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 99

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

USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > 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 99

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Joel T. Shaw is one of the early settlers of the town of Wheatland. Ile landed at DeSoto, Oct. 11, 1855, by the steamer War Eagle, which was afterwards burned at LaCrosse. The same fall he entered 120 acres of land on section 29, where he still resides. Ilis farm now contains 160 acres, 100 acres being improved. Mr. Shaw was born in the town of Glover, Orleans Co., Vt., in 1821. His parents were Seth T. and Clarinda (Mason) Shaw. His father died in

New Hampshire, and his mother in Vermont. Mr. Shaw was married in Massachusetts, to Eliz- abeth Bodwell, a native of New Hampshire. They have two daughters-Jane A., now Mrs. Chris Larson, born in Vermont, and Julia Fran- ces, born in the town of Wheatland, now Mrs. Harry Clark.

One of the early settlers of the town of Wheatland is John W. White, who resides on section 11, town 11, range 7 west, where he settled in May, 1855, purchasing his land of Dr. E. B. Houghton. Mr. White is a native of Massachusetts, and was born in Fairhaven, now town of Acushuet, Mass., in 1822; where he re- sided until he went to New Bedford, Mass., where he was in business for a number of years. His father, Phineas White, was a cotton manu- facturer. He was a lineal descendant of Wil- liam White, who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and whose son, Peregrin White, was the first child born in the pilgrim settlement. The father of Mr. White had nine children, seven of whom are living-five sons and two dangh- ters. He died in 1878, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. John W. is the only one of the family who settled in Wisconsin. The land which Mr. White purchased of Dr. Houghton consisted of but twenty acres. On this he built a log house the year that he came here. This bonse is still standing, and is one of the oldest in town. Mr. White occupied it until 1878, when he erected his present residence. llis farm proper contains 160 acres ; this he entered as government land the year that he came here. Ilis wife was Catharine II. Ashley, a native of Massachusetts. They have had five children, three of whom are living-James, Charles A., de- ceased; Alice, deceased ; John M. and Edward I. The last named was born in the town of Wheatland, the others in Massachusetts. Mr. White enlisted January, 1864, in the 6th Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and was in service until the close of the war. He was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, after which he was not in active service.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

Josiah F. Allen, wagon-maker of De Soto, came to Vernon county in 1856 and settled at Springville in the town of Jefferson. He is the son of Truman Allen an early settler of Spring- ville, but at present a resident of De Soto. J. F. Allen was born in Keysville, Essex county., in 1837. When a lad he moved with his parents from the State of New York to Rock Island, Ill., thence to Springville, Wis. Ile afterwards returned to New York and having lived in different parts of that State he remeved from thence to De Soto, Vernon county, several years after his father had located there. At the time of the Rebellion he enlisted in the 112th New Jork Volunteer Infantry, and served six months, being then discharged for disability. lIe learned his trade, that of a wagon-maker, in Fredonia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. He came to De Soto in the fall of 1875. Mr. Allen has been twice married; his first wife died at Fre- donia; she was Almeda Taylor of Chautauqua Co., N. Y. Ilis present wife was Emma Ileal of De Soto. He has two children by his first wife-Wilton G. and Wallace T. and also two by present wife-Goldie and Silvia.

William Fosdick was born in Maine in 1810, his parents were natives of New Hampshire. He settled in De Soto in May 1855, and that year entered 120 acres of government land on section 12, where he resided for a number of years. April 1, 1873, he settled on section 36, where he now lives. He has been twice mar- ried. His first wife was Ilannah Eastman who died here in 1861. His second wife was a widow when she married Mr. Fosdick, her maiden name was Clara A. Smith. She was a native of Brandon, Franklin Co., N. Y., but was brought up in Vermont. Mrs. Fosdick's first hushand was Henry Webster, who died in Fair- field, Vt., in 1850. She was married to Mr. Fosdick in 1862. By his first wife Mr. Fos- click has one son, Albert E., another Henry A., was a soldier, a member of the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, company 1. He died at Washington, while still in the service. Mrs.

Fosdick has one daughter by her first husband, Mrs. Ellen N. Cole. Mr. and Mrs. Fosdick have two children-Byron N. and Luey G.

