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 97

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 97

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Quebec he started and traveled by steamer to Kenosha. They then traveled by ox team from Kenosha to Burlington and Green county, to the same spot where he has ever since resid- ed. The first night in his new home was one that will ever be remembered by him and his wife, they having to encounter a terrific thunder storm, the like of which they had never seen before or since. The only shelter was a wagon, and the vivid flashes of lightning served them as a lantern. Mr. Hamer pre-empted land on section 14, of township 3, range 9 east, now known as the town of Albany. He erected a log cabin and covered it with hay; the next sum- mer he undertook to cover it with boards, but having only half enough, a portion of the origi- nal hay roof remained on through the summer. A blanket was hung in the doorway which an- swered the purpose of the more modern and substantial wooden door. He found employ- ment in the neighborhood, working for fifty cents a day. At harvest he undertook to cut grain by the acre, getting fifty cents an acre. In this way he cut 1093 acres. That same year (1846), a dutchman named Shomaker cut 111 acres, it taking him three days longer than Mr. Hamer. In the fall of 1846, Mr. Hamer and his wife had the agne very bad, Mrs. IIamer suffering with it for seven months ; at this time they felt the necessity of having a good house, for their house had no door, and the roof only half covered, and no stove whatever, only a little fire on the ground in one corner and the smoke finding its way out between the logs as best it could. Mr. Hamer did considerable work dig- ging out cellars and wells and fencing. He made 11,000 rails in the winter of 1847. He also undertook to cut out a cellar 18x24 feet and six and one half feet deep, for $5, which task he completed in four and one half days. It was that winter that he assisted to build the first house (which belonged to Dr. Nichols) ever raised in Albany. He also worked out,

700

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

earning $9 a month. In the spring of this year, by his saving and industry, he had been en- abled to buy his second forty acres, giving twenty-five per cent for the money with which to pay for it. The following season he raised the first crop of wheat, at the same time work- ing out whenever an opportunity offered itself. In this way he was soon able to get a little stock, and an ox team, with which he worked his farm for twenty years or thereabouts. At the present time he has a good, new house standing on a splendid farm of 160 acres, fitted up with all modern improvements. Richard and Mary Hamer have been blessed with thir- teen children, eight of whom are now living- Henry G., Mary Ann, John R., Ada Eliza, Thomas D., Eli M., James A. and Willie R.

George W. Bagley, one of the early settlers of Green county, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., May 12, 1818. There he made his home until twenty-one years old, then went to Michi- gan and located in Jackson county, where he was engaged in railroading and farming. In 1842 he came to Wisconsin making the greater part of the way thither on foot. He entered eighty acres of timber land, forty acres of which was on section 30, township 3 north, range 9 east, and forty acres on section 25, township 3 north, range 8 east. He returned to Michigan and there remained until 1846, then came back to Green county and entered land on section 32. He erected a frame house, and commenced to improve the land. In 1848 he returned again to Michigan, and was married to Mary A. Weed. She was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 15, 1821. He then returned with his bride to their new home. Ilere he improved a farm, erected a good set of buildings, and made his residence until the time of his death, which occurred June 1, 1883. He has been prominently iden- tified with the county and its interests, and was a member of the first board of supervisors of the town of Albany, and later held other offices of trust. He left a widow and three children to mourn his death. The children

were-Hattie, Orastus P. and Lorrain L. The son, Lorrain L., now occupies the homestead. He had charge of the farm some time previous to his father's death. He was born in the town of Albany, May 30, 1856, and always made his home with his parents, his younger days having been spent in school, and in assisting his father on the farm. He was married in 1876, to Susan Reese, also a native of Albany. They have one child-Harry J.

