History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 100

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 998

USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth County, Wisconsin > Part 100

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S. E.CORNER OF DELAVAN VILLAGE/

MAP OF DELAVAN LAKE

Lake Lawn

1/ 15

Outlet

Petersburg

House

Straw'sPark

Delantes Park

Suessmilch

Union Park

Harrington

lon

CedarPoint

Menchums

rk 13.0

Harr

DuckingGrounds

FishingGrounds

Barlows

Alary

rove

SSharon Camp

DO.G.M

Duck Hole

LakesidePark

Ro RockfordCamp

FishingGrounds

der

rove

Hickory Park

Willowthink

ngtons

Spring

camp

irvard

diny

GenevaLake

Balls

4Miles to

Inlet Bridge

SpringPoint

FreeportClub

Steamboat Headquarters

To Elkhorn + Miles

651

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Curtis Mills. Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Warne have a family of five sons and four daughters-Henry L., Mary, Rodell C., Hattie, George, Ida, Jessie, Lucius and Cyrus; the eldest son, Henry, is a graduate of the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy of the class of 1881; Mary is a teacher of the village schools; Rodell C. is a student of the State University.

A. B. WARNER, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Whitewater: has 80 acres of land; was born in Camillus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Oct. 19, 1807: is the son of Amos and Mary Warner; he was married, in 1832, to Miss Harriet, daughter of William Palmer. One child, a son, was born to them, named Ambrose. In 1833, Mr. Warner and family moved to Galena, La Porte Co., Ind., where he engaged in farming; while there, he lost his wife, who died Oct. 12, 1840; he was married to Ruth Webster, daughter of Samuel Webster, Dec. 27, 1840; Mrs. Warner was born in Camillus, Onondaga Co., N. Y .; three children were born to them, all of whom are dead; Harriet L. died in childhood; Vienna L. died aged 21 years; and Amos H., who died at the age of 24 years. In 1846, Mr. Warner came to Whitewater, Wis., and purchased the one-half of southwest quarter of Sec. 6; returning to Indiana, he moved his family to their new home the following spring, 1847, where they have since resided. Mr. Warner is a member of the Universalist Church, and has always been a stanch Democrat in politics. Ambrose, Mr. War- ner's only surviving son, was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y .. Oct. 7, 1833; was married, in He- bron, Jefferson. Co., Wis., May 13, 1862, to Miss Martha Folts, daughter of Jonas Folts; Mrs. Warner was born in Oneida Co., N. Y .; they have three sons and two daughters-A. J., H. Rav. Hattie M .. Nettie and Jay F.

T. D. WEEKS, senior partner of the law firm of Weeks & Steel, established his practice at Whitewater Jannary, 1860. He was born in Northampton, Mass., Nov, 5, 1833; is the son of Spencer Weeks and Elvira Dimock Weeks; came with his parents to Wisconsin in the fall of 1843; they located in Hudson, now Lyons, Walworth Co .; after acquiring a primary education in the common schools of his town, Mr. Weeks went to Appleton and took a regular course at the Lawrence University of that city, from which he graduated in 1858; from there he went to Albany, N. Y., and spent one year as a student of the Albany Law School; here he graduated in 1859, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. June 1, 1859; he then returned to Wisconsin and entered upon the practice of his profession at Racine. while pursuing his reading in the office of Lyon & Adams; six months thereafter. he removed to Whitewater, opened a law office, was admitted to the bar of Walworth County at the fall term of court, 1859; he was soon after admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of this State. and has continued to practice his profession at Whitewater to this date-January, 1882; he was elected to the Legislature of 1867 from the Third District of Walworth County, and to the State Senate for the years 1874 and 1875; he has been one of the Regents of the State Normal Schools for twelve years; he was married, in the village of Whitewater, June 7, 1865, to Miss Adda Hall, adopted daughter of S. C. Hall; they have two children-Helen Louise, aged 15 years; and Charles S., aged 13; in 1875, Mr. Weeks entered into a law partnership with Mr. George W. Steel, which has been continued to this date, under the firm name of Weeks & Steel.

