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 162

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 162

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Richard A. Smith, son of Andrew J. and Mary (Ellis) Smith, pioneers of Green county, was born in the town of Jordan, Green Co., Wis., Jan. 25, 1850. He was twelve years old when his father died, leaving his mother with three children, of whom Richard was the eldest. He assisted his mother in supporting the family, working at farming in the neighborhood, for which he received, at first, $5 per month. His wages were increased gradually, until he received $18 per month. In 1872, he went to Iowa, and rented land, where he put in a crop which, after harvesting, he returned to Green county. In the fall of that year, he was

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

married to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Eliza (James) Hammond, of Green county. Soon after marriage, they went to Iowa and lived two years, then came back to this county and rented land until 1883, when he bought his present farm on sections 23 and 26, of Wash- ington. "They have two children-Charlie and Roscoe.

David Benkert, was born in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, March 1, 1820. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in his youth, worked with his father, who was a tanner. He afterwards engaged in the same business for himself. In 1851 he left his native country and came to America, landing at New York city and coming directly west to Green Co., Wis. He arrived on the 5th of June, and immediate- ly engaged in farming in Monroe, receiving for his services, $12 per month. In 1852 he rented a farm which he carried on two years, then came to Washington, and bought a farm on section 22, upon which was a log cabin, and a few acres broken. Since that time he has im- proved and cleared a farm, and built a good frame house. He still makes this his home. In 1882, he bought another farm on the same section. He was married in 1843 to Catharina Kung, who was born in the canton of Bern. They have five children living-Mary, David, John, Jacob and Fred. Their sons, Jacob and Fred, are now engaged in mercantile trade in Albany. Jacob was born in the town of Wash- ington, Dec. 25, 1857. He spent his early life on his father's farm, and obtained his education in the district school. When eighteen years of age he engaged as clerk in a dry goods store. In 1879, he began mercantile trade at Monti- cello. He continued in business there until 1881 when he closed his store, and moved his goods to Albany, where he established a good trade. The fire of November, 1883, destroyed his entire property, but in December, 1883, he resumed business in company with his brother, Fred. They carry a large stock of clothing and gentleman's furnishing goods with a tailor

shop in connection. Hle was married in 1881 to Jennie Patterson, of Monroe, Wis.

Jacob zum Brunnen, Sr., was born in the can- ton of Bern, Switzerland, Nov. 2, 1802. When a young man he learned the tailor's trade, which business he followed until eighteen years of age. He then engaged in making hemp ropes, worked at that business for fifteen years. He worked at the pottery business for two years. The clay not being good, he lost money in the enterprise. He then engaged in the manufac- ture of ropes, and also opened a dry goods and grocery store. In 1845 he purchased some land and engaged in stock raising. In 1852 he sold ont his business and emigrated to the United States with his family, which consisted of his wife and six children. They crossed the ocean on a sail vessel, being twenty-two days making the trip. They landed at New York, and came to Green county at once, arriving here on the 16th of October. He clerked in Monroe for six months, and in the spring of 1853 purchased some land on section 28, town of Washington. He lived there unti! 1867, when he removed to section 34, where he had purchased land the year previous. He erected a large frame house and barn, and resided there until the time of his death, which occurred May 20, 1869. His widow died Feb. 4, 1879. They had six children, three of whom are liv- ing-Jacob, Gotleib and Martin. John, the second child was born in Switzerland in August, 1836, and died Jan. 15, 1870 ; Catharine, the only daughter, was born Jan. 20, 1838, and died in October, 1873, and Bartholomew, the young- est child, was born June 16, 1842, and died Jan. 5, 1870.

Martin zum Brunnen was born Dec. 28, 1840, in Switzerland. In 1852 his parents came to America. He made his home with his parents until their death. He was married in April, 1878, to Euphemia Marty, born in the town of Mount Pleasant. They have one child-Bar- tholomew. Mr. zum Brunnen owns and occu- pies the farm his father purchased in 1866, on

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

section 34. He has altogether, on sections 19, 21, 27, 33 and 34, 480 acres of land. Sixty acres of this is timber land. He keeps seventy milch cows, and makes the milk into cheese. His father commenced cheese-making in 1856, with the milk from twelve cows, and continued in the business until his death.

