county poor farm, about four years. In Feb ruary, 1865, he enlisted in company G, 49th Wisconsin, and served until the close of the war, then returned to Green county and settled on eighty acres on section 1, which he had previously purchased. He now owns 140 acres with good buildings. He was married Dec. 25, 1859, to Elsie J. Burt, who was born in Trum- bull Co., Ohio, May 12, 1837. They have had four children, two of whom are living-Harri- son B., deceased; Shelby L., deceased; John E., and Ross D. Mr. and Mrs. Sherbondy are

members of the Baptist Church. He votes with the republican party. When Mr. Sher- bondy came to the county he did not have money enough to pay postage on a letter, but by his own endeavor he has accumulated a competency. He built a residence in 1883, at a cost of $2,500. His barn was erected in 1880,at a cost of $1,500, and his improvements are among the best.

William Lore, a prosperous farmer of the town of Sylvester, was born in Union Co., Penn., Jan. 27, 1815. His grandfather emigrated to the United States from Holland, and his parents were natives of Pennsylvania. They afterwards removed to Stephenson Co., Ill., where they died. William was the fourth of eight chil- dren. He was reared upon a farm in his native State, and obtained a limited education in the common schools. He was married in 1844, to Susanna Duck, who died in 1856, leaving three children-Henry, Sarah and Alice. Mr. Lore removed from Pennsylvania to Stephenson Co., Ill., in 1854, remained there a short time, and came to Green county, purchasing at that time, the farm where he now resides in Sylvester, where his wife died. He was again married, June 4, 1861, to Susan Dunkel, who was born in Pennsylvania, in the county of Lancaster, Nov. 20, 1829. By this union there are five children-Frank, Ida, Ella, Dora and Charley. Mrs. Lore's parents are dead. Her father died in Sylvester, and her mother, in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Lore are members of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church. He owns 200 acres of well improved land, valued at $60 per acre. He has good substantial buildings and is en- gaged in stock raising and dairying.

William F. Johnson has been a resident of this county since 1856, when he settled upon his present farm. He is a son of John and Nancy (Reeper) Johnson, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Lawrence Co., Penn., Feb. 1, 1830. His father died in that State in 1837, and his mother again married, and removed to Mercer county where her husband died, after which

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

she went with her family to Johnsonville, Ohio, where she died. She had seven children by her first marriage of whom William F., of this sketch, was the fifth. His early life was spent in his native State. He was married May 13, 1856, and came to Green county the following fall. His original farm contained eighty acres, to which he has added until it now contains 210 acres. He has good buildings, including house, barns and other farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have five children-Anna M., Frank R., Mary L., Ada M. and Ira F. Mrs. Johnson was formerly Sarah C. Gilson. She was born in Fulton Co., Ill., Oct. 20, 1834. Her parents formerly-lived in Ohio, where they were mar- ried. Her father died when she was six years old, and her mother, soon after. They left a family of four children, of whom Mrs. Johnson is the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are mem- bers of the Dawson Methodist Church. Mr. Johnson is a republican.

William Brunkow is a son of Frederick and Mary (Zimmerman) Brunkow, old settlers of the town of Sylvester, where they settled in the summer of 1857. William was born in Doelitz, Prussia, Jan. 12, 1853, and was three years old when his parents came to Green county, where he grew to manhood and received a common school education. He was married May 29, 1879, to Julia Hartwick, who was born near Watertown, Wis., July 11, 1861, and came with her parents to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Brunkow have two children-Charles Fred and Zoe Louisa. They are members of the German Evangelical Church. Mr. Brunkow is a repub- lican, and has held local offices of trust. His farm contains sixty acres, valued at $40 per acre.

Godfrey Neicks, a native of Prussia, was born May 25, 1816. He grew to manhood in his native country, receiving a common school education. He was reared upon a farm, and in 1844 was married to Mrs. Louisa (Redeen) Moldenhaner, widow of John Moldenhaner, who had, by her first marriage, two children-

Augusta, deceased and Frederick W., now en- gaged in the drug and grocery business at Juda. Mr. and Mrs. Niecks emigrated to the United States in 1857, and settled near Monroe, in this county, where they rented land, and lived three years, then purchased the farm on which they now live, on section 34, town of Sylvester. It is valued at $50 per acre, and contains 230 acres. They have had ten children, six of whom are living-August, Amelia, Haner, Her- man, George and Edward. Mr. Niecks and his family are members of the Evangelical Luther- an Church.

George E. Coates came to Green county in December, 1857, and engaged in farming at Monticello, remaining there till the fall of 1867, when he purchased the farm on which he now lives. He has a nice farm, containing ninety acres, valued at $50 per acre. He was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1826. He grew to manhood in his native county, and was there married, Jan. 23, 1848, to Jane Brown, who was born in Luzerne county, June 24, 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Coates have had ten children- Elizabeth, Esther, John, Charles, Mary, Almira, Carrie, Elbert A., Myrta and Arthur. Three are deceased.

