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 54

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 54

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rider; an unerring marksman with rifle and pis- tol. His skill with the former weapon was known to many of the hostile Indians of the plains, not a few of whom he sent to the happy hunting grounds of their fathers. He killed more than fifty buffaloes from the saddle during the season he remained on the plains.

As a writer and public speaker he has a few superiors. His pen is trenchant and graphic. llis letters from the seat of war during the Re- bellion were of the most thrilling and vivid character, his descriptive powers being of the highest order, while his style is scholarly and ornate. He is also favorably known in the re- gions of fictitious literature, and as a poet has produced a volume of verse, which, for bril- lianey of conception, beauty of language, depth of thought and fineness of fancy, is excelled by few of the laureates of these days, and which is destined to perpetuate his name for all time. As a fluent and ready speaker, graceful, com- placent, and commanding an exhaustless flow of language, he is the peer of any "stump" orator in the country. His marriage with Miss Righter-still in the prime and grace of woman- hood-was blessed with a family of four chil- dren, two of whom-Edmund Morgan, born April 8, 1849, and Ellen L., born Oct. 16, 1846- survive. The son studied law in the office of Judge Dunwiddie, of Monroe, was admitted to the bar of the State at the age of twenty-one, and three years later to that of the United States courts. He subsequently attended the law school at Albany, N. Y., one year, and graduated from that institution. On Sept. 14, 1875, he married Lida L. Filkins, a beautiful and accomplished lady of that city, and entered into partnership with the Hon. A. J. Colvin, one of the oldest and best lawyers of Albany. Miss Bartlett, the only daughter, is a young lady of rare beauty of person, amiable and en- gaging manners, of the highest mental endow- ments, and superior culture and refinement.

A volume of 114 pages, just issued by Dr. Levi Bartlett, of Warner, N. H., contains the

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY

pedigree of the Bartlett family for the last 800 years, down to 1875.

The Bartlett "arms," which are now in some of the families in America, is a device consist- ing of three open gloved hands on a shield, gold tassels pendant from the wrists, a swan conehed, with wings extended. In the English branch of the family these "arms" have been "quar- tered" with some eight other noble families who have become extinct in the male line-the female representatives of whom have inter- married with male members of the Bartlett family. Mr. Bartlett is now a resident of Omaha, Neb.

Andrew J. Brundage

came from Andover, N. Y., in 1855, and prac- ticed law until 1859, in Monroe. He was taken with consumption and died on the road to Cal- ifornia, and was buried in a solid rock coffin, on the plains. He was a man of great promise, but his health was poor. He was jovial and and full of fun-was bound to ride on top, and was never discouraged. He was an honorable and upright man, and was quite a politician. He was always ready to speak when called upon; being sometimes unable to get on the stand, he was frequently placed there by others. Af- ter Mr. Brundage's death, his widow returned to Andover, and thence to the city of New York where she died. They had two sons born to them, one of whom-Maynard K .- is now an operator in a telegraph office in Kansas.

William C. Fillebrown

was born in Winthrop, Kennebec Co., Maine., in the year 1800. During his youth, he received a good edneation, as thorough as his native town afforded. His father was a wealthy farmer on the Kennebec, and William was looked upon as a man of more than ordinary abilities. In 1826, he removed to Penobscot county and en- gaged in a hotel, as clerk for a time, and was ap- pointed deputy sheriff-which office he held twenty years. He was town clerk and treasurer of Oconto county for many years. In 1832, he married Ann Maria Reed, of that town. With

his wife and two children, he removed to Mon- roe, Green Co., Wis., in 1840, a distance of 1,500 miles, in an emigrant wagon. He died, Nov. 9, 1876, and was buried in Monroe. He had the entire respect of his fellowmen-and was very faithful to any trust imposed on him. He had a family of ten children-three sons and three daughters are now living.

Mr. Fillebrown practiced law to a limited ex- tent in Monroe and was a justice of the peace. He was a strong republican and temperance man. He started the first temperance society on the Penobscot, in 1830.

He had the respect of his fellow men in Maine, as well as in Wisconsin. He was a good talker and very social. He was a Universalist in belief.

