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 62
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Mr. Dorwin is a man who enjoys the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, both in a business way and socially. Unassuming in manner, he has a quiet conscious- ness of his own, strength of character and latent force thus has carried him past all difficulties which he has encountered during his lifetime. He is an active member of the Masonie fraternity at Sparta.
On October 18, 1892, Mr. Dorwin was married at Baraboo, to Miss Amelia Seltz, daughter of August Seltz, of Sparta.
Sidney N. Dorwin. for fifteen years local manager of the Brittingham & Hixon Lumber Company, of Sparta, came from Fairfax, Franklin county, Vermont, where he was born on Augsut 22, 1859, to Samuel N. and Lucy (Rollins) Dorwin, natives of that state, where they lived until 1860, then moved to Wisconsin and located at Angelo, in Monroe county. where the father con- ducted a shoe store until the breaking out of the Civil War. He enlisted in company D twenty-fifth regiment Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry for three years' service in which he experienced many hardships. In one of the battles in which he was engaged, he received a severe wound from the effects of which he lost one of his legs; as soon as his condition would permit, he received his discharge from the service and returned to his home in Angelo
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and resumed his shoe business. He was one of Monroe county's most highly respected citizens, and although being at the dis- advantage of having but one limb, he was active and progressive and took a deep interest in all public matters. He died in 1907 at the age of seventy-five years.
Lyman Dorwin. paternal grandfather of Sidney N .. was also a native of Vermont, where he lived and raised a family of four children. Sammel N. being the oldest. He was a tanner by trade. and upon his arrival in Monroe county in the late fifties, he built and operated for several years the first tannery at Sparta. Hle later traded this property for a farm in Sparta township. which he made his homestead and lived there until his death at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, grandmother of our sub- ject. died when. Samuel N. was but twelve years of age. The seeond marriage of Lyman Dorwin was with Miss Cheida Hoyt. of Vermont. To this union one daughter, Agnes, was born: she married Frank Kendall. of Sparta, both are deceased. Rollins. maternal grandfather of our subject, was a shoemaker by trade, and a native of Milton Falls. Vt. Eney Rollins, maternal grandmother of Mr. Dorwin, was the oldest of a family of ten children. She died at St. Albans. Vt .. the place of her birth. in 1909, aged eighty-eight years. Both the Dorwin and Rollins families were descended from English ancestry.
Sidney N. Dorwin was reared on the farm and attended the district schools until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he became imbued with the advice of the late Horace Greeley to go West, he went to Dakota. where he secured a elaim, but not finding the situation to his liking. he returned to Wisconsin. and engaged for two years in farming. The lumber business being at this time at its height, he went to Cumberland. Wis .. and was employed for three years by the Beaver Lake Lumber Company. Ile then worked in the mill and woods until 1886. when he came to Sparta and entered the employ of O. L. Irwin in 1886, with whom he remained until 1896. Mr. Irwin was then conducting the Inmber business which has since consolidated with other plants and is now under the ownership of Brittingham & Ilixon. with Mr. Dorwin as its manager until September. 1911. having been with the last named company since 1896. Since that time has been engaged as Iumber salesman in southern Wisconsin.
Mr. Dorwin is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. and of the Modern Woodmen of America. On September 20. 1882. he was married to Miss Nettie J. Harvey, only child of
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Micah A. and Delia (Chamberlain) Harvey, natives of New Hampshire and early settlers of Angelo, Monroe county, Wis- consin. Mr. Harvey is a mechanie by trade, and is a highly respected citizen. His wife, mother of Mrs. Dorwin, died in 1898 at the age of sixty-two years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dorwin have been born four children, viz: Harvey C .. born February 25, 1885: Ernest J., born June 28, 1888: Harold M., born January 16, 1891, and died June 3, 1911; Delia Incy, born February 3. 1907.
