History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 147

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958

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MAJ. GEORGE R. FRANK, Sec. 8; P. O. Muscoda. A history purporting to give biographical sketches of many of the leading citizens of Iowa Co. would be incomplete without honorable mention of Maj. Frank. He was born in the town of Gray, Cumberland Co., Me., May 2, 1824. In early life he enjoyed good educational advantages, which he improved, qualifying himself for teaching school, a vocation which he was engaged in, principally in La Fayette and Grant Cos , Wis., for a number of years. Many of his former pupils are now occupying leading positions in various departments of life. Maj. Frank has been a resident of Wisconsin since 1847. During the war of the rebellion, he took an active part in raising Co. B, 33d W. V. I., and was commissioned Captain Aug. 16, 1862, and partici- pated in twenty battles, including those of Spanish Fort, Mobile Bay, Nashville, Tupelo, and several on the Red River expedition. At Spanish Fort, he was wounded. In February, 1865, he was promoted to Major of the 33d W. V. I., and served in that position until the close of the war. Maj. Frank has held various offices of trust ; he was U. S. Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue two years, also Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue two years, and has several times filled town offices. In 1848, he married in the town of Hairrson. Grant Co., Wis., Miss Matilda Price. She was born near New Harmony, Ind., and came to Wisconsin with her parents, Zachariah and Elizabeth Price, in 1836; they settled in the town of Harri- son, Grant Co., thus becoming pioneer settlers. They removed to Mankato, Minn., where they now live. In 1870, Maj. Frank and wife moved from Grant Co. to where they now live. Their children are Al- pheus E., now an attorney-at-law at Deadwood, Dak .; Charles E .. a broker in Virginia City, Nev. ; Flor- ence C., wife of Charles J. MeKittrick, a merchant of Muscoda ; Miss Naomi E., William E., George E., and Fred E. Maj. Frank owns nearly 500 acres of land.

949

TOWN OF PULASKI.

CHARLES H. FROST, of the firm of Frost Bros., dealers in general merchandise, Avoca ; was born in Erie Co., Penn., Jan. 16, 1840. He came to the town of Clyde, Iowa Co., Wis., with his parents, in 1848, and in that town was, for a number of years, largely interested in milling and farming. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 31st W. V. I .; was in active service, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea ; he was honorably discharged at the close of the war. In the town of Clyde, he was elected to various offices, including those of Town Supervisor and Clerk, positions he filled several terms. He mar- ried in the town of Clyde, Francis L. Kinzie. They have one daughter-Nellie. Mr. Frost is an ener- getie business man ; is held in high esteem as a citizen, and is deservedly very popular.

JOSEPH A. FROST, of the firm of Frost Bros., leading dealers in general merchandise, Avoca ; was born in Erie Co., Penn., in 1838. In 1848, he removed with his parents to the town of Clyde, Iowa Co., Wis., where he remained until 1860, in which year he engaged in grain dealing iu Avoca, and in about 1876, opened a general store, well stocked with merchandise. In 1880, his brother, Charles H. Frost, became a partner in the business with him, and they are having a large and constantly increasing trade. In 1867, he represented Iowa Co., First District, in the Wisconsin Assembly, discharg- ing the duties of that office with signal ability. He has been twice married ; his first wife, Mary Kinzie, died in 1868; his present wife was Jennie L. Kinzie ; they have one child, a daughter, living-Frances F. Mr. Frost has been closely identified with the business interests of Avoca for twenty years, and has done much toward the building-up and improving of the village, and in sustaining the local enterprises.

