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 90

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 90

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Russell Allen, a stone mason by trade, came here in 1846 and erected a cabin on section 24. He remained in the town, working at his trade in the summer and mining in the winter for several years, and then removed to Iowa.

Levi C. Allen, a native of New York, came at the same time and settled on the northeast quar- ter of section 1. He died there about twelve years later, and his family soon afterward went to Polk Co., Iowa, where they now live.

Uriah G. Bailey, a pioneer of the town of Adams, was born in Jackson Co , Ga., in March, 1808. In 1811 his parents moved to Kentucky and settled in Logan county, where they lived three years, then removed to Illinois and set- tled at Saline Salt Works. Two years later they removed to Sullivan Co., Ind., where they were among the early settlers. They remained there six years, then removed to Vermilion Co., Ind., thence to Vermilion Co., Ill. Here his father bought timher and prairie land and

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

improved a farm. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until the time of his marriage in 1835, to Harriet McMillan, a native of Licking Co., Ohio. He bought land in Ver- milion county, on which they settled, and lived until 1846. He then sold his land and came to Green county, moving with teams and bringing their household goods. They also drove some cows and sheep along with them. He entered 200 acres of land on section 13, of the town of Adams, upon which he built a log house in which they lived several years. He then erected a good frame house. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey had five children, only one of whom is now living -- William E. Mrs. Bailey died in 1878.

William E. Bailey was born in Vermilion Co., Ill., in January, 1836, and was ten years of age when he came with his parents to Green county. He grew to maturity in the town of Adams, receiving his education in the district school. He was married in April, 1857, to Jane McDonald, and settled on his father's farm. In September of the same year, his wife died. Ile was again married in 1859, to Synthia Long, who died April 10, 1870; leaving three children - William G., John R. and Priscilla. Ifis third wife was Lydia Shrake, and they were married in October, 1874. Five children have been born to them-Elsie, Edith, Florence, Alma and Adam. Florence died in infancy.

Oliver Fuller, a native of Cornwall, Conn., came in 1846, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 19. In 1850 he sold out and removed to Monroe, and later to Wiota, where he died in June, 1882.

Adam Shrake, a native of Licking Co., Ohio, came to the county in the fall of 1847 and set- tled in the town of Monroe. In 1869 he came to the town of Adams, settling on section 24, and remained until 1881 when he went to Brule Co., Dak.

Orville Spaulding, a New Yorker, came in 1847 and entered land on section 1. In 1849 he built the first frame house in town. Ile remained

here six or seven years, then sold out and went to Ohio, where he has since died.

Robert P. Grinnell, a native of New York, came here in 1847 and entered forty acres on sec- tion 1. He improved a farm and lived there several years, and then moved to section 12, where he died.

Robert P. Grinnell, one of the pioneers of the town of Adams, was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., July 16, 1795. When he was young his parents moved to Fulton county, where he grew to manhood and was married to Esther J. Montgomery, who was born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1805. They lived in Fulton county until 1836, then removed to Monroe county in the same State, where they rented a farm until 1847. In that year they came to Wisconsin, traveling upon the Erie canal to Buffalo, and thenee upon the lakes to Racine, where he hired teams to complete the journey to Green county. He entered land on section 1, township 3, range 6, now known as Adams. He built a log cabin and commenced improving the land. He soon after entered other land on section 6 of the town of Washington, a portion of which he improved. In 1859 he traded for land on section 12, to which he removed, and built a frame house and barn. He made this his home until the time of death which occurred in 1868. Ilis widow lives with her son Amos, in Iowa. They were the parents of five children -Amos L., Willard E., Silas M., John F. and Elizabeth M.

John F Grinnell is the only one of the chil- dren now living in the town of Adams. He was born in Fulton Co., N. Y., July 21, 1829, and was eighteen years old when he came with his parents to Green county. Here he was em- ployed in farming in the neighborhood, in the summer seasons, and attended school winters. In the spring of 1849 he went to the pineries on the Wisconsin river and engaged in rafting lumber down stream to St. Louis. He was married in 1853, to Catharine Shook, who was

George Seuchwich

Mrs Marthena Goodrich

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

born in St. Clair Co., III., Oct. 3, 1831. He built a log house on section 12, where he had previously purchased land, and commenced housekeeping. He has since improved a large farm and ereeted a good frame house and barn. Ile now owns 320 acres of land, and is engaged in raising grain and stock. He pays particular attention to the raising of fine horses, and always drives a good team. Mrs. Grinnell died Jan. 6, 1871, leaving two children-Garrett C. and Harry B. Mr. Grinnell was again married June 4, 1873, to Sarah Perkins, a native of the province of Ontario, Canada. By this union there are two children-Dorman M. and Edith.