William Cushing resides on section 14, town 11, range 7 west. He was born in the town of Pembrook, Washington Co., Maine, in 1835. He was brought up on a farm and when a young man engaged in lumbering and milling. He came to De Soto in 1857, with N. S. Cate & Co. In 1860 be purchased a claim of S. D. Powers, and settled upon it in 1868. All improvements upon it have been made since that time. July 1, 1861, he enlisted in com- pany I, 6th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served four years or until the close of the war. He participated in fifteen general engagements, including among the number the second battle of Bull Run, the battles of Gainesville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Hatches Run and Five Forks. He was wounded during the battle of Bull Run and also at Spottsylvania. He was detached to Battery D, 5th Rhode Island Light Artillery, near Cattlet's Station, Va. April 18, 1862, re- turned to his regiment again April, 1863. Ile was taken a prisoner at the Battle of Hatche's Run, Feb. 6, 1865, where he was held as a prisoner of war in Libby prison, Richmond, for two months when exchanged and returned to his regiment. For one year after the war he resided in St. Louis. He married Julia A. Warham, a native of Oswego Co., N. Y. They have three children-Mary E. Luella G and Cassius I.

Mrs. S. G. Heal resides on section 1, in the town of Wheatland, her farin contains 112 acres. Mrs. Heal is the widow of Stephen G. Ileal, who was born in England, in 1844, and died here June 29, 1879. He emigrated to the United States with his parents when he was quite young. Mr. Heal came to Vernon county in 1857, at the same time, Mr. Miller, the father of Mrs. Heal, also arrived in this county. Henry Miller was a native of Belfast, Ireland. He emigrated to this country with his family

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

and settled at Paterson, N. J., where he en- gaged in mercantile business. The year of his arrival in Vernon county he purchased the farm which his daughter now owns, of William Owles. Ile returned to Paterson, where he died in February, 1879 ; his wife died in Sep- tember of the same year. They had twelve children, but four of whom are living-Eleazer .I., of Paterson N. J., Joseph R., residing in the same city, Elizabeth and Ellen M. The youngest son was a member of company 1, 6th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Heal was married to Ellen Miller, Nov. 3, 1870; he had lived in the family of Mr. Miller some time previons to this event. Some time after his marriage he purchased the farm on which Mrs. Heal now resides, of his father-in-law. Mrs. Heal has four children-Mary E., Agnes S., Lizzie II. and Henry S. She lost her oldest child, Lizzie M.

Henry H. Morgan resides on seetion 5, town of Wheatland. Ile isa son of Richard Morgan, a native of New Hampshire, who settled on this farm in 1856. When a young man, Richard Morgan moved to Maine, where he married Achsah Whitcomb. From there he moved 'o this State. At this time he had a family of five children-Samuel, the eldest, came here with a family of his own ; he now resides in Ogden, Boone Co., Iowa. Joseph, the second son is now in the town of Sterling. Two other chil- dren are Achsah and Henry H., the latter of whom owns the homestead where his father settled in 1856. He was born in the State of Maine, in 1840, and came to this county the year after his father. He married Elizabeth Phillips, a native of Monmouthshire, England. Edmund Phillips, her father, having died in England, her mother emigrated to the United States with her family in 1854. Mrs. Phillips moved to De Soto in 1863, and resided there until her death, which occurred in May, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have five children-Mary W., Roscoe P., Grace C., Wesley II. and Maurice

E. The homestead farm has now 220 acres, it originally contained 240. Mr. Morgan is one of the prominent farmers of the town of Wheat- land. He has been a justice of the peace and assessor of the town, and is at present chair- man of the town board, a position which he has held for six years.

Charles Reiter, owner of the De Soto brew- ery and also of the Lansing and De Soto ferry boat, J. A. Rhomburg, is the son of Martin Reiter, who settled in the town of Freeman, Crawford Co., Wis., in 1853. In 1857 he set- tled at Retreat, inthe town of Sterling, of this county, where he lived about twelve years. He then settled in the town of Wheatland. He removed to Minnesota, in 1872, where he now lives. He is a native of Germany ; his wife was born in America. Charles E., was born in Albany Co., N. Y., in 1851, and came to Wis- consin with his parents. With the exception of six years, ending in 1878, which he spent on the frontier of Minnesota, he has been a resi- dent of Vernon county since he came here with his father's family. Before engaging in his present occupation he was engaged in farm- ing and stock buying for several years. His wife was Cora A. Green, a native of Vermont They have three children-William H., Charles W. and Myrtie.