The following is an extract from an article of the Sparta paper on the death of Ilarold M. Dorwin :
"Harold M. Dorwin departed this vale of tears and took leave of his beloved parents. brothers and sister early Saturday night, June 3rd. The immediate canse of his death was tuberculosis which developed into an aeute form in February of this year. Harold had been in poor health at time of his graduation from the high school, and never really recovered completely from his troubles at that time. His parents and friends besought him to rest, but he was ambitious and anxions to get on in the world, and could not be persuaded to give up his employment until this past winter. when he was beyond help. The work of this young man in the Monroe county bank. has been such as to attract favorable comment from his employers, other bankers and from business men who have observed it. There was a seriousness of purpose and sincerity of interest that foretold promotion and advancement in his chosen profession and in the world of business. His young friends and school associates knew an entirely different side of him from the business side, and feel their loss keenly. His even temperament had a soothing effect upon his companions of less fortunate disposition, and he was a source of comfort to them. Up to the time of his serious attack, he was organist of the Methodist church, and while this work and his work on the piano. he did because of his great love for it. he gave evidence of much talent and musical ability and his efforts on the piano as well as on the large organ were little less than wonderful. The funeral was held at the residence of his parents on south K street, Tuesday P. M., and was largely attended."
Albert E. Drowatzky,* who resides on his farm of 280 aeres in section fifteen. Adrian township, was born on the farm ad- joining his on June 26, 1877. His parents, Frederick and Bertha (Holtz) Drowatzky, who reside on section ten, this township, are natives of Prussia. The father was born November 6. 1839,
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and is the son of John and Mary (JJess) Drowatzky. also natives of Prussia, and who came with their son to Monroe county in 1856 and settled in Adrian township where our subject's father now resides. Ilis brothers. Charles and Bernard. uncles of our subject. had preceded him in 1854. and the three brothers took up six forties of government land and for many years resided in the same neighborhood. The farm where Albert E. now resides being that of Charles, who died there. Bernard, the other brother. now resides in Tomah. The grandparents of our subject died on the homestead farm and were buried in the cemetery at Jackson- ville. The first buildings on the homestead farm where Fred- erick D. now resides, were a log house and stables which were later supplanted by a modern house built in 1876 from stone taken from the farm, and other up-to-date buildings followed as the times demanded. The journey to this new home was made overland from Madison with a team of oxen and the hardships experienced were many, and they had some difficulty in reaching the home, which was then only a wilderness. The grandfather had the misfortune of a broken limb and remained at Madison for some time before being able to join the rest of the family. The land was cleared by members of the family, who used three yoke of oxen in tilling the soil, which was transformed from the wild state to one of productiveness, and at this time, Mr. Drowatzky's is one of the fine farms of Monroe county.
In the early days of their residence in this county. the Indians were numerous and sometimes troublesome. often stealing their stock and otherwise annoying the newcomers. One year the smallpox scourge raged among them and they died so fast that their bodies laid piled up in one place on the farm until they could be given the Indian burial. Mr. Drowatzky. Sr .. is a repre- sentative of the sturdy pioneer of Adrian township, and a man of striet integrity and sterling worth, a standard citizen who enjoys the confidence and respect of the entire community.
The subject of this sketch. Albert E. Drowatzky, is the third child in order of birth in a family of eight children ; of the others. Rudolph. resides in Montana ; William H. in San Antonio, Texas: Elizabeth is the wife of R. M. Jones, of Bangor. La Crosse county; Lonis resides at Tunel City. this county: Arthur lives on the homestead farm: Emil resides in Oakdale township and Martha is in Montana. On December 19. 1902. Mr. Drowatzky purchased his present farm from the heirs of his uncle. and has since there resided engaged in general farming. At the time of his purchase. the farm was considered little more than a
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pasture, which Mr. Drowatzky has transferred into a productive and desirable farm. The same year he settled on this place, he built a barn, and in 1903 erected a residence and in 1906 built a large and commodious barn; the farm is now under a good state of enltivation, and contains the finest spring of pure water in that locality.
During his whole lifetime, Mr. Drowatzky has been a resident of his native town with the exception of four years when he was variously employed in Minnesota, southern Wisconsin and for one year was employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad in building and contracting. On December 23. 1903. he was married to Miss Angusta Misch, daughter of August and Reka (Trapp) Misch, residents of Grant township. Monroe county. The parents emigrated from Germany to this country when Mrs. Drowatzky was three years of age. They have two children, viz: Leo Ray, and Elmer Raymond Drowatzky. Re- ligiously Mr. and Mrs. Drowatzky affiliate with the German Lutheran church of Tomah.
