History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 132

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 132

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

WILSON STOCKDALE, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. La Grange ; has 210 acres of land ; was born in Yorkshire, England, July 25, 1825 ; is the son of Richard and Ann Stockdale ; was married in En- gland in 1847, to Ellen G. Waddingham. Mrs. Stockdale was born in England. In 1849, Mr. Stockdale emigrated to America, and located in La Grange, Wis. By industry and economy he has secured a good farm of 210 acres, on which he has lived the past twenty years. Mr. and Mrs Stockdale have five children- the eldest, Mary A. (is the wife of J. G. Taylor, of Rock Co., Wis.), Myra (is the wife of William R. Taylor, of Richmond, the present County Superintendent of Schools), H. Ellen, Fanny E. and Wallace W., are at home. Mr. Stockdale is Republican in politics.

JOSHUA TAYLOR, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. La Grange ; has 240 acres of land; he was born in Yorkshire, England, July 20, 1816 ; is the son of Joshua and Sarah Taylor ; was brought up a farmer, and emigrated to America in 1839, made his home in Oneida Co., N. Y. He was married, Oct. 10, 1841, to Miss Betty Garlick, daughter of Joseph Garlick. Mrs. Taylor was born in England; one child was born to them in New York-Sarah E., who was the wife of Squire Lawton ; her death occurred in 1866. Mr. Taylor moved to Wisconsin in June, 1843, and made his home on Sec. 15, La Grange, Wal- worth Co., where he continued to reside until 1866, when he moved to his present farm on Sec. 28. Nine children were born to them in this town-the eldest, William R. ( is the present Superintendent of Schools of Walworth Co., and lives in Richmond ; see sketch elsewhere), the second, Joseph G. (married Mary Ann Stockdale, and lives in Johnstown, Wis.), Martha (is the wife of Edgar C. Hazard, of Iowa), Mary C. (is a teacher of Milwaukee), George B. (died at the age of 22 years), Thomas (lives in Iowa), Betty A. (is the wife of Eugene Hadley, of Minnesota), Joshua C. (lives at home), Ada (died in childhood). Mr. T. has held various local offices ; has served several years on the Town Board of Supervisors, and one term as Assessor ; has been a Republican since the organization of that party.

JOHN TAYLOR, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. La Grange ; has 289 acres of land; was born in York- shire, England, June 7, 1835 ; is the son of George and Ann (Greeves) Taylor ; came to America in July, 1854, and direct to La Grange, Wis. He was married in this town in May, 1862, to Miss Eunice, daugh- ter of Martin Brooks. Mrs. Taylor was born in the State of New York. They have ten living children- Henry A., Emily A., Charles G., Edgar W., Mary C., Martha E., Katie M., Eunice A. and Sarah O., one not named. Mr. Taylor has made his home on his present farm since 1872.

JOHN W. WELD, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. La Grange ; has 160 acres of land. The subject of this sketch was born in Reading, Windsor Co., Vt., Dec. 24, 1832; is the son of John and Weltha Weld. In 1839, he moved with his parents to Orleans Co., N. Y .; came to Wisconsin in 1841, and made his home in La Grange till 1858 ; he then returned to Orleans Co., N. Y., and spent two years on a farm. He enlisted in the late war Oct. 2, 1861, in Battery M, Ist New York Heavy Artillery, as a private ; was pro- moted to a 2d Lieutenancy Jan. 14. 1863, and assigned to Battery K, same regiment, September 27, same year ; he was promoted to Ist Lieutenant of the same battery, and served till the close of the war. While in the service, he participated in the following battles and skirmishes: Cedar Creek, Va., March 26, 1862 ; Edinburg, April 1, 1862; Newtown, Va., May 24, 1862; Winchester, May, 25, 1862; Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 1862 ; Beverly Ford, Va., Aug. 23, 1862 ; Sulphur Springs, Va., Aug. 25, 1862; Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; battle of Kelly's Ford, March 19, 1863; Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; bat- tle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863; was discharged at Elmira, N. Y., June 20, 1865, and bre- vetted Captain March 5, 1867, for meritorious conduct. On his return from the war, Capt. Weld engaged in the insurance business in New York, which he carried on two years, and then returned to La Grange,

