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 72
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Our subject was raised on the home farm in Denmark, con- sisting of eight acres. every spot of which was like a garden. Julius attended the public schools until the age of fourteen. Be- side the farm his father was engaged in shoe making. and. upon the completion of his schooling. Julius was engaged in the shoe business and farming until his seventeenth year. then for one year he traveled through Denmark, and in the spring of 1889 he came to America. Coming direct to Wisconsin, he first settled at Bangor. La Crosse county, where he was employed as a farm hand for three years. He then rented a farm near that place and engaged in farming on his own account, continuing to reside here
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for eight years, and in 1901 came to Sparta township, Monroe county. where he purchased a farm of 120 acres from L. R. Cham- berlain in section two. to which he has since added fifteen acres. Under Mr. Johnson's management the place has been greatly improved, the residence has been remodeled and made into a modern and up-to-date home, with fine outbuildings consisting of barns. to which he added a large new silo. He is engaged ex- tensively in stock raising and dairying. and has a fine herd of full-blooded Holstein cattle.
On November 22. 1899. he was united in marriage with Miss Clara Rhyme, daughter of Henry and Wilhelmina Rhyme, of Farmington township, La Crosse county. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have an interesting family of three children, as follows: Ethel Elizabeth, born November 19. 1901: Fay Margaret, born January 22, 1904. and Julius Edward, born February 24. 1908. Mr. John- son is one of the enterprising men of his town. and now serving as chairman to the town board.
Mr. Johnson is the third child in order of birth of a family of nine children, eight of whom are now living: Jens, of Denmark ; Charles W., of North Dakota; our subject: Christ, of Bangor. Wis .: Otto, of South Dakota: Augusta, wife of John Evans, of Bangor : Heury and Julia, who live in Denmark, and Hansen, who is deceased.
Lewis C. Johnson. In perpetuating in words more enduring than monuments of stone, the memory of men of prominence whose active and valuable lives were spent in Monroe county, the pages of this volume would be incomplete were mention not made of the honored pioneer whose name is here recorded.
Esau Johnson, father of our subject, was a native of South Carolina : he came west to Wisconsin, and was the first white man to settle in Monroe county. In 1846. according to government reports, he was a squatter on the northwest quarter of section twenty-four, township fifteen, range two west. which, after the establishment of Monroe county, was in Sheldon township. IIe was energetic and thrifty. a man of good judgment, kind-hearted and generous. Ilis death occurred in 1888, honored and respected by all who knew him. The death of the mother occurred in 1876.
Lewis C. Johnson was born in the town of Sheldon. Monroe county. on June 2. 1846, whose portrait adorns the walls of the county clerk's office in the court house at Sparta. has the honor of being the first white child born in this county. Ile lived at home with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, and, being so early thrown upon his own resources, commenced his
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career as a common laborer, working for the meagre salary of 75 cents per day ; yet. in the face of these difficulties, by his hard work and economy, he finally acquired a farm in his own right. which he afterward developed into one of the model homes of the county, while for many years he has witnessed the growth and taken an active part in the development of his community and the transforming of Monroe county into its present condition among the banner counties of the state. He is a man of recog- uized ability and influence, and has been generally successful in whatever branch of business he has undertaken, showing himself capable and trustworthy. He now resides with his family in a comfortable residence at Oil City. and is one of the oldest settlers now living in the county. On February 21. 1865. he enlisted in Company K. Forty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served seven months and six days, receiving his discharge September 27, 1865. Ile is a Republican in polities and takes an active part in all matters of public interest.
Hle was married in the town of Sheldon in 1867, to Miss Olive Floyd. and they have had six children. four of whom are now living. viz. : Luella. Eva E .. Adelbert M. and Henry W. Johnson. Those deceased are Jane and Huldah.
David F. Jones, a progressive farmer of Sparta township, is a native of the Keystone state. born at Danville, May 3. 1865. the son of John F. and Mary (Williams) JJones. both of whom were born in Wales. In 1851 the father emigrated to America and located in Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the coal mines until 1866. He then removed with his family to Wisconsin and settled on a farm which he purchased, consisting of sixty-five acres near Watertown. in Jefferson county. After a residence there of four years, they removed to La Crosse county. where their lives were spent: the father died in 1891 and the death of the mother occurred in 1884. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are now living. viz. : John. Sarah, William. David F., Mary, now the wife of George Welsh, and Elizabeth.