I. U. WHEELER was born at Oyster Bay, L. I .. N. Y., in 1787; his father was a Baptist minister; when I. U. was 11 years of age, he went to Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he learned the carpenter's trade; he was married, in 1817, to Miss Lavina Duncan: six children were born to them; Sarah, the oldest, was the wife of Jesse R. Kinne; her death occurred in Sugar Creek, Wis., Nov. 1, 1873; Mary A. is the wife of Gaylord Graves, of Iowa; Egbert C. died at White- water, Wis., in 1870; Harriet, deceased, was the wife of Daniel Salisbury; her husband is now an honored resident of Elkhorn; Betsey A., deceased, was the wife of S. B. Edwards, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this work; her death occurred Dec. 21, 1880; William H. died at Whitewater Oct. 4, 1857. Mrs. Wheeler died at Sherburne, N. Y., in 1835. Mr. Wheeler mar- ried again, Jan. 26, 1837, at Sherburne; his second wife was Miss Nancy Palmer, who was born in Chenango Co., N. Y. Mr. Wheeler emigrated to Wisconsin in 1840, and made his home at Whitewater, of which place he was the popular Justice of the Peace almost continuously until his death, which occurred Feb. 9, 1870. During his life-time, from his earliest manhood, he was distinguished by being chosen to hold some position of honor and public trust; as early as 1812, he organized a volunteer rifle company, of which he was commissioned Captain by Gov. Tompkins, of New York, June 21, 1815; he served as Constable many years, and was appointed

652

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Deputy Sheriff of his county Jan. 1, 1829, which office he held four years; he was then elected Justice of the Peace in 1833, ard re-elected each term during his residence in New York-an office which he resigned on coming to Whitewater in 1840; in 1841, he was appointed Justice of the Peace of Walworth County, by Gov. Doty, and, on the organization of the town, was elected the first Justice: he was re-elected, and held the office continuously until his death, ex- cept four years that he was Postmaster under Taylor and Fillmore; he was possessed of a clear and remarkably correct judgment; his large experience had made him familiar with points of law; his decisions were very rarely appealed from, and scarcely ever reversed; his faculties were so well preserved that he discharged his duties at the office up to within a very few days of his death, which happened when he was 84 years and 6 months old; his memory is cherished by a large cirele of friends. Mrs. Wheeler survives her husband; is still a resident of Walworth County.

JOHN P. WHIPPLE, photographer; business established in Whitewater in 1869; he was born in Solon, Somerset Co., Me., Feb. 22, 1820; is the son of John Whipple; went to Ohio in 1851 and learned the daguerrean art, and carried on the business a short time; then came to Wisconsin and opened a gallery at Sheboygan, which he carried on three years; from there, went to Two Rivers; from there to Green Bay, where he was engaged in the same business, with the improved methods; he enlisted, in 1862, in Co. A. 27th W. V. I., and served until the close of the war; after returning from the army, he engaged in the photograph business at Port Washington till 1869; he then removed to Whitewater and established his present gallery; Mr. Whipple has facilities for doing all work in his line in the best style; he also has a view wagon for landscape work. Mr. Whipple is what is known as an infidel, and is very bold in express- ing his views.

HON. SAMUEL AUSTIN WHITE, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin. Delaware Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1823; he was the son of Samuel and Flavia White; when 18 years of age, he graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y : he then began the study of law in the office of Judge Mason, of Hamilton, N. Y., and, later, pursued his studies with Elijah Ford, at Buffalo. In 1845, he came to Wisconsin and located at Geneva, Walworth Co. ; having taught school in his student days, he very naturally adopted the same vocation in his new home, and so engaged as teacher of the Geneva school; he soon changed his place of residence to Port Washington, Ozaukee Co., where he entered upon the practice of his profes- sion; in 1853, he was appointed Postmaster by President Pierce; was elected to the Assembly in 1856, from Ozankee County, and County Judge in 1861; an earnest Democrat in polities, he was, by virtue of his principles, a thorough Union man, and. in the dark days of the beginning of the late war, was firm and consistent in support of the Government: in the turbulent scenes that have become historie, as the " draft riots " of Ozaukee County, Judge White took an active part in support of the Government; not being in sympathy with the popular sentiment of that locality, and being desirous of enjoying better educational advantages for his children than Port Washington afforded, he moved to Whitewater, Walworth Co., in June, 1863; he was mar- ried, in Geneva, Wis., in 1849, to Miss Mary Ferguson, daughter of Andrew Ferguson; Mrs. White was born in Cooperstown, N. Y. ; their family consisted of seven children-Katharine L., M. Flavia, Rufus S., Williston A., Jane L., George D. and Henry; the eldest son, Rufus S., died Jan. 24, 1882. In 1864, Judge White was appointed Assistant Bank Comptroller, under W. H. Ramsey, and served during the term of 1864-65; he was appointed Regent of Normal