John B. Perry,

one of the pioneers of Green county, was born at Elizabethtown, Essex Co., N. J., Dec. 11, 1812. His father, Nathan Perry, was born in the town of New Ipswich, N. II., and was there married to Rebecca Brown, of the same town. They soon after, moved to York State and set- tled in Essex county, where he bought unim- proved land, lived on that a few years, then moved to Elizabethtown. Ile soon became prominent and was appointed under sheriff, and held that office for many years. He served in th . War of 1812, and participated in the battle of Plattsburg. He died in Elizabethtown in 1847. The subject of our sketeh grew to man- hood in Elizabethtown, securing his education in the public schools. In 1838 he came west and located at Dundee, Ill., where he engaged in teaching school. In December, 1839, he came to Green county, and engaged in mining lead ore at Exeter. In 1842 he was appointed jus- tier of the peace by Gov. Doty. He remained in Exeter until 1844, when he returned to Dun- dee and there engaged in farming. In Deeem- ber, 1846, he returned to Green county and en- gaged in teaching at Albany, January, 1847. In the fall of 1847, he went to Monroe and read | law in the office of J. W. Stewart, nutil the fall

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

of 1848, then again went to Exeter and was elected justice of the peace there in 1849. In 1850, he was elected town clerk, and the same year, he was appointed United States marshal, to take the census of Green county. In 1851, he removed to Albany, and in 1852, was elected justice in that town, and has held the office con- tinuously since that time. He has also held other offices of trust. He served as town clerk and deputy town clerk eighteen years. He has filled the office of county commissioner, two years; has been notary public, twelve years, and school director, fifteen years. In 1881, was ser- geant at arms of the assembly at Madison. He was joined in marriage, in 1840, to Amy M. Kellogg. She was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. They have seven children-Rebecca B., Nathan A., Cora A., Amy M., Oliver II., Martha A. and Edwin R. In 1883 Mr. Perry acted as attorney for the village of Albany and secured the incorporation of the village. He was ad- mitted to the bar, in Monroe, in 1854.

THE BAR OF TO-DAY.

P. J. Clawson, A. S. Douglas, Brooks Dun- widdie, Hiram Medbery, A. N. Randall, C. N. Carpenter, Colin W. Wright, B. S. Kerr, S. W. Abbott, John B. Perry, Burr Sprague, O. S. Putnam, John Luchsinger, C. A. Tofflemire and P. C. Lampert.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Hiram Mabery, a prominent lawyer of Green county, was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y. Jan. 30, 1832. When he was quite young his parents moved to Fulton county in the same State, where they remained until he was six- teen years old. They then removed to Wiscon- sin and settled in Walworth county. Ile had received a common school education in his native State, and after coming to Wisconsin, attended the Waukegan Academy two terms. Ile then returned to Walworth county and taught school one turn, and with the proceeds, went to Saratoga Springs, where he engaged in the study of law in the office of Judge Bockes. He was admitted to the bar at Fonda, Montgomery

Co., N. Y., Jan. 2, 1854, in the class with Mans- field Walworth and Joseph A. Shondy. He immediately returned to Wisconsin and com- menced practice at Troy. He was admitted to the circuit court of Walworth county, May 23, 1854. In 1855 he went to Prairie du Sac, Sank county, where he remamed a few months, then went to California, and was employed as civil engineer, eighteen months. He then re- turned to Troy. In 1857 he came to Albany, Green county, and began practicing law. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the State June 11, 1859, and to the United States district and circuit courts, for the western district of Wisconsin, Sept. 15, 1871, to the United States district court for Wisconsin, Jan. 3, 1860, to the Supreme Court of Illinois, Oct. 19, 1873, and to the Supreme Court of the United States, Jan. 13, 1880. He was elected district attorney in 1859. In 1861 he entered the United States civil service, receiving the appointment of revenue assessor, which office he held ten years. In 1864 he removed to Mon- roe and practiced law, also attended to the du- ties pertaining to his office. In 1877 he was appointed revenue agent and traveled exten- sively until 1881, when he resigned and became postmaster at Monroe, which position he held two years. He then went to Chicago and resid- ed until October, 1883, when he returned to Albany, and remained a short time, then re- moved to Monroe, where he now resides. Mr. Medbery has been twice married ; first, in Jan- mary, 1860, to Lucy Royce, a native of Ohio, who died April 15, 1881, leaving two children -- Jessie and Paul ; and again Jan. 28, 1882, to Myra Hollinshead, a native of Elkhorn, Wal- worth Co., Wis.

