USA > Wisconsin > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Wisconsin, past and present : including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county [microform] > Part 61
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Captain Davis is a man who stands high in his community, having the confidence and respect of all who know him. He is a member of Lynn Post. No. 30. Grand Army of the Republic, and both he and his estimable wife are members of the Con- gregational church, of which Mr. Davis became a member over fifty years ago in Vermont. During the past three years, he has been patriotic instructor in the schools of Sparta.
It is a pleasure to give this tribute to a man whose life has been filled with action. He is too energetic a man to be satisfied with inactivity. so there has been more or less doing 'round about him in various lines during his whole lifetime.
William E. Davis, a representative and influential eitizen and land owner of Sparta. is a native of the Granite state. and was born December 8. 1864. and is the only surviving son of a family
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of three children born to Hiram and Amelia (Chandler) Davis. natives of Hanover, Grafton county, N. H. The names of the other children are Helen M .. who also lives in the town of Sparta. and Harriet Anna, who is deceased. Late in the sixties. Hiram S. Davis, with his family. came to Wisconsin, and purchased eighty acres of land near the now city of Sparta, to which he soon added two other eighty's which he cultivated and im- proved. making one of the finest farms in Monroe county, where he resided until his death. Mr. Davis subsequently sold the north eighty, making changes by purchases and re-purchases until the farm now contains 164 acres.
He was born June 9. 1824. and died in April, 1910. The mother passed away in 1870 at the age of forty-three. David L. Davis, paternal grandfather, and Jeremiah Chandler. maternal grandfather. were both natives of the Granite state, where they spent their lives. The paternal great grandfather of our sub- ject was Bezaliel Davis, a soldier in the War of the Revolution. the powderhorn carried by his distinguished ancestor is still in the possession of the family. The great great grandfather. Benjamin Davis, married Phoebe Doan. a native of Cape Cod. Bezaliel Davis married Mary Wright, their marriage occurring September 12. 1776. David L. Davis married Anna Smith, a native of Grafton county. New Hampshire, and a daughter of John Smith. Ile was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in his polities and a Universalist in his religions faith. Ile was a member of the Masonic order. He lived out the alloted three score and ten years. but his wife survived until her eighty-seventh year; they both died in Grafton county. New Hampshire. They reared seven children, five sons and two daughters, six of whom grew to maturity. Their names were Anna HI., who married Joseph Tenny. a native of Grafton county. and a son of a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Tenny died April 24. 1892. aged eighty-eight years: Mrs. Tenny survived until 1896. Harriet Newell was the wife of Moses Morse, and died in Monroe county about 1874: John S. was a resident of Angelo, Monroe county. when his death oc- curred. Rodolphus B .. who died at the age of eleven years: James C., who moved to Ohio, where he died in 1846; David L .. who lived and died in his native state. and Iliram S., who was the youngest of the family.
Iliram S. Davis, our subject's father, was a man of strong convictions on questions of right and wrong. and never lacked in courage to express his sentiments, and was a Democrat in polities.
HIRAM S. DAVIS
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William E. Davis received his education in the district and high schools of Sparta, and has always lived on the family home- stead, which is still conducted as the Davis estate. In December, 1903. Mr. Davis was married to Miss Margaretta Lewis, daughter of Charles and Eliza Maria (Bush) Lewis. Charles G. Lewis, a native of Vermont. a descendant from an old and prominent New England family, came to Wisconsin many years ago and settled in Dane county, where he remained until 1879, thence removed to monroe county. Mrs. Lewis was a daughter of Henry L. and Margaretta Bradley, natives of Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley later settled in New Jersey, and in the forties came to Wisconsin and thence to the state of Washington, where they died. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been born four children, viz: Edgerton L .. Phillip C., Karen F. and Ruth Davis.
Charles G. Lewis was born December 18, 1823, at Cornwall, Vermont. His father. Martin Lewis, was also born in the same place. but his mother was born in Tolland, Conn. Martin Lewis came to Wisconsin with his family in the spring of 1846, traveling by way of the lake to Milwaukee, and from there to Madison by team. near which city he lived on a farm until the fall of 1880, when he moved to Sparta with his son, Charles (his wife having died at the home near Madison.) Mr. Lewis lived with his son on a farm between Angelo and Sparta. where he died at the age of ninety-six years. Martin Lewis had three children, Charles G .; Harriet T. died some years ago, and Henry M .. an attorney at Madison, and at the present time referee in bankruptcy. The family of Charles G. Lewis consisted of Margaretta B .. Harriet. Carl H .. and Silas M., all born at Sun Prairie, near Madison. Charles G. taught school for a time at Sun Prairie, was elected a member of the board of education for Dane county. until the territory became a state, was chair- man of the town board for five terms. and in 1878 was elected to the general assembly for one term.