Schools in 1865, and held that position till 1870, during which time the second State Normal School was established at Whitewater; he was elected to the Assembly from the Whitewater Distriet in 1870, and re-elected in 1871 -- although a Democrat in an overwhelmingly Repub- lican district, receiving 964 votes against 567 for William Burgit, Republican; in 1874, he was again made Resident Regent of Normal Schools; this was his last public position; in 1876, being too much out of health to attend to the duties of the office, he resigned; he was prominently before the people as a candidate for State Senator in 1877, and, although he received a splendid home indersement, he could not overcome the heavy Republican majority in the district, and was defeated with the rest of the ticket; at the early age of 55 years, after a successful business career, in which he had amassed a large fortune, and after many years of honorable public service, surrounded by family and friends and all that makes life dear, he was called away;

653

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

death came to him on the evening of March 4, 1878. In the death of Judge White, Whitewater lost one of its ablest and most highly respected citizens-a man gifted with superior intelli- gence, who always did well whatever duty devolved upon him: all works of public improvement, and all calculated to elevate or ameliorate the condition of mankind, received his hearty and generous support; he won and deserved the good opinion of all who knew him; as an evidence of public sentiment in relation to the deceased, may be appropriately submitted a copy of the preamble and resolutions adopted by the faculty of the Whitewater State Normal School, March 5, 1878:

WHEREAS, We have received with profound sorrow, the intelligence of the death of Hon. S. A. White, late and for many years an active and efficient resident member of the Board of Regents of the State Normal School, and

WHEREAS, The eminent public services of the deceased, no less than his upright and honorable private character, are entitled to that just and generous recognition of those who survive him. Therefore

Resolved, That in the death of Judge White the cause of education in Wisconsin has lost a firm, intelli- gent and liberal champion and friend, the community and State a high-minded and upright citizen, and his family a generous and kind-hearted husband and father.

Resolved, That in view of the long continued and eminent services of the deceased in behalf of this institution, and of the high respect we entertain for his character, we deem it due to his memory to suspend the session of the school during the funeral obsequies of our departed friend.

Resolved, That we tender to his afflicted family the assurance of our profound sympathy in their irrepar- able loss.

Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolutions be transmitted to the family of the deceased, and to the Madison and Whitewater papers for publication.

W. S. JOHNSON, Secretary.

WILLIAM F. PHELPS, President.

WILLIAM E. WIGHT, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Whitewater: he has 134 acres of land; he was born in Benton, Luzerne Co., Penn., June 11, 1839; is the son of Lyman and Levina Wight, who were descended from New England people. The first family of Wights came from the Isle of Wight, England, about the middle of the seventeenth century, and settled in Massachusetts. Mr. Wight was brought up a farmer, and came to Wisconsin in 1856; located on his present farm in Whitewater; he was married, Oct. 2, 1861, in Whitewater, to Miss Albina, daughter of Freman and Eliza Leighton; Mrs. Wight was born in Maine. In politics, Mr. Wight is a Re- publican.

ASAD WILLIAMS, deceased, was born in Stonington. Conn., Sept. 26. 1781; he was brought up a farmer; moved to Massachusetts, where he was married, by Rev. S. Taggart, Oct. 13, 1808, to Jennie McGee, daughter of Jonathan McGee. Mrs. Williams was born in Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass., Sept. 27, 1781. About 1814, they moved to Herkimer Co., N. Y .; they had two children born to them in Massachusetts-Asad D. and Mary Ann: the daughter died in infancy; while residing in Herkimer County, they had two children born to them-Eliza J. and Garrett L .; from there they moved to Stockbridge, Madison Co., where four children were born to them -Jonathan M., Nathan D., Clarissa A. and Thomas W. Asad D. was married to Cynthia Pow- ers, Sept. 2, 1839, by Squire Zera Mead, of Whitewater, and is now living near Ft: Atkinson, Wis .; Eliza J. married Norman Pratt in 1833; they now reside at Cheyenne, W. T .; Garrett. L. was married. in 1855. to Miss Amelia Leland: died when 48 years of age; Jonathan M. was married, Nov. 27, 1854, in Whitewater, to Miss Sarah M. Hamilton, by M. Rowley, and is a farmer of Whitewater, Wis .: Nathan D. was married by the Methodist Episcopal minister, L. Anderson, May 2, 1844, to Betsy Ann Allen, and is a farmer of Whitewater; Clarissa A. was drowned in childhood; Thomas W. married Carrie Hammond, and lives in Milwaukee. In 1839, Mr. Williams and family moved to Wisconsin: arriving in Whitewater June 11, he located on Sec. 6, where he was engaged in farming; for several years he served as Assessor: in politics, he was a Republican; he lived a successful, honest life, winning the respect and esteem of his neighbors; his death occurred May 16, 1864: his wife lived to the advanced age of 99 years and 6 months; she died Feb. 11, 1880.