AUGUSTUS GROTE, furniture dealer, Avoca; was born in Westphalia, Prussia, Jan. 1, 1828 ; he remained in Westphalia until he was 20 years of age ; then came to this country and engaged in cabinet-making in Galena, Ill., for eight years ; he had learned the trade with his father, who was a large dealer in furniture and Inmber in Westphalia. In 1853, he married, in Quincy, Ill., Miss Margaret Hense ; she was also a native of Westphalia, born in 1831 ; after their marriage, they lived in Quincy a short time ; then removed to Galena, Ill .. where he engaged in business ou his own account ; from Galena, they went to Lyons, Iowa, and was in the furniture trade there two years; they then came to Avoea, which has been their home since ; Mr. Grote was the first to engage in furniture dealing in Avoca, and has continued in it, with fair success, in that village now for several years. Their children are Elizabeth (now wife of F. Thies, of Denver, Colo. ), Matilda (wife of F. H. Dimock, of Prairie du Chien, Wis. ), Josephine, Frank H., Albert W. and Agusta. Mr. Grote has been Chairman of the Pulaski Town Board of Supervisors several terms, and has also been President of the Avoca Board of Village Trustees, Justice of the Peace, and has held other offices of trust.

ROBERT H. KINZIE, one of the successful merchants of Avoca, was born in Raeine, Wis., in 1840 ; in early life, he received a liberal education in the schools at Racine ; in 1851, he removed to the town of Clyde, Iowa Co., Wis., where he engaged in farming and milling for several years ; in 1872, engaged in the grain trade in Avoca, continuing in it about three years ; then engaged in the mercantile business, in which, with the exception of a short time, he has been engaged sinee. During the time he was a resident of the town of Clyde, he was elected to various town offices ; in this town (Pulaski) he was Assessor from 1871 until 1879-eight years ; was Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors in 1876, and was one of the Board of Avoca Village Trustees four years, and Village Treasurer in 1876; in 1877, he represented the First District, composed of the towns Arena, Clyde, Dodgeville, Highland, Ridgeway and Wyoming, in the Wisconsin Assembly, discharging the duties of that office with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Kenzie married, in the town of Clyde, Miss Charlotte Frost ; they have three children -James N., Charles H. and Leone Mabel. His father, James Kinzie, a native of Detroit, Mich., born in 1793, was prominently identified with the early history of Chicago, being one of the first settlers, and erecting the first house in that now great metropolis of the Northwest ; he removed to Racine in 1837 ; was connected with the early growth of that city ; in 1851, he came to Clyde, this county, where he died in 1869, highly respected and esteemed by all.

DANIEL LEACH, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Avoea ; was born in Providence, R. I., in 1829; in 1842, he came to Wisconsin with his parents, Oliver and Susan Leach, settling in the town of Pulaski, Iowa Co., Wis., where he has resided the greater part of the time since. In 1854, he married Miss Mary Sanford. They have seven children-William R., Daniel W., Franklin T., Mary E., Anna N., Frances I. and Susan E. During the war of the rebellion, Mr. Leach enlisted in Co. K, 33d W. V. I., and was in active service two years. His farm contains 200 acres, and is well improved. Politically, Mr. Leaeb acts with the Republican party. He has filled various local offices in the town of Clyde, including that of District School Treasurer, which he has held a number of years.

950

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

OLIVER LEACH, P. O. Avoca; was born in Rhode Island in 1791 ; in 1842, he came to Wisconsin, locating in the town of Pulaski, Iowa Co., Wis., thus becoming a pioneer settler of that town. In Rhode Island he was commissioned Colonel of a regiment of State militia, a position he filled for several years. Col. Leach has been twice married. His first wife was Susan Knight; she died in Pulaski. Their children now living are-Henry, now in Barron Co., Wis .; Daniel, a leading farmer of this town, who was in the service in the late war; Nemiah K., of Avoca ; Susan, now wife of Charles Booth, of Mason City, Iowa. The maiden name of Col. Leach's present wife was Lizzie Andrews. Her first husband, Edward Searl, died in Rhode Island. Of their children, two served in the Union army, during the war of the rebellion-Edward and Jeremiah ; both are now dead. Col. Leach owns 100 acres of land. He is the oldest man now residing in the town of Pulaski.