Alvin Day*, of Tomah, Monroe county. Wis .. was born in this county. February 25, 1866, a son of Calvin and Mary (Davis) Day. Alvin attended the district school up to his sixteenth year, and at an early age started out in life to earn a livelihood. ITe was at first employed on a farm. following which he spent three years in Nebraska. where he worked on a ranch. Re- turning to Monroe county. he worked for six years on a eran- berry marsh owned by the Appleton. Trayberry Company, and at end of which time he began in a small way to develop a cranberry marsh on a small forty acre tract which he had
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acquired in section twenty-six, LaGrange township. Within a short time he added another thirty acre tract in the same section, again adding by purchase 365 acres in sections twenty-six, twenty-seven and twenty-eight. all located in LaGrange township. He. in the meantime. disposed of part of the land not suitable for develop- ment. retaining 240 acres, a large part of which has been put under cultivation, and a erop of 1000 barrels of cranberries being the output of 1911. which was sold in the eastern market. Mr. Day devotes his entire attention to cranberry culture, which together with a large foree, is employed at the industry, the largest of its kind in Monroe county.
Mr. Day has been a resident of Tomah since 1910. Prior to that time he had resided in LaGrange township. He is a public spirited citizen and is interested in the welfare of Monroe county; besides he is experienced in his particular line of business. He has been clerk of the school board in the town of LaGrange for twenty years and is a member of the Woodmen of the World.
Mr. Day was first married to Miss Bertha Bahling. who died in 1893. In 1898. he married Miss Catherine Desburg, who died in 1911. To this union were born a family of six sons, viz: Arthur C .. born December 21. 1899; Harold E .. born Febru- ary 27. 1903: Alva L .. born November 2. 1904: Paul II .. born February 27. 1906: Ray A .. born January 25. 1908. and Harry C., born November 9. 1909. Mr. Day was again married June 6. 1912. in the city of Milwaukee, to Miss Alice Uischuer. daughter of William Uischuer, of LaGrange township. Mrs. Day is the second child of a family of six and received her education in the public schools of Monroe county.
Calvin Day. a representative and highly respected citizen of Wellington township. was born in Pennsylvania. August 14. 1829. a son of Elias and Charity (Eator) Day. When our subjeet was two years of age. his parents moved to Athens county. Ohio: after a residence there of twenty-one years. the family moved to Wapello county. Iowa, where the father engaged in farming and made his home until his death in 1887. The mother passed away when Calvin was twelve years old. They reared a family of nine children. After the death of his wife. Elias Day was married for the second time to JJane Dudley in Athens county. Ohio, and by this union two children were born. The early ances- tors on the paternal side of Calvin Day came from Wales, while his mother was Pennsylvania Dutch. His grandfather on the maternal side was a soldier in the War of 1812. and his great grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution.
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When a mere lad. Calvin received his early education in the cooper shop of his father from a private instructor, and when he reached the age of seventeen years, he bought his time from his father with his share of his mother's estate, so that he was free to carve out an independent livelihood for himself. He began his career as a laborer, which occupation he followed until he bought from his father fifty acres of land in Athens county. Ohio, for which he paid his father $200. A man of thrift, steady and economical habits, Mr. Day from the beginning pros- pered, and is now the owner of 139 aeres of land in Wellington township and 123 in Forest township. on which he has made valuable and lasting improvements. He has built a fine resi- dence, barn and outbuildings, and keeps his place well stocked with good horses and cattle, and in his farming operations. employs the most up-to-date methods. Mr. Day is a man of liberal education. self acquired, and is well posted on all eurrent subjects. In political sentiment he is independent, but a strong believer in Socialism.