P. J. Clawson, attorney at law, was born in Green Co., Penn., Oct. 27, 1839. He is a son of Phineas and Hannah (Ross) Clawson, who emi- grated to Waukesha county in 185 !. Phineas Clawson was a man of superior ability. His first vote was cast for James Monroe, for President. He afterwards voted for Gen. Jackson, but

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

again changed, and joined the whig party and became a member of the republican party at its organization in 1856. The subject of this sketch received the foundation of his education in the graded schools at Waukesha, and after- wards attended Carroll College. In 1859 he entered the State University at Madison, and graduated in the class of 1863, the degree of Master of Arts was conferred in 1867. He en- listed in the 20th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, company D, in June, 1862. He was wounded at Prairie 'Grove, in the left thigh. Soon after he was commissioned as 2d lieutenant of com pany A, on account of meritorions service, and again as Ist lieutenant. He participated in all of the engagements of the regiment, and was al- ways at his post. He was on the staff of Gen. Bailey in the Mobile campaign. He left the service in impaired health, and was for two years under treatment from his physician. In 1872 he was elected clerk of the circuit court. In 1874 he received the nomination for district attorney, but was defeated. He was again nominated in 1876, and elected to that office, which he still holds, having been re-elected three times. He was married Jan. 1, 1867, to Kate L. Moore, a daughter of Hon. H. T. Moore. They have three children-Sophia, May and Harvey P.

A. S. Douglas, attorney at law, was born in Hamilton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 19, 1841. His parents were Adam B. Douglas, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to America in 1835 or 1836, and Mary A. Starring. In 1844 he went to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he engaged in the mercantile business. He afterwards engaged in keeping hotel and be- came one of the noted horsemen. In the fall of 1852 he landed in Portage City, Wis. IIe was educated in the common and high schools at Portage City. In July, 1863, he graduated from the high school at Janesville. In 1864, he enlisted in the 40th Volunteer Wisconsin In- fantry, serving the end of his time of enlist- ment, 100 days. After leaving the army he

entered the office of H. A. Patterson, of Janes- ville. On Feb. 16, 1865, he was admitted to the bar, and soon after formed a partnership, known as Patterson & Douglas. In October, 1866, he located at Brodhead, and in the fall of 1868 was elected as State's attorney, receiv- ing the whole vote of the county, with the ex- ception of two votes. In April, 1869, he came to Monroe, and was re-elected in 1870, 1872 and 1874. Mr. Douglas was among the leading spirits in organizing the Young Men's Christian Association, and was chosen president of the same, which was instrumental in building np one of the finest libraries in southern Wiscon- sin. He was married in 1868 to Laura E. Welch, a daughter of Dr. John Welch, of Janesville. Three children have blessed their union-Arthur G., Malcom C. and Helen. Mr. Douglas is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge chapter and commandery, also the A. O. U. W., K. of P., and G. A. R.

Archibald N. Randall is not an old settler of Green county, but is among the prominent men who came to the county at a later date, and is well and favorably known throughout this sec- tion of country. He was born at Sardinia, Erie Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1830, and obtained his education in the district school, supplement- ed by a course of study at Brockport Collegiate Institute. His father, Archibald R., was born in 1796; served in the New York Active Militia in the War of 1812; was married in 1815 to Eunice Cheney, daughter of David and Irene (Munson) Cheney. His grandfather, Elisha Randall, was born in 1762, near Boston, Mass., and at the age of fourteen years, entered the marine service of the colonies, on board a privateer, and served until the close of the Revolutionary War. When twenty-two years old, he was married to Isabel McElroy, a Scotch lady, and removed to Erie Co., N. Y.

In September, 1847, the subject of this sketch removed to Avon, Rock Co., Wis. At the age of twenty-one years, he was elected superin- tendent of schools, and served three years. He

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

represented his town five years upon the Rock county board. He entered the army Ang. 22, 1862, and was commissioned captain com- pany "G," 13th Wisconsin Volunteers, Oct. 12, 1862. He served with his command in Kan- sas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, until the spring of 1863, when he was detailed to command a battalion of mounted infantry, with headquarters at Fort Donelson, Tenn. He remained in command about eight months, and until the troops at Donelson rejoined the army at the front, and the mounted infantry rejoined their several commands. While in command of this mounted infantry, he engaged in many fights with the numerous bands of guerillas, with which West Tennessee was at that time infested, never failing to either whip or capture such parties, and often returning from a raid through the country with as many horses and mules as his men could manage. This command is reported to have kept the large area of country between the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, from the Ohio river on the north, to Clarksville and Florence under com- plete subjection, until relieved.