MRS. JENNY WILLIAMS. deceased, relict of Capt. Asad Williams, died Feb. 11, 1880, in her 99th year. When " Aunt Jenny Williams" died, the village of Whitewater-all who had ever been sick or unfortunate felt, if they had been anywhere within the kind soul's embrace, that a common mother had passed away. She was one of the first five members of the Congre- gational Church: but churches were put out of sight where any one was sick, hungered or in distress of body and soul, and needed to be ministered unto: there she was ever to be found;

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

and the tears which fell were from the purest heart-springs when the old, busy hands were folded and the kind old heart ceased its feeble beating. The following, from the pen of one of her friends, fittingly tells the story of her helpful life: "Feb. 13, 1880, Mrs. Jenny Williams, in remembrance of whom these lines are written, was tenderly carried to her last resting-place by her four surviving sons. Though a sad duty to perform, to them it seemed more appropriate that loving hands should lay one away who had so long loved and labored for them. Being one of the early pioneers of this place, a short history of her life is given by request. She was born Sept. 27, 1781, in Colerain, Mass. She was one of eight children, all of whom lived to a good old age. One brother is still living, over SO years of age. Her father died in middle life: her mother at the age of 97. They were of Irish and Scotch descent, and her mother's ancestors were remarkable for longevity. Her maiden name was McGee, and, at the age of 27, Oct. 13, 180S, she was married to Asad Williams, by Rev. T. Taggard, the officiating clergyman of the Presbyterian Church of which she was a member. For more than half a century they journeyed together, through sunshine and storms, on life's highway. Sixteen years ago, her husband died, in his 83d year. Eight children were born to them. Five now survive her-four sons and one daughter. To the latter the sad privilege was not given to stand by the grave of her mother, with her brothers, and mingle their tears together. For six years after their marriage, they resided in her native place, where two children were born-Asad Dean and Mary Ann-the lat- ter dying in infancy. They then removed to Herkimer Co., N. Y .; from there to Stockbridge, Madison Co., N. Y., it then being a wilderness. In that State her other six children were born, namely, Eliza Jane, Garret Lansing, Jonathan McGee, Nathan Dennison, Clarissa Ann and Thomas. In 1839, they moved to Whitewater, Wis., settling on the farm where two of her sons now reside. She was one of the first members of the Congregational Church of our village. Nearly eighty years ago, she united with the church in her native place, and never did she lose her faith in Christianity or cease to lean upon the arm of Him who never tires. At the church of her choice, the officiating clergyman, Rev. B. D. Conkling, preached her funeral sermon, and for his kind and Christian sympathy and words of counsel the friends extend their heartfelt thanks. Intelligent, refined, with positive conviction of right and wrong, it was always pleasant to hear the subject of this memoir converse. Until her eyesight failed so that she could not read, she took a lively interest in all the political and social questions of the day. As old age crept upon her, she gave up the cares of life; she knew no ambition but the good of her loved ones, constantly fearing to make others trouble. For many years, she has seen that her chil- dren and grandchildren were supplied with stockings from her own hands. When in her 97th year, she knit forty pairs of stockings, and, but a few days before she was taken sick, she called for more yarn, which, however, she never used. for ber busy hands grew weary, and she folded them to rest. With her, industry was one of the Christian graces."

JONATHAN M. WILLIAMS, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Whitewater; has 135 acres of land; is the son of Asad and Jenny (McGee) Williams: was born in Stockbridge. Madison Co., N. Y .. March 17, 1820; was brought up a farmer, and came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1839: located on Sec. 6, where he now resides, June 11 of that year; an elder brother, Asad D., had preceded him, coming in September. 1837; Le had made the claim on which the family located on their arrivial, two years later. Mr. Williams was married, in the town of Whitewater, Nov. 27, 1854, to Miss Sarah M. Hamilton, daughter of Dr. Thomas Hamilton, of Rochester, N. Y .; they have three sons -- Frank H., Leo A. and Charles M.