J. P. McCALLISTER, a successful business man of Avoea since 1866, was born in Put- nam Co., Ohio, May 20, 1841. In 1852, he removed with his parents to the town of Pulaski, Iowa Co., Wis. In early life he learned the tinner's trade, and worked at it in various States in the Northwest for several years. In 1866, he engaged in the hardware trade in Avoca, which he continued in until 1876, in which year he engaged in general merchandising, in which he is now doing an excellent business. He married in Avoea, Miss Elizabeth Adnay ; they have three children-Mary M., George H. and Harry A. Mr. McCallister is a member of the village Board of Trustees, a position he has filled for several years ; he has also represented the village in the County Board many terms. He takes an active interest in the local affairs of the village, and gives encouragement to every beneficial enterprise.

NELSON MCCALLISTER, farmer ; P. O. Avoca; was born in Pittsburgh, Peun., Jan. 19, 1810. While in his boyhood, his parents moved to Washington, Penn., thence to Jefferson Co., Ohio, where he remained till 1829, then went to Crawford, Co., Ohio, marrying there, on the 6th of May, the same year (1829), Miss Mary Johnson, a native of Harrison Co., Ohio, born Oet. 8. 1808. In about 1836, they removed to Putnam Co., Ohio, and from that county came to Wisconsin in 1850, settling in the town of Pulaski, almost immediately after, where they have since lived, highly esteemed citizens. Their children are Angeline, now Mrs. Ferris, of Avoea ; Ellen died in Ohio; James, killed by runaway team, in 1871; Desberry J., now in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, married in Muscoda, Wis., Ellen Moore. In the war of the rebellion he served in the 14th W. V. I .; Richard C., now in Avoca, was three years in the service ; he married Aurora Thurber, of this town ; John P., a merchant in Avoca ; he married Elizabeth Adnay ; Nelson A., served three years in the-33d W. V. I. ; he is a dealer in hardware in Muscoda, Wis .; Milton E., lives in Avoca ; Earl S., lives in Elgin, Ill. ; he married in Chicago, Mary Smith ; Alonzo, now in the hardware business in Herman, Dakota, married Robertine Dimmock, of this town. Mr. McCallister owns a valuable farm of 240 acres of land. Himself and wife are members of the Congregational Church. at Muscoda. He takes quite an interest in religious and educational matters, and has filled various school offiees.

G. F. MASON, dealer in general merchandise, Avoca ; is a native of Canton Schaffhausen, Switzerland ; was born Nov. 9, 1832 ; he came to the United States in 1848. In 1857, he married in- Galena, Ill., Miss Anna M. Yenny; in 1858, they moved to the village of Ilighland, Iowa Co., Wis., and thence to Avoca in 1862 ; they have two children-Fred W. and Ferrena. Mr. Mason has been engaged in the mercantile business in Avoea since 1862, and has met with more than ordinary success ; he is a good manager, and has succeeded in accumulating a large amount of property, being the possessor of considerable real estate in Iowa Co. He was Town Clerk of Pulaski in 1871, 1872 and 1873; President of the village of Avoca in 1872, and Chairman of the Pulaski Town Board of Supervisors in 1879 and 1880; in the latter position, he makes a most efficient guardian of the interests of the tax-payers.

THOMAS J. MOREY, farmer, Sec. 14 ; P. O. Avoca. This gentleman, a pioneer settler of Wisconsin, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y. He married, in his native county, Maria Sherman ; they came to La Fayette Co., Wis., in 1841, remaining there until 1845; then came to this town (Pulaski), which has been their home sinee; their oldest son, Hiram M., during the war of the rebellion, served in the 6th Wisconsin Battery ; was severely wounded in the side at Corinth, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered ; their second eldest son, William H., served in Co. A, 33d W. V. I., for three years ; he married. in Avoca, Ella Lucas ; they moved to Dakota in 1879 ; third son, Benjamin A., is in West Bend, Iowa : the youngest son, Charles B., is engaged in farming in this town ; Matilda, their eld- est daughter, resides at home ; Henrietta, second eldest daughter, is the wife of F. M. Scheble, of Roek Co., Minn. Mr. Morey owns 113 acres of land, pleasantly located, a short distance southwest of the vil- lage of Avoca ; he has a vivid recollection of early times in Wisconsin, and, in common with other early settlers, has witnessed and endured many privations which follow the settlement of a new country.