One of the early settlers of the town of Wheatland, is Jeremiah J. Tenney, who resides on section 6, on the farm which he entered June 11, 1855. He made some improvements on the place the first season, and brought his family here April 26, 1856. He entered 245 acres on sections 6 and 7, and still owns that amount of land, although he has disposed of part of his original entry. Mr. Tenney was born in the town of Topsfield, Essex Co., Mass., April 17, 1805. From the age of seven till that of nineteen years he lived in the State of Maine; afterwards he was a resident of Massachusetts and New Hampshire until he came here. Mr. Tenney learned the trade of a millwright. He was a skillful mechanic, and for many years en-

740

HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

gaged in business pertaining to his trade. For eight years in Manchester, N. Il., and ten years in Lawrence, Mass., he was employed as a millwright in manufacturing establishments. He went to Manchester before the first mill was built there, and from there to Law- renee, where he was engaged to assist in the erection of mills. For over twenty years he followed his trade of a millwright. Ile mar- ried Patience Choate (Proctor), who was born in Derry, Rockingham Co., N. H., Jan. 26, 1807, and died March 5, 1877. Mr. Tenney has five children-Charles A., Jacob, Elizabeth, Thomas and Lyman W. He lost three children, two of whom died in infancy, the other a son, Gilman, enlisted in company A, 25th regiment, Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and served about fifteen months, when his health failing him he obtained a furlough, hoping a visit home would fully re- store him. He arrived at De Soto in a very feeble condition, and stopped at the home of his comrade, Charles Tilden, where he suddenly died, not having reached his destination. The loss of his son was a terrible blow to his father, and he still feels deeply his sad afflic- tion. Charles, the oldest son, lives in the town of Wheatland; was a soldier in the Union army, and is a teacher by profession. Thomas was born in Manchester, N. H. He is also a teacher. Elizabeth, the only daughter, a native of Derry, N. H., followed the same profession for many years.

John C. Davis came to De Soto in 1858, in the interests of the milling firm of N. S. Cate & Co. He was born in the town of Chester, Rockingham Co., N. II., in October, 1826. The earlier years of his life, from the time he was five years old, were spent in Haverhill, Mass., in the family of a man named Crowell, his father, John Davis, having died when he was quite young. His mother, formerly Polly Em- erson, was a native of Chester, N. H., and died in Massachusetts in 1862. Mr. Davis mar- ried Sarah M. Blood, a native of Boston. For some time after coming to De Soto, Mr. Davis

continued in his position as agent for N. S. Cate & Co. Afterwards for several years he was engaged in the mercantile trade, and at the same time was agent of the Northwestern Insurance Co. He was a man quite generally known in the county, especially as an agricul- turalist. For a long time he was a member of the M. E. Church, and for several years a preacher of that denomination. He died Aug. 16, 1883. He had been an invalid for a mim- ber of years and a great sufferer during that time; but his sufferings were greatly alleviated by the constant and devoted attentions of his faithful wife and daughters. The family at present consists of Mrs. Davis and six children -Ellen, Lisette, Edward S., E. Stacy, Cora F, Susie E, and Russell.

Noah E. French is engaged in the grocery and restaurant business at De Soto. In 1859 he came to the town of Wheatland with his unele, James Davenport, who now lives in Crawford county, and has been a resident of this town ever since. His father, Noble P. French, died in the State of Indiana when Noah E. was a child. His mother, Ruth, came here with her second husband, Benjamin Rogers. She died in 1873. Noah E. French was born in Broome Co., N. Y.,in 1843. From New York he moved to Indiana, from there to Grundy Co., Ill., coming here from the last named State. lle married Sophia Gould, a daughter of Joseph Gould, a native of Massachusetts. She died here Aug. 13, 1872. Mr. French's present wife was Elizabeth Powell, daughter of Franeis E. Powell. Mr. French has one danghter by his first marriage-Minnie J., and five children by his second wife-Mary, Lizzie, Bertha, Nellie and Noble P.

William A Ilodge, of Victory, is proprietor of the Victoria Nursery and is extensively en- gaged in fruit growing. In 1866 he entered eighty acres of land on section 27, which he at once began to improve. In 1868 he began the nursery business and has been successfully en- gaged in that business until the present time.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

