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 161

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 161

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April 1, 1844, and was five years old when he came to Green county. He was reared and educated in the town of Washington. March 23, 1865, he was married to Margaret Hefty, who was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzer- land, July 7, 1844. They settled at the time of their marriage, on the old homestead, which they now occupy. He has purchased more land, and now owns 476 acres. He has two large barns and a good frame house. In 1868 he commenced making cheese, keeping at that time, twenty cows. He now keeps seventy-five cows and continues to manufacture cheese. Mr. and Mrs. Blumer have seven children-Rosana, Mary, Catharine, Adam, Emma, Fredolin and Jacob.

Daniel and James Hilton, natives of Maine, came in 1850. Daniel entered land on sections 5 and 6, where he improved a farm and lived a few years, then lived in Brooklyn several years, after which he moved to Missouri. He now lives in Pocahontas Co., Iowa. James en- tered land on section 7, where he lived five or six years, when he sold out and removed to the town of York, where he still lives.

Andrew Harper, a settler of 1851, was born on the North Shetland Island, Nov. 28, 1828. When he was thirteen years old he em - grated to America and settled in Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y., where he lived until 1846, then came to the Territory of Wisconsin and stopped temporarily five miles east of Janes- ville and in January 1847 removed to Spring Valley, Rock county, in which town his father entered land and improved a farm, and is now living at the age of seventy-nine years. The subject of this sketch made his home there with his parents until 1853. On the 22d of February of that year he was married to Agnes Halcrow, who was born on North Shetland Island. In January, 1852, he came to Green county and en- tered land on section 27, town of Washington, locating the same with a land warrant for which he had traded in Rock county, paying for the ¿ me a pair of oxen and a wagon, with $60 in

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

money. He then had left, one pair of oxen and $20 in money, which constituted his entire earthly possessions. The following March after mar- riage he came to the town of Washington, but not having means with which to improve his land, he rented land on section 21 for three years. He had good crops and there made some money with which to start improvements on his own land. In 1855 he built a frame house 14x22, and moved during the fall of that year and immediately commenced work on the land and was in a few years able to buy more land. Hle now owns 360 acres, the greater portion of which is improved and under fence. Mrs. Harper died May 5, 1874. Twelve children were born to them, eleven of whom are now liv- ing-Robert, Libbie, Malcolm J., Susan, Agnes, Andrew, Tena, Thomas, Jane, Hine J. and William, Mr. Harper joined the Presbyterian Church in York State, but since coming to Wis- consin has worshiped with the Methodist Epis- copal organization, of which Church his wife and nine of her children were members.

Joseph and Gustavus Hilton, natives of Maine, came in 1851. Joseph had a land warrant which he located on sections 5 and 8. He improved a farm and lived here until the spring of 1884, when he sold out and settled in Lyon Co., Iowa. Gustavus entered 100 acres of land on sections 6 and 7. He now lives on section 6.

Gustavus Hilton, fifth son of John and Lu- cinda (Williams) Hilton. was born in the town of Embden, Somerset Co., Maine, Jan. 17, 1828. His younger days were spent upon a farm in his native town, and he obtained his education in the public schools. He remained with his par- ents until twenty-one years old. Ile then en- gaged in farming in the neighborhood during the summer seasons, and in lumbering during the winters, and running logs down the Kenne- bec river in the spring. In 1851 he came to Wisconsin, traveling by rail to Buffalo, thence on the lakes to Detroit, crossed Michigan by rail, crossing Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, where he employed a farmer by the name of

Webb, (who resided near Decatur, Green county but who happened to be in Milwaukee at the time) to bring him to Monroe. He entered land on sections 6 and 7, of the town of Wash- ington, but made his home with his brother, Joseph, until 1857. He was married in Febru- ary of the following year to Sarah Maria Pres- her, a native of Tioga Co., N. Y. He erected a frame house on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 6. He has cleared and improved seventy- five acres of land, and now owns 180 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton have seven children- Emma A., Elroy B., Marcellus E., Herbert W., Millie L., Lorrin L. and Daisy B. In 1854 Mr. Hilton's parents came to Washington and bought land on section 8, on which they lived two years, then sold and returned to Maine, where Mr. Ililton died in 1874. He was born in Wiscasset, Maine, in March, 1786. At the age of twenty years he went to sea, and sailed before the mast seven years. He then aban- doned the sea and was married to Lucinda Wil- liams, also a native of Wiscasset, born April 17, 1789. They settled at Stark, Franklin Co., Maine. He was a a soldier in the War of 1812. He afterwards bought land in Embden, Somer- set county, where they resided until 1854, when, as before stated, they came to Green county. On his return to Maine he lived in the town of Embden with his daughter, until the time of his death. His widow now lives with her son, James, in the town of York, and although nine- five years old, is still in the enjoyment of good health. Eleven children were born to them, nine of whom reached maturity.

