USA > Wisconsin > Iowa County > History of Iowa County, Wisconsin > Part 127
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Alvah Culver, who is now one of the last of the first settlers in the town, and who was en- gaged in the construction of the company warehouse, soon after its completion erected a tavern here, which was for many years the only hostelry in this part of the county.
In 1836, a post office was established here, and B. L. Webb appointed Postmaster, and Mr. Culver, Deputy. John Lindsay, now the second oldest settler in the county, was the first mail- carrier through the north part of the county.
The company eventually sold out to John Metcalf and Capt. J. B. Terry, who run the tower for awhile, after which it passed into the hands of Washburn & Woodman, who constructed a tramway. The last use that it had was by Knapp, the Mineral Point bank defaulter. The tower eventually went to ruin, and with the finishing-house was sold to Tracy Lockman, who built a barn and hog-pens out of them. The old Culver tavern is still standing, but the warehouse was moved to New Arena, some twenty years ago, by Mr. Jones.
There was at one time a fort standing near here, which has long since gone to ruin. It may . be said that all that now remains of Old Helena and its once prosperous business, worth men- tioning, is the name, which has been transferred to Helena Station, in the town of Arena, and which survives the wreck of years and is perpetuated to man.
TOWN OF WALDWICK.
It is supposed, and justly, too, that Waldwick was inhabited shortly after the discovery of the mines at Mineral Point, for the earliest known pioneer and settler in the town, James Fitch. who came here in 1833, found the relics of an old smelting furnace on the farm now owned and occupied by Joseph Griddle. The owners of this furnace, or the names of the men connected with it, Mr. Fitch could never ascertain, neither could he learn where, or from what mines, the mineral so smelted was obtained. These facts prove conclusively that the town was inhabited at least as early as 1830, or before the Black Hawk war.
James Fitch located a farm in 1833, in the extreme southwestern corner of the town, on Section 18. This farm is now owned and occupied by James Gordon. Here he erected a log
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
cabin, the first, and for several years the sole one in the town. Until 1837, Mr. Fitch was the only white settler in the present limits of Waldwick. In the spring of 1837, the brothers William and Benjamin White, of Indiana, immigrated to Waldwick, and broke ground on the farm now owned and occupied by Richard James. At that time, the two White brothers built a cabin, and broke twenty acres of prairie land.
In 1837, Elijah Hayden also built a cabin on his claim on Section 33, the farm now occu- pied by James Jackson, but left the country in the same year, and absented himself for three years. In 1840, he returned and commenced to improve his farm. William Ball came to Waldwick in the spring of 1839, and located on Section 30, Township 5, Range +. In the fall of the same year, Richard Gribble located on the same section and made a small farm. Ezra and George Hall settled on what is now known as the Cox farm in 1841.
About the year 1836, a William Burr, of Dover. N. H., was sent to Wisconsin by a Free- Will Baptist Colonization Company, for the purpose of securing farming lands for a colony of that religions sect. He found his way to Waldwick, where, on beholding the boundless tract of prairie lands, he fell to contemplating the scenery. thinking, as his eye swept to the south and west, that it was the finest panorama he had ever witnessed. Such a wealth of verdure, fertility and beauty in its pristine glory, he had never before seen. Straight and lofty oaks, clothed with their autumnal tints, on the one hand, and the pleasant prairie, with its rank vegetation, on the other, presaged the march of civilization and future wealth. Here he entered 3,000 acres of the best lands, and returned to New Hampshire. His sanguine hopes were blighted, however, as but two persons of the contemplated colony immigrated here. These were Anson Hall and I. W. Sargent. For his own claim, Burr selected the farm now owned and occupied by John and Alexander McNeal. This farm has since been known as Burr's " Grove."
Between the years 1840 and 1845, a number of settlers located in Waldwick, among them being Michael Hughes, Daniel Dornan, James McKee, Thomas Reilly, John Little, J. Green, James Gordon, W. Graham, H. Noyes, Asa Munson, Hubbard Stephens, Chandler Heath, George A. Martin, John Parkinson, Alexander and William Babcock, William Bateman, J. W. Dickinson, William Young, Dr. John Rowe, G. L. Matthews, and William Miller. Among the old settlers now living in the town, who came here before 1850, are, Thomas Reilly, Joseph Gribble, Thomas Gribble, John McKee, John Laverty, Daniel Dorman, Timothy Follen, James Ryan, John Welsh, James Kitchen, James Beecher, and Mrs. William Young.