NATHAN D. WILLIAMS, farmer and musician, Sec. 6; P. O. Whitewater; has 80 acres of land; he was born in Madison Co., N. Y., March 9, 1823; is the son of Capt. Asad Williams: he came to Wisconsin with his parents June 12. 1839; located on Sec. 6, Whitewater; in the spring of 1840. having a natural talent for music, he and his brother. Thomas W., began prac- ticing wind instruments, while making sugar on the banks of Bark River; they next were in- strumental in organizing the Whitewater Cornet Band, which is still in existence; Mr. Will- iams and Mr. G. H. Johnson are the only remaining members of the original organization; he is also a member of the Severance & Williams String Band; this band has been in existence thirty-three years, without a break or change of membership, and is probably the oldest band in the State; his brother is prominently identified with the Milwaukee Musical Organization. Mr Williams was married, in Stockbridge, Madison Co., N Y., May 2, 1844, to Betsey A.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Allen: they have five children-George W., married, and is now a practicing physician of Marshalltown, Iowa; Alma is the wife of John Fryer, of Ackley. Iowa: Caius C. is a teacher of music at Ackley, Iowa: Linn A. is also a musician of Ackley: Leona B. is a telegraph ope- rator, also of Ackley: George served one year in the late war in the Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. O. B. WILLIAMS, foreman of the wood department of the Winchester & Partridge Wagon Works: he was born in Huron Co., Ohio. Ang. 11. 1838: is the son of James T. and Harriet (Moody) Williams; came to Milwaukee. Wis., in 1846, and in the same year to Genesee. Wau- kesha Co .: in 1859, he came to Whitewater and entered the employ of Winchester & Partridge, in the plow works; on the organization of the wagon works, was placed in charge of the wood department yards, and has discharged the duties of that position with satisfaction to the com- pany to this date. He was married. in Hebron, Jefferson Co., Wis., Aug. 27. 1859, to Miss Emeline L. Ward. daughter of S. D. Ward; Mrs. Williams was born in Henderson, N. Y .; her death occurred Aug. 3, 1881.

L. A. WINCHESTER. President of the Winchester & Partridge Manufacturing Company, was born in Hartford, Windsor Co .. Vt., Sept. 22, 1821; is the son of D. D. and Sarah Wilson Winchester; he received a common-school and academic education; when 4 years of age, moved to Woodstock, Vt., and from there to Springfield; when 17 years, he learned the blacksmith's trade, and, in 1843, came to Wisconsin-Milwaukee-where he worked at his trade till the fol- lowing March, 1844; he then came to Whitewater, and, in company with Joseph Rogers, he carried on a general blacksmithing business; a full account of his change of business and his history as a manufacturer is given in the sketch of the works, and would only be a repetition here. In justice to Mr. Winchester, it should be stated that his remarkable success in starting with a common blacksmith shop and developing the magnificent business that he has, has been due to his continuous application to the details of his works, a natural adaptation to mechanical employment, and to the good business ability of his partners: with the exception of one year, 1848 or 1849, which he spent in business at Fulton, Rock Co., Wis., Mr. Winchester has been established in Whitewater since 1844; about 1860, he spent nearly a year in the mountains at Pike's Peak, running a quartz-mill, which he did successfully: his business at Whitewater was continued by his partner without interruption: he is still interested in mining property in that region.

SEPTER WINTERMUTE, proprietor of livery stable: business established in 1852. Mr. Wintermute was born in Sussex Co., N. J., May 10, 1810; is the son of Peter Wintermute; he was brought up on a farm, and was married, January. 1832, to Emeline Bartholf, daughter of James Bartholf: Mrs. Wintermute was born in the same county as her husband: they moved to Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1837, and from there to Bernadott, Fulton Co., Ill., in 1840, and from there, in 1844. to Pekin, Ill .. where they lived two years, and then, in 1846, came to White- water, Wis .; on coming to Whitewater, Mr. Wintermute rented the Exchange Hotel, now the Kinney House; two years later, it was sold; he then moved to Richmond Center, where he farmed and kept public house till the spring of 1850, when he returned to Whitewater and bought the Whitewater Hotel, which he kept till 1865: shortly after selling, the house was burned, and the land reverted to him, when he built his present substantial brick stables on the site of the old hotel; in 1870. Mr. Wintermute bought a large farm in the town of Whitewater, containing 400 acres, which he still owns; he had also a good livery stable in connection with his hotel, which he started in 1852; with the exception of two years since that time he has been in that business continuously to this date. Mr. Wintermute's family consists of five children, three sons and two daughters -- James, Peter. Elizabeth, Ellen and Frank; the eldest. James, married Caroline Burch, and lives in Whitewater: Peter is in the livery business at Muskegon, Mich., and married Lucy Clapp. Mr. Wintermute has a fine herd of Holstine cattle on his farm. which he has been perfecting for several years.

HENRY WRIGHT, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Whitewater; he has 220 acres of land; was born in England May 20, 1839; is the son of Joseph and Priscella Wright; served a regular apprenticeship as a seaman: sailed in the British merchant service till he was 21 years of age; he then came to the United States and sailed in American vessels; in 1854, he enlisted in the United States Navy. sailing in the frigates San Jacinto, Potomac and Waubash; was in the lat- ter vessel when she was employed in bringing home the Walker filibusters; was in the United

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 100

Author: Western Historical Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 998

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 998