History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 107

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 107

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

but, by industry and frugality, he succeeded in maintaining himself independently. He secured the appointment of janitor, and, by chopping wood and ringing the college bell, he earned enough to pay his way. After graduating at Beloit College, he went to Massachusetts and took a regular course at the Andover Theological School, from which he graduated in the summer of 1854. On leaving this school, he offered his services to the Home Mission Society, with the understanding that he was to be assigned to some charge in Wisconsin. On his arrival at Be- loit, on Saturday, Sept. 30, 1854. he was instructed to proceed to Delavan and take charge of the church here. Catching a ride part of the way, he hired a conveyance for the balance, and ar- rived at Delavan at 9 o'clock that night. The following Sunday, Oct. 1, he preached his first sermon from the pulpit of the Congregational Church of this place. He was regularly ordained April 9, 1855, at Delavan. He continued to supply the congregation, and, on Nov. 4, 1857, was regularly installed as pastor, since which time he has been the only pastor of the church. Mr. Collie was married, in Delavan, Nov. 4, 1856, to Miss Ann E. Foote, daughter of Rev. Lu- cius Foote. Mrs. Collie was born near Cleveland, Ohio. They had four sons and one daugh- ter-George L., Martha L. (died in childhood), J. Arthur, Winfred R. and Henry G. Mr. Collie has been a pioneer of Wisconsin, and has endured most of the hardships incident to a life on the frontier. He is now in the enjoyment of the comforts and blessings of modern civiliza- tion, secure in the esteem and affection of his congregation and fellow-townsmen.

EDWARD S. COLMAN, farmer, See. 5: P. O. Delavan; has 80 acres of land; settled in the town in 1854; was born in the town of Springfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., July 20, 1833; is the son of Homer and Malvina Colman. He spent his early years on a farm, and moved to Wis- consin in 1854 with his parents, and located on Sec. 5, town of Delavan: married to Miss Mary S. Shepard, daughter of J. B. Shepard. Mrs. Colman was born in the town of Darien, Gene- see Co., N. Y., and came to this town with her parents in 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Colman have brought up one adopted child. a son. The daughter, Alice P., is the wife of Horatio B. Gre- nell. The son, Harris M. Colman, married Harriet A. Dockstader, and lives in the town of Delavan. Mr. Colman's brother. Anson D., enlisted in the 12th Iowa V. L., Co. F. in the late war, from Iowa, and died at Selma. Ala.

E. W. CONABLE, editor and proprietor of the Delavan Enterprise. His connection with the paper commenced August, 1879, and he became sole proprietor June, 1880. Mr. Conable is the son of W. W. and Jane Conable: was born in Darien, Walworth Co., Wis., Nov. 25, 1848; when 5 years of age, moved with his parents to Buchanan Co., Iowa. In the fall of 1865, he commenced learning the printer's trade at Independence, Iowa. From this time until 1879, he was actively engaged as compositor, foreman and editor on varions Iowa, Missouri and Illinois papers. Among the papers with which he was connected were Independence Conserva- tive, Clinton County Advertiser, Clinton Daily Herald (of which he was foreman several yoars), Mechanicsville Press as editor and foreman, foreman and editor of the Stanwood Express, and had charge of the same office after it moved to Clarence, and called the Clarence Express. He was also foreman of the office of the Iowa Age two years, had sole charge of the Clinton Daily Herald one year, under contract, then, in company with J. C. Hopkins, purchased the Lyons Advocate, changed the name to Clinton County Advertiser: was interested at the same time in three other papers in the county; sold out and went to Chicago, where he spent one year, then returned to Iowa and took the foremanship of the Buchanan County Bulletin, which position he has held since, four years, and then came to Delavan, Wis., and formed a partnership with his brother, C. R. Conable, Angust, 1879, in the publication of the Delavan Enterprise. In June, 1880, he bought his brother's interest, and has since been editor and sole proprietor. He was married, at Lyons, Iowa, Ang. 8, 1870, to Miss Althea A. Oakes, daughter of Samuel Oakes. Mrs. Conable was born in Maine. They had one son, Wallace O., born Aug. 20, 1878; died at the age of 11 months.