Mr. Day has been four times married ; first at the age of twenty, and by his first wife had one child. Elenor. He married again in 1856 and by that marriage had one son, John. In 1857, he married for the third time and seven children were born, viz: Helen. Jane. Frank. Sarah, Calvin, Alvin and Samuel. On Sep- tember 30, 1883, in the town of Wellington, he was married for the fourth time, this wife being Mrs. Adda L. LaRouge, and by this union four children were born, viz: Mary. born March 3, 1885; Lewis, born February 8, 1887; Archie and Arthur, twins, born June 20, 1891. Mrs. Day is one of a family of ten children. Her parents were among the early settlers of Monroe county and the father at the time of his death, which occurred May 20. 1885, was the owner of 160 acres of land. His wife, mother of Mrs. Day. passed away September 25, 1885.
Erie DeWitt is the son of Richard and Sally Ann (Thomp- son) De Witt, who came to Wisconsin in 1856 with a family of five children. and located in Wells township. Monroe county. where the father purchased 360 acres of land in section nineteen and twenty-nine, and it was here our subject was born on August 25, 1858, and is the youngest of a family of six children, all of whom are now-1912-living. The others are. Ora Richard, of Sparta. Eugenia, Wells township, Sally Ann, wife of Eugene Austin, of Leon, Jane, wife of Mortimer Arnold, of Sparta, Laura, widow of George V. Riggs. of Wells township. The father was born in Vermont in 1812. and the mother in New York state in 1823.
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He was an honored and progressive citizen of Wells township, where he spent his life. his death having occurred in 1901. ITis wife, mother of our subject. was a charming lady of many domes- tie virtues. devoted to her home and family. and held in high esteem by all who knew her: she passed away in 1908. mourned by her devoted family and a large circle of friends. In religions faith, both Mr. and Mrs. De Witt were Spiritualists.
Erie De Witt was reared on the home farm and received his education in the district schools, assisting in carrying on the farm work until 1889. when he was married to Miss Mary Glass in MeHenry county. Illinois. He then purchased 195 acres of choice land in Wells township which is under a good state of cultivation and well improved with a modern house and barn and other outbuildings. all of which are supplied with pure water from a flowing well 275 feet deep. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is one of the well-to-do farmers of this town- ship. He is a Republican in politics and active in the councils of his party. and has been called upon to serve in various minor town offices.
Mr. and Mrs. De Witt have an interesting family of four daughters and two sons, viz: May, born April 25. 1890; Ernest, born March 18. 1894: Richard, born May 7, 1895; Graee, born December 2, 1896: Eliza. born August 28, 1900, and Laura. born November 7, 1901.
George E. Dinger is a prominent farmer of Leon township. Monroe county, where he was born January 24. 1867. son of George and Racheal Dinger, natives of Germany, who came first to La Crosse county. Wisconsin : to Leon township in 1866. and were among the representative citizens of that town. He was a farmer by occupation and lived on his farm of 305 aeres until 1892. when he retired from active labor and moved to Sparta, where he died in 1907.
George E., our subject, was reared on the farm and his ex- perience was the same as most farmer boys. He attended the district school in winter and assisted with the farm work during the summer. When his father moved to the city of Sparta, he purchased the old homestead of 305 acres and has since made many valuable and lasting improvements. During the year of 1912. he built a new residence of sixteen rooms, containing all modern conveniences, hot and cold water, ete. Mr. Dinger is engaged in general farming and for some time has made a specialty of dairying. He built a large separator and milk house which is supplied with pure running water from an artesian well
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265 feet deep. He is one of the solid men of his town and a generous publie spirited gentleman.
On June 9, 1892, he was married to Miss Emma Croft, daughter of William and Elizabeth Croft. The father was born in England and came to America with his parents when a boy. who were among the early settlers of Leon valley. The father died in 1910, leaving besides his widow. who now lives in Oregon, at the age of seventy years, one daughter. now Mrs. Dinger, and one son. who resides in California. To Mr. and Mrs. Dinger have been born six children-five of whom are now-1912 -- living, viz: Russell, born March 30, 1893; Floyd, born February 2, 1896; Georgia, born January 17, 1898; Florence, born April 10, 1900, and William, born June 5. 1903. Mrs. Dinger is a graduate of the Sparta high school, and taught several years in Cannon valley and Pleasant valley. in Leon township, and afterwards at Summit.
