History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 72

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814

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moved to Genoa, and entered forty acres of land on section 20, where he still resides. Mr. Brown has increased his farm to 120 acres. He was united in marriage in 1855 to Mary Camp- bell. They have seven children-John, Isabella, Margaret, Franklin, William, Irena and Ro- manso. Mr. Brown was a member of the 18th regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, having en- listed in 1864, ad discharged in 1865. His father, John Brown, was born in 1800 and is now living in Scotland.

Charles Ott, who came to the town of Genoa when but nine years of age, was born in Butler Co., Penn., in 1847. Ilis parents, John and Barbara (Smith) Ott, are natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania. When six years of age he eame to Vernon county with his parents, and in 1856 located here. Mr. Ott bas always been engaged in farming, and owns 180 acres of land on seetion 23, under a high state of cultivation. He has been supervisor of roads sinee 1880. Mr. Ott was united in marriage, in 1872, to Ciementina Monti, of this town. They are the parents of four children-Ida V., Mary R., Jessie E. and Charles M.

William Pulham was born in Suffolkshire, England, in 1830, and when but six years of age emigrated to the Dominion of Canada, and there remained until about the year 1840, when he removed to Piscataqna Co., N. H., and was a resident there about sixteen years. He then came to Vernon county and entered land in the town of Wheatland, which he sold in 1860, and afterward, in the same year, purchased 120 acres of land in the town of Genoa, on sections 23 and 24, of town 12 north, of range 7 west. Mr. Pulham was married to Nisa E. Sandon, of Vernon county, in 1862. They have reared eight children-Agnes, Ellen, Laura, George, David, Frank, Mary and Margaret. Agnes is the wife of Samuel Owen, of the town of Jefferson. Mr. Pulham enlisted in January, 1864, in the 25th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, and was discharged in July, 1865,

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

Pulham, is now living in Genoa town, at the ripe age of seventy-nine years. His father, William Pulham, was also a native of England, and died in New Hampshire, about 1840.

William Stevenson, a native of the "land of Shamrock," located here in 1856. He was born in Ireland in 1820, and resided there till twenty-four years of age. In 1844 he em- igrated to the United States, and first settled in New York city. In 1855 he removed to Rock Co., Wis., but lived there only one year. In 1856 he came to the town of Genoa, and purchased of James McCormick eight acres of land on section 17, where he has since resided. Mr. Stevenson has been industrious and ener- getie, and at present owns 120 acres of land. In 1863 he came forward and enlisted in the 18th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served faithfully until he was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He re- turned home and has since devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. In 1854 he was united in marriage to Mary E. Davidson, and two chil- dren were born to them-John W., who mar- ried Josie Graham, and Sarah M. Mr. Steven .. son suffered the loss of his most estimable wife and was again married, in 1859, to Elizabeth Miller. Five children have been given to this union-Lizzie M., Henry A., Ellen R., Anna M. and James E.

John Fopper, one of the largest land owners in the town of Genoa, located here in 1857. Ile is a native of Switzerland, where he was born in 1818. He received a thorough education in his native land and is able to converse fluently in five different languages, including that of Switzerland. In 1857, he resolved to see the far famed America, and accordingly came over the same year. After landing at New York, he came westward to Wisconsin, and sought a new home. He finally concluded to locate in the new settlement, in what is now the town of Genoa, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 28, where he resided nine years. Mr. Fopper then sold the eighty acres of land

aforesaid and bought 400 acres of the Heeks es- tate on sections 11 and 14, town 12, range 7. Mr. Popper is unmarried, but has lived with and supported his widowed mother during his resi- dence here. Mrs. Fopper is now at the advan- ced age of eighty-four years, and Mr. Fopper shows his filial affection by trying to make her declining days pleasant and comfortable. Mr. Fopper has also two widowed sisters residing in this town-Mrs. Barbara Gess and Mrs. Anna Barbara Gess.

William S. Riley, one of the well known eiti- zens of the town of Genoa, was born at Mari- etta, Ohio, in 1845, and remained there until 1858. In the latter year he came to Vernon Co., Wis., and located at Viroqua. In 1861 he enlisted in company I, 6th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in 1864. He was captain of the Vernon County Light Guards for two years and under-sheriff for one term. For the past three years Mr. Riley has been chairman of the town board of supervisors. He is a contractor and builder by occupation and has erected some of the finest buildings and residences in Vernon Co. In 1882 M). Ki- ley was married to Anna Lupi. They have one child-Augusta C.