Ile makes a specialty of small fruits; has a large experience in the business and follows his occu- pation with a perseverance and ardor which in- dicate both his love for the business and his determination to succeed. Marked success has attended his labors. His stoek includes all kinds of apples, which his experience has taught him are adapted to this climate. He has a great variety of plums, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc. The business is carried on in a most systematic manner, Mr. Hodge himself performing a large part of the labor re- quired. The satisfaction that is expressed with the stock he produces is well attested by his large patronage. His business is constantly in- creasing; within the last few years he has pur- chased forty lots in the village of Victory, which he is devoting to nursery stock and small fruit. Hle is also engaged in the raising of sor- ghum, manufacturing from 1,500 to 2,000 gal- lons annually. Among his industries may also be mentioned bee keeping and market garden- ing, supplying the steamboats with vegetables and shipping also to La Crosse and Lansing. Recently he established a mill of four horse power, suitable for all kinds of grinding, except flour. Mr. Hodge is one of the most active business men in Vernon county. He was born in Yates Co., N. Y., in 1832; there he also re- ceived his education. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in the 46th Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, and served nine months; being badly wounded at the battle of Harrisonburg, Va .; he was discharged for disability. In 1864 he came to Wisconsin. His wife, Jane Williams, was born in Rockford, III. She came to Ver- non county with her mother, Permelia Wil- liams, who died in this town in 1862. Her father died in Rockford, IN. Mr. and Mrs. Hodge have two children-Olive Jano and Clara L. .

Alfred Proctor came to the town of Wheat- land from Lynn, Mass., in 1862. In 1865 he settled on his present farm, which he purchased of Alfred Rolfe. His farm consists of 160

acres on which all improvements have been made since his possession of it. Mr. Proctor was born in Derry, N. H., in 1818. His parents, Jacob and Lois (Lufkin) Proctor, wore natives of Gloucester, Mass. They both died in Derry, N. H. Ile has been twiec married. His first wife was Mary Ann Blodgett, born in Malden, Mass., in 1824, but died in this State in 1865. Ilis present wife is a lineal descendant of Dr. Jenner, the discoverer of vaccination as a pre- ventative of the small pox. Mrs. Proctor was born in Paterson, N. J., in 1824. Her maidon name was Mary Ann Jenner. Her father, Wil- liam Jenner, died in 1835, when she was eleven years old. From New Jersey she removed to Ohio, where she married Enoch Yocum in Cin- cinnati in 1847, who died in Toledo in 1853. After the death of her husband Mrs. Yocum returned to New Jersey and with her mother's family removed to Salem, Henry Co., lowa. At this place she was married to Samuel H. Wood- mansee in 1857 and removed with him to Lan- sing, Iowa, at which place he died in 1863. Several years later (1868) she was married to Mr. Proctor. By his first wife Mr. Proctor had seven children, two of whom are living in Chi- cago, two in Washington territory, two in the town of Sterling, Vernon Co., Wis., and one re- mains at home. Mrs. Proctor had two chil- dren by her first marriage; both of them died in infancy. Mrs. Proctor's mother died in Craw- ford Co., Wis., in 1879.

One of the earliest settlers of Vernon county is Alexander Latshaw. Perhaps, with the ex- ception of Lee Grant Sterling, there is no okdler resident of the county. In 1847 he made an entry in the town of Sterling, on sections 3 and 4, town 11, range 6 west. At the time of his arrival there were but two families in the town -those of L. G. Sterling and George Nichols. In 1867 he removed from Sterling to Victory, where he has since resided. Ilis son James, born June 18, 1847, was the first male white child born in Vernon county. Mr. Latshaw is a native of Sullivan Co., Ind., where he was

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

born in 1824. His father, Joseph Latshaw, was a native of Pennsylvania, from which State be removed to Indiana, where he lived until his death, in September, 1845. He settled in Indi- ana in the year 1814. Mr. Latshaw has gen- erally been engaged in farming; he is at present in the wood trade. fle married Mary Clark, daughter of William Clark, a native of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Latshaw have seven children-James, Albert, Belle, Edward, Kate, Nellie and Clare-four sons and three daughters, all of whom were born in the town of Sterling except Clare, the youngest, who is a native of Victory.

John D. Babcock is the son of Simeon Bab- cock, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Crawford county with his family in 1854, but died the following year, before he had made a settlement. The family settled, soon after the father's death, in the town of Freeman, Craw- ford county. He was married three times ; his widow, Liberty Furman, a native of Pennsylva- nia, lives in De Soto. Simeon Babcock had six children by his last wife. John D. resides in De Soto ; was born in Pennsylvania in 1851; has lived in De Soto since 1865; he married Rossie Greene, a native of Vermont. Mr. Babcock is at present engaged in buying grain for the firm of Fred Eckhardt & Co.