GEORGE COTTON, President of the Citizens' Bank of Delavan, Wis. He is a native of Claremont, N. H .; is the son of Nathaniel and Prudence Goodwin Cotton; was born Jan. 5, 1815; was educated in the Hopkinton Academy, N. H., and at the military university of Norwich, Vt., Capt. Alden Partridge, President. The winter of 1837-38 he passed in the South for his health, spending the most of his time in Mississippi and Lonisiana. He returned to the East in the spring of 1838; then, in April, 1839, he went to La Salle Co., Ill., where he remaind

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

three years, and again returned to the East. In 1844, he came to the town of Darien, Wal- worth Co., Wis., and purchased a farm. He returned to the East, and was married in New- port, N. H., May 8, 1844, to Miss M. Maroa, youngest daughter of Samuel Chellis. Mrs. Cot- ton was born at Newport. N. H. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. Cotton and wife pro- ceeded to their home in Darien, Wis .. where Mr. Cotton was engaged in farming for the next few years. In 1846, he was elected Justice of the Peace and School Commissioner. In 1848, he was elected Chairman of the Town Board of Darien, and re-elected each year during his residence in that town. He was elected Chairman of the County Board of Walworth County in 1851. In 1853, he moved to Delavan Village, and in 1854 was appointed Postmaster, under President Pieree, and held that office till 1858. He has served as President of the village and Supervisor of Delavan, and as a member of the Board of Trustees; has also served as Assessor of the town of Delavan. Mr. Cotton was one of the charter members of the Old Settlers' Asso- ciation, and served one term as President. In February, 1878. he was elected President of the Citizens' Bank of Delavan, and has held that position to this date-1882.

JOHN B. DELANY, grocer, established his present business in the fall of 1877. He is the son of Frank and Ann Delany, and was born in Delavan March 17, 1850; received a common- school education and served a regular apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. In the winter of 1874. he joined Gordon & Witcher's party and went to the Black Hills. They were captured by United States troops as trespassers on Indian reserve, but afterward released: spent one and a half years in the Hills, prospecting and mining. then returned East and arrived in Delavan in 1877 and commenced his present business. He was married, at Delavan, April 29, 1880. to Miss Maggie Delany, daughter of James and Margaret Delany. He is a member of the present Village Board of Delavan.

D. B. DEVENDORF, M. D., was born in Columbia, Herkimer Co., N. Y., March 17, 1820: is the son of Henry S. and Elizabeth (Bellinger) Devendorf. He was educated at the Liberal Institute, Clinton, Oneida Co., N. Y., and took a three-years' course at the Geneva (N. Y. ) Medical College, graduated, and received his diploma January, 1845. He next spent one year in the New York City Hospital. He then established himself in practice at Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N. Y., where he remained eight years. He then moved to Mchawk, remained one year, and from there to Tonawanda, remaining nearly two years. In 1856, he came to Del- avan, Wis., and has been active in the practice of his profession to this date-1882. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon to the 1st W. V. I. in September, 1861, and remained with the regiment one year; was then detailed and made Post Surgeon at Danville, Ky., until April, 1863; in May, was commissioned Surgeon of the 19th W. V. I., then stationed at Suffolk, Va. Gen. James A. Garfield, Chief of Gen. Rosecrans' Staff, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., issued the last order he received while in the Department of the Cumberland, to report to his regiment in Vir- ginia, where he remained four months: was then appointed Surgeon of the 4th Brigade in the 18th Army Corps, and served as such until the spring of 1864, when he was appointed by Gen. William F. ("Baldy ") Smith as Medical Inspector on his staff, and remained with him until October following, when he was ordered by Gen. B. F. Butler on duty at the Chesapeake Hos - pital, at Ft. Monroe, Va., where he remained until March, 1865. He was then detailed as Med- ical Purveyor of the Army of the James, with headquarters on the James River, at Deep Bottom, a short distance below Butler's famous " Dutch Gap Canal." When the Dutch Gap was opened, he sailed the first boat, the hospital tug Constitution, through the canal. On his return from the army, in the fall of 1865. he resumed his practice at Delavan. He held the position of Physician for the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb six years. On the establishment of the Wisconsin Dental College at Delavan, he was appointed Professor of Surgery and Anatomy, and is now serving as such. He was married, at Fish House, Fulton Co., N. Y., Oct. 20, 1853, to Miss Helena, daughter of Warner Dygert, a custom house officer of New York City. They have two sons and one daughter. Joseph S. is employed on the United States survey in Colo- rado; Nora L. and Frank H. are twins: Nora is now the wife of George J. Schuster, a whole- sale tobacco dealer of Milwaukee: Frank is at home. The Doctor is Examining Surgeon for United States Pensions at Delavan.