Archie Lee Doane. Among the progressive farmers of Lafayette township is Archie Lee Doane, who was born Septem- ber 6, 1859, son of Timothy A. and Sarah Maria ( Rhodes) Doane, natives of New York state and Connecticut, respectively. When Archie was two years of age. in 1861, his parents moved to Monroe county and settled in Bush prairie on the farm where Peter Allendorf lived during his lifetime. The father died in 1866 and the mother is still living (1912) at the age of eight-eight years. They raised a family of five children, viz: Orcelus, de- ceased : Charles A. : Archie L. : Lillian J .. wife of AAndrew Hutson, of Big Creek, and Ernest T.
Archie L. received a common school education in the local district schools and helped in the farm work during his boy- hood. When twelve years of age. he left the home farm and came with his mother who. after the death of the father, married in 1872 for her second husband. William P. Williams, and moved to the farm in section seven, Lafayette township, where our subject has since resided. After the death of Mr. Williams in 1878, Archie in connection with his two brothers, managed the farm for twenty years, and in 1904 our subjeet purchased the whole place and has since carried it on alone. The farm con- taining 240 acres. is well improved, with a comfortable residence and outbuildings, besides a commodions barn erected by Mr. Doane in 1908. He has cleared sixty aeres since he purchased the farm and one fall he grabbed some 600 stumps and has made many other improvements on this magnificent farm which was noted in the early days for the wheat raising quality of
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the soil. Mr. Doane is engaged in general farming and stock- raising. Durham and Red Pole cattle being his favorites. In addition to this. he. during the threshing seasons from 1905 to 1908, ran a thresher through the Welsh and Beaver Creek valleys. Prominent in the affairs of his township, he has been supervisor two terms and overseer of the highways.
On May 12, 1890. Mr. Doane married Miss Emma Herring, daughter of Peter and Mary (Smith) Herring. natives of Ger- many. To this union have been born five children, viz: Fern, Ralph. Fay, Joy and Irene Doane.
Charles A. Doane, a well known citizen of Monroe county, and one of her large class of prosperous and substantial farmers, was born in Genesee county. New York. October 27. 1855, the second child of a family of four sons and one daughter born to Timothy A. and Sarah (Rhodes) Doane. natives of New York state and Connectient, respectively. Of the other children. Oreelus is deceased: Archie resides on section seven. Lafayette township: Lillian is the wife of Andrew Hutson. of Big Creek valley. and Ernest is a prosperous farmer of Lafayette township. The parents with their family came to Monroe county. Wis- consin. in 1861, and located on a farm in section twenty. Lafayette township, where the father died in 1865. aged forty-five years. The mother. a charming lady. still survives (1912) at the age of eighty-eight years. and makes her home with the subject of this sketch.
Charles A. was reared on the farm, having the common experience of the ordinary farmer boy, receiving his education in the district schools. He lived on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-four. in 1879, then purchased his present farm in section thirty-two. town of Lafayette, where he has since resided. He has made many improvements. added new buildings and the land is in a high state of cultivation, which produces each year an abundant harvest.
On June 6. 1888. Mr. Doane was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wilson, daughter of Charles Wilson, of Little Falls town- ship. Three children have been born to this union. viz: Clarence L., resides in Montana: Lucile J., and Sadie M. reside at home. Mr. Doane takes an active interest in the affairs of his town and county and his integrity has been recognized by his fellow citizens in many ways, by placing him in the office of town treasurer, treasurer of the school district and chairman of the town board.
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Ernest T. Doane, who has passed his whole life as a farmer in Lafayette township, Monroe county, where he was born November 7, 1864, is the son of Timothy A. and Sarah (Rhodes) Doane. natives of New York state and Connecticut, respectively, and is the youngest son of a family of five children. (See sketch of Charles A. Doane of this volume.) The parents eame to Monroe county in 1851 and settled on a farm in Lafayette township, where the father died in 1865 at the age of forty-five years. The mother is still (1912) living at the age of eighty-eight, and makes her home with her son, Charles A. Doane. Ernest was raised on the farm and attended the district schools and later the high school of Sparta. Afterward he became associated with his brothers. Archie L. and Charles A., in farming opera- tions. which arrangement continued until 1896, when our subject purchased his present farm of 120 aeres in section twenty-eight. Lafayette township. from W. H. White. The same year he erected a new residence and otherwise improved the place. Dur- ing the years 1897. 1898 and 1900 he added ontbuildings and in 1892 built a large and commodious barn 28 x 72 feet, and in 1911 erected a modern silo. A flowing well supplies the barn and stock with running water. He engages in general farming and dairying and his farm is well stocked with a good grade of horses. cattle and hogs. Mr. Doane has been recognized in his town and county as a man of marked ability and worth; he has been township clerk for six years; chairman of the town board three years and clerk of the school district. He is presi- dent of the Sparta Creamery Association, and a director in the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Association.