Ben A. Drawver, one of the successful farmers of Sheldon township, was born in the town of Wells, Monroe county, on February 13, 1875, and is the son of Paul and Anna Drawver, both natives of Germany; the father came to America in 1873 and located first in Dane county where he worked a few months as a farm laborer. The same year, 1873, he came to Monroe county and settled in the town of Sheldon and for'a time worked at earpentering and milling. He homesteaded eighty acres of land in section thirty-five, town of Wells, and lived there until 1909. when he moved with his family to the village of Norwalk, where he has since been generally successful in all his under- takings and active in the affairs of the Republican party. He was married in 1874 and reared a family of nine children.
Ben A. Drawver received his education in the common sehools. and lived at home with his parents until he was twenty years of age. Thrown upon his own resources in early life, he began his career at various employment and small wages. At the age of twenty he went to North Dakota where he spent five years at the threshing machine business, and by his economy and perseverance he succeeded in saving enough whereby he purchased a farm in his own right near Oil City in Sheldon town- ship, and is now one of the representative and popular citizens of the town. Besides his farming operations. Mr. Drawver has for the past twenty-one years been engaged in the threshing machine and saw mill business, and has held various political
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offices in his town. He is a Republican in politics and active in the conneils of his party. He served one year as supervisor and for seven years was clerk of the school board; he was elected chairman of the town board in 1912.
On November 2. 1904. he was married in Sheldon to Miss Grace Curtis. daughter of Jed and Etta Curtis. They have three children, viz: Wayne, born August 7. 1908; Wendell, born August 4, 1906, and Orland. born April 5. 1910.
Charles Ducklow, deceased. To the young men of our land the life of the subject of this sketch is an enduring example of the cardinal virtnes of industry, uprightness and frugality, of strict temperance and unwearied perseverance.
Mr. Ducklow was a native of Wisconsin, born April 3. 1853, in the town of Ashippun. Dodge county. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Nicholson) Ducklow, natives of Cork, Ireland, and who came to the United States and settled in Dodge county in the early forties. They were the parents of twelve children, Charles being the eighth in order of birth. Five brothers and three sisters still survive.
Charles Dneklow passed his boyhood in Dodge county and his early experiences were those of the average poor boy of that region. He received his early education in the common schools of his native place, and in 1874 began the trade of carpenter and joiner, and followed this occupation in his home town. and also bought cattle in Calumet and Pierce counties. In 1879, he removed to Pierce county. Wisconsin, where he continued at cattle buying. until 1883. whence he moved to Modena, Buffalo county, and was postmaster under both the Garfield and Harrison administrations, and also engaged in mercantile pursuits. carrying on a successful business here until the spring of 1890. He then moved to Wilton. Monroe county, and resumed his mercantile trade in that place. In 1893 he added a lumber yard to his other line of business, which he enlarged from time to time as in- ereasing trade demanded. In 1897 he disposed of his mercantile establishment and from that time on devoted his entire attention to his lumber interests, which grew to such large proportions, that at the time of his decease. November 26, 1911, his was among the largest, enterprises of its kind in Monroe county. He was a man of excellent ability. keen foresight. and success crowned his efforts. In all his affairs, Mr. Dneklow was characterized by his promptness, good judgment and conservation. and admired by all who were brought into contact with him for his honorable and inherent methods, and his passing away was mourned as that
Charles Ducklow
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of a good man, a useful citizen and a loyal friend. He took a commendable interest in public affairs, and for several years worked in Republican campaigns.
Mr. Dueklow was reared an Episcopalian, but contributed liberally to the support of other churches. He was prominent in Masonie cireles, a member of Wilton Lodge. No. 203, Sparta Lodge. No. 19, R. A. M .. Sparta Commandery, No. 16, Wisconsin Consistory. Scottish Rite, and Tripola Temple, Mystic Shrine, Mil- waukee. He was also a member of the Eastern Star, and Modern Woodmen of America. The burial was made at Woodlawn ceme- tery. Sparta. November 30, 1911, umder Masonie anspices.