The education of the youth of Waldwick was not neglected in the pioneer era of the town. notwithstanding the many obstacles and inconveniences experienced in a newly and sparsely set- tled country, for so early as 1841, a school of twenty-five urchins was taught at the residence of Benjamin White, on the farm now occupied by James Kitchen. Charles Grizzle was the first instructor. He boarded with the scholars and received a salary of $11 per month. This school was continued but three months. During the summer of 1842, a log schoolhouse was built on Section 16, and, in the winter of 1842-43, Silas Pleese was engaged as teacher. There are now in the town six schoolhouses, with a capacity of 305 children. The number of children of school age in the town aggregates 357-197 males, and 160 females. The services, of six teachers are required, who receive an average salary of $21 per month. During the year ending August 31, 1880, there has been received for school purposes $1,255.96. Amount paid out dur- ing the year for school purposes, $1,209.66.
Post Offices .- The first post office was established in the town December, 1849, on Section 3, Town 4, Range 4. Ezra A. Hall was appointed Postmaster. In 1851, the gold craze attracted Mr. Hall to California, and the post office was then discontinued. In the interval, E. M. Kirby carried the mail from Mineral Point. On May 2, 1872, a post office was established at the farm of J. C. McKee, on Section 34, and Mr. McKee was appointed Postmaster. The mail was received here from Mineral Point by carrier, who was paid a salary of $95. The fol- lowing have acted as carriers successively : E. M. Kirby, Charles Holmes, John Laverty and John Spellman. This office was discontinued February 2. 1876.
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Churches .- The first church erected in the town was St. Patrick's (Catholic) Church. which was built in 1868. This church is located on Seetion 36, and has the largest congregation in the town. Rev. James O'Keefe, of Mineral Point. is Pastor.
In the fall of 1866. the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the southern part of the town, was built, and dedicated February, 1867. The Primitive Methodist Church, located on Section 32, was erected in 1880.
Mills .- There are two flouring-mills. both located in the northern part of the town and run by water-power. The "Waldwick Mill" was built on Dodge's Branch of the Pecatonica River in 1871, by Griffith Jones, the present proprietor. The "Golden Meadow Mill " was built on the same stream, by Allen & Co., but is owned and managed by William Uren & Co.
Allen Lodge, No. 207, Good Templars, was organized in Waldwick, by Ph. Allen, Jr., of Mineral Point April 18, 1874. This society had thirty charter members, and has now a mem- bership of thirty-eight. Their meetings are held at the Bethel School, in District No. 5.
Mining .- Prominent among the "diggings" of southern Waldwick was the "Dyer Diggings." Rich ore was discovered here by Ephraim White in 1845. The property at that time belonged to Amos Young and Uriah Gruschau, a Frenchman, who subsequently sold it to the Dyer Brothers for $400. For many years the Dyers worked these diggings with the most gratifying suceess. The ""Young Diggings" has been recognized as an important mine in this town. Mineral was discovered here by Pleasant Fields, in 1843. He continued to work the " diggings " for several years, when William Young purchased the property and operated the mine up to a recent date. The principal minerals found here were lead ore and " Drybone." In the southern part of the town, a company, known as the " Waldwick Mining Company," operated several mines, which extended mostly into La Fayette County, with varying success. On the farm of William Pierce, in the southern part of the town, Section 14, there was an old log furnace, owned and operated by Mr. Fretwell, proprietor of the " Fretwell Diggings."
Official Town Record .- The town of Waldwick originally contained eighty-four sections, and belonged to the Yellow Stone voting precinct. Voting was often held at Asa Bennett's, on Dodge's Branch. - The town was organized in 1849. The first town election being held April 3, 1849, at the house of J. W. Diekenson. The following officers were chosen : E. A. Hall, Chairman ; Francis McKenna and H. Moorman, Supervisors; Clerk, I. N. Sargent; Treas- urer, Samuel Zollinger; Assessor, Geo. L. Hall; Superintendent of Schools, J. W. Diekenson.