John Flint, a pioneer of Green county, was a native of New Hampshire, born in the town of Antrim, Hillsborough county, May 26, 1800. There he grew to manhood, and was brought up on a farm, and taking advantage of every op- portunity secured a fair education. He was mar- ried in his native county, to Sally Atwood. She was born in the town of Antrim, Oct. 20, 1803. In 1828 they started west to seek a home, and first located in Erie Co., N. Y., and remained two years, then removed to Chautauqua county, which at that was attracting the attention of set- tlers, and there they were pioneers. He por- chased a tract of timber land built a log cabin and went to work to hew out a farm,and cleared about 100 acres. In 1844 he again started west, com- ing to Wisconsin and locating in Rock county, where he rented land until the fall of 1846, when he came to Green county, as before stat- ed. IIere he cleared a good farm, erected a a comfortable house with good outbuildings, and made it his home until the time of his death, Nov. 18, 1878. Mrs. Flint died Feb. 16, 1884. Eleven children were born to them, eight of whom reached an adult age, six now living-Thomas, Joshua, Lynda, Caroline, Sanford H. and Elsie. Lynda married Aaron Broughton, and now lives in Rock county. Caroline, now Mrs. Swan- cutt, lives in Dodge Centre, Minn. Elsie mar- ried G. Lockwood, and lives in Brookly. Their oldest son, Thomas, was born in the town of Antrim, Hillsborough Co., N. H., July 31, 1822. He grew to manhood in Chautauqua county. In November, 1843, he came to Wis- consin, and in 1845 visited Green county and

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

purchased government land on section 19, of township 3 north, range 9 east, now known as the town of Albany. He did not make a settle- ment at this time, but returned to Rock county, where he was married July 2, 1846, to Mary Simmons. On the 4th day of that month they started with a team of horses and wagon for their new home. They remained about two days, then returned to Rock county and engaged in farming. Jan. 2, 1848, they again came to this county and made a permanent settlement, built a log house 16x16 feet, and commenced to open up a farm. The first season he broke up about twenty acres and raised a good crop of wheat. Not having money to make improve- ments, he spent a good deal of the time the first two seasons in breaking land for others. The second year he broke twenty acres more, and secured a good crop. Thus from a small begin- ning he has by industry and frugality secured a good property. In August, 1864, he enlisted as a private in the United States service, and was appointed captain of company I, 5th Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Camp Randall, September 29. On the 2d day of October they started for the front and joined the army of the Potomac in the Shenandoah valley. He served with the regiment until the close of the war. The fol- lowing are among the more important of the many engagements in which he participated: Hatcher's Run, Petersburg, Fort Steadman and Sailor's Creek. During these engagements seventeen of his men were lost. After his dis- charge he returned home and resumed farming. He has been an industrious man, has had good health and been able to accomplish much, and is now the owner of 600 acres of land. The farm which he now occupies contains 240 acres, the greater part of which is improved. His log cabin has been replaced by a frame house that cost $3,000. He also has two frame barns, one for horses and one for cattle, and all other nec- essary farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Flint are the parents of six children, five of whom are

now living-Ella, Alta, Merlin, deceased; My- ron, Floyd and Ida. Ella was born Feb. 22, 1850; Alta was born Ang. 3, 1851; Merlin was born Oct. 13, 1852, and died Sept. 13, 1853; Myron was born March 13, 1854; Floyd was born July 9, 1855, and Ida was born Nov. 21, 1859. Mr. Flint has assessed the town several times, and has served on the board of supervis- ors. He has been connected with the Congre- gational Church and the Sabbath school since their organization. He is a man of energy and perseverance, and has the respect and confidence of the community in which he lives, and is a representative man of the best class of Green county citizens.

Their son, Sanford H. Flint, was born in the town of Ellicott, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., March 24, 1836, and was but ten years old when he came to Green county with his parents, with whom he made his home until 1860. He was married in November of that year to Harriet Comstock, daughter of Asa and Lydia (Smiley) Comstock. She was born at Janesville, Rock county. After his marriage he settled on a tract of unimproved land on section 20, town of Albany, where he cleared a farm and lived until 1878, when he purchased his present farm, lo- cated on section 19. Mr. and Mrs. Flint are the parents of seven children-Bertha, Grace, Charlie, Lenora, Nettie, Perley and Coyla. Frankie, their first child, died when about two years old.