ELIAS DEWEY, Principal of the Delavan Schools. He was born in Malone, Franklin Co., N. Y., April 5, 1834; is the son of Elias and Rhoda Mayo Dewey. He began his education in

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Franklin Academy at Malone; entered Middlebury College, Vt., in 1854, and graduated in the class of 1858. He commenced teaching school when only 15 years of age, teaching several months of each year while pursuing his studies, and during that time, passed the required examination and received a New York State certificate. In the spring of 1859, he came to Wisconsin, lo- cated at Whitewater and commenced teaching as Principal of the public schools. He taught a year and a half, then went to Trempealean, Wis., where he taught one year; from there to Ocon- omowoc, Wis., where he taught until he enlisted in the army, in August, [862, in Co. G, 20th W. V. I., and served until the close of the war; was on detached service a great part of the time -first as Hospital Steward, then as Chief Clerk at department headquarters, Springfield, Mo. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. On his return from the war, he was again employed as Principal of the Whitewater Schools for five years. He then left Whitewater and taught one year at Eagle, Waukesha Co., from there went to St. Joseph Mich, where he taught one year, then went to Delavan in the fall of 1872 and took charge of the schools. He has graded the school and arranged a course of study, and has been retained as Principal to this date, and is one of the oldest and most successful teachers in the State. He was married, in Oconomowoc, Sept. 3, 1860, to Miss Priscilla A. Rockwell, daughter of Anson Rockwell. Mrs. Dewey was born in the town of Butternuts, Otsego Co .. N. Y. They have had five children, four of whom are living. Helen A. died when 3 years old; those living are Winifred C., Laura Mayo, Mary Rockwell and Isabella Starr. Mr. Dewey is Commander of George H. Thomas Post, No. 6. G. A. R., Department of Wisconsin.

HARRISON R. DOANE, druggist; business established in February, 1877. The subject of this sketch is the son of William and Harriet Doane, and was born in Gerard, Penn., Jan. 1837. In 1838, moved with his parents to Weathersfield, Wyoming Co., Penn .; was edu- cated at the Alfred University, Steuben Co .. N. Y. ; spent five years in the lumber trade in Pot- ter Co., Penn. In July, 186I, he enlisted in Co. A., 3d N. Y. V. C., served one year. and was discharged for physical disability. In 1863, he came to Delavan and engaged in the photograph business, which he carried on successfully till 1876, having at that time one of the best-appointed galleries in the State. He also carried on the millinery business on the first floor. April. 1876,

he was burned out, sustaining a loss of $3,000. Mr. Doane was married, in Wyoming Co., N. Y., June 1, 1864, to Miss Irma Doane, daughter of Dan Doane. Mrs. Doane was born in Weathersfield, and was a professional teacher.

WINDSOR S. DUNBAR, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Elkhorn; son of Samuel Dunbar. He was born in the town of Geneva in April, 1842. He lived at home until about 25 years of age, when he went West, spending about three years in Nevada and Montana. He purchased his farm in 1867. He married Miss Sarah Sanders, daughter of John and Jane Sanders, who came to Walworth County from Albany, N. Y .. in the fall of 1848, and settled in the town of Sugar Creek. Mrs. Dunbar was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar have two sons and two daughters-Carrie May, Bertha Jane, Roy and Frank. Mr. Dunbar's farm con- tains 195 acres.