In 1861, by vote of the people, forty-two sections off the eastern part of Waldwick was organized into a separate town and named Moscow. Waldwick has now forty-two sections, and is six miles wide by seven miles long.
The following is a list of the officers from the organization of the town to the present time :
1850-E. A. Hall, Chairman, Francis McKinna, John Parkinson, Supervisors ; I. N. Sar- gent, Clerk ; J. S. Wall, Assessor; Samuel Zollinger, Treasurer ; James Bennett, Superin- tendent of Schools.
1851-F. McKinna, Chairman ; William Young, Hiram Moorman, Supervisors ; Richard Freeman, Assessor; I. N. Sargent, Clerk ; J. S. Wall, Treasurer; J. M. Bennett. Superin- tendent of Schools.
1852-S. Zollinger, Chairman, J. B. Walker, Richard Freeman, Supervisors; E. Leam- ing, Clerk ; R. Freeman, Assessor : George Matthews, School Superintendent ; John S. Wall, Treasurer.
1853-Samuel Zollinger, Chairman ; William White, Michael Statser, Supervisors ; HIar- vey White, Treasurer ; H. Moorman, Town Clerk ; G. L. Matthews, School Superintendent. 1854-Samuel Zollinger, Chairman ; M. Statser, William White, Supervisors : H. Moor- man, Clerk.
1855-R. C. Dyer, Chairman ; Charles Smith, Jonathan White, Supervisors : M. C. Bur- nett, Clerk ; George L. Matthews, Assessor; Harvey White, Treasurer; G. L. Matthews, School Superintendent.
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
1856-George L. Matthews, Chairman ; Daniel Dornan, Joseph Dickenson, Supervisors ; J. T. Reeves, Clerk ; Joseph Beecher, Treasurer ; John James, Assessor; M. C. Parkinson, School Superintendent.
1857-George L. Matthews, Chairman, Daniel Dornan, M. C. Burnett, Supervisors ; J. T. Reeves, Clerk ; Joseph Beecher, Treasurer ; John James, Assessor : George Rogers, School Superintendent.
1858-Hiram Moorman, Chairman ; John McKee, Joseph Gribble, Supervisors ; J. T. Reeves, Clerk : Joseph Beecher, Treasurer ; G. L. Matthews, Assessor ; E. B. Crowel, School Superintendent.
1859-Charles Nobles, Chairman ; E. B. Crowel, John McKee, Supervisors ; J. T. Reeves, Clerk ; Robert Mc Williams, Treasurer ; E. Cole, Assessor ; John Green, School Superintendent.
1860-John James, Chairman ; John Green, William Young, Supervisors. I. N. Sar- gent, Clerk ; A. B. Ferris, Treasurer ; J. Beecher, School Superintendent ; J. White, Assessor. 1861-John James, Chairman ; John Green, John McKee, Supervisors ; Joseph Beecher, Clerk ; P. A. Orton, Assessor ; A. B. Ferris, Treasurer ; Wm. Wallace, School Superintendent.
1862-John James, Chairman, John McKee, Wm. Babcock, Supervisors ; Joseph Beecher, Clerk ; A. B. Ferris, Treasurer : John McKee. Assessor.
1863-John James, Chairman; William Babcock, James Ryan, Supervisors; A. B. Fer- ris, Treasurer; William Young, Assessor ; William Reeves, Clerk.
1864-William Young, Chairman; William Babcock, John Little, Supervisors; E. P. Leaming, Clerk; A. B. Ferris, Treasurer ; Thomas Teague, Assessor.
1865-John James, Chairman ; William Babcock, John Little, Supervisors; J. C. McKee, Clerk ; David Humbert, Assessor; A. B. Ferris, Treasurer.
1866-John James, Chairman; John Little, Joseph Ryan, Supervisors : David Humbert. Treasurer; N. Uren, Assessor; J. C. McKee, Clerk.