Charles H. Upham, general merchant, came to this State and also to De Soto in 1873. He was born in Great Barrington, Mass., in 1853. On coming to De Soto Mr. Upham engaged himself as a clerk to Stevens & Son, in general merchandising business. He remained with them three years, when he engaged in business for himself. He keeps a complete stock of general goods. Hardware is an important de- partment of his business ; also the manufac- ture of tinware, as he is a tinner by trade. He also handles farming implements. Mr. Upham came to De Soto a young man, with but little means, and by attention to business he has succeeded in establishing a good trade. His stock is one of the most complete in the

village. He married Elizabeth Duffy, a native of Wisconsin.

Joshua A. Cooper, wagon and carriage man- ufacturer at De Soto, established his business Oct. 1, 1875. 1Ie was born in Connecticut in 1833. His father died when he was a child. Mr. Cooper has spent a number of years of his life in traveling, and has visited various parts of the United States. When about eighteen years of age he went to Richmond, Va., where he lived three or four years. He established a wagon manufacturing business at Winona, Minn., in 1857. As before stated, Mr. Cooper has traveled extensively, having worked in not less than twenty-three States and territories ; also in Canada. He married Jane Coy, a native of New York. They have three children - Edward L., Alice M. and William A. The oldest was born in Montana, and William in Preston, Minn. Mr. Cooper is engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages ; also sells farming implements.

The firm of C. Lyttle & Co. consists of ('. Lyttle and Peyton Davidson, of La Crosse. Mr. Lyttle came to De Soto and engaged in the lumber business, in the spring of 1876, which he conducted alone for two years, and was then joined in business by his brother, James, who was with him one year. Mr. Lyttle was again in business alone for one year in the lumber and stock trade. The present firm was formed in 1881. They transact a large business in lumber, stock and general mer- chandising. Mr. Lyttle, who conducts the business, is a gentleman of excellent business qualifications. He is also agent for the North- western Line of steamboats. He is a native of Canada and an early settler of La Crosse county, Wisconsin. Mr. Lyttle was born in 1847 and came to De Soto in 1876. His wife. was Alice Haney, a daughter of James II. Haney.

George C Clark, of the village of Victory, is one of the oldest residents now living in the county. He was born in Knox Co., Ind., Nov.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY

13, 1833, and came to the town of Sterling in the spring of 1847 with Alexander Latshaw. At the same time eame J. L. Tewalt and Lewis Trainer, the former of whom settled in the town of Sterling. The latter settled at Dodge- ville, Iowa connty, but afterward removed to Muscoda, where he died. He came to Vernon county with his mother's family, consisting of eight children, his father, William Clark, hav- ing died when he was a boy. His mother, Matilda Clark, settled at Walnut Mound, now

called Retreat, in the town of Sterling. She now lives in Victory. Mr. Clark came to Vic- tory in 1881 and engaged in merchandising. He married Sarah Wilcox, a native of Indiana. They have three children-Lola L., Effie and Russell. The children of Mrs. Matilda Clark are as follows -- Mrs. Martha Chandler (deceased), Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey, James A., who went to California in 1852 and still lives there; Mrs. Mary Latshaw, William P., at Tomah; Mrs. Jane Messersmith; George C. and Franklin.

744

. HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

CHAPTER L.

TOWN OF WHITESTOWN.

The town of Whitestown is located in the northern tier of towns in Vernon county, and the third town west of the eastern boundary of the county. The town is bounded on the north by Monroe county, on the east .by the town of Forest, on the south by the town of Stark, and on the west by the town of Clinton. The town contains thirty-six sections. It was named in honor of Giles White, the first settler in the town. .

The surface of the town is very rough and roll- ing, but five large streams of running water and numerous springs contribute to the fertility of the soil, and form an abundant supply for stock and living purposes. The main stream of the Kickapoo riyer enters the town on section 2, taking almost a direct sontherly course through the town, and leaves on section 34. Brush creek enters on section 4, and empties in the Kicka- poo river on section 2. The north and south branches of Billings creek flow through the town of Forest, uniting near the center of see- tion 13, of this town, and joining the Kickapoo river on section 26. Weister creek enters the town on section 30, leaving on section 31; and Warner creek enters on section 36, and flows into the Kickapoo river on section 35.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

As stated, the town was named in honor of the first settler, Giles White, who came to the town in July, 1853.

Sidney Waite settled on Billings creek in 1854, and was a resident of the town in 1884.

William Sandon came in the fall of 1854. In 1884 he was proprietor of the Vernon Hotel at Ontario.

About the same time came Washington Me- Fee and settled on section 14, where he re- mained till his death, in 1867.

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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 99

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

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