Albert F. Kuehn, one of the earliest settlers of the town of Genoa, was born in Prussia in 1830 and at the age of nineteen left his home for a new one in a land that had only been a a Nation for seventy-three years. He spent two years wandering from place to place over the new republic and finally became satisfied that Vernon Co., Wis., would be the location for a permanent home. He bought eighty acres on section 4, town 12, range 7 west, town of Genoa in 1860, and has since increased his first pu- chase to 360 acres. In 1864 he entered the army of his adopted country, enlisting in the 6th reg- iment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. While in the service he was wounded in the head and one shoulder and received an honorable dis- charge at the close of the Rebellion. Mr. Kuehn has been a member of the town board

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IIISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

for four years and town assessor for ten years. In 1863 he was married to Julia Misjahl and nine children have been sent to bless their union-Lina, Elizabeth, Bertha, Albert, Ernest, Huldah, Sophia, Edward and an infant son.

Mathew Monti, a son of Joseph Monti, the founder of the village of Genoa, and its present postmaster, was born in New York city in 1840. His father was a native of Switzerland, born in 1811, and emigrated to the United States in 1832, locating in New York city. Mr. Monti's mother was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1811, and died in Vernon Co., Wis., in 1880. When Mr. Monti was but a year old his parents moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1842 to St. Louis, Mo .; thence to Galena, III., where they resided until 1863. In 1853 Mr. Joseph Monti came to Vernon county and entered 296 acres of land in the town of Genoa. Being of an en- terprising disposition he laid out and platted the village of Bad Ax (now Genoa), which he named after the county of Bad Ax (now Vernon). Mr. Mathew Monti now owns twenty acres of land on section 28 and village property. In 1882 he engaged in mercantile pursuits and now owns a stock of goods valued at $2,000. Mr. Monti has served his neighbors and citizens as clerk of the school district six years, justice of the peace ten years; was also town treasurer and has been town clerk and postmaster of Genoa for seven years. He was united in mar- riage in 1864 to Almira Greenman and three children have been horn to them-Leona, Au- gustus and Blanche.

John Carpenter came to this county in 1856 and resided in the vicinity of Victory for five years. He then settled in the town of Har- mony and there resided until 1868, then moved to the town of Genoa, where he owns 278 acres of land. Ile was born in New York in 1833, aud in 1861 married Marcia Ann Rogers, a native of New Hampshire, who accompanied her parents to this county and located in the town of Harmony, in 1853. In 1864 Mr. Car- penter enlisted in the 18th regiment, Wisconsin

Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably dis- charged at the close of the war. His parents came to this county in 1866 and settled at Vic- tory, in Wheatland town. Mr. and Mrs. Car- penter are the parents of six children-Frank, Louisa, wife of George Van VIcet, Robert, Rox- ania, Agnes and Ross.

E. L. Oakes, who became a resident of the town of Genoa in 1867, was born in "the good old State of Maine," (Kennebec county), in 1821. In 187, when he was but six years of age, his parents removed to Penobscot county, in the same State, and in 1848 they located in Wor- cester Co., Mass. In 1855 Mr. Oakes came ont to see this western country, and appearing sat- isfied that the State of Wisconsin would de- velop rapidly and take her place among the foremost States of the Union, (like his native State), he settled at Springville, Adams county, where he remained twelve years. A desire to see more of this wonderful country, and per- haps to better his fortunes, led him to seek Vernon county. He there purchased of Amos Moore 166 acres of land on sections 4 and 34, in towns 12 and 13 north, range 7 west. Mr. Oakes resides on his farm on section 4, about three miles sontheast of the village of Genoa. While a resident of Springville, Adams county, be en- listed in the 3d Wisconsin Cavalry, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Mr. Oakes was married in 1848 to Polly D. Newton. They were the parents of one child- Clara, now the wife of Anson Elliott. Mrs. Oakes departed this life in 1851, and two years later Mr. Oakes married Armanda S. Newton. They have been given seven children, three living-Florence J., wife of Charles F. Smith; Jessie S. and Horace E. Ella died in 1859, Bertha in 1861, Frank E. in 1865 and Alice in 1869.