James Gaines, a native of "Bonnie Scotland" and a veteran of the Mexican War, came from the town of Exeter in 1853, and bought land on the northeast quarter of section 23. About 1877 he sold out and moved to Nebraska, where he still lives.

The records of the first town meeting were destroyed, but we learn that the following offi- vers were elected at a town meeting held in James Long's house in April, 1849: Elijah

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Roby, chairman; Peter Wilson and James Crouch side board; William Tucker, town clerk; A. H. Pierce, assessor; and Frank Pierce, superintend- ent of schools.

At the election held in the Bloomer school house, district No. 6, on April 1, 1884, the fol- lowing officers were elected: Andrew Harper, chairman; S. T. Clayton and Thomas Hefty, side board; Thomas Lemon, clerk; John Baum- gartner, assessor; he refused to serve, and Henry Hefty was appointed by the board to fill vacan- cy; A. Loveland, treasurer and justice of the peace.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school house in district No. 3 was erected in 1854. It was a stone building, lo- cated on the northwest quarter of section 9. Mary Hutchison was the first teacher. In 1882 a frame house was erected on the old site, in which Kate Wescott taught the first school.

The first school in district No. 1 was taught by John Brown in a log house in the winter of 1848-9. The house was situated on the north line of the southwest quarter of section 22. During the following fall the first school house in the town was built on the southwest quarter of section 22. B. T. Hancock was the first teacher in this house. The house was built of logs furnished by the citizens, who also erected the same. The present building was erected in 1868, and is a neat frame structure, situated on the site of the old one. Lorain Marshall was the first teacher in this house.

The first school taught in district No. 2 was in Jarvis Rattan's house, in 1851. Mary A. Sutherland, of the town of Sylvester, was the teacher. She received $2 per week for her services, but was taken sick and died before her term had expired. School was afterward taught in Frank Pierce's house. In 1854 a school house was erected on the northeast cor- ner of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 25. Louisa A. Tilson taught the first term of school in this house. The pres- ent building was erected in 1871. It is situated

on the northwest quarter of section 36. Lydia Shake, now the wife of William Bailey, was the first teacher in that house.

The first school house in district No. 4 was erected in 1850. The people of the neighbor- hood turned out and drew the logs together, some furnishing one and others three and four logs. Then a "bee" was held and the house was put up. Edwin Noble was the first teacher. This house was located on section 2, and was used until the present one was erected.

The first school in district No. 6 was taught by Mrs. James Lang, in her husband's house on the northeast quarter of section 9. This was in 1851. The following year a log school house was erected on the south line of section 9, in which Emily Lamars taught the first school. The log school house was used until 1870 when a frame building was erected near the center of section 9.

The first school in district No. 8 was taught by Mrs. William Fleury, in her husband's house in 1856. During the same year a log house was built on the northeast quarter of section 19. Phoenix Bennett taught the first school in this House. In 1874 a small frame building was erected on the old site, in which Annie Mc- Curry taught the first term of school.

RELIGIOUS.

In an early day the people met for worship in the school house on section 9. The pulpit was supplied by preachers from Monroe, among whom were Revs. Snell, Smead, Hagerman, Angelberger and Fotsch. Rev. Hirz is the present pastor. In 1876 a neat frame church building was erected on the northwest quarter of section 21. Rev. Fotsch was the first to preach in this church. The first trustee was Christian Isley. There is a flourishing Sabbath school in connec- tion with this Church, of which Christian Isley is superintendent.

The first Methodist Episcopal meetings were held at the house of Alexander Sires, in the winter of 1847-8, by Rev. Allen. A class was organized with the following members : James

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Crouch and wife; Alexander Sires and wife ; Elias Wright and wife; David Sires and wife, and Jacob Ashley and wife James Crouch was appointed class leader. For a short time the class met at the school house, and later, at at the house of James Crouch, for some years, when they again met in the school house. In 1874 they erected a church on the southwest quarter of section 26. It is a neat frame struc- ture, painted white. The following are the pastors who have had charge of the Church : Revs. Dudgeon, Hurd, Fancher, Lake, Walker, Rupel, Allen, Lewis, Semple, Knox, Briggs, Burnip and Haight. The latter being the pas- tor at the present time. Elder Crouch preached the dedicatory sermon. A Sabbath school is connection with the Church. Thomas Lemon is superintendent.