On November 20, 1882. Mr. Ducklow was united in marriage to Miss Eva I. Shaw. daughter of John and Jerusha A. (Wheeler) Shaw. residents of Rock Elm, Pierce county. Mrs. Ducklow is a native of Dodge county, Wisconsin, where her parents resided for many years. Her father died in 1904: he was born in 1840. Her mother is still living.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ducklow were born four children. viz: William T .. born October 22. 1883; Elmer E., born March 25, 1889; Charles E .. born March 15, 1891, and Lynn S. Dneklow, born February 21, 1902.
Since the death of his father. William T. has been the active manager of the lumber business formerly conducted by his father. Hle is an enterprising young business man and gives promise of becoming one of Monroe county's most influential citizens, fol- lowing in the footsteps of his father in many ways. He is also active in Masonic circles. being a member of the same bodies as was his father. with the exception of the Eastern Star.
Mrs. Ducklow is a most estimable lady whose superior quali- ties of mind and heart attract to her the admiration of all who come within the range of her influence, and presides with grace and dignity over her beautiful home at Wilton.
George D. Dunn was born at Elmira, N. Y., September 18, 1838. being the son of Thomas and Rachel (Satterlee) Dunn, natives of Bath and Ehnira. N. Y .. respectively.
Thomas Dunn was born in 1799 and married Rachel Satterlee in 1829: he was reared in the mercantile business which he carried on when he came to manhood and also engaged in the real estate business: his early business career was at Eimira. N. Y. He came to Sparta. Wis., in 1862, where he died in 1871.
Rachel Satterlee, the mother of George D., was born in 1809 and died in 1885: she was the daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Smith) Satterlee: their earlier life was spent at Ehnira and
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they were among the pioneers of that place; Elias Satterlee, her father, was a physician by profession and at the time of the Wyoming valley Indian massacre his father's family were residents of the town of Wyoming. Pa .. and when the Indian outbreak occurred, they returned to Connectient; abont the year 1804 Elias Satterlee moved to Elmira. N. Y. He was in the military service for a time as a surgeon in the war of 1812. and participated in the Battle of Lundy's Lane. Canada. After his return to Elmira he was accidentally killed by the dis- charge of a gun; his death occurred when Rachel, the mother of George D., was six years of age. The family consisted of five children, two sons and three daughters; they were of English descent.
Mr. Dunn's ancestry were of Scotch descent and were among the earlier settlers of the state of Pennsylvania; William Dunn, paternal grandfather of George D .. settled at Bath, N. Y .. wher he remained until 1804. then removed to Elmira. N. Y., when the father of George D. was five years of age. Charles Dunn. the brother of Thomas, was the first white child born at Bath. N. Y .: the other members of the family were Thomas Dunn and Judge James Dunn and William Dunn, and two sisters, Susan and Elsie. They each raised large families whose descend- ants are to be found in the different parts of the United States.
George D. Dunn was the only son in a family of five children, and besides himself there is only surviving a sister, Fanny S .. widow of S. N. Dickinson, now living at Sparta. Wis. George D. was educated in the public schools of Elmira, N. Y., and began his business career as clerk for the firm of Thompson Dunn at Elmira, at the age of sixteen. In 1856, he came West and located in Lodi. Wis .. where his uncle, Rev. John Lewis, was then located. A few months later he went to Janesville, and entered the em- ploy of Chapman Brothers as clerk. After a time he was placed in charge of a branch store, of this firm at Albany, Wis., which he managed for about two years in that place. In June, 1861, the store was removed to Sparta, and Mr. Dunn continued in charge of the same.
In the fall of the same year he purchased this branch store and has been since continuously engaged in the dry goods busi- ness at Sparta. His first store was located in a wooden building where the Stringham building now stands. In 1869, he erected the present store building which he has occupied ever since. Mr. Dunn has been continuously engaged in business for himself and has made a remarkable record. being the only merchant in
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the state of Wisconsin who has continued in the dry goods busi- ness without any change of firm name for over fifty years.
When Mr. Dunn came to Sparta in 1861, it was but a small village of about six or eight hundred people, and his competitors were, S. D. Jackson and Co., O. D. Randall, brother of ex- Governor Randall, and G. W. Root. At present O. D. Randall is the only one of the above merchants who is living besides Mr. Dunn.