Among the arrivals in 1848 were James Land, Giles M. King and E. D. Jackson, who came from Ohio. Mr. Land entered land on the south half of section 11, and improved a farm. About 1860 he sold out and removed to Cadiz. He died in Monroe in 1881. Mr. King settled upon the southeast quarter of section 2. He lived here until 1863, when he removed to Mon- roe, where he now lives. He is a carpenter and joiner. Mr. Jackson located on the south- west quarter of section 12. He improved a por- tion of the land and lived there about twelve years, when he removed to Monroe. He now lives in Illinois.

George Smith, a native of England, came in 1850, and settled on the southwest quarter of section 17. lle was a single man, and kept "bachelor's hall" in the little log cabin which he erected upon his place. He remained in the county a number of years, and then removed to Iowa, where he died.

Edmund Barry, a native of Ireland, came here in 1850, and lived nearly one year on Shook's Prairie, then settled on land he had entered on sections 20 and 21, erecting a house on the lat- ter section, where he still lives.

Richard Scott came to Green county in 1851, and purchased 120 acres of land on section 31. Twenty acres of improved land, a log house and stable constituted the improvements on the place at that time. He now owns 280 acres of

good land, and is engaged in farming and rais- ing stock. He was born in that part of Wayne county now known as Ashland Co., Ohio, Nov. 2, 1819. In September, 1840, he was united in marriage with Sarah McCauley. They settled on his father's farm, and lived there six years, then removed to Illinois by team. They started on the 10th of May, and arrived in Stephenson county on the 9th of June. He purchased sixty-five acres of land, which he improved, living there until 1851, when he removed to Green county, as before stated. Mrs. Scott was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., July 26, 1821. She died Jan. 31, 1867, leaving five chil- dren-Jacob, Sarah J., Franklin P., James B. and Lizzie A.

HISTORICAL ITEMS.

The first birth in the town was Julia, daugh- ter of Gen. James and Angeline Biggs, who was born in 1835. She is now the wife of Jackson Andrews, of Lyon Co., Kan.

The first death was that of an infant daugh- ter of William and Mary Brazel, in 1838. She was buried at Wiota.

The first election in the town was held at the house of James H. Bailey .

POSTOFFICES.

Willett postoffice was established in 1848, with Jonas Shook as postmaster. It was on the route from Belvidere and Beloit to Mineral Point. Mr. Shook served as postmaster for eight and a half years, when he resigned and the office was discontinued. It was soon after- wards re-established, with Eliphalet Bray as postmaster. Ile served several years. The present postmaster, William Montieth, was ap- pointed in 1884. Mail is received tri-weekly.

William Monteith, the postmaster of Willett, was born in Wigtownshire, Scotland, March 18, 1827. When he was eighteen years old, he went to England and spent two years, then returned home and engaged to learn the trade of stone mason, at which he worked in his native coun- try until the fall of 1850, then came to America, first stopping in Caledonia Co., Vt., where he

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

spent the winter, then starting west, spent some time in Ohio and Indiana, then come to Grant Co., Wis., where he worked at his trade for several years. His parents joined him there and he bought a farm on which they settled. In 1856, he went to Kansas, and was there two years of those stormy times preceding the "Great American Conflict" at arms. In 1858, he returned to Grant county and there remained until 1860, then went to the Carabou mines in British Columbia and lived two years, then to Oregon, California and Nevada, engaging in mining, principally, until 1864, when he came to Green county and engaged to build a flouring mill for Mathew Newkirk. After the mill was completed he was employed by Newkirk, to take charge of the farm and the mines. In 1868, he bought the place and has since made it his home. The farm contains 240 acres, all improved ex- cept twenty acres of timber. He was married in 1866, to Mary Bleiler, a native of Germany. They have eight children-Jessie, St. Clair, William, Henry, Robert, John, Edward and Isabella.

A postoffice, called "Walnut Springs," was es- tablished in 1848, with James Biggs as post- master. The office was on a route from Madi- son to Wiota, and mail was received once each week. It was discontinued after a few years.