In January, 1864, he was detailed upon the staff of Major Gen. Lovel II. Rosseau, as acting assistant inspector-general of the district of Tennessee with headquarters at Nashville, which position he beld until the expiration of his term of service, Feb. 1, 1865. While thus engaged as a staff officer, he was in every battle fought by Gen. Rosseau, including seven with Wheeler, two with Forrest and the battles of Franklin and Nashville. He was also with that general in his noted raid around Atlanta. He was married March 27, 1865, to Emma C. Loofbourrows, daughter of the Hon. Judge Wade Loofbourrows, of Washington, C. H, Ohio. Two children have been born to them- Maggie M., May 25, 1866 and Louis A., January 24, 1869. Maggie died at Brodhead, Sept. 7, 1881, of typhoid fever. Ile moved to this county in 1868. He has served three terms upon the county board of Green county, and

was chairman thereof at the session of 1883. He was elected to the State Senate in 1881, and was chairman of the Senate judiciary committee at the session of 1882-3. His term of office expires in November 1884. Mr. Randall is a lawyer by profession, having his office and residence at Brodhead. He was admitted to the bar March 3,1873.

As a public man, Mr. Randall's superior ability is unquestioned. He possesses superior executive ability, as has been clearly demon- strated since his connection with the State Sen- ate. He has always filled the varions offices to which he has been elected with credit to him- self, and satisfaction to his constituency, and no man is more deservedly pupular among the people.

Cornelius N. Carpenter, president of the bank of Brodhead, was born in Moretown, Washing- ton Co., Vt., in 1826. His parents removed to Montpelier when he was a child, and afterwards to Northfield, in the same State. Mr. Carpen- ter is a lawyer by profession. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1848, and was elected librarian of the State the same fall. It was at this time that excitement ran high in conse- quence of the discovery of gold in California, and Mr. Carpenter yielded to his inclination to try his fortune in the land of gold. He was absent three years, one of which was spent in going and returning. He went by way of Cape Horn and returned through Central America, with a party of about 100, traveling with ox teams, and shipped at Chagres, for New York, in the fall of 1852. He saw much of the world, and secured some gold. On his return he engaged in the practice of his profession at Northfield. In 1856, he came to Milwaukee and practiced law two years, then returned to Vermont and engaged in law practice with Judge Carpenter. In 1862, he raised a company of volunteers for nine months service, company C, of the 15th Vermont Volunteer Infantry. He commanded the company six months, then re- signed, in consequence of sickness in his family,

R. L. Eldred

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

and soon after, returned to Milwaukee. He came to Brodhead in 1863 and engaged in the practice of his profession until 1881. He then engaged in banking. Ile is a lawyer of ability and possessed a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Carpenter was elected district attorney in 1864 and served two years. Ile is a cousin of A. V. H. Carpenter, of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, also of the late eminent senator and statesman, Matthew H. Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter has been twice married. His first wife was Hannah Burnham, who died in Milwaukee in 1857. His present wife was Lucy Burnham, a sister of his first wife. He has one daughter by his first wife-Lizzie, now the wife of H. P. Young, and by the latter union there is one son-C. W., who is cashier of the Bank of Brodhead.

Colin W. Wright, attorney at law, was born at Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis., Feb. 8, 1858. His parents were natives of England, and emigrated to the States in 1849, first settling in Lafayette Co., Wis., where his father was engaged in min- ing and real estate business, which he followed for a number of years, and is now engaged in business at. Mineral Point. The subject of this sketch was reared in Lafayette county, where the foundation of his education was laid in the common schools. IIe afterwards attended the high school at Platteville, and spent two years at the State Normal. In 1881, he read law in the office of Lanyon & Speasley, at Mineral Point. In 1881-82, he attended the law depart- ment of the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, graduating in the spring of 1883. Soon after, he came to Monroe and engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Wright is a young man of more than ordinary ability and is gradually building up a good practice.