David F. JJones received his education in the common schools of La Crosse county, and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-three years old. In 1895 he came to Monroe county and for sixteen years resided in the city of Sparta, where he con- ducted a lucrative dray and coal business. He moved onto his present farm in section twenty-two. Sparta township, where he is successfully engaged in general farming. Mr. Jones is one of the influential and publie-spirited men of his township and enjoys the respect of all who know him. He is a Republican in political
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sentiment and fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the F. R. A.
Mr. Jones has been twice married ; his first matrimonial ven- ture was on January 15, 1890, with Miss Sadie Hemstock, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth Hemstock, of Sparta. By this union three children were born, viz .: Earl F., born February 16, 1891, is now attending the agricultural department of the State Uni- versity at Madison : Mildred S., born January 13, 1893, and Ethel E., born April 17, 1896. Mrs. Jones passed away in 1903, and he married for his second wife Miss Theiza Hutson, daughter of Thomas and Mary Hutson.
John L. Jones is one of the sterling men and successful farmers of Leon township. He was born near Rockland, in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, on Jannary 4, 1856. Ilis parents were John W. and Mary (Jones) Jones. The father, who was born in Eng- land. emigrated to Canada in the early fifties, where he remained three years, then moved to Wisconsin and located in the Fish Creek Valley, La Crosse county, on a farm, which was his home for about eighteen years; then moved to the town of Portland and purchased 680 acres of land. Earlier in his life he had learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and, after locating in the Fish Creek Valley in 1854. he built the first saw mill on Robinson's creek. He also assisted in building the railroad depot at Bangor, and built the first grist mill at this place; he followed the car- penter's trade until 1858. after which he made farming his chief occupation. During the Civil War he engaged in buying substi- tutes for drafted men, which business often necessitated his walk- ing to La Crosse and back the same day, a distance of twenty-five miles. Ile was prominent in the affairs of his community and held several local offices in the towns of Bangor and Portland. and during the fifteen years he was justice of the peace he was always an advocate of arbitration in disputes of all causes that came before him. He was an ardent prohibitionist and a firm believer in the cause of temperance. From a poor man and a small beginning. he became a man of means and influence in his town and county. Three years prior to his death, which occurred in 1900, he moved to the city of Sparta. Mrs. Jones, mother of our subject. survives at the age of eighty years, and is the only person living of the early pioneers in the Big Fish Creek Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were the parents of six sons and two daugh- ters, seven of whom are now (1912) living, viz .: W. A. JJones, a prominent banker of Sparta; Mary ; Evan M., a druggist at Clark, S. D .; David S .. druggist at Watertown, S. D .; Thomas R., a
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farmer of Portland township; Benjamin; Edwin resides in Bis- marek. N. D .. engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and John L., our subject. Sarah is deceased.
John L. Jones acquired his education in the common schools of his home town and at the Cleveland, Ohio, high school. After completing his education, he taught school four years in Monroe county and for two years in La Crosse county. On July 5. 1882, he moved with his sister to Pleasant Valley and purchased 220 acres of land three miles southeast of Leon. where he has since resided. engaged in general farming and stock raising. He deals extensively in blooded short-horned cattle and Poland-China hogs. His place is under a good state of cultivation and well improved with a substantial residence. barns. tool shed and granary, all of which have been erected since Mr. Jones purchased the farm. He is a progressive and high-minded gentleman and takes an active interest in the affairs of his town. For five years he held the position as manager of the Leon Valley Creamery Association, and in politics he is a progressive Republican.
On February 27. 1885, he was married to Miss Mary Harr, daughter of John Harr, an old and prominent pioneer of Big Creek Valley. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones. viz .: Sidney D., a student in the medical department of the Valparaiso University: Vivian, Gladys and Myrtle. Vivian and Myrtle are teachers; Hazel and Isabelle are attending the Sparta high school, and Florence resides at home.