John II. Seal was born in Pennsylvania in 1840, and in 1842 accompanied his parents to Ohio. In 1845 they removed to Dn Page Co., Ill., and in 1850 to Vernon Co, Wis. They first settled at Springville, and in 1870 Mr. Seal

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

came to the town of Genoa and purchased forty acres of land on section 3, of town 13 north, range 7 west, which he has increased to 200 acres and all free from incumbrance. Mr. Seal was married in 1860 to Emily P. Tainter, and their union was blessed with one child, now living-Edmund. Mrs. Seal died in 1863, on the 19th day of January. Ile was again mar- ried in 1869 to Julia E. Shrouf, who died in 1872. Mr. Seal the third time united in mar- riage to Sarah J. Irvin, by whom he had five children, all now dead. His wife died in 1879.

His fourth and present wife was Paulina Mund- sack, whom he married in 1882. Mr. Seal is a very prosperous farmer. He is the father of two living children-Edmund and John E.

J. W. Clayson was born in New York, in 1822, and in 1855 removed to Richland Co., Wis., where he entered land, which he afterward sold. In 1860 he went to Crawford Co., Wis., where he remained seventeen years, and then came to the town of Genoa, where

he purchased eighty acres of land from George P. Griffin, on section 24, of town 12 north, of range 7 west. He has since increased his farm to 101 acres. He was married to Margaret J. Davis, and two of their children are now living -Charles and George. Mrs. Clayson died in 1857, in Richland county, and in 1860 Mr. Clay- son was married to Jane Mullen. In 1864 Mr. Clayson enlisted in the 52d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably dis- charged in 1865.

Albert Zabolie was born in Italy in 1858, and emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1877, and settled in the village of Genoa, where his father and himself opened a dry goods and general store. They now carry the largest stock of goods in the village, valued at about $5,000. Mr. Zabolie was married in 1882 to Rosa Starlochi, of Vernon county. Mr. Zabolie's father, Angust Zabolie, is still living in the village of Genoa. Albert is doing a pros- perous business in his line of trade.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE TOWN OF GREENWOOD.

This town comprises township 13, range 1 east, which is in the southeastern corner of the county, bounded on its north by Hillsborough, on its east by Sauk county, on its south by Rich- land county and on its west by the town of Union. Like most of the land in Vernon county, this is rough and broken. The land that is tillable is of a fertile quality. The town is well supplied with small streams, among which are Pine and Baraboo rivers, and their numerous tributaries. The northern portion of the town is traversed by the Baraboo and its branches, while the southern part is coursed by the Pine and its branches. There are a great number of fine springs throughout the town. At one time the hop crop was an important business in this section of the county; but of late years they are not so much raised. At one time just after the war, when hops brought fifty cents a ponnd, nearly every land owner went into this specula- tion; planted ont large hop yards and erected the necessary buildings. This, together with a big crop, put the price down to a shilling a pound; and by this reverse coused a loss of many thousands of dollars to this section of Vernon county. In 1884 but few hops were produced within the county. But at this date, and for two or three years previous, tobacco culture has been entered into extensively in va- rions parts of the county.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

This is one of the earliest towns settled in the eastern part of the county. The first settler was William Van Alstine, who came in as early as 1851, and settled on the southwest quarter of

section 23. In 1852 he sold to Isaae Meek, who came from Indiana. Meek only remained abont a year, then sold out and returned to Indiana, where he was ordained a Wesleyan Methodist minister. Van Alstine went to Oregon.

In 1884 the oldest settler living in the town was William Jordan, a native of Pennsylvania, but who came here from Indiana with Isaac Meek, and settled on section 23; a few years later he moved to Missouri, but soon returned to his location on section 23.

The first land entry in the town was made by James B. Avery, a resident of Baraboo, who entered the south half of section 22. The pat- ent bears date January, 1852, but is said to have been entered some time previous to this.

R. G. Story came, in 1854, and settled on sec- tion 27. He sold out and in 1856 moved away.

Caleb and John S. Shreve came in 1853. Caleb settled on section 22, where he was still living in 1884. John at first located on section 23, but later moved to section 15.

There was a village laid out, in the fall of 1855, by James R. Strait and Richard Smith, called Debello. It was situated on the south- east quarter of the southeast quarter of section 22. Mr. Smith came here from Indiana in the fall of 1855, and brought a stock of goods with him and opened a store, which he operated a year or so, when he closed up and removed to Missouri. He sold his store to Morgan and Joseph lansbury.