ORGANIZATION.

The town of Adams was organized in the spring of 1849, at an election held at the house of J. HI. Bailey, on section 23. There is no record of this election, but the following, it is learned, were among the officers elected at that time: Supervisors, Samuel Kelley, chairman, Mathew Cunningham and John Morrison; clerk, T. M. Biggs; treasurer, James H. Bailey; school superintendent, James Biggs; constable, J. F. Wescott; justice of the peace, Amos L. Grinnell.

At an election held on the 2d of April, 1850, of which Reuben Holcomb and Silas Grinnell were clerks, the following officers were elected: Supervisors, Samuel Kelley, chairman, Russell Allen and John Morrison; superintendent of

schools, James Biggs; clerk, R. M. Jackson; as- sessor, James Ticknor; justices of the peace, James Biggs, Amos L. Grinnell, Cutler Wilkins and Russell Allen; constables, Erastus R. Allen, W. E. Grinnell and Thomas Steele. For the office of treasurer there was a tie between Levi C. Allen and Samuel Kelley, which by lot, re- sulted in favor of the former. Among others who have been prominent in town affairs are the following: Jonas Shook, John F. Grinnell, William Montieth, Adam Shrake, Frank Mullin, Thomas Byrne, Fred Hunnell, Jonas Land, A. L. Grinnell, James Smith, Royal M. Jackson, Richard Scott, L. P. Duncan, Joel Kelly, T. M. Biggs, E. D. Jackson, C. M. Ball, Henry Gilli- gan and Gen. E. D. Bray.

A very sad accident occurred in the town of Adams, at the raising of a log house for a Mr. Morrison, which resulted in the death of James Brown. In fitting the logs at the end it became necessary to cut away a small portion, and in turning the log over Mr. Brown slipped and fell, the log following, striking him on the head and killing him. Mr. Brown was a young man, and well known, and the accident cast a deep gloom over the entire community.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school house in district No. I was erected on section 13 in 1848, before the dis- triet was organized. U. G. Bailey, Jonas Shook, R. M. Jackson and Matthew Cunning- ham furnished the logs, and Richard Gabriel helped them erect the building. Mr. Cunning- ham went to Milwaukee and got the shingles. Mrs. Ann Carr taught the first school in this district. The school house was in use but a few years when a frame school house was erected on the south line of section 14, in which Addie Newman was first to teach ..

The first school in district No. 6 was taught by Elizabeth Brazel in 1866 in the house of Knud M. Lee. During the same year a stone school house was built in the northern part of section 10. Francis Cleveland was the first teacher in this house,

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

The first school house in district No. 2 was on section 35. It was built in 1864. The first teacher in this house was W. H. Morgan.

The first school house in district No. 5 was erected of logs on section 22, in 1854. Sarah Scott and Sarah Wilderman were the first teachers in this house. Since then another log school house-the only one in the town-has been erected ou the northeast quarter of section 20.

The first school taught in district No. 7 was in a log cabin on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 24, in 1841. Jeff Wescott was the teacher.

The first school house in district No. 7 was erected in 1851, and was a brick building. The first teacher was Mrs. Freeman Derril. She went to the town superintendent for a certifi- cate, and upon her return one of the neighbors asked if she had passed the examination, and she answered, "yes." The neighbor then en- quired how many questions were asked and she replied: "Two; the first was "can you write?" and the second was "can yon write your certifi- cate?" She replied that she could, and did. The first school house was used until the pres- ent building was erected near the old site, in 1875.

The first school house in district No. 3 was erected in 1852 in the northern part of section 32. Sophia Scott was the first teacher in this building. The school house was removed to section 29 and used until 1879, when the present building was erected on section 32. William Dowling was the first teacher in this house.

The first school house in district No. 4 was erected of logs in 1851, near the centre of sec- tion 8. Miss A. Corbin was the first teacher in this house. The present school building was erected in 1881, on the same section. It is frame. The first teacher in this house was Clara Corson. Previous to the erection of the first school house, Altheda Corbin taught a term of school in Gen. Biggs' house:

MILLS.

In 1845 a saw mill was erected on section 21, by Charles and Chauncey Smith, the power being derived from Daugherty's creek. It was run by a scroll wheel with some reaction buckets. The mill did a good business for several years when it was washed away by a flood. At this time it was owned by Hilliard & Ball. Soon afterward they erected a woolen factory which was run successfully for several years. Lean- der Stevens bought the mill and put in two run of stone for grinding corn and wheat, and ran it for some time.