John R. Jones, member of the General Assembly of Wisconsin from the county of Monroe, was born at Pittsburg, Pa .. in 1850, the only son of John R. and Ana (Davis) Jones, both natives of Wales. The father came to the United States in 1840 and located at Pittsburg, where he was employed in the iron and steel mills for sixteen years. In 1856 the family came to Wiscon- sin, taking passage by boat from Pittsburg. They went down the Ohio river to Cairo, thence up the Mississippi to La Crosse, then overland to the Fish Creek valley in Monroe county. where the father purchased 120 acres of land. Previous to this, how- ever, the father, with a friend, had visited this section on a prospecting tour, at that time making the journey from Milwau- kee on foot. On the arrival of the family, May 6. 1856. they set to work to improve, subdue and cultivate the wild land. Their first residence was a board structure 12x16 feet. The lumber was hauled from Ontario by ox teams, a distance of twenty odd miles, over hills and creeks which had no bridges. At this time the streams were abundant with fish and the wild game roamed
HON. JOHN R. JONES
1
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over the hills and valleys, which contributed largely to the sturdy pioneers' menu. From a meager beginning and without the ad- vantages of wealth conferred upon him, having lost $5,000 of hard earned money by the collapse of a bank in a financial panic of the late forties and early fifties, Mr. Jones. Sr., fought manfully the battles of pioneer life and by hard work, thrift and economy, converted his wild land in the valley to a good farm and pleasant home. Ile was one of Monroe county's most exemplary citizens, and by careful, judicious management made life a success and owned at the time of his death, which occurred April 21, 1903, 320 acres of land in the Fish Creek valley. His early education was limited, but he was a constant reader and a close observer of events, and in his mature years was known as a well-read and thoroughly posted man, and he was withal a man of generous impulses, given to acts of charity and kindness to those in need. Having but a small family of his own his heart went out to many orphan children who had no home or funds, and to this class he gave liberal snecor. During his lifetime he gave a home to some four or five boys, raised and educated them until they arrived at the age of manhood. All of them turned out to be honorable and respected citizens. Mr. Jones was one of the founders of the Welsh Presbyterian church, whose first meetings were held in the little log school house one-half mile from his residence. In 1876 a new frame church edifice was erected, and still a little later a large building was constructed on the same site, to all of which Mr. Jones contributed liberally of his means. This latter building was destroyed by fire in 1910, and during the year 1911 another building was erected. where our subject and his family now worship.
In all matters of public interest. whether of county. state or national, Mr. Jones took a commendable interest, and his home was at all times open for the gathering of his friends, who dis- cussed all the live issues of the day. In early life he was a Whig, but upon the formation of the Republican party he became one of its most ardent supporters. He was born at Cardigan Shire, in South Wales, in the year 1816, and died at the age of eighty- seven. Ilis wife, mother of our subject, was highly respected and beloved for her many womanly virtues and noble Christian char- acter. She was born at Cardigan Shire, South Wales, in 1806, and died at her home on January 13, 1897, at the age of ninety- one.
John R. Jones, the subject of this sketch, attended the district schools of his neighborhood until he was sixteen years of age
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and then took a course of instruction at West Salem Academy, commercial college and at the Sparta high school. He after- wards taught school for four years in La Crosse and Monroe counties. Later he spent two years and a half as a student in the law office of Bleekman & Bloomingdale, at Sparta, but over- exertion so impaired his eyesight that he was compelled to aban- don law and he then returned to the farm. In politics he is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party and is active in its councils. He has been called upon to fill many positions of trust. He has served as treasurer of his town, has been supervisor for six years, and for eleven terms a member of the county board, two terms of which he has been chairman. In 1906 he was elected to the general assembly, and was re-elected in 1908, and again in 1910. He has served on the committees of agriculture, state department. engrossed bills, and as chairman of charitable and penal institutions, also as chairman of highways. Ile was chairman of the joint committee of the assembly and senate to investigate the highways of the state, and is known as the father of the present efficient highway system of the state. He is a progressive Republican and ardent advocate of reform, and believes in a pure and unsullied government.