1867-David Humbert, Chairman; James Jackson, James Ryan, Supervisors; William Reeves, Clerk ; J. C. McKee, Treasurer ; Peter Kirth, Assessor.
1868-David Humbert, Chairman; James Ryan, Joseph Gribble, Supervisors; John Walsh, Treasurer; William Reeves, Clerk; Peter Kirth, Assessor.
1869-David Humbert, Chairman; James Ryan. Joseph Gribble, Supervisors ; William Reeves, Clerk ; J. C. McKee, Assessor; John Walsh, Treasurer.
1870-David Humbert, Chairman; B. Spellman, John Holmes, Supervisors; William Reeves, Clerk; John Walsh, Treasurer; Thomas Burke, Assessor.
1871-David Humbert, Chairman; B. Spellman, James Heath, Supervisors ; William Reeves, Clerk; S. McWilliams, Assessor; John Walsh, Treasurer.
1872-David Humbert, Chairman; B. Spellman, John Jackson, Supervisors; J. C. Mar- tin, Assessor; J. C. McKee, Clerk ; John Ruckes, Treasurer.
1878-David Humbert, Chairman; B. Spellman, John Jackson, Supervisors; John Ruckes, Treasurer; John Pile, Assessor; J. C. McKee, Town Clerk.
1874-James Heath. Chairman; John Little, Joseph Gribble, Supervisors; Joseph Beecher, Clerk; John Ruckes, Treasurer; M. Stephenson, Assessor.
1875-James Ileath, Chairman; James Ryan, Joseph Gribble, Supervisors: Joseph Beecher, Town Clerk; J. Ruckes, Treasurer ; R. Patterson, Assessor.
1876-G. G. Cox, Chairman ; Mathias Lye, William McNeil, Supervisors; D. Humbert, Treasurer; R. Patterson. Clerk; J. Beecher, Assessor.
1877-G. G. Cox, Chairman; William McNeil, Matthew Lye, Supervisors : William Reeves, Town Clerk; A. Mclllhatton, Treasurer; R. Patterson, Assessor.
1878-G. G. Cox, Chairman; B. Spellman, M. Lye, Supervisors; William Reeves, Town Clerk : A. MeIllhatton, Treasurer; R. Patterson, Assessor.
1879-G. G. Cox, Chairman; Alexander McNeil, James Jackson, Supervisors; William Reeves, Clerk ; David Humbert, Treasurer; Joseph Beecher, Assessor.
1880-G. G. Cox, Chairman ; James Jackson, Alexander McNeil, Supervisors; William Reeves, Town Clerk; David Humbert, Treasurer; Joseph Beccher. Assessor.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ABBREVIATIONS.
Co ... ......
...... .Company or county
...... W. V. I . Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry W. V. A .. ...... Wisconsin Volunteer Artillery
P.O. Post Office
st .. .street W. V. C .. Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry
TOWN OF MINERAL POINT.
PHILIP ALLEN, of the firm of P. Allen & Son, dealers in groceries and boots and shoes ; is a native of Cornwall, England, and was born in August, 1816; he came to the United States in 1842, and came to Wisconsin in June of the same year, and located at Mineral Point and began working at his trade of stone-mason and plasterer; he continued in that business until 1861. In 1860, he established his present business, in company with Jno. Toay, and has successfully carried it on for the past twenty years, and has a large trade. Four years after coming to Mineral Point, Mr. Allen returned to England, and, in 1846, was united in marriage to Miss Eliza James, a native of Cornwall, England ; they have three children-Philip, Jr., Postmaster of this city; Eliza, now Mrs. John Tucker, living here ; John, engaged in business with his father; they have lost two children-John and Eliza ; there have been five in the family, and they have only used three names. Mr. Allen is a leading member of the Primitive Methodist Church, and has been a local preacher in that denomination for the past thirty-eight years
PHILIP ALLEN, Jr., Postmaster; is the son of Philip and Eliza James Allen, and is a native of Iowa County, and was born in Mineral Point Aug. 29, 1847; here is where he received his edu- cation ; after reaching manhood, he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1873, at the solicitation of the leading citizens and business men, he was appointed Postmaster, and, since then, he has held that office. Mr. Allen is prominently identified with the temperance work in this State; he is a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and was chosen Grand Worthy Chief of the order in this State for two years. Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Gray, of this city, and daughter of Hon. John Gray, May 27, 1869.