MISS EMILY EDDY, teacher of articulation in the Institution of the Deaf and Dumb, has been constantly employed as a teacher of the institution since 1857. She is a native of West- ern New York: and is the daughter of Rev. Chauncey and Julia Eddy; was educated at Jacksonville, III., and came to Delavan. Wis .. in 1856.

THOMAS EGE, merchant tailor, is a native of Wurtemberg. Germany, the son of Wolf- gang and Barbary Ege; was born Dec. 10, 1838. After completing his schooling, he was ap prenticed to the tailor's trade, but, before completing his term of service, he emigrated to Amer- ica, arriving at Detroit, Mich., in 1854. He perfected himself in his trade in that city, where he worked three years. He then moved to Darien, Wis., and pursued the same occupation till 1867, when he moved to Sharon and engaged in farming, continued in that business seven years, and then moved to Delavan and resumed work at his trade. In 1879, he opened in bus- iness as a merchant tailor. He does a general custom business, and is very popular with his customers. Mr. Ege was married at Delavan, Jan. 6, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth H. Sears, daughter of Thomas Sears. Mrs. Ege was born in England, and came to America in child- hood, and was brought up in Baltimore, Md. They have seven children-Mary J., Frank J., Henry J., Emma R., Ida V., William T. and Annie L.

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GEORGE P. FLANDERS, deceased, was born in Hatley, Lower Canada, Sept. 8, 1812; was married in Canada in April, 1838, to Miss Mary Jones. , He was engaged in milling in his native conntry, and in 1849 moved to Wisconsin, located in La Fayette, Walworth Co., where he was engaged in farming. He subsequently moved to the town of Delavan, where he pur- sued a like business. Though not conspicuous in public matters, he was highly respected as a good citizen, neighbor and friend. His death occurred Aug. 7, 1871. His wife survives him. GEORGE F. FLANDERS, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Elkhorn; has 160 acres of land; was born in Hatley, Lower Canada, March 31, 1840; is the son of George P. and Mary Flanders. He emigrated to Wisconsin with his parents in 1849. His family located on Sec. 32, La Fay- ette, Walworth Co. In 1865, he moved to Sec. 2, Delavan. He was brought up a farmer; from 1860 to 1867, was engaged in teaching; in 1874, he engaged in the meat market business in Delavan, which he carried on four years; in the fall of 1879, he returned to his farm. He was married, in Burlington, Wis., May 16, 1877, to Miss Ione Royce, daughter of Lewis Royce, an attorney of Burlington, Wis. Her father settled in that village when the town consisted of only two houses. Mrs. Flanders is an experienced teacher, having taught school successfully in Bur- lington, Delavan, Rochester, Geneva and in Iowa.