951

TOWN OF PULASKI.

LOUIS MOSO, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Avoca ; was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1823, where he remained until he was in his 14th year ; he then went to Buffalo, N. Y .. thence to Detroit, Mich., and from there to Sandusky, Ohio; there remained about eight years. While in Sandusky, he married Soprano Hibert ; they came to the town of Linden, lowa Co., Wis., in 1849 ; settled on a farm, improved, then sold it, and moved to Richland Co., Wis., there being only one house in Richland Center at that time, and the country surrounding it was a wilderness; io Richland Co., they purchased and improved another farm, on which they lived for several years ; she died in Richland Co., leaving six children, viz., Lucy, who is now the wife of Peter Rice, of Muscoda, Wis. ; Louis, now in Iowa; Augustus, Frances E., Soprano and Dulcina. Mr. Moso came to Pulaski about 1866; his present wife, whose maiden name was Josephine Euclaire, he married in Richland Co., Wis. ; ber first husband, L. Davis, died in Richland Co. Mr. Moso owns a well-improved farm of 140 acres, located a short distance southwest of Avoca.

SAMUEL PARKS, Postmaster, Avoca; was born in Malta, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1819 ; was educated at the common schools, and at the academy at Waterford, N. Y. ; in 1848, he went to Michigan, thence to Warren, Ill., in 1849, and followed teaching school there and at Gratiot, Wis., for about five years ; then went to Minnesota, becoming one of the original owners of the village of Paynes- ville, Stearns Co., platted it, and was largely interested in many of her industries, and identified with the interests of the county officially and otherwise; in 1862, he came to Avoca ; a few years afterward, he was elected Superintendent of Schools for Iowa Co., a position he filled six consecutive years, laboring assidu- ously for the advancement of the educational interests, and, therefore, making a very efficient officer ; in June, 1878, he was appointed Postmaster, and is the present incumbent of that office. He married, in Avoca, Elizabeth Lucas ; they are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. P. is at the present writ- ing Village Treasurer of Avoca, and has filled various other local offices in the village.

P. F. QUINN, attorney at law, Avoca ; he was born in Lowell, Mass., in 1854. In 1866, he came to Avoca, Iowa Co., Wis., with his parents ; was educated in the schools of Avoca and in the State University at Madison ; afterward studied law, and was admitted to the practice thereof in April, 1880. Mr. Quinn is a young man of fine ability, possessed of much energy, and is fast making for himself a repu- tation of merit in his chosen profession, in which he has met with more than ordinary success thus far.

OLE ROBERG, merchant tailor, Avoca; was born in Christians Amt, Norway, Sept. 20, 1825. In 1865, he came to the United States ; located in Chicago, Ill., and followed merchant tailoring there until his coming to Avoca, Wis., in 1871, where he has continued in the business since. Mr. Roberg has been twice married ; his first wife, Karen H. Hangrud, died in Norway ; his present wife, Inger M. Falde, he married in La Fayette Co., Wis. His daughter Olinia, is now the wife of H. A. Hampton, of this town. Mr. Roberg has been a member of the Village Board of Trustees, Avoca, since 1877, inclu- sive. He carries a good stock of goods, does good work, and, therefore, has a large trade.

HENRY SIEGER, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Avoca ; was born in the Rhine Province, Prussia, Oct. 7, 1837, where he remained until 1849, in which year he came to this country, with his parents (Riener and Margaret Sieger), settling in the town of Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co .. Wis., they afterward moved to La Crosse, where they died ; he remained in Sauk Co. until 1860. In 1861, he came Pulaski, Iowa Co., where he has since resided. He married, in Sauk City, Wis., Miss Frances Wanik ; they have three children-Conrad, Joseph and John. Mr. Sieger owns a well located and improved farm of 230 acres. He is a thorough farmer, and is well to do in this world's goods.