J. L. BEARDSLEY, Sec. 33; P. O. Mineral Point ; owns 275 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1825; came to Wisconsin in 1852, and located in this county ; settled on his present farm in 1868. He married Ann Baxter in 1854, a native of England ; they have four children-Sarah A., Orrin F., Mary L. and James C.
DE LOS P. BEECH, in the general office of the Mineral Point Railroad ; is a son of Curtis and Sophia Beech; was born in Mineral Point Oct. 22, 1840 ; he attended school here; after reaching manhood, was connected with the zinc company. In 1876, he entered the office of the Mineral Point Railroad, and, since then, has been connected with that company. In 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth H. George, of Mineral Point; they have three children-Curtis, George and Algernon.
CURTIS BEECH, deceased ; was a native of Chenango Co., N. Y .; in 1835, he started West by wagon ; when he reached Chicago, he was offered 40 acres of land now in that city for his team ; he refused, and said he would not trade his team for the whole town ; came to Geneseo, Ill., and the fol- lowing year came to Mineral Point, and was one of the early settlers there; engaged in the mercantile business. Married Miss Sophia Crocker, a native of New York State. He was one of the earliest mer- chants in Mineral Point, and carried on the business for many years ; he died in 1862, leaving four chil- dren-Cornelia (now Mrs. Wheeler), De Los P., Thomas and Eddie L. Mrs. Beech is still living.
CHARLES BENSON, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. O. Mineral Point; owns 140 acres land, valued at 840 per acre ; born in England Feb. 11, 1831 ; came to America in 1849, and located in Mineral
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Point, and for several years followed mining, and, in 1862, settled on his present farm. March 10, 1870, he married Sarah Avery, a uative of England ; they have six children-Elizabeth Annie, Joseph, Martha Frances, Prudence, William Charles and James. Are members of the Primitive Methodist Church.
JAMES BENSON, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. O. Mineral Point ; owns 200 acres land, valued at $40 per acre ; born in England in 1836 ; came to America in 1853; settled in the State in 1854. Married Emma Johnson in 1868, and settled on his present farm soon after ; she is a native of New York ; they have three children-Mary E., John F. and Amy Gertrude. Are members of the Primitive Methodist Church.
B. J. BENNETT, loeal editor Mineral Point Tribune ; is a native of Iowa Co., and was born March 6, 1854 ; he attended school bere, and entered the office of the Tribune, where he learned the printing business; sinee 1878, he has held his present position as local editor of the Tribune. In December, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Hosking, a native of this eity ; they have one daughter-Veta.
JOSEPH BENNETT, farmer, See 5; P. O. Mineral Point ; owns 130 aeres land, valued at $35 per acre; born in England in 1827 : eame to America in 1836, and settled with his parents in Mineral Point. Married Elizabeth Trevarow in 1856 ; she was born in England ; have three children- William, Mary E. and Graee O. Mr. B. has held different town offices-member of Town Board, Jus- tiee of the Peace, etc., ete. They are members of the Primitive Methodist Church. In politics, he is a Republican.
HENRY BENNETT, farmer, See. 5 ; P. O. Mineral Point ; owns 120 acres land, valued at $30 per aere ; born in this county, on the farm on which he now lives, in 1840. Married Emma Cork, a native of England, in 1863 ; they have five children-Lillie, John, Jane, Ethelbert and Merthine. Repub- lican in politics.
WILLIAM H. BENNETT, editor and publisher of the Mineral Point Tribune, was born in Platteville, Grant Co., Wis., Dec. 27, 1839 ; he attended school here, and, when 16 years of age, entered the office of the Mineral Point Tribune, where he learned the printing business, and worked at this trade here and at Madison ; also served as messenger boy in the State Legislature. During the war, he enlisted and served for three years in the 11th W. V. I., and participated in all the battles of the regiment; after the war, in 1867, he established the Boscobel Appeal and conducted that paper two years; and, in May, 1869, bought the Tribune and since then has been its editor and proprietor. He held the office of As- sistant Colleetor of Internal Revenue four years, and now holds position of Clerk in the land office at Madison. In 1867. Mr. Bennett was united in marriage to Miss L. C. Andrews, of Mineral Point; they have had six children, three of whom survive-Edgar, George, William.