On May 25, 1882. Mr. Jones was married to Miss Margaret James. daughter of Mr. D. J. James and Mary (Jenkins) James, of La Crosse county, one of the most prosperous and highly es- teemed citizens thereof. To this union have been born four children : David S .. Stephen R .. John R. and Wilford M. Mrs. Jones possesses all the amiable traits common to the Welsh people. She is kind, generous and hospitable. Her parents came from Wales in an early day and also settled in the Fish Creek valley in 1852. They had a family of twelve children, only two of whom are now living. Mrs. Jones being the youngest. Mrs. Jones was born at Fish Creek. November 15, 1856. Her father was born in 1813 and died on June 1, 1895. Her mother was born March 9. 1812, and died February 15, 1879. They were both born in Gla- morgan Shire, Wales.
Mr. Jones owns 406 acres of land in the Fish Creek valley. which is highly improved with a substantial and modern residence and outbuildings. located on the side of the great ridge, which is a beautiful spot and presents to the eye a landscape seene admired and not to be forgotten by all who see it.
Mervin E. Jones, deceased, was born in Liverpool. England. February 22. 1841, and died in La Grange township. Monroe county. Wisconsin. April 3. 1897. When ten years of age he
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came with his parents to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1864, when he moved to Monroe county. In 1866 he was united in marriage to Miss Alice S. Waterman, daughter of Othaniel and Mary (Gambia) Waterman, natives of Oneida county, New York. Mrs. Jones was born near Utica, N. Y., De- cember 17, 1842. Hler parents, after leaving New York, went first to Indiana. thence to Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in 1864 they moved to La Grange township, Monroe county, where with the exception of a few years spent in Minnesota they resided during the remaining years of their life. He was a progressive, public spirited citizen, and at the time of his death at the age of sixty-three years, had many warm friends. Ilis widow survived until February 4, 1899, when she passed away at the age of eighty-two, beloved and esteemed by all who knew her. They had six children, Mrs. Jones being the eldest daughter. Of the others Frederick C. lives at Waterloo, Ind. ; Charles and Mary Ellen are deceased, and two who died in infancy.
The parents of Mervin E. Jones were Robert and Mary Ann Jones. Ile was born in Wales and she in England. They came to Dodge county. Wisconsin, and there died. Mervin E. had one sister, Mary, deceased, and four brothers, viz .: Andrew, Thomas and Manderville, residents of Minnesota; Aniron, who is also deceased. The children born to Mervin E. Jones and Alice S. Waterman Jones are Mary Elizabeth, wife of John MeCurdy, of Tomah township; Alice S .: Genevieve, formerly the wife of Har- vey Cook, of California, died in June, 1911; Maud is deceased ; Charles Mervin, of Puyallup, Wash. ; Frederick E .. La Grange township : Robert O., of Valley Junction ; Happy L., married Louis Curabo and resides in Pennsylvania ; Edward resides at Tomah ; Nellie E. is the wife of Ray MeGuinniss, Valley Junction ; Glad- stone of Ontario; Sydney P .. Valley Junction, and Margaret R. married Charles Houck, who lives at Valley Junction.
Mr. Jones was a man well thought of in his town and popular alike with the citizens of the surrounding towns. He was for nine years continuously employed by Gleason & Squier, the Good- year company, as head sawyer at the water mill and other places, and finally met with an accident which terminated in his death. Ile was a kind neighbor, loyal citizen and esteemed by all who knew him. On July 3, 1903, the home of Mrs. Jones was visited by a cyclone, which demolished her residence, tore up trees and destroyed other buildings. Neighbors who chaneed to drop in as the storm approached fled to the cellar and saved their lives from the cyclone.
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Thomas R. Jones, another thrifty farmer of Portland town- ship, was born at Rockland, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, Janu- ary 20, 1870, son of John W. and Mary (Jones) Jones, both natives of South Wales. The father was born in 1828 and the mother in 1832. John Jones followed farming in La Crosse county until 1871, when he came to Monroe county and bought land in section sixteen, Portland township, which he improved and added to until at the time of his death he owned 720 acres. There were seven children in his family, as follows: John L., of Leon town- ship; William A. and Mary, of Sparta; Evan M. lives at Clark. S. D .; David F. resides at Watertown, S. D .; Thomas R .. the sub- jeet of this sketch, and Edwin, of Bismarck, N. D. John Jones, father of Thomas R., was one of Monroe county's most highly respected and progressive citizens, and took great interest in publie matters, and any enterprise which he thought was for the interest and betterment of his community received his endorse- ment and hearty support. While living in La Crosse county he served as assessor. and after moving to Portland township he served as town clerk for a number of terms, and for many years was justice of the peace. Ilis death occurred in December, 1900. His widow. mother of our subject, is still living and resides in Sparta.