Daniel Bates opened a blacksmith shop in 1856. He engaged in this about a year and then moved away.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

A postoffice was established in 1855. James R. Strait was appointed postmaster. In 1856 he was succeeded by Moses Jordan. In 1884 Elias Kegley was postmaster, keeping the office at his house on section 27. It is on the route from Hillsborough to Rockbridge. This vicin- ity is still known as Debello, although the vil- lage, once so flourishing, with lots selling for $50 each, is now converted into farms, and corn, wheat and oats grow in what was the principal thoroughfare of this place.

In 1882 Andrew Volstad opened a store on section 23, which has proved a great conven- ience to the farmers in the vicinity.

Below is given the names of many of the pioneers of this town, together with the date and location of their settlement, brief sketches, etc. No special attention is paid as to the exact order in which they came, simply a record of the facts connected with their settlement:

Horace A. Rhinehart, of New York, came in 1856 and bought land on section 34. He after- ward moved to section 27.

William Ilynes, an Englishman by birth, came in 1856, settling on section 34.

George Jepson, of England, settled on sec- tion 34, in 1855 ; he sold the following year and moved to the town of Union.

Joseph Martin, a native of New York State, came in 1854, and located on the southwest quarter of section 26. Ile was an unmarried man and lived alone, working his place until 1864, when he sold to Einar Nelson and moved to Iowa.

William Shreve, a native of Pennsylvania, in company with his three sons, Eden, Heze- kiah and James H., came to the town from Ohio, in the fall of 1855. The father settled on the northwest quarter of section 22, where he remained till the time of his death, in 18 0. IIezekiah and Eden lived at home several years, after which the former moved to section 22, and the latter to Storm Lake, Iowa. James H. settled on section 15.

James R. Strait came from Indiana in 1855, and purchased the southeast quarter of sec- tion 22.

Richard Simth came from Ohio in the fall of 1855, and brought along a small stock of goods. Ile stayed only a few months, then moved south.

Freeman Webster, of New York, came in the spring of 1855, and located on section 8, where he remained until 1874, then moved to Hills- borough, where he was living in 1884.

Morgan Lloyd, a native of Ireland, came in 1856, and settled on section 20, where he died in 1882.

Owen Conaway, an Irishman, settled in 1856, on section 17, where he died in 1881.

Charles Landrum, of Indiana, settled in 1855, on section 23, built a log house and remained two years, after which he sold to Clement Cher- rington, and moved to Hillsborough, where he died in 1882.

Abraham Kuffman, of Pennsylvania, settled on section 15, in 1856. Robert Bailey, a native of Canada, located on section 21, in 1854.

Reuben Miller came from Indiana in 1855, and settled on section 14.

Hugh Brandon came from New England, in 1855, and settled on section 13, where he was still living in 1884.

Phineas Bundy, a native of North Carolina, came to the town in 1855, and settled on sec- tion 27, where he resided in 1884.

Malcom McMillan, of Nova Scotia, came in 1855, from Michigan, and located on section 20.

Mike Farrell, an Irishman, came in 1855 and located on section 5, where he was still living in 1884.

John Rice, also a native of Ireland, settled on section 7, in the spring of 1856.

Among the pioneers of 1856 who are entitled to sketches in this connection is Moses Jordan, who is a native of New Jersey; he was born in 1801. When four years old his parents moved to Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. When but thirteen years of age he engaged in

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

a flour mill to learn the milling business. In 1832 he removed to the State of New York, where he remained until 1838, when he moved to Illinois, lived there five years and moved to Indiana, where he remained till 1853 and then came to Bad Ax county, and bought the north half of the northwest quarter of section 26, town 13, range I east, in what is now Green- wood town of Vernon county. In 1854 he moved to Readsburg, where he lived two years, then returned to Greenwood. In 1869 he had the misfortune to lose his eyesight, since which time he has been blind. He was mar- ried in 1822 to Mary Shaner, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1805. They have had nine children, six of whom were living in 1884- William, Susan, Elizabeth, Harriet, Mary and Louisa. Mr. Jordan has been a prominant man in town affairs, having been elected as the first justice of the peace, also first town treas- urer.

Thomas Brown, who lived in the town of Viroqua, bought the southeast quarter of see- tion 22, in 1857. His father James Brown and family lived here at the time. . Mr. Brown was an educated man and followed school teaching and surveying. He died in 1870.

Joseph Hansberry came here from Indiana about the same time, or perhaps a little earlier, remained a few years and then left the county.