On September 9, 1896. Mr. Doane was united in marriage with Miss Mary Belle Remington, daughter of John and Martha (Harris) Remington, now residents of Sparta. Mrs. Doane is one of a family of three children. The others are Ida, now Mrs. Frank Gantka, of Little Falls township, and Minnie, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Doane have a family of two children : Gertrude Leah, born November 10, 1900, and Wilmer Ernest, born October 8, 1905.
Theodore Donskey," one of the leading farmers of Ridgeville township, was born in Germany on October 29, 1869, and came to America with his parents, John and Josephine (Grathenerk) Donskey. the following year. The family first located in Chicago, Ill., and shortly afterward moved to the town of Wells, in Monroe county. where, in 1872. they purchased a farm of 160 acres and lived there until they retired from active farm life. They raised
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a family of six boys and five girls. all of whom are now-1912 -- living. Theodore being the eldest of the family. The parents were thrifty and persevering. and it was not long after they purchased the farm. before their faithful efforts were justly erowned with snecess. They brought the land to a high state of enltivation and made it one of the ideal country homes. They were both devoted members of the Catholic church, and were highly respected in their community. The mother passed away in 1900, the father still survives at the age of seventy-two and holds the confidence and esteem of his many friends and acquaintances.
Theodore Donskey was married in Chicago. Ill .. in 1887, to Miss Frances O. Parker. They have had two children, viz: Martha. born January 12. 1896. and Rosa, born July 28. 1898. After their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Donskey lived in Summit Ridge, in Ridgeville township. where they worked a rented farm for abont twelve years, then bought a farm of 330 acres in the town of Ridgeville, which they afterward sold. and purchased another traet of 209 acres in sections nine and four. which has since been their homestead and is one of the ideal farm homes of Monroe county. Mr. Donskey is a man of excellent judgment and thoroughly up to date with his farming methods as well as in matters involving public interest, and consequently he has made his chosen ocenpation a grand snecess. He is a Democrat in his political views. and has held the office of town treasurer for two years, and takes a keen interest in the general progress and welfare of his town and county. He is publie spirited and enterprising and is a valuable citizen in his community.
Orville J. Dorwin, a former member of the Sparta Sash & Door Company, who has arisen from a poor but ambitious farmer hoy to the position of one of the leading manufacturers and substantial business men of Sparta, was born in Angelo town- ship, Monroe county. Wisconsin. July 28, 1866, the son of Sam- nel N. and Imcy (Rollins) Dorwin, both natives of Vermont. who were among the early settlers of Monroe county. Raised on the home farm with the success of the business largely de- pendent upon him. Mr. Dorwin's educational advantages were somewhat limited: he attended the district schools and his apti- tude for practical knowledge, overcame the obstacles which con- fronted him in the way of education. and placed him on the plane with others whose advantages were far greater. At the age of twenty-four. he left the farm and spent two years at the carpenter trade with E. T. Hanchett, and in the spring of 1892,
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he located in Sparta and commenced contracting and building, which he followed for a period of six years. during which time he erected some of the most substantial dwellings and other buildings in the city. In 1898 he engaged in the sash and door business with Frank Freeman, the style of the firm being Dorwin & Freeman. Mr. Freeman later sold his interest to Mr. Dorwin, and later he sold a half interest to W. H. Stelting and the firm name changed to Dorwin & Stelting, which continued for two years. Mr. Stelting selling his interest to M. R. Ebert, when Mr. Dorwin became sole owner of the business, and carried it on successfully until 1908; at this time he associated with the Naset Brothers. under which arrangement the business has since eon- tinned as the Sparta Sash & Door Company, one of the chief industries of the city. its output being distributed throughout the entire state. The finishings for two buildings for the state school. two ward schools, and several store houses for the gov- ernment range, as well as numerous other buildings have come from this factory, the business having increased from a small beginning to over $40.000 in 1910. Mr. Dorwin severed his eon- nection with the above firm on November, 1911, and now has lumber interests at Ft. Meyer. Fla.
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