Thomas R. Jones was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools and lived with his parents until they moved to Sparta in 1899, when he purchased from his father the home farm, where he still lives. On March 1, 1899. he was married to Miss Emma Breitenfield, who was born in Portland township. August 28, 1877, the daughter of William and Anna (Oswald) Breitenfield, natives of Germany and Switzerland, respectively. The father was born near Bremen, Germany, September 23. 1848. and the mother was born in Switzerland on January 3, 1849. They were married in Leon township. Monroe county, December 3. 1872, and raised a family of nine children, eight of whom are now (1912) living. They are: Albert, who lives at La Crosse: Mrs. Albert Erickson, of Portland township: Mrs. Thomas R. Jones, wife of our subject; Mrs. Adolph Everson lives in La Crosse : Herman resides in Portland township; Mrs. Carl Moede, of Cash- ton, Monroe county; Otto and Theodore. of Portland township. The mother of this family, a lady of fine mental attainments, a good wife and mother, passed away on December 3, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have one daughter, Mabel A., born February 7, 1900.
Mr. Jones' farm of 160 acres in section sixteen, Portland town-
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ship, is highly improved by cultivation and a fine residence, barns and other outbuildings, besides being equipped with many labor- saving devices, and in addition to general farming he is interested in the Citizens' State Bank of Sparta. He is serving his fourth term as chairman of the town board, and for a number of years . has been a justice of the peace. In politics he is affiliated with the Republican party, and in religious matters both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Portland township.
George W. Kelk, present chairman of the Oakdale town board and a prominent farmer of this township, was born here on June 7, 1883. He is the third child of a family of fourteen children, ten of whom are now (1912) living, born to Charles and Matilda (Halvorson) . Kelk, natives of New York and Wisconsin, respectively.
Charles Kelk moved with his parents from New York state to New Lisbon, Monroe county, Wisconsin, some time during the seventies, where they lived for about ten years, and then moved to Oakdale township and made their permanent home. The father died in 1906. The mother is still living at the age of eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kelk also live in Oakdale and are considered among the leading farmers and citizens of that township.
George lived at home until his twentieth year, attending the district schools of his neighborhood until he was sixteen. He was a thrifty and energetic young man and decided that upon reaching his majority he was both able and capable of making his own way in the world, and accordingly started ont with a portable saw mill, which he operated with success and followed that busi- ness for about five years. On October 20, 1909, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Giesler, daughter of Robert and Matilda Giesler, in Monroe county. Mrs. Kelk's ancestors on her father's side came from Germany to Wisconsin state in an early day, where her father was born. Her mother was a native of New York. They had a family of six children, all of whom are living.
Mr. Kelk is a young man of fine personality, strictly up-to-date with his methods of farming, and has one of the best dairies in his section, which yields a regular income. He keeps posted on all public matters and takes a keen interest in the affairs of the Republican party.
Ransom Kenyon,* of Sparta township, is one of the well-known early settlers of Monroe county. He dates his birth in the town of Frabius, Onondago county, New York, January 30, 1832. His
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father. Enoch J. Kenyon, was also born in central New York, as was his mother, whose maiden name was Miss Lucy Reed, and their married life was spent in the Empire state. The subject of this sketch was the eldest in a family of six children, and is the only surviving member. Farm duties early claimed his attention to such an extent that his school advantages were limited. At the age of twenty-four he left his native heath and came to Mon- roe county. Wisconsin, where he pre-empted a forty-acre tract in Leon township, and proceeded to clear the timber and establish a home in the new country. It was here that he first built a log house and stable, and where he enjoyed the varied experiences of the pioneer in the then dense wilderness, surrounded by deer, wolves and other wild game, and where the Indian was not an unfrequent visitor. In 1855, three years after he had established himself in the Cooley. he bought his present farm of James Rich- ardson and removed to this place, which has since been his home. carrying on both the farm in Leon and the one where he lives.
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