ALFRED F. BISHOP, of the firm of Bishop & Nanenlas, builders, and dealers in furniture ; is a native of Iowa Co., and was born in Mineral Point July 9, 1849; he attended sehool here and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner; after reaching manhood, he engaged in building for some years. and, in January, 1878, the firm of Bishop & Nancolas established their present furniture business, and they are building up a large and leading trade. In September. 1875, Mr. Bishop was united in mar- riage to Miss Katie Kinne, from this city ; they have one daughter-Nannie K.
CLARENCE A. BLANCHARD, Mineral Point. The family date baek to Col. Blaneh- ard of Connecticut, who was engaged in the Revolution, and, after the war, be located at Truxton, N. Y .; at the death of the Colonel, the farm passed into the hands of William, who was the father of seven sons, one of them Asheal, was born at Truston, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1801; married Sept. 15, 1825 ; he died at Dodgeville, Wis., July 19, 1852. Elizabeth Brown, his wife, was born at Lenox, Mass., Dec. 4. 1799, died at Blanchardville, Wis., Aug. 26, 1872. The family moved to Wiseonsin in 1840 ; located in Iowa Co. in 1844 ; by this union there were two children-Alvin, who was born at Truxton, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1830; Hannah Eliza, born at Truxton, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1832; married to John Adams, of Black Earth, Dane Co., Wis., who was born in Pulaski Co., Ky .. Dee. 10. 1819. Alvin was married to Mary A., youngest daughter of John B. Skinner, who emigrated from Columbus, Ohio, to Wiota, La Fayette Co., Wis., about 1830, and from there moved to Greene Co., near the source of what is now ealled the Skinner Branch. It was on this farm the first barley was raised in the State of Wisconsin ; at the elose of the Black Hawk war, be located on what is now known as the old Skinner farm. in Iowa Co., where the younger members of the family were born ; by this marriage, there were three children-William, born Nov. 14, 1856; Kate, born Nov. 12, 1854; and Clarence A., who was born in town of Ridgeway, Iowa Co., Sept. 22, 1852. In 1855, he moved to Blanchardville, La Fayette Co., with his parents, where his childhood days were passed
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TOWN OF MINERAL POINT.
in the winter of 1866-67, he attended school at Fayette; winter of 1867-68, at Albion Academy, in Dane Co., and, in the spring of 1869, Evansville Seminary; at school in the winter of 1871; the summer of 1872 with H. Isaacson & Co., at Black Earth ; in the winter at school at Blanchardville; in 1873-74, at Albion at school; he then went to Minnesota with stock and remained in the employ of the Swift County Bank, located at Benson, but he was at Willmar selling bonds of the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad ; 1876 returned home, and was in the employ of H. Michaelson & Co. until July ; he again went with stock to Min- nesota; October, 1876, to the Centennial; at home during the winter; in the spring of 1877. came to Mineral Point in the employ of the McCormick Reaper Company until fall of 1878; then with the Singer Sewing Machine Company ; continued until March, 1879, when he went West through Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas; returned in May to Chicago; engaged as traveling salesman for John A. Tolman, wholesale grocery house. Is a member of I. O. O. F. Lodge, at Edgerton, Dane Co. ; the A., F. & A. M., at Argyle ; Chapter, No. 6, at Mineral Point; Commandery, No. 12.
JOHN BOHAN, of the firm of Priestley & Bohan ; livery. sale and boarding stable; is a native of Ireland, and was born Oct. 16, 1846. Ile came to the United States in 1865, and came to Mineral Point the following year ; in 1868, he engaged in the livery business, and has continued in it since then. He is also interested in mining. In 1871, he married Miss Mary Ann Noonan, from this city ; they have two children-Ellen and Mary.
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