Mr. Dunn was one of the original organizers and stock- holders of the Monroe county bank, which was inaugurated in 1894. At that time he was elected president of the board of directors and has continuously held that office since that time. Under his presidency the bank has built up a handsome business and is one of the solid financial institutions of this part of the state.
During his long career in business Mr. Dunn has accumulated a comfortable fortune and his liberality in aiding in different enterprises has been one of the characteristics of his life; many a struggling church has received a generous contribution from Mr. Dunn to aid it in building a building or for some other worthy purpose, all given unostentatiously and with a desire to do good; he was one of the principal instigators of the company which originally built the armory now owned by the Aibonito Guard Association and he has been equally and at all times interested in public enterprises which were for the benefit of the city and surrounding country and has been free to give to objects which he thought were worthy and of benefit to the community at large.
Truly a remarkable record is that of Mr. Dunn in the mer- cantile business; his name is synonymous with square dealing, honesty and uprightness and when the last chapter of his life is brought to a close it may be truly said that the career of George D. Dunn, while modest in its way, was that of a typical American boy coming from good old pioneer stock, who steadily climbed the ladder of success depending entirely upon his own native gifts and perseverance.
Among the relatives of Mr. Dunn who helped to make history in the different parts of the country was an uncle by the name of Dr. Benedict Satterlee, who gave up his duties in the East and went as a medical missionary among the Pawnee Indians and was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kan .. in 1833. at a time when that was indeed a part of the far West and almost out of the reach of civilization. He left Elmira with his bride in that year.
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she dying on the way. About 1836 he was found dead, supposed to have been killed by the Indians, but years afterward an old trapper made a death-bed confession that he killed him for his gun. Mr. Dunn has in his possession letters written by Dr. Sat- terlee during the period of 1833 to 1836 which were sent across the country before the time that the postage stamps came into use. These letters contain accounts of the adventures of Dr. Sat- terlee in that country and are truly something very interesting.
L. M. Earle, cashier of the Bank of Cashton, was born Novem- ber 6. 1873, in Tomah, Wis., the son of Watson and Emma (Turner) Earl. both of old New England ancestry, the father a native of New York state and the mother a native of Vermont.
After obtaining a good education in the schools of his neigh- borhood Mr. Earle early entered upon a business career, being a young man. courageous and of good habits, and feeling himself thoroughly competent to rely upon his own resources. His first employment was as clerk for the banking house of M. A. Thayer & Co., at Tomah, where he remained for about one year. and from there he went to Hillsboro, N. D .. and took a position with the National Bank of Hillsboro and worked for one year. IIe then returned to Wisconsin and from 1893 to 1909 he worked as bookkeeper in the Bank of Tomah, since which time he has been in his present position, the officers of the bank being Watson Earle. president : L. W. Earle, vice-president, and L. M. Earle, cashier.
Mr. Earle is a Republican in polities and for many years has been a faithful worker for his party.
On January 1. 1901. Mr. Earle married Miss Anna Campbell, of Cashton. and they have one child-Anna R .. born October 2. 1909.
M. H. Easly,* a progressive and prominent business man of Tomah, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio. August 12. 1865, to Michael and Bridget (MeBrearty) Easly, both natives of Ireland. Coming to Ameriea in 1848, the father located at Cincinnati, where he
1 engaged in business as a tanner and bought and dealt in all kinds of hides, which in those early days was a profitable business. It. was here that he married. made his home and raised his family 1 until 1868. when he went to Missouri and engaged in farming in Jefferson county, where he lived until his death in 1903. He was thrifty and progressive and universally snecessful in his undertakings, a man of influence in his community and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.
Raised on his father's farm. Mr. Easly obtained his education
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in the district schools of his township. After completing his studies he followed the vocation of teaching school for a time, then went to Texas and secured employment with a bridge crew working on the Atcheson, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad. He came to Wisconsin in 1886 and spent some time in a sawmill in Jackson county; he also spent some time in the logging business in the woods on the Yellow river in Wood county. After visiting other points he went to Grant county and engaged in farming. In the spring of 1894 he came to Tomah and secured employment with the Crossette Manufacturing Company, with whom he remained until the destruction of their plant by fire in 1901. August 1, 1902, he was made game warden, which office he held until 1908, when he organized the Tomah Manufacturing Company.
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