Elias Kegley settled in the town in 1856. He is a native of Virginia, born in Wythe county, Sept. 3, 1824. When fourteen years old his parents moved to Johnson county, where he grew to manhood. In 1856 he came to Wis- · consin, spent two years in the town of Green- wood and then went to Missouri, where he remained until 1862. From there he removed to Iowa where he spent a year, then returned to this town. In 1864, he went to Pine River, Richland county, where he remained till 1867, and again returning to this town bought his farm on which he lived in 1884. He was mar- ried in 1856 to Rebecca Bundy by whom he

has had five children-Albert H., Mary R., Ida J. George A. and Ellen.

FIRST EVENTS.

One of the first marriages, in the town of Greenwood, was Joseph Trean and Miss Brook. This ceremony was performed in 1855. They settled on section 22, remained a few years and moved to Indiana.

The first birth in the town was James, a son of Robert and Jane Bailey, who was born Oet. 1, 1854. In 1884 he was living in Iowa.

The first death in the town was a son of John S. and Caroline (Beek) Shreve, named Perry, who died in March, 1854.

The first town election was held in August 1856.

The first blacksmith in the town was John Staley, who opened a shop in 1855, which was located on section 15. He died while serving in the Union army, in 1833.

ORGANIC.

The town of Greenwood was organized in April. 1856, and the following officers elected : U. Gregory, chairman; Caleb Shreve and Ran- som Daley, supervisors, Joseph D. Hansberry, clerk ; but as he removed from the town before his term of office expired, Thornton Perry was appointed to fill the vacaney. R. G. Story was elected superintendent of schools, but on ae- count of his removal, C. A. Fuller was appointed in his place. Moses Jordan and.Mr. Knox, jus- tiees of the peace ; John S. Shreve, assessor.

At the annual town meeting, in 1883, the fol- lowing officers were elected for the ensuing year: John Shaughnessy, chairman, John Anderson and Joseph Pliner, supervisors ; William Bran- don, clerk ; John S. Shreve, treasurer ; J. W. Shreve, assessor ; Horace Rhinehart, justice of the peace; A. Hanson and Hiram Sanders, con- stables.

SCHOOLS.

In 1884 the town of Greenwood was divided into six school districts.

The first school house in the town was in what is now known as distriet No. 5, built in

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

1856, and stood on the southeast quarter of section 22. Grace Brooks was the first teacher. This house was used but two or three years, when it was replaced by another log house, which was still standing in 1884.

The first school in district No. 5 was taught in a log house belonging to Calsina Townsend, situated on the northwest quarter of section 14. The first term of school in this district was taught by Jane Townsend in 1855.

A school house was built on the northwest quarter of section 14, in which Marie Smith was the first teacher. This house was in use till 1877, when a frame house was erected on the southeast quarter of section 14. Marie Smith also taught the first school in this build- ing.

In district No. 4 the first school was taught by Margaret Fuller, in 1858, at Morgan Lloyd's house. In 1859 a school house was provided on the northwest quarter of section 20, in which Sarah Brown taught the first term of school. This house was in use for school pur- poses till 1868, when a new one was erected on the site of the old one. Martin Shields taught the first school in this house.

In district No. 3 the first school house was built in 1857 or 1858, and was situated on the southwest quarter of section 8. Mary Givens was one of the early teachers here. This build- ing was afterward enlarged and served the dis- trict until 1880, when a frame building took its place. Charles Colier was the first teacher who taught in the new building.

In district No. 7 a school house was built in 1859 ; this was located on the southwest quarter of section 36. This was a small log house which served the purpose until 1866, when an- other log building was erected, which stood on the northwest quarter of section 36. Mary Rennick was the first teacher employed in this building.

District No. 8 was provided with a school house some time in 1866 or 1867, on John Anderson's land, on section 32. Susan Outkelt taught the

first school in this house, which was moved in 1871 to section 31, and used. till 1880, when another building took its place, on the south- west quarter of section 29. Kate Costello was the first teacher in the last named building.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES,

The first religions services in the town were held at the log school house on section 22, in 1857, by Rev. M. Clingman, a Methodist preacher, who organized a class of which Josephns Cherrington was leader. This class continued to hold services for about five years. Revs. Moore, Day and Holcomb preached for this society as long as it had an existence

In 1856 the United Brethren organized a class at the same school house. Rev. Adam Shambean, from the Kickapoo, was the preacher, and Horace A. Rhinehart was class leader.

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History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 72

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Union Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814