Israel Phillips, present chairman of the board of supervisors, was one of the pioneer settlers of Green county, having come here in the year 1846. He entered the east half of the northeast quarter of section 26, in what is now the town of Albany, and at the same time pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 25. He erected a log house on the west half of the north west quarter and occupied it for a few years, then moved it to the south line of the east half of the same quarter and lived in it there until 1864, when he built the frame house he now occupies. He is a native of York State, born in the town

702

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

of Grafton, Rensselaer county in 1820. In 1840 he went to Genesee county and was there em- ployed in farming, two years, then returned to Rensselaer county and remained one year, then went to Vermont and lived in Rutland county, where he was married to Miss L. S. Hill, a native of that county. They remained there until 1846, then started west to seek a home, and came di- rectly to Wisconsin by the way of Champlain and Erie canals, thence by Lake Erie to Cleve- land. They remained in Cleveland two weeks, then embarked on a steamer for Milwaukee, and there hired a team to take them to Green county. Here he stopped with John Broughton until he had erected a log cabin. Like many other early settlers, his means were limited, and he could enter but eighty acres of land at that time, but was enabled to purchase more, soon after. His farm now contains 440 acres, the greater part of which is improved. He is engaged principally in stock raising, and has a farm adapted to the business, well improved, and well located. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have but one child living- Marcella, who is the wife of W. H. Kelley, and lives in Smith Co., Kansas. Their son, Charles, was born Nov. 15, 1847, and died March 22, 1878, and was married to Elizabeth A. Gear. Two children blessed that union-William J. and Charles E., who live with their grandparents. Mr. Phillips is among the substantial citizens of the county, has been chairman of the board for a number of years, and has the respect of the community in which he dwells.

Robert Thomson, a pioneer of the town of Brooklyn, was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in June, 1815. When he was ten years old, he went to work in a cotton mill. His father had been in good circumstances, but in consequence of signing notes for other parties, lost the whole of his property, and Robert, at the age of twelve, was entirely dependent upon his own exertions for a livelihood. He continued to work in cot- ton and silk mills until 1842, when he left his native land and came to America. He first eu- gaged in a carpet factory at Amsterdam, N. Y.,

where he remained until 1846, when he came to the Territory of Wisconsin and settled in Green county. He had purchased a land warrant from a Mexican soldier, which called for 160 acres of land, for which he paid $130. When he arrived in Green county he had $14 in cash, and his land warrant, which constituted the sum total of his worldly wealth. He had, at this time, a wife and five children. He made a "dug-out" to live in, and with the $14 purchased a cow, which, three days later, broke into a neighbor's wheat bin and ate so much wheat that she died. He had no money or team with which to im- prove his land, and was obliged to work for his neighbors. Ile engaged a great part of the time, in digging wells. The family felt the need of a cow, greatly, and one morning he started from home, promising not to return without one. He took the road leading to Madison, and when abont three miles from home, met a man who was coming after him, who wished to employ him to dig a cellar, and to take a cow in part payment for it. This seemed providential, and he proceeded to the place, about three miles from Madison. He was absent from home nine days, then returned with a cow and $4 in money, which he had earned by digging the cellar. He then began building a house for his family. He quarried stone moonlight nights, made a wheel- barrow, in which he wheeled the stone from the quarry to his building spot, ten rods distant. He had no hammer, but used an old ax instead, and a wooden trowel of his own manufacture. By the time cold weather came on, the house was ready for occupancy, he having done all the work himself, and assisted a man to burn a kiln of lime. The house was 18x24 feet, and one story in height. Their furniture was home- made, except the table, which was a dry goods box, and also served as a cupboard. The chairs were made of slabs, with sticks for legs, and the bedsteads were made of poplar poles. By this time his clothes were wearing out, particularly his overalls, and it was a serious question how to get another pair. He finally killed two dogs

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

705

and tanned their hides, which were made into a pair of overalls. He continued to work ont, the greater part of the time, at ditching, for three years. He then had some stock which he had taken in payment for work, and a pair of calves he had bought when he first came here, were then large enough to work, so he broke them and commenced to improve his land. The first wheat that he raised, he took to Janesville, and there sold it for twenty-five cents per bushel. Ile worked out a portion of the time for some years, until he had seventy-five acres broken, after which he devoted his whole time to his farm. In 1872 he sold his farm and moved to Albany where he purchased village property and engaged in carpet weaving, but for the last few years he has lived at ease, having earned a fortune, which places him beyond the reach of want. His marriage took place in 1837. His wife was formerly Janet Laury, a native of Scotland. Their children are-Agnes, Ann, Janet, Mary J. and Kittie. Mrs. Thomson died in 1872.