The first services in this town, of the Im- manuel Church of the Evangelical Association of North America, were held by Rev. Leonard Buhler, of the town of Sylvester, in 1869, on the occasion of the funeral of Jacob Zum Brun- nen. Rev. Buhler organized a class, and meet- ings were held in the school house until the church was built. The church is a neat frame structure, situated on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 21.

FIRST MARRIAGE.

The first marriage in the town was Hiram Rust and Maria Pierce, at the residence of the bride's parents, in 1838, by Joseph Kelly, jus- tice of the peace. Mr. Rust is now dead. Ilis widow lives in Kansas.

PROMINENT CITIZENS.

Among the prominent citizens of the town of Washington, are the following, of whom we give biographical sketches :

Thomas Lemon, an early settler of Green county, was a native of Centre Co., Penn., born in 1802. He was there married to Sarah Gun- sallus, who was born in the same county, in 1815. He was a weaver by trade, which occupation he followed in Centre county, until 1843. He then came to Wisconsin and spent one year in Lafay-

ette county, then came to Green county. He rented a farm, one year, in the town of Sylves- ter, then went to New Glarus and bought gov- ernment land on section 35, where he built a log cabin and cleared a portion of the land. Hle died in that town, June 14, 1854, leaving a wife and six children-James, Catharine, William, Thomas, Amanda and Maria. The family con- tinned to live in New Glarus for a number of years, and made considerable improvement upon the farm, but they are now scattered. James lives in Custer Co., Neb; Catharine is dead; William and Thomas reside in Washington; Amanda is the wife of Jacob North, and living in Chase Co., Kansas. Maria is the wife of Frank Loveland. Thomas was born in the town of Sylvester, Dec. 15, 1845. He grew to manhood in New Glarus, and in May, 1872, was married to Eminah Loveland, daughter of Arga- lus and Jane (Orwing) Loveland. They went to Nebraska and bought a farm in York county, where they remained four years, then returned to Green county and bought a farm on sections 27 and 22, of Washington, upon which was a large barn with a stone basement, and also a cheese factory. In 1883 he built a commodious frame house. He keeps a dairy of twenty cows. Mr. and Mrs. Lemon have one child-Eddie Elgin. Mr. Lemon was elected to the office of town clerk, in 1882, and has been twice re- elected. He has also been supervisor.

William Lemon, son of Thomas and Sarah Lemon, was born in Centre Co., Penn., Dec. 13, 1841. He was quite young when his parents came to Green county. He grew to manhood in this county, and on the 31st of August, 1864, enlisted in the 35th Wisconsin, company D. Ile first went to Tennessee, then to Arkansas, then to Alabama, where he engaged in the siege and capture of Mobile. Ile then went to Texas, thence to New Orleans, where he was dis- charged in July, 1865. He returned home, and in October, 1869, was united in marriage with Rebecca Willis. She was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, and is a daughter of Solomon and

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Lavina Willis, pioneers of Green county. He had been making his home with his mother, on the old homestead, but on his marriage he set- tled on land he had previously purchased on section 14. He has since bought land on section 23, and has erected a good set of frame buildings. They have four children-Jesse, Ethlen, William and Myrtie.

Samuel Holloway, a pioneer of Green county, was born in Worcester Co., Md., in 1799. He was there married, to Mahala Godfrey, also a native of Maryland. In 1835 they removed to Illinois, and were early settlers in Schuyler county, where he worked at his trade as black- smith in the town of Brooklyn. They remained there until 1844, when they came to Green county, and took a claim on section 22, township 3, range 7 east, now known as Washington. Two years later, he traded that land for a claim in Monroe, where he lived until 1852. Hle then went to Richland county and settled in Roek- bridge. He died in that town, two years later. He was twice married. His first wife died in 1848, leaving ten children, eight of whom are now living. He was again married in 1850, and by this union had one child, who now lives in Rockbridge, Richland county.