DANIEL G. FOSTER, farmer, Secs. 6 and 7; P. O. Delavan; has a well-cultivated farm of 300 acres; settled in the town of Delavan June 20, 1838, on Sec. 21, where he resided about six years, then moved to another farm on Sec. 6, and from there to his present home, on Sec. 7, in 1854, still retaining his farm on Sec. 6. He was born in New Hampshire in 1802; is the son of Daniel and Mary Davis Foster; when 2 years old, went with his parents to the State of New York, and settled in the town of Butternuts, Otsego Co .; resided in that county until 1816, then moved to Cayuga County, where they lived ten years; then to Genesee County, town of Perry. He was married, Dec. 25, 1829, to Miss Caroline Brainard, daughter of Ichabod Brainard. Five children were born to them in Perry-William H., Judson B., Charles R., Daniel G., Jr., and Elon G. In the fall of 1837, Mr. Foster went on an exploring tour; had a tempestuous voyage of nine days from Buffalo to Milwaukee; traveled from Milwaukee to Troy, Walworth Co .; from there west to Delavan, had only an Indian trail, and had to wade a slough in Troy of some eighty rods; it being dark before he reached Delavan Prairie, he could not keep the trail, but succeeded in reaching Delavan about 9 o'clock. On arriving in the town of Delavan, where he had friends, he selected a tract of land for a farm, and returned to his home in New York. The following June, 1838, he moved his family to their new home in Wisconsin, arriving in Dela- van June 20 of that year. Two children were born to them in Wisconsin-Ellen A. and James M. Ellen A. was the wife of Olin D. Barker, of Milwaukee, and died Nov. 2. 1871; James was a soldier of the late war; was a member of the 22d W. V. I. : he died April 16, 1870. Of the older children, William H. married Ellen J. Rice, and is living in Chicago: Judson B. married Sarah C. Dyke, and is a farmer of Delavan; Charles R. married Allie L. Lane, his first wife, whom he lost, and his present wife, Kitty Wilcox, resides in Chicago; Daniel G., Jr., married to Melissa J. Case, lives in Chicago; Elon G., married to Lina I. Smith, also of Chicago; Charles R. and Elon G. were both soldiers of the late war, and members of the 10th W. V. I.

E. B. GATES (deceased ) was born in East Haddam, Conn., Ang. 25, 1807. When 10 years of age, he moved to Utica, N. Y., where he was married, Nov. 23, 1828, to Miss Mary Hickcox, daughter of Preserved Hickcox. Mrs Gates was born in Utica. Mr. Gates was a cabinet-maker by trade, and carried on that business at Utica and at Frankfort, N. Y. In June, 1844, lie came to Wis- consin, and purchased a farm in the town of Darien, near the village of Delavan; returned to the East, and, in September, 1845, moved his family to Wisconsin; spent seven years on his farm, and then engaged in the cabinet business at Delavan, which he continued until the time of his death, Nov. 25, 1874. Mr. Gates was a man of superior intelligence and good judgment; he was a zealous member of the M. E. Church, and assisted in building two church structures. His widow is still a resident of Delavan. They had six children-two sons and four daughters.

JEROME E. GATES, deceased, was born in Frankford, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Nov. 3, 1834; was the son of E. B. and Mary E. Gates; he came to Wisconsin with his parents in Sep- tember. 1845; made his home in Delavan; in his early manhood, he was engaged with his fa- ther in the furniture business; he was subsequently employed as traveling agent for upward of ten years; for several years previous to his death, which occurred June 13, 1881, he was em-

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ployed as agent of Wood & Son, reaper manufacturers. as traveling agent; at the time of his death. he held the responsible position of general agent for that firm in Northwestern Illinois: he died suddenly, at Wynett, Ill., after three days' illness: he was a thorough business man, and enjoyed the fullest confidence of his employers and the respect and esteem of all who knew him: he was married. in November, 1856. in Elkhorn. Wis., to Miss Lonisa M. Irish, daughter of Deacon Eastman Irish: Mrs. Gates was born in the State of New York; three children were born to them, two sons and a daughter-R. A., Rita B. and Earl M. : the eldest, R. A., is the present Steward of the Wiseonsin Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Delavan.

R. A. GATES, Steward of the Wisconsin Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, has been an employe of the institution since March 14, 1876. He is the son of Jerome E. and Louisa Gates; was born Aug. 22, 1557; he was educated in the public schools of Delavan. March 14, 1876, he was engaged as night- watch for the deaf and dumb. On the Ist of July following, he was appointed Supervisor of the Boys; Aug, 15, 1878, was employed as Clerk, which position he held till June 7, 1881, when he was appointed Steward, with greatly increased responsibilities; under the new regulation, the financial management devolves upon the Steward. Mr. Gates was married in the institution, July 7, 1880. to Miss Kate De Motte, daughter of W. H. De Motte, Superintendent of the institution. Mrs. Gates was born in Indianapolis. Ind. They have one child, a son, named Jerome E.