Christian F. Matzke was born in Doelitz, Prussia, Aug. 15, 1826. He attained his ma- jority in his native village, and attended school as he had opportunity. In June, 1856, he emi- grated in company with three brothers to the United States, and stopped near Watertown one year, then they came to this county, and worked out by the day until 1866, when Christian bought a farm, on which he now resides. He was followed to this county by a married brother, who worked the farm and with whom Christian made his home three years, then the brother bought himself a farm and moved on it, and is now living just over the line in the State of Illinois. In December, 1869, Christian was married to Augusta Enstina Laufmann, who was born in Prussia, May 21, 1850. By this union there are two children-William F.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

and Miene. Of the four brothers who came to Wisconsin John F. settled just across the line in Illinois; William settled in the town of Jef- ferson; and Michael F. is living in Illinois. Mr. Matzke had nothing when he came to America, but he has succeeded in accumulating a good property, and is now in easy circumstances.

William F. Moore came to the county in Oc- tober, 1859, and settled on section 13, of the town of Sylvester, where he still lives. His farm contains eighty acres, valued at $60 per acre. He was born in Duchess Co., N. Y., April 19, 1822. He was reared upon a farm, and educated in the common schools. He fol- lowed farming in his native State until 1851, when he came to Waukesha Co., Wis., where he was married March 9, 1853, to Minerva Clawson, a native of Green Co., Penn., born June 15, 1828. They remained in Waukesha county until they removed to Green county in 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have three children -Edgar J., Ella M. and Lottie C. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Baptist Church at Juda.

Harris Lassell, a native of Swanton, Franklin Co., Vt, was born March 8, 1803. His early life was spent in his native State, where he ol,- tained a limited education. When twenty-one years old he went to New York State, where he was married, in 1829, to Lydia M. Fisk, who was born in Otsego county, April 25, 1802. In the spring of 1854 they came to Green county, and settled in the village of Decatur, were they lived until 1865. They then removed to their present home, on section 12, of the town of Syl- vester. Mrs. Lassell died Feb. 14, 1873. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Emily A., the youngest, lives at home with her father.

Gustave Norder was born March 13, 1839. He is the son of Leonard and Magdalena Sauf- facher, natives of Switzerland. They emigrat- ed to the United States and settled first at New Glarus, then in 1858 they came to Sylves- ter, settling on section 26, where he lived until

his death, Oct. 9, 1882. His mother died Feb. 2, 1881. There was a family of fifteen children, eight of whom are now living. Gustave, the subject of this sketch, was born on the farm where he now resides. He was married Oct. 18, 1880, to Anna Geigle who was born in Mon- roe in 1863. They have two children-Magda- lena and an infant not now named. The farm contains eighty acres, valued at $40 per acre.

John W. Hutzel, a native of Green county, was born March 23, 1859. His father, Samuel Hutzel, of whom mention is made elsewhere, is an old resident of Sylvester. John received a common school education, and Jan. 18, 1882, was married to Alice Gans, who was born in the town of Jefferson, Green county, and re- moved with her parents to Sylvester, when she was six years old. Her parents are still resi- dents of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Hutzel are members of the Juda Baptist Church. They have one child-Opal.

Isaiah Stauffacher was born in Switzerland, Nov. 27, 1842. He came with his parents to Green county, and grew to manhood on his father's farm in the town of Mount Pleasant, and received a limited school education. He enlisted in company B, 31st regiment, Wiscon- sin Volunteers, Aug. 14, 1862, and participated in many important battles. 'Among them were Nashville and Atlanta. He was discharged July 15, 1865, by reason of the close of the war, and returned home. He was married June 22, 1866, to Magdaline Elmer, who was born in Switzerland July 25, 1843. She is the daughter of John U. and Vrana (Martin) Elmer, who came to the United States about 1847, and stopped in the town of Washington, where they remained some years, then moved to Mount Pleasant where the mother died Dec. 26, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffacher are members of the Evangelical Church. They have eight children -John, Ernest, Isaiah, Electa, Emanuel, Daniel, Caroline and an infant not now named. His farm contains 320 acres in a good state of cul- tivation.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Dorwin Hulburt was born Dec. 19, 1819, in Onondaga Co., N. Y. He was married to Eliza- beth F. Sherwood, born Feb. 23, 1816. In 1859 he came with his family to Green county, and settled in the town of Sylvester, where he lived until his death in October, 1882. He had a family of eight children. Mr. Hulburt took an active part in religions affairs, and was an active member of the Baptist Church, of which he was a deacon.

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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 159

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