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Wis., purchased his present farm, and has resided here since, with the exception of two years spent in Whitewater. He was married in Orleans Co., N. Y., in October, 1856, to Miss Naucy Weld, daughter of Elisha Weld. They had two children-Hattie J. and Irving W. Mrs. Weld died April 27, 1859. Mr. Weld was married again Dec. 3, 1867, in Ridgeway, N. Y., to Miss Catharine A., daughter of Philo and Amittai H. Williams. Mrs. Weld was born in Raynham, Bristol Co., Mass. They have three children - Ella R., Katie A. and Alice B. Mr. Weld is Republican in politics.

JOHN WELD, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. O. Little Prairie; has 200 acres of land ; settled in this town in the fall of 1841. The subject of this sketch was born in Reading, Windsor Co., Vt., Jan. 27, 1795 ; is the son of Thomas and Lurana ( Leavens) Weld. He learned the cooper's trade, but was principally engaged in farming. He was married in Reading, March 18, 1830, to Miss Weltha Bigelow, daughter of Elisha Bigelow. Mrs. Weld was born in Reading. They have three children-John W., Rhoda M. and Andrew E. ; the eldest, (John W.), is a farmer of La Grange, see sketch ; the others live at the old homestead. Mr. Weld came to Wisconsin in May, 1838, and made a claim on Section I, Town 4 north, Range 16 east, now La Grange, and returned to the East in the fall of that year. In 1839, he started for the West, but on reaching Orleans Co., N. Y., he concluded to remain there awhile, which he did, until early in October, 1841, when he pursued his journey to La Grange, Wis. ; he established himself on Sec. 1 of that town, and has made that his home to this date. Mr. Weld was one of the early pioneers of La Grange, and is one of the few of that class that survive to witness the perfected eivilization of the wilder- ness in which they made their homes so many years ago; he is now in his 88th year. During his resi- dence here be has served two terms as a member of the Board of Supervisors, and has held minor offices. DANIEL WILLIAMS, merchant, farmer and proprietor of Lake Mills flouring-mill, Sec. 36; P. O. Lauderdale. The subject of this sketch was born in New York City Sept. 28, 1813 ; is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Williams. When about 4 years of age, he moved with his parents to Catskill, Greene Co., N. Y., where he remained till 21 years of age; he then moved to Cayuga Co., where he learned the trade of a millwright, serving between four and five years. He then went to Saginaw, Mich. (then only a little hamlet), and erected the first steam saw-mill in that place. One year later, he returned to Greene Co., N. Y., and in March, 1839, he was married to Miss Julia Judson. Mrs. Williams was born in Windham, Greene Co. In 1851, they moved to Walworth Co., Wis., where Mr. Williams had bought a tract of 440 acres of land, lying in Sugar Creek. He made his home there for three years, and then moved to Richland Co., Wis., and located at Sextonville ; was engaged in real estate business at that place about seven years, and then returned to Sugar Creek, to his old farm ; was engaged in farm - ing. In 1867, he purchased the mill property and farm he now occupies in La Grange. He soon after- ward erected a new mill on the site of the old one. The mill is a substantal frame structure, contains three runs of stone, and well adapted for custom work. It is situated on Sec. 36, on Honey Creek, an outlet of Landerdale Lakes. The power is abundant and uniform. Mr. Williams operated his mill till 1880, when he leased it to Mr. Yule, and one year later to Mr. MeCarthy. In 1869, Mr. Williams moved to his present home near his inill; in 1871, he opened a general country store at this place, where he is still in business, having a good country trade. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have four children, three sons and one daughter-the eldest, Elbert J. (married Myra Weaver, and lives in Cawker City, Kan. ; he is a railroad station agent), Laura (is the wife of E. Weaver, a farmer of Sugar Creek), Judson (married Amanda Lauderdale, and carries on his father's farm in Sugar Creek, 160 acres), Chester B. (married Mary Lauderdale, and is a farmer of Heart Prairie).

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

TOWN OF BLOOMFIELD.