NORMAN L GASTON, M. D, deceased, was born in New York: studied medicine in Au- burn. About 1848, he emigrated to Wiseonsin and established himself in practice at Delavan. He was a man well up in his profession. and was a popular physician. He was prominent in local politics: was Postmaster at Delavan for several years; his death resulted from a stroke of paralysis.

DR. IRA GOODRICH, deceased, was born in Weathersfield, Conn, in 1807; was a grad- nate of the class of 1832 of the Geneva Medical College of New York: practiced in Fairfield, N. Y., and subsequently in Susquehanna Co., Penn. In IS58, he moved to Delavan, Wis., and formed a partnership with Dr. O. W. Blanchard, which was continued till 1860, since which time he continued to practice alone till the time of his death. which occurred June 8, 1862. He was married, at Fairfield, N. Y .. in 1838, to Miss Margaret Van Valkenburg, of Kinderhook, N. Y. They had four sons-Jaman H., now a merchant of Delavan; Myron S., a resident of Tombstone, Arizona; Fred B., of the firm of Sage & Goodrich, grocers, of Delavan; Frank D., carriage-maker, also of Delavan.

FRED B. GOODRICH, of the firm of Sage & Goodrich, grocers, and operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company at Delavan, was born at Dundaff, Susquehanna Co., Penn., July 11. 1848: came to Delavan. Wis .. with his parents in 1858, and was educated at the pub lie schools at this place. He learned telegraphing in the office of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, where he was employed two years. He then spent three years as operator in the principal cities of the South. Returning to the North, he was employed ten years in the general office of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Chicago, where he was appointed to the position of Assistant Chief Operator, and was Manager of the Board of Trade Telegraph Office three years previous to the Chicago fire. He was married, at Conquest, Cayuga Co., N. Y. in 1868 to Miss Ella A. Bell: from her afterward separated. One child, a daughter, was born of this marriage Dec. 31, 1869, named Maud H. In 1877, Mr. Goodrich returned to Delavan, Wis., where he was married, May 16, 1877, to Miss Belle Sage, daughter of H. W. Sage. Mrs. Goodrich was born in Palmyra, Wis. The same year, 1877. Mr. Goodrich formed a partnership with his brother-in-law. Charles A. Sage, in the grocery business, under the name of Sage & Goodrich, and has continued in business to this date. He was instrumental in organizing the military company Delavan Guards, of which he wis commissioned Captain. See history of the company elsewhere in this work.

REV. DAVID E. HALTEMAN. Pastor of the Baptist Church, Delavan, Wis., which posi- tion he has held since 1869. He is a native of Germantown, Penn, is the son of John and Julia Halteman; was born Aug. 28, 1834. He was educated in Denison University, Granville, Licking Co., Ohio, and at the Theological Seminary of Rochester, N. Y. He was ordained a minister of the First Baptist Church at Bloomfield. Edgar Co., Ill., January, 1857. His first regu- lar settlement as pastor was at Marengo, Ill. He was in charge of this church twelve years, com-

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mencing June, 1857. In 1869, he moved to Delavan to accept his present position. At this writing, December, 1881, he has served twelve years as pastor of this church. It is only justice to Mr. Halteman to state that the church over which he has been called to preside the past twelve years, though always strong and prosperous, has made good its reputation for progress and substantial development under his care. See history of this church elsewhere in this work. Mr. Halteman was married, at Marengo, Ill., May 29, 1861. to Miss Mary L. Ford, daughter of E. E. Ford. She was born in Parish, Oswego Co., N. Y. They have had five children, three of whom are living. Mary Gertrude is a student of Wayland University, Beaver Dam, Wis. ; Hat- tie H. : Francis W., died at the age of 5 years; Chancy, died in infancy; the youngest. Robert J., is living, aged 6 years. May 24, 1861, Mr. Halteman was appointed Chaplain of the 15th Ill. V. I. and served until May 1, 1862. During this year, he was understood to be absent from his church on furlough. For eight years, he has served as President of the Baptist State Con- vention. He has served as a member of the Board of the Wayland University, at Beaver Dam, many years.

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 107

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