Benjamin Sanders Kerr,

attorney at law, was born in Knox Co., Ohio, Feb. 17, 1841. His father, Joseph Kerr, was born near Pittsburg, Penn., whose parents were born in the north of Ireland, but were of Scotch ancestry, the father of the long line of Scotish

chieftains of that name of early times. His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca San- ders, is a native of Ohio, and is of English an- cestry, her grandparents having been Quakers during the Revolutionary War, residing in the then colony of Virginia. His grandfather, Ben- jamin Sanders, was one of the early advocates of the doctrines of Alexander Campbell, and preached for many years in different parts of the State of Ohio, and was a man of great ability and influence in the early days of that Church. His grandfather, Joseph Kerr, was a farmer, and died at the age of 103 years. In 1845 Mr. Kerr's parents removed to Green Co., Wis., where he has since resided, and where, in 1854, his father died, leaving him the second of eight children, five boys and three girls. He was reared upon a farm, and attended the short winter country schools until his nineteenth year, at which time he gave up farming and de- voted himself entirely to study, and was a stu- dent at the academy in Platteville, Wis., at the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861. He re- mained in that institution till the spring of 1862, and then returned to Green Co., Wis., where he engaged in school teaching till the spring of 1863, at which time he began the study of law in the office of Judge Dunwiddie, of Monroe, and which he continued till the spring of 1864. Ile then received a recruiting com- mission from Gov. Lewis, of Wisconsin, and raised a sufficient number of men to secure a 1st lieutenant's commission, and was mustered into the United States military service with that rank on the 15th of April, of that year, in com- pany D, of the 38th regiment, of Wiscon- sin Infantry Volunteers, at Camp Randall, Madison. On the 3d day of May following, he, with his company and regiment, left for the front, and arrived at Washington, D. C., a few days later, and were encamped on Arlington Heights, Va., for a short time. While the reg- iment lay there he saw and heard President Lincoln. It was levee day, and the Marine Band was discoursing sweet music from the pa-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

villion in the park south of the White House Mansion. The President, Mrs. Lincoln and others sat on the south balcony, which elevated them above the crowd gathered around. Some one called to the President for a speech, others joined in the call, whereupon, President Lin- coln arose to his feet and said: "Fellow citi- zens: You call upon me for a speech. In lien of it I propose three cheers for Gen. Grant and his army." Grant was then in the Wilderness in front of Petersburg, Va. It is needless to say the cheers were given with a will. Lincoln at the same time swinging his long right arm above his head and shouting with the people. This little incident and speech of Lincoln's, in that darkest of the years of the War of the Re bellion, gives us a view of the inner-man, that, although surrounded by friends and heavily weighted with the cares of the civil government, visions of the army were ever before him and his heart and mind with his generals and boys at the front. Mr. Kerr's company and regiment were moved to the front and arrived at Cold Harber at the close of the battle, where one of his men was killed. They became a part of Grant's army and moved with him from in front of Richmond to the attack on Petersburg, Va., Mr. Kerr remaining with the company during that long and bloody siege, excepting a short time he was detailed on a court martial at City Point, Va. The siege lasted from the 16th of June, 1864, at which time they first went under fire in front of the city, till the works were car- ried by storm, April 2, 1865, he commanding his company at that time in an assault in which one-third of the column fell. On the 17th of June, 1864, he was with his company in an as- sault in which the losses in killed and wounded were equally great. About the Ist of July, 1864, the captain of Kerr's company was taken sick and resigned, leaving him in command, and in which position he continued till the mnster- out and final discharge of the company, Ang. 11, 1865. Ho, having in the meantime, been promoted to the rank of captain. At the close

of his military service Mr. Kerr returned to Monroe, and at once resumed the study of law with Judge Dunwiddie, and which he pursued until March, 1866, at which time he was admit- ted to the bar. In the fall of 1866 he was elected district attorney of Green county, which office he held until 1869, and was complimented by Judge Lyon, then on the bench, for his ability and care in the discharge of the duties of the office. Nov. 12, 1866, the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with Angeline Eliza Fayette, daughter of Shanalia Fayette, lineally descended from the family of the Mar- quis de La Fayette. Mrs. Kerr is a relative of ex-Senator James R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, through her mother, whose maiden name was Doolittle. They have two children-Mand and Fayette, born, respectively, Jan. 29, 1868, and Feb. 12, 1870. Mr. Kerr is a man of more than ordinary ability, a good, reliable office lawyer, and a forcible and earnest speaker. He is a man of medium height, fine personal appearance and gentlemanly deportment; is of most exem- plary habits and highly esteemed in the com- munity in which he lives.

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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 54

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