Walter Tait, an early settler in the north part of the town of Albany, was born in Staf- fordshire, England, in November, 1819. When eighteen years old he left his native land for America, landed at New York and went directly to Saratoga county, where he engaged in farm- ing a few years, then returned to England and spent a year in visiting. In 1843 he returned to America, and came directly to Wisconsin and settled in Rock county. In 1847 he sold out and came to Green county, where he en- tered land on section 9, township 3, range 9 east, now known as the town of Albany. Ile has opened up a farm, erected buildings, and still makes that his home. He was married, Jan. 1, 1844, to Snsan Green. She was born in the town of Hanover, Luzerne Co., Penn. Nine children were born to them, seven of whom are now living-Sarah A., Nancy M., Clara L., Almira HI., Albert D., Charlotte M. and Myron J. Sarah is the wife of Charles Purrington; Nancy is the wife of Theodore

Shaffer; Clara is the wife of Frank Gilbert; Al- mira is the wife of Frederick Shaffer, and Charlotte is the wife of Eugene Andrus.

Daniel N. Shaw, an early settler of Green county, is a native of Vermont, born in the town of Jericho, Chittenden county, Feb. 2, 1815, where his younger days were spent in school and on his father's farm. In 1837 he he started west and spent three years in Indi- ana and Michigan, then returned to Vermont. He was married in his native State to May Jor- dan, and in 1846 they started for the Territory of Wisconsin. They took passage on a boat at Burlington, and went down Lake Champlain to the Champlain canal, thence by that route and the Erie canal to Buffalo; thenee by way of the lakes to Milwaukee, then hired a team to White- water. He left his family at Whitewater and started out on foot to seek a suitable location. He bought a claim and entered land in town- ship 4 north, range 10 east, now known as the town of Union, Rock county. He then went back to Whitewater, and soon returned with his family. He built a small frame house and lived there two years, then sold out and came to Green county. He purchased a claim on sec- tion 18, township 4, range 9 east, now known as the town of Brooklyn. He went on to the land and built a log cabin, in which the family lived one summer, when he built a frame house. He improved quite a tract of land and lived there seven years, then sold out and bought a partly improved farm on section 17. There he erected good buildings and made many im- provements. In the fall of 1882 he sold this farm, and the following May removed to Al- bany, where he purchased a residence and now lives a retired life. He met with an irreparable loss in the death of his wife, which occurred Feb. 12, 1884. She was born in the town of Underhill, Lamoille Co., Vt., Sept. 1, 1822. They were the parents of six children-Mary J., now the wife of J. R. Devlin, and living in Sauk county; Adney N., Erwin D., Eva A., En- seba A. and Eliner F. Adney, the oldest son,

706

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

enlisted in company F, 31st Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, and went south. While at the front he was taken sick. His father was sent for and went to see him, and obtained a fur- longh for him, and they started home, but the young man died at Chicago while on the way. The youngest son, Elmer, died at two and a half years old.

William Webb was a pioneer of Green coun- ty, having settled here in 1848. He purchased government land on section 25, township 3 north, range 9 east; also bought land adjoining, on section 30, township 3 north, range 10 east, in Rock county, making 312 acres in all. He erected a frame house on section 24, and made this his home until 1882. During that time he had improved the land, made an addition to his house, and built two commodious frame barns, one for cattle, the other for horses; also a large granary, and other smaller buildings. In 1882 he purchased land near the village of Albany, and now within the corporate limits, and built on it a good frame residence, where he is now living a retired life. He is a native of York State, born at Utica, Oneida county, May 16, 1819. He made his home with his parents un- til eighteen years old, then went to Painesville, Ohio, and spent two years with an older brother, thence went to Green Bay, Wis., and engaged in lumbering two years, then went to Walworth county, thence to Rock county. He was mar- ried April 27, 1841, to Fanny Rice. She was born in the town of Boston, Erie Co., N. Y. He bought some land in Johnston county, put up a log cabin and commenced improvements, remaining until 1848, when he came to Green county, as before stated. Mr. and Mrs. Webb have five children living -- Albert A., Jennie A., Roswell, Charles and Emma. Mr. Webb has always been a member of the democratic party, although he exercises the right to vote for the best men.