RELIGIOUS-LUTHERAN CHURCH.

The first meetings of this denomination were held at private houses by Rev. Monk, from Wiota, services were held at different private houses until 1865 when a neat frame church building was erected on section 3, Rev. J. Fjld, from Dane county, was the first preacherto hold services in the church. Since then Rev. Halend and Rev. C. Aas, have served as pastor, Rev. T. Reamstad, from Argyle, is the present pastor. There are now about sixty families belonging to this church.

ST. FRANCIS CHURCH.

The first mass in the town of Adams was held at the house of Michael Crotty in 1852, by Father Dailey from Shullsburg. Services were held at other private houses for some years, including those of Martin Mullin, Edward Barry, Engene Knight, Stephen Murphy and John Finn. In 1861, a frame church was erected on the south west quarter of section 21, in which Father O'Conner was the first priest to say mass.

There is a cemetery in connection with the Catholic Church. The first burial in it was of the remains of John Gallagan.

LEAD MINES.

In early days the lead mines of Adams bore the names of Badger and Newkirk diggings. They were located on sections 4, 5, 8, 10, 11 and 24. This matter received further attention elsewhere in this volume,

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

BIOGRAPIIICAL.

The following are a few, of the representative and prominent citizens of the town of Adams:

Levi P. Duncan, an early settler in Green county, was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Jan. 18, 1827. When a young man he engaged with a brother-in-law, Steward McMillan, to learn the trade of wagon-maker. In 1847 they came to Monroe, Green county, where Mr. McMillan opened a wagon shop, and the subject of this sketch worked with him until 1851. In that year he bought a farm on section 31, of the town of Adams. The improvements upon the land, at the time of his purchase, consisted of a partly completed log cabin and a few acres of broken land. He now has a good frame house, and quite a tract of land under cultivation. He was married in 1850, to Adeline A., daughter of Amos and Elizabeth (Haynes) Doane. They have one daughter-Jennie. Mr. Duncan is a preacher of the Baptist denomination. He first preached, under special license, in the town of Jordan, in 1854. He was ordained at Juda, in 1858, since which time, he has been engaged in preaching at different points in Green, Lafayette and Dane counties. Their daughter, Jennie, was married to Alex. E. Patterson, who was born in Scotland, and came, when very young, with his parents to America. He grew to man- hood in Lafayette county. In 1862 he enlisted in the service of the United States, and was mustered in as corporal. He served, until the close of the war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and through the Carolinas to Washington, participating in many of the im- portant battles of that memorable campaign. He was discharged in July, 1865, and returned home broken down in health. He never re- covered his former vigor, and died April 7, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson had three chil- dren-John, Charles and George.

Eliphalet D. Bray came to Green county in 1851, and settled in the town of Adams. IIe purchased 640 acres of land on sections 5, 8, 9, 13, 15 and 16. He built a log house on section 15,

and commenced improving the land. He made his home there until the time of his death, Sept. 5, 1860. He was born in Oxford Co., Maine, in 1798. When he was quite young his parents removed to Franklin county in the same State where his father bought timber land and improved a farm. There the subject of this sketch spent his youth. When a young man, he joined the State militia, and was com- missioned as colonel and breveted general. He was known throughout the State as " Gen. Bray." He became interested in lumbering, and for several years was prominent among the lumbermen of Franklin and Somerset counties. He was at one time a member of the legislature from his district. In 1834 he was married to Caroline Chipman, a native of Oxford county. They settled at the time of their marriage, in New Portland, Somerset county. He bought unimproved land and made a farm. They be- gan housekeeping in a log house, but soon after built a frame house, in which they lived until 1848, when he sold his farm and removed to Franklin county, where they remained till 1851. Sixteen children were born to them, nine of whom are now living. Mrs. Bray remained at the homestead until 1863, when she was mar- ried to Benjamin Thompson, and lived on sec- tion 1. Mr. Thompson died a few years later and she returned to Maine, where she now lives with her youngest sou, in Somerset county.