Ara S. Holloway, eldest son of Samuel and Mahala (Godfrey) Holloway, was born Maryland, Nov. 13, 1823. In his youth he in learned the blacksmith trade. He remained with his parents until 1848, when he was married to Rebecca Rice, a native of In- diana, and settled in Monroe, where he opened a shop and worked at his trade three years. He then removed to Monticello and engaged in the same business, which he continued until 1878. In that year he sold out, and bought a farm on section 35, of the town of Washington. He has built a shop upon his farm and carries on black- smithing in connection with farming. His first wife died ten months after marriage. He was again married to Emiline Rice, a sister of his former wife, who died eleven years later. His third wife was Ann Gates, who lived but two

and a half years after marriage. He was after- wards married to Harriet N. Jones. The sec- ond Mrs. Holloway left two children-Jane and Thomas. The present Mrs. Holloway has one child-Ara C.

John Baumgartner, son of Anton and Mag- dalena Baumgartner, early settlers of Green county, was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Aug. 9, 1838. He was nine years of age when his parents came to America and settled in Green county, where he grew to man- hood. He attended school in his native coun- try, and also in the pioneer schools of Wash- ington. In 1862 he bought the northeast quar- ter of section 21, on which he built a log house and kept "bach," until 1865. He was married January 19 of that year, to Anna Hefty, also a native of the canton of Glarus, born March 6, 1846. He continued to occupy the log house until 1882, when he erected a large frame house. He has also built a large barn, with a stone basement, a granary 16x26 feet, and a stable of the same dimensions. He is engaged in raising grain and stoek. Mr. and Mrs. Baumgartner have nine children-Magdalena, Anna, Mary, Lydia, Herman A., Richard J., Reuben H., Otto M. and Bertha J.

Thomas Hefty, son of Fredolin and Rosanna Hefty, pioneers of Green county, was born March 15, 1846, and was one year old when he came to America with his parents. He grew to manhood in the town of Washington, receiving his education in the district schools. He was married Feb. 16, 1871, to Barbara Kundert, a native of the town of New Glarus, and daugh- ter of Rudolph and Elsbeth Kundert, early set- tlers in that town. He settled then upon the homestead with his parents, on seetion 4, of the town of Washington, where he still resides. He has a large frame house and a frame barn, 40×72 feet, also a stone barn, 34x44 feet. His farm contains 400 acres, and he is extensively engaged in raising grain and stock, also keeps a large dairy. Mr. and Mrs. Hefty have three children-Fridolin K., born Sept. 20, 1871;

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IHISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Elsbeth K., born Dec. 27, 1873, and Rosina K., born March 4, 1877.

Jacob Burgy, one of the pioneers of New Glarus, was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, March 9, 1794, and died in the town of Washington, Dec. 12, 1874. In his youth he was employed in a cotton factory, and also in gardening in his native country. He was married to Barbara Holsy, and they had one son-Jacob. In 1847 they started, April 1, for America, and arrived in New York city after a voyage of fifty-seven days. They came directly to Green county, traveling by steamer to Albany, thence by canal to Buffalo, where they embarked upon the lakes and came to Mil- waukee. There he hired a team for $25 to bring them to Green county. They stopped for a few days in New Glarus, with a friend named Holsy, who lived on the present site of the vil- lage of New Glarus. Mr. Burgy then bought a claim on section 1, of Charles Parkin, and entered forty acres. There was a log cabin upon the claim, into which they moved, also ten acres of winter wheat and seven acres of corn growing. The wheat yielded 308 bushels, the most of which he had ground at the Attica mills and sold the flour to the people in the neighborhood. After the wheat had been gathered from the field, the children in the neighborhood went into the field and gathered up the scattering heads of wheat which was ground into flour. Mr. Burgy soon after en- tered eighty acres adjoining his first entry. He cleared a good farm and resided here until 1862. He then bought a house and lot in the village of New Glarus, where he lived until the death of his wife, June 28, 1873, then went to live with his son, with whom he remained until his death. Their only son, Jacob, was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Jan. 15, 1837, and was ten years old when he came to Green county, where he assisted his father in clearing the farm. He was married July 1, 1858, to Barbara Luchsinger, daughter of John and Bar- bara (Wilde) Luchsinger. She was born in the

canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 1842. They settled on the homestead farm, where he built a large barn with a stone basement, and lived until 1872. He then rented the homestead and bought a farm of 124 acres in the town of Washington. He has since purchased land ad- joining, and now has 310 acres in one body. There was a stone house upon this farm, which he now occupies, having enlarged it by a frame addition. In 1879 he built a barn, 34x56 feet, with eighteen foot posts and having a stone basement. He raises grain and stock, paying particular attention to the raising of fine blood- ed horses. Mr. and Mrs. Burgy are the parents of nine children-Barbara, Rosa, Julia, Ame- lia, Jacob, Louisa, Carrie, Olive and Herman.

Samuel T. Clayton was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., June 22, 1825. When he was but an in- fant his parents moved to Illinois and settled in Crawford county, where they were early settlers. His father bought timber land, improved a farm and lived there until the time of his death. The subject of this sketch there grew to man- hood. When he was fourteen years old his father died, and two years later his mother was again married. He then started out for himself and went to Lawrence county, and there he found employment on a farm. He was there married when he was eighteen years old, to Elizabeth Simmons, who was born in Green Co., N. C. They located in Crawford county and remained one year, then lived on a claim in Lawrence county two years, then moved to Richland conn- ty and rented land for two years. In 1848 they came to this county and spent the first winter at Monroe. He was there engaged in mining, and in teaming to the pineries, a distance of 200 miles. In the spring of 1849 he moved to Washington and engaged in mining two years, then returned to Lawrence county and rented a farm one year, then came back to the town of Washington and bought a claim of forty acres on the northeast quarter of the northeast quar- ter of section 34, and subsequentiy entered the land. There was a small frame house on the

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

place at the time. He did but little work on his land but engaged in mining and carpenter- ing two years, then paid attention to farming. He now owns 140 acres and is engaged in rais- ing stock and grain. They have eight children living-Mary E., Sarah C., George, Libbie, Nettie, Samuel T., William and Myrtle. Mary E. is the wife of Anton Baumgartner; Saralı C. married John W. Bailey; Libbie is married to Jacob Baumgartner. Mr. Clayton and wife are members of the M. E. Church.

Anton Baumgartner, a pioneer of 1848, was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, in November, 1812. There he was reared to agricultural pursuits. When a young man he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed in his native country until 1848. He made the voyage to America in a sailing vessel, landed at New Orleans and proceeded up the Mississippi river to Galena, where he hired a team with which to complete the journey to Green county. He settled in the town of Washington, moving into a log honse owned by his brother-in-law, Jacob Marty, located on section 9. The follow- ing fall he bonght sixty acres on section 28, where he built a log house, into which he moved the next spring. He improved this place, pur- chased more land, and in 1868, erected a frame house. He was married to Magdaline Marty, also a native of Switzerland. They were blessed with nine children, seven of whom are now living-Magdaline, John, Ursula, Euphemia, Anton, Anna and Jacob. Mrs. Baumgartner died in 1877, and soon after, Mr. Baumgartner went to live with his children. He lives at present with his son-in-law, John Jenny, in Mount Pleasant. Their son, Anton Baumgart- ner, was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzer- land, in January, 1847, and was very young when his parents came to America. He grew to manhood in the town of Washington, and was educated in the district school. In August, 1869, he was married to Mary E. Clayton, and after marriage, remained on the homestead four years. He then bought his present farm on

section 26. He has built a good frame house and other buildings. They have five children - Arthur, Henry, Clinton, Weltha and Bessie. Jacob Baumgartner, youngest son of Anton and Magdalina Baumgartner, was born in the town of Washington, April 13, 1854. He ob- tained his education in the public school, and in 1878 was married to Libbie Clayton, a native of Washington. He then settled on the old home- stead where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Baumgartner have two children-Winnie and Willie.

Andrew Jackson Smith was born in Newark, Licking Co., Ohio,Dec.18,1828. His parents, Jabez and Earlis (Standley) Smith, were natives of Massachusetts. Jabez Smith was a soldier in the War of 1812, was wounded in battle and drew a pension. Earlis Smith died at Newark, and Jabez Smith, died near Marengo, Ill., in 1861. In 1848, Andrew J. came to Wisconsin with his father and settled in the town of Jor- dan. March 30, 1849, he was married to Eliza- beth Ellis. In 1855, they went to Richland county and settled in the town of Henrietta where they lived five years, then came back to the town of Jordan, where he died Jan. 6, 1862. There were seven children born to them- Richard A., Jabez N., Mary A., Earlis, Ella, Earl S., and Jessie, of whom Richard, Mary and Ella, only are now living. Mr. Smith was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

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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 161

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