N. H. SNOW, depot agent, also dealer in zine mineral, Avoca; was born in Worcester Co., Mass., in 1848. In 1858, he removed to Avoca, Iowa Co., Wis., with his parents, where he now resides ; has been in the employ of the railroad company, and engaged in dealing in zine mineral, for several years. He married, in La Fayette, Ind., Miss Mary A. Simpson ; they have two children-Homer and Charles. Mr. Snow is the present inenmbent of the office of Treasurer for the town of Pulaski. He takes an active part in advancing the business enterprise of Avoca, adding much to the shipping interests himself.

SAMUEL SWINEHART, farmer ; P. O. Avoca. This gentleman has been a resident of Wisconsin for more than thirty-seven years, and closely identified with the early history of the town of Rockbridge, Richland Co., Wis., of which town he was the first settler, and made many of the first im- provements; was born in Circleville, Pickaway Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1823. In 1843, he came to Wiscon- sin, and, in 1844, built a saw-mill, the first in Richland Co., on the Pine River, and eleared the river from Rockbridge to the Wisconsin River, which involved a vast amount of expense and labor, so that he might float rafts from that river to his mill. He also laid out and cleared many of the first wagon roads in the county. This, in itself, was a great inducement to men looking for homes in those days to settle, and a great many,

952

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

encouraged by those few improvements, which looked vast in those days. did locate, and are to-day among the wealthiest and most enterprising families of Richland Co. In 1846, Mr. Swinehart was an active participant in the so called Indian war of that year, which ended, however, without much bloodshed, and that all Indian blood. In 1848, he married, in this town (Pulaski), Tabitha H., a daughter of William S. and Elizabeth Booth, old settlers of Sangamon Co., III. Mr. Booth took an active part in the Black Hawk war; afterward receiving a Captain's commission. In 1834, he removed to Wingville, Iowa Co., Wis .; in 1836. to Museoda, Grant Co .; thence, to Booth's Hollow, this town, in 1842, where he lived at the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when he entered a Wisconsin regiment during the war in active service. In 1874, he moved to Palo Alto, Iowa Co .. where he died in 1877. His wife is still living, and is now in the 75th year of her age. After their marriage, Mr. Swinehart and wife resided in Rock bridge, Richland Co., about two years ; they then removed to this town, which has been their home since. Their ebildren are Charles M. (who married Dakota Walbridge, of this town), William H. (who mar- ried Rhoda Cline), Fannie (wife of J. F. Roberts), Emma, Lydia, George B., Sammy W. and Edna. Mr. Swinehart owns large real estate interests in this county and in Clay Co., Kar. For a number of years he was deeply interested in lumbering in the north part of Wisconsin, and was a heavy dealer. He was a member of the Town Board of Supervisors in 1861-62, and 1880, and was Assessor in 1864.

O. P. UNDERWOOD, Avoea. This representative gentleman was born in Roxbury, Dela- ware Co., N. Y., August 23, 1826. In early life, he attended the schools of his native county, receiving a liberal education. In 1845, hearing glowing reports of the Territory of Wisconsin, and of the many advan- tages it possessed, he wended his way thitherward, and resided the first two years in what is now the town of Highland, Iowa Co., Wis. In 1848, he came to this town ( Pulaski), which has been his home since, with the exception of the years 1854-55, when he lived in the town of Highland. Mr. Underwood mar- ried, in Clyde, Iowa Co., Wis., Miss Helen Brewster ; her parents, Justus and Permelia Brewster, were natives of Massachusetts, and were early settlers of Warren, Ill .; came from there to Wisconsin in 1846, settling in the town of Pulaski, Iowa Co., where they resided, highly esteemed by all during their life. Mr. Underwood and wife reside on their farm, which is pleasantly located a short distance west of the village of Avoca. Their children are Annie, Emma, lone and Olla P. The first mentioned, Annie, is the wife of D. A. Telfair, of this town. Mr. Underwood owns nearly 800 acres of land. He has taught school a greater portion of the time since he came to Wisconsin, and has been eminently successful as an educator. He holds the commission of Major in the 11th Wisconsin Militia. He was deputy United States Marshal in 1870, and one of the Board of Census Enumerators, in 1880, in the towns of Clyde and Pulaski. He has been elected to various positions of trust, and is deservedly very popular. He takes an active interest in public affairs, and is an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party.