George Bray was born in Somerset county, Sept. 21, 1835, and is the son of Eliphalet and Caroline Bray. He was sixteen years old when he came to Wisconsin. He resided with his parents until his father's death. He was mar- ried in 1861, to Annie E Garrison, a native of Augusta, Maine, and settled upon the home- stead farm, where he lived two years. He then built a frame house on section 16, upon land which his father had entered. He improved a farm and remained there until 1869. In that year he sold his farm and went to Maine and staid five months, returning at the end of that time, to the town of Adams. In 1870 he bought

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a farm on section 14, upon which he now resides. Ile owns 260 acres of land, and is engaged in raising grain and stock. Mr. and Mrs. Bray have two children-Norris E. and George W.

Erastus Mosher was a pioneer of Lafayette county, having settled there in 1845. He made a claim in township 3, range 5, now the town of Argyle. He remained there until 1854. In that year he sold out and came to Green county. He purchased ninety-three acres of land on section 7, of the town of Adams, upon which he built a log house and later a frame house, and resided here until the time of his death Aug. 10, 1882. He was born at Bingham- ton, Broome Co., N. Y., Oct. 11, 1807. When he was quite young his parents moved to Tioga county in the same State, where he grew to manhood and worked at farming summers, and at lumbering winters, rafting lumber down the Susquehanna river. He was married in Bradford Co., Penn., in 1832, to Polly Smith, who was born in Vermont in 1808. He bought a farm in that county and remained there until 1845. In that year they came over- land to Wisconsin, traveling with a team of horses and wagon, and bringing a portion of their household goods. They were five weeks on the road, arriving in Lafayette county on the 12th day of June. . Mr. and Mrs. Mosher had nine children-Alba D., Lucy C., Ezra, Lettie, Frank, Caroline, James D., Lucinda and Charles A. Mrs. Mosher died in April, 1882. Alba D., Lucy C. and Charles A. now live at the homestead. Ezra lives in Lyon Co., Kansas. Lettie is the wife of George Statser, of Argyle. Frank and James D. died in the service during the late War. Lucinda is the wife of Levi Helm, of Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. Caroline died April 20, 1857.

Milo Smith is a native of Bradford Co., Penn., born Nov. 12, 1823. He was reared upon a farm, and in 1844, came to the Terri- tory of Wisconsin and located in Lafayette county where he remained about a year. IIe then came to Willet and worked few months

in his brother's saw mill. He was taken sick here, with fever and ague, and was unable to do any work for several months. He next went to Lafayette county and entered land near Fayette and engaged in farming. March 13, 1850, he was married to Caroline Kelley, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Henderson) Kelley, and set- tled at Moscow, Iowa county, where he operated a carding machine five years. He then moved to Mitchell Co., Iowa, where he entered 200 acres of land, and lived two and a half years, then sold out and went to Grundy Co., Mo., remaining there also three and a half years, after which he returned to Green county and settled near Monroe. In 1864 he rented a farm on section 34, of the town of Adams, and in )866, purchased his present farm, in another quarter of the same section. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have nine children-Mary, Joel, Miranda, Amy, Ella, Lizzie, Kate, Esther A. and John.

Ezra and John Blumer, sons of John and Dorothy Blumer, settled on their present farm in 1867. It is located on sections 12 and 7, of the towns of Adams and Washington, and con- tains 348 acres. They erected a frame house and a frame barn with a stone basement and have since engaged in grain and stock raising, making a specialty of Holstein cattle.

Ezra Blumer was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Ang. 18, 1839, and came to Ameri- ca with his parents when fourteen years of age. He worked at farming in different parts of Green county until 1863. In that year he en- listed in company K, of the 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, went south and joined Sherman's army. He participated in the march to the sea and through the Carolinas to Wash- ington, taking part in the many important bat- tles of that memorable campaign. IIe was dis- charged in July, 1865, and returned to Green county. In 1867 he was married to Henrietta Grosse, a native of Germany. Ten children have been born to them-Rosa, John, Wilhelm, Ezra, Annie, Edward, Ferdinand, Henrietta, Bertha and Caroline.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

John Blumer was born in 1840, and was thirteen years of age when he came to America with his parents and settled in Green county. He was employed in farming until 1861, when he enlisted in company K, of the 9th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He yeteranized in 1863, and served until the close of the war. He was discharged with the regiment in February,

1866. He is unmarried and resides with his brother, Ezra. They came to this county poor, but were industrious and prudent, and at the time when they purchased their present farm had, each, $1,000 which they had earned. They now rank among the solid farmers of Green county.

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

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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 90

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