Capt. Charles W. Burns is a veteran of two wars. His first enlistment was in 1847, in an independent company of cavalry that was or-

ganized at Newark, Ohio, by Capt. John Dun- can. He went to Mexico and served exactly one year, then returned and was honorably dis- charged and mustered out at Cincinnati. In 1862 he was commissioned as captain and raised a company which was designated as company F, and attached to the 31st Wisconsin regiment, Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in Oct. 9, 1862, at Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien. They remained in the State until the spring of 1863 then went to Columbus, Ky., and performed garrison duty at Fort Halleck through the sum- mer. From there they went to Nashville, thence to La Vergne, and did guard and picket duty two months, then went to Murfreesboro, where the company was detailed to do provost duty, and in January, 1864, Capt. C. W. Burns returned to Wisconsin for State duty at Camp Randall, Madison, where he with his company, were dis- charged in July, 1865. The subject of this sketch was born in Wheeling, W. Va., July 18, 1825. When quite young his parents removed to Licking Co., Ohio, where he grew to man- hood. When he was seventeen years old he engaged with a blacksmith to learn the trade, and served three years. After his return from the Mexican War he formed a business partner- ship with his former employer at Newark. In the spring of 1849 he came to Green county, and in company with Daniel Connet opened a shop at Monroe. There he carried on business seven years, when he removed to Clarno and engaged in farming until 1860, when he came to Albany and opened a blacksmith shop, where he continued to work until the time of his enlistment in the army. He returned from the service, with. health impaired to such an extent that for some time he was unable to en- gage in active business. In 1875 he opened a blacksmith shop in Albany, and continued in the business until October, 1883, when be sold ont, and is now retired from active business life. He was married in 1852, to Mary Counet. Seven children blessed this union - Ellen, Hester, Frank, Carrie, Gertie, one son who died in in-

707

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

fancy and Edward, who died at the age of three years.

James Hudson, a pioneer of Green county, was born on the south branch of the Potomac river, in Virginia, Feb. 17, 1796. In 1802 his his parents moved to Wheeling, where his father built a hotel, and kept it until the time of his death, in 1812. The subject of this sketch was soon afterward apprenticed to a wheelwright to learn the trade, at Chilicothe, Ohio. He served three years, then worked as journeyman three or four years, and then engaged in farm- ing. He was married to Mary L. Bobean, Oct. 28, 1819. They began life together at Chili- cothe, and remained there till 1842. The county was very new at that time, and he often had to crack corn with a pestle, for food, as there were no mills. In 1842 they started west and located in Miami Co., Ohio, lived there three years, then again started westward and went to Marshall Co., Ill. He purchased land on which he made a small improvement and re- mained until 1849, then sold out and came to Green county on the 10th of June the same year, making the trip overland with a team. He bought land in the town of Decatur and im- proved a farm upon which he lived until 1863, when he sold and removed to Brodhead, where he died two years later. Mrs. Hudson lives with her eldest son's widow, at Fulton, Whitesides Co., Ill. Her son's name was John, and he was killed on Sunday morning at 2 o'clock, March 17, 1879, by three burglars who had entered his house. A reward of $15,000 was offered for their capture, but the villains escaped. The reward still remains standing should they ever be brought to justice. lle was an old and highly respected citizen of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson were the par- ents of ten children, six of whom are now liv- ing-Sophia, William H., Mary L, George W., Jared B. and Elza. William Hudson was born at Chilicothe, Ohio, June 17, 1833, and he was sixteen years old when he came to this county with his parents, with whom he made his home

two years, then went back to Marshall Co., Ill., and was engaged in agricultural pursuits two years, when he returned to Green county. He was married in 1858 to Helen, daughter of Ashael and Julia (Shultz) Hills, who was born in Prattsburg, Steuben Co., N. Y. At the time of his marriage he settled in Albany, (January, 1864,) and engaged in buying, selling and ship- ping live stock, and continued the same until 1879. In 1866 he purchased land on sections 17 and 20. In 1881 he removed to his father-in- law's farm, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson have one daughter-Ada E., born at Albany, July 11, 1866.

Abel Peckham came to Green county in 1851 and bought a farm of Lathrop Abbott, on section 26. He then returned to New York State, and remained until the following year when he came back, bringing his family with him, and settled upon his farm. There was a log house on the place, into which they moved and lived in until 1856. In that year he erected a commodious brick house, in which he lived until his death in 1864. He was born in Grafton, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1798. He was reared upon a farm, and in his youth learned the cooper's trade. He was married in 1820 to Ada Brown, who was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1800. In 1822, they moved to Trenton, Oneida county, where he worked at his trade un- til 1852, then moved to Chautauqua county, and purchased land and cleared a farm, living there

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 97

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