PARKER C. UNDERWOOD, Muscoda ; was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., Feb. 3, 1803. He is a son of Dr. Oliver Underwood and Jemima Parker; Parker C. lived in the State of New York until September, 1834, when he came West and located at Buffalo Grove, Ill. The following year, he came to Mineral Point, Iowa Co., Wis., and his home has been in Iowa Co. since that time. He engaged in mining lead ore, at what are called the Upper Mines. He sold his ore to Col. W. S. Hamilton, who had smelting works at Wiota, in what is now La Fayette Co. His first sale of ore was 50,000 lbs., at $20 per 1,000 lbs. It was the first mineral sold. He then sold out his interest in the mines, and went to what is now called Centerville, and discovered what is now called the Drybone and Black Jack vein, which yields zine ore. The place was then known as the Underwood and Billings Diggings, he having given Mr Billings an interest in the mines. He remained in the mines about three years; then engaged some in farming. He was elected Constable, also Under Sheriff of Iowa Co., which then embraced what is now Grant, Richland and La Fayette Counties. He was married, March 11, 1824, to Miss Anna Parker, a native of New York State; she died in 1848; they had four sons, the two oldest. Joseph and Oliver P., are living on the old homestead in Iowa Co .; Madison, the third son, died Dec. 8, 1880 ; Irving, the youngest, entered the army, and was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and killed at the battle of Corinth.

JOSIAH WARD, grain-dealer, Avoea ; was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Sept. 31, 1835 ; when he was 4 years old, his parents removed to Scioto Co., Obio, and thence to near Sandusky, Sauk Co., Wis., in 1856, where he remained until 1860, when he went to Helena, Iowa Co.,; engaged in the grain trade and in the mercantile business there for several years ; in 1871, he removed to Arena, and dealt in grain there until 1873, in which year he came to Avoca, where he has successfully continued in the busi- ness since. He married in Mazomanie, Dane Co., Wis., Miss Georgiana Dodge, daughter of Gardiner Dodge, of Arena, this county ; they have three children-Nellie E., Lilly B. and Jennie M. Mr. Ward

953

TOWN OF CLYDE.

was President of the Avoca Board of Village Trustees in 1876, 1877 and 1880; was Village Treasurer in 1878, and has held various other local offices. He has been almost constantly engaged in the grain trade since 1860, and has met with good success.

TOWN OF CLYDE.

WILLIAM E. CARROLL, an extensive stock-dealer of the town of Clyde; was born in that town Jan. 16, 1859, and has now for several years been largely engaged in buying and shipping stock ; his father, Dennis Carroll, now deceased, was one of the earliest settlers of the town of Clyde, and there married Miss Mary Nolan ; she is still living, and resides on the homestead in Clyde ; their children are William E., whose name appears at, the head of this sketch ; James, John, Stephen, Michael, Anna and Dennis, all residents of the town of Clyde.

BENJAMIN A. GILE, farmer, See. 35; P. O. Clyde ; is a native of Connecticut, but passed most of his life prior to his coming to Wisconsin in Luzerne Co., Penn. ; he married in Susyne- hanna Co., Peun., Isabel Lew ; they came to the town of Clyde, Iowa Co., Wis., in 1853, making that town their home since ; their children are Martha, who is now the wife of William Stryker, of this town ; Lydia, wife of Asa Knight ; Sammy, Stephen, Florence and Louise. Mr. Gile owns 160 acres of land ; his parents were Stephen and Phillapa Gile, who came to the town of Clyde in 1853, where they were esteemed citizens during their life ; there are three of their children now living, all residents of Clyde, viz., Mrs. Lydia Knight, Samuel S. and Benjamin A. Gile.

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History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 147

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 958

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958