Jacob zum Brunnen, Jr., oldest son of Jacob and Susanna (Sigrist) zum Brunnen, was born in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, Dec. 12, 1830. He received his education in the public schools of his native country. In his youth he assisted his father in making ropes, and after his father purchased a farm, devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. He came with his par- ents to America in October, 1852, and in 1853 engaged with a carpenter and joiner at Monroe, for one year, to learn the trade at which he worked, after the first year in connection with farming, until 1857. Upon the 29th of April, of that year, he was married to Susanna Fraut- schy, who was born in the canton of Bern, July 22, 1836. He then settled in New Glarus and worked a few months at his trade, after which he moved to his father's place, and in company with his father and brother, carried on the farm until 1861. In the fall of that year he settled on his present farin on section 28, in the town of Washington. He erected a log house, to which he has since made a frame addition ; and also erected a frame barn, 38x44 feet. He is the owner of 305 acres of land. He keeps a dairy and sells milk. Mr. and Mrs. zum Brun- nen have nine children living-Jacob, John, Gotleib, Emma, Emil, Edward, Mary Susanna, Louise Helena, Clara Lidia. Mr. zum Brunnen and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. zum Brunnen's father and mother are dead.

Linus Hare was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in September, 1812. He obtained his education in the common schools. When fifteen years of age he engaged with a blacksmith to learn the trade, which he followed a few years, then went to Salina, where he was employed as foreman in a lumber yard until 1852. He went to Mich-

igan, in that year, and located in St. Joseph county, where he purchased a farm, which, in the spring of 1854, he sold, and came to Green Co., Wis. He bought a farm in the town of Sylvester, where he soon became prominent in public affairs, and filled many offices of trust, in the town. He was elected in the fall of 1880, to the office of county treasurer, and re-elected in 1882. At the time of his first election to that office, he moved to Monroe, where he died, Feb. 1, 1883. He was twice married, first to Ora Spencer, who died a few years after mar- riage, leaving three children, only one of whom is now living-Helen, who is married and lives in Syracuse. His second wife was Clarinda Hill, and by this union there were nine chil- dren, five of whom are now living-Henrietta, Alvah E., Lucy, Mary and Hester. Alvah E. was born in Salina, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1844, and came with his parents to Green county, where he grew to manhood in the town of Sylvester. He enlisted April 24, 1864, for 100 days, in company A, of the 40th Wisconsin regiment, and went to Memphis, Tenn., and was present when Forrest made his attack upon that city. He served five months, and was dis- charged with the regiment and returned home. He was married Nov. 13, 1866, to Sarah Ham- mond, a daughter of Jacob and Eliza (James) Hammond, pioneers of Green county. Mr. and Mrs. Hare settled in Albany at the time of their marriage, and remained one year, then moved to Mount Pleasant and rented a farm three years. He then moved into the village of Mon- ticello, and kept the Monticello House two and a half years. He then resumed farming. In 1876 he bought a farm on section 26, of Wash- ington, where he has erected a good frame house, and is engaged in raising stock and grain. They have two children-Myrtie and Linus.

Eldridge W. Chesebro was born in Knox, Al- bany Co., N. Y., March 14, 1822. His early life was spent in his native county, where he attended the district school, and afterwards, three terms at Knoxville Academy. He was mar-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

ried in March, 1850, to Elmina Ketcham, also a native of Knox, Albany county. He bought a small farm in his native town and lived there until 1854, then sold his farm and came to Wis- consin. He lived in Walworth county one year, then settled in Mount Pleasant, Green county, where he purchased a farm in company with his father, on section 26. Two years later he sold his interest and bought a farm on the same section, upon which was a log house and a straw stable, and fifty acres broken. He lived upon this farm four years, then removed to an ad- joining farm which he had purchased, living there until 1868, when he came to Washington and bought his present farm on section 25, where he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Chesebro are the parents of seven children- Milton, Simmons, Oscar, Allen, Sarah, Edwin and Eldridge. Mr. Chesebro enlisted Feb. 22, 1865, in the 49th Wisconsin regiment, company G, and went to Missonri where he was stationed on guard duty. He was detached from the reg- iment a part of the time. He was discharged at Benton Barracks, Nov. 8, 1865.

Argalus Loveland came to Green county in 1854. He was born in Smithfield, Madison Co., N. Y., May 5, 1814. When he was three years old his parents moved to Springfield, Erie Co., Penn., where they lived until 1828, then moved to Salem, Mercer-county, of the same State. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, then went to Orleans Co., N. Y., where he was employed in farming during the summer and chopping wood in the winter. He staid there a year, then returned to his home in Mercer Co., Penn., remained a few weeks, then went to Michigan, where he stopped a short time and returned to Cleveland, Ohio, and went to work in a stone quarry, five miles east of the city. A few months later he went to Warrens- ville, near Cleveland, and commenced learning the carpenter trade. Some time later he re- turned to Cleveland and worked at his trade until 1837, when he went back to Mercer county and took an interest in his father's farm. He

was married in that county, Oct. 11, 1838, to Jane Orwiek, who was born near Coshocton, Ohio. The following spring he bought land two miles from his father's place, upon which he lived until 1853, then sold and went to Pa- vilion, Kendall Co , Ill., and remained one year, then came to Green county. He bought a farm of William Tucker on sections 22 and 23 of the town of Washington. There were fourteen acres of the land fenced and broken, and a log house was standing upon the place. He now has the land all improved and fenced, and has erected a large frame house, doing the work himself. Mr. and Mrs. Loveland have nine children living-Franklin, Orrilla, Jane A., Eminah, Temperance, William A., Edwin A., Alfred E. and Silas E. Harrison, the second son, was born in Mercer Co., Penn., June 25, 1841, and made his home with his parents until 1863. In the summer of that year he went to Monroe and engaged in a marble shop, to learn the trade, but soon after enlisted in the 1st Wis- consin Heavy Artillery, and went to Lonisiana. In the summer of 1864 he was taken sick at Brazier City and sent to the hospital at New Orleans, where he partially recovered, and with 200 others, started for New York on the steam- er North America which, during astorm, sprung a leak and sunk. Nearly all on board perished, Harrison among the number. Mr. Loveland is the present town treasurer, which office he has filled for seven consecutive years. He has also been chairman of the board, a member of the side board, assessor and town clerk. He is a member of the Seventh Day Advent Church at Monroe. He is politically a republican, and has been elected to office in a town where his party is largely in the minority.

Frank Loveland enlisted April 22, 1861, at the first call for troops, in company C, of the 3d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and joined the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the following battles: Bolivar Heights, Win- chester, Cedar Mountain, second battle of Bull Run and Antietam, where he was wounded and

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

sent to the hospital, and remained four months, then joined the command opposite Fredericks- burg, in January, 1863. He afterwards partici- pated in the battles of Chancellorsville, Ger- mania Ford and Gettysburg. In the fall of 1863, he joined the western army. He veteran- ized December 23, of that year, and went with Sherman on his march to the sea, and to Raleigh, N. C., taking part in most of the more important battles of that campaign. He was taken siek at Raleigh, but again joined the regiment at Alexandria, in June, 1865. He was mastered out in Kentucky in July, 1865, and returned home. He was born in Mercer Co., Penn., July 30, 1839, and came to Wisconsin with his par- ents with whom he remained until the time of his enlistment. He was married June 20, 1874, to Maria Lemon, a native of Green county. He then settled on his present farm on section 15, which he had purchased some years previously. He has improved the land and erected a good frame house and barn. Mr. and Mrs. Loveland have four children-Otto, William, Franklin and Ada.

Joshua Moore came to Green county in 1854, and bought eighty acres of land on section 36, of the town of Washington. There was a stone house upon the place and all the land was im- proved and under fence. In 1867 he sold this place and bought 120 acres of land on sections 14 and 15, forty of which was improved. A log house was standing upon the southwest quarter of section 14, into which he moved. He has since purchased more land and erected a good frame house in which he now lives. He was born in Guilford Co., N. C., March 15, 1799. He was reared in his native county, to agricul- tural pursuits. In 1822 he went to Tennessee and located in Roane county, where he engaged with a saddler and harness maker, to learn the trade. He served six months, then engaged in the same business for himself. He was mar- ried in Tennessee, in December,1823, to Hepsey Ann Childres, who was born in Anson Co., N. C., Nov. 12, 1804. A short before his marriage

he bought a piece of timber land and built a log house, in which they began house keeping. It was furnished with home-made furniture. In 1830 he bought 100 acres, opened a tan yard and then in 1837 sold his place and went to Indiana, and entered 400 acres of land in Davis county. He remained there but a short time, however, and returned in 1838 to Tennessee. The man to whom he had sold his Tennessee farm, for $1,000, failed to pay for it, and he had to start anew. He had $100 and he bought a piece of land on credit, built a log house and put in a tan yard. He afterwards built a good frame house, and lived at Post Oak Springs until 1854, when he again went to Indiana and remained one year, then came to Green county. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had three children-Mary R., John C. and Thomas. Mary R. is the widow of Jacob Berkey; Thomas is dead; John C. is a farmer and lives in Washington.

James Confer, class leader of the Centre M. E. Church, in the town of Washington, was born in Centre Co., Penn., Jan. 10, 1821. There he grew to manhood, obtaining his education in the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he commenced working in a tannery, which occupation he continued eight years. He was married Feb. 20, 1845, to Mary E. Ziebuch, who was born in Union Co., Penn., Sept. 3, 1824. In 1847 they removed to Illinois and located in Winnebago county, purchasing land in Harlem township, where he built a stone house and im- proved a farm. Ile resided there until 1854, then sold his farm and came to Green Co., Wis. He purchased unimproved land on sec- tion 34, of the town of Washington, on which he built a log house. A few years later he erected the frame house in which he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Confer are the parents of four children-John W., who is a farmer, and lives in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa; Francis M., a practic- ing physician at Monroe; Jacob S., a farmer, living at Monticello, and James E., who resides at home with his parents.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Melschior Schlittler came to Green county in 1858, and settled in the town of New Glarus. He was a single man at that time, and worked at farming. For his work the first year he re- ceived $100. In 1862 he purchased land on sec- tion 12, town of Washington. There was a log house on the place, in which he lived. He was married in July, 1867, to Elsbeth Zweifel, horn in Switzerland. They have six children -- Bertha, Emma, Albert, Lena, Mina and Amelia. In 1867 he rented a farm on sections 1 and 12, and the next year sold a part of his old farm and bought the one he had rented, and which he now occupies. He has 191 acres in the towns of Washington and New Glarus, and 200 acres in the town of Exeter. He has a large frame house and good barns, also granaries and other ont houses.

John G. Bidlingmaier came to Washington in 1861, and purchased land on section 30, which consisted of sixty-seven acres, twenty acres of which were broken. A log cabin had been erected upon the land. He soon after pur- chased 133 acres of adjoining land. He was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1814, where he was reared upon a farm. He was married to Annie Woerner, and in 1851 they came to America, and settled in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, where he was employed in farming three years. He then rented a farm until 1861. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bid- lingmaier, only one of whom is now living- Michael, who was born in Germany, Dec. 3, 1843, and was seven years old when he came to America. He was married in 1877 to Ann Mary, daughter of Christian and Verena (Buenker) Iseli. She was born in Ohio. They settled at the time of their marriage upon the homestead, where they still reside. They have three chil- dren-John G., Christian A. and Lydia Verena.

Christian Iseli came to this county in 1861, and bought wild land on section 30, of the town of Washington, all of which was timber and grub land. He has since cleared and fenced about 100 acres. He was born in the canton of

Bern, Switzerland, July 4, 1828. His father was a gunsmith by trade, and also owned a small farm. The subject of this sketch assisted his father on the farm and in the shop until 1846, when he left his native land, and came to the United States. He first stopped in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, and engaged in mining four months. He then ran an engine at the iron ore furnace five years, after which he was engaged as en- gineer in different places for three years, then was again employed at the mines, doing outside work until 1861. He was married in 1857 to Verena Buenker, a native of Switzerland. They have had fourteen children, thirteen of whom are now living-Samuel, Ann Mary, Verena, John, Jacob, Rosina, Elizabeth, Louisa, Maggie, Henry, George, Wilhelm D. and Annie B., twins. Annie, the ninth child, died in 1880, aged seven years and six months. The family are members of the German Evangelical Re- formed Church, of which Mr. Iseli was one of the first trustees, and is the superintendent of the Sabbath school.

John Norton came to Green county in March, 1865, and worked at farming for James Barney. In 1867 he bought 100 acres of land on section 24, of the town of Washington. He improved this land, and at the sametime, worked Mr. Bar- ney's farm on shares. In 1877 he removed to his own land. He lived upon this place until 1881 when he bought a farm on section 25, of the same town, where he has built a large frame house and a barn 36x70 feet, with twenty foot posts and having a stone basement. He owns 402 acres of land, the greater part of which is improved and under fence. He keeps a dairy of forty cows. Mr. Norton was born in county Limerick, Ireland, May 10, 1825. He was there reared upon a farm and educated in the com- mon schools. In 1848 he left Ireland and came to America, landing at Philadelphia. He re- mained in that city three months, then went to Berks county, where he lived till 1851. He then removed to Ohio and located in Lake county where he rented a farm and remained

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

1143

till 1865, when, as before stated, he came to Green county. He was married in 1854 to Mary Codde, who was born in connty Wexford, Ireland. They have eight children-Michael, Frank, George, John, Robert, James, Ella and Mary V.

John Bass came to Green county in 1874, and engaged in cheese making, in the town of Wash- ington. In 1881 he bought the Fessenden farm, located on sections 23, 24 and 25. Here he built a large barn with a stone basement and enlarged the frame house he now occupies. He is still engaged in the manufacture of cheese, using at the present time the milk of 130 cows. He also has a factory in Dane county. He manufacturers Limburger and brick cheese. He

was born in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, June 6, 1836. He learned the art of cheese making when a boy, and when seventeen years old went to France, where he was engaged in that occupation. In 1856 he left that country and came to America, locating in New Jersey, where he lived one year. He then went to New York and engaged in making cheese in Oneida county, remaining there the greater part of the

time till 1870 when he came to Wisconsin and located at Watertown where he started two cheese factories, which he sold in 1874, and as before stated, came to Green county. He was married in 1874 to Louisa Weismiller, daugh- ter of Jacob and Elizabeth Weismiller, pioneers of Green county. Mr. and Mrs. Bass have three children-John, Bertha and one not yet named.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLIV.

TOWN OF YORK.

This is the northwest town of the county. The territory is identically the same as that of congressional township 4 north, range 6 east, of the fourth principal meridian. Itis bounded on the north by the town of Perry, Dane county; on the east by the town of New Glarus; on the south by the town of Adams; and on the west by the town of Moscow, Iowa county, and town of Blanchard, Lafayette county.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The western part of the eastern tier of sec- tions make the water-shed between the waters that flow southeast, uniting with Sugar river, and the waters that flow southwest, uniting with the Pecatonica river. The eastern part of the town is very rolling, and generally prairie, interspersed with groves, and the larger part of the town, including the western part of the eastern half, and all of the western half is quite hilly. The hills in the western and southwest- ern portions reaches an elevation of from 150 to 250 feet above the valley level. Many of these hills are quite abrupt, but farmers living in the valleys are able to make roads leading to their lands on the ridges. Three considerable streams are made within the limits of this town, by spring branches coursing their way down the many valleys. These streams flow southwest- erly, and finally find their way to the Pecatonica river. The many highways of the town are de- vious, now following a valley through a settle- ment, and now over a ridge or high land, and again entering a valley. There is one exception to this rule. One well traveled road passes

north and south through the eastern tier of sec- tions. This is what is known as the Argyle and Madison road.

The highlands with the exception of York prairie, spoken of, were originally timbered with the common varieties of oak, principally, black walnut, poplars, basswood and hick- ory. The valleys were generally filled with a rank growth of grass and weeds, varied by oc- casional patches of wild plum and wild apple trees, and plenty of wild grapes.

The soil of the prairies is a black loam, with a limestone and clay foundation. The valleys have generally an alluvial soil. The timbered highlands are principally clay with a limestone mixture. Plenty of limestone for all purposes is found, and in the southwest part considerable sandstone erops out.

The town is well watered, and especially well adapted to stock and dairy business.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

John Stewart made the first settlement in the territory now known as the town of York, in in 1838. He came from Union Co., Ohio, in 1837, after which he spent one year in Wiota, Lafayette county. He made a claim upon sec- tion 27. This claim was mostly prairie, but the west side was covered with timber; in which, near a spring, he built his log house. Mr. Stewart was born in 1806. His father, Joseph Stewart, settled in Ohio in the early part of this century. John Stewart was married in Union Co., Ohio, to Adeline Robinson, March 2, 1830. She was born Oct. 13, 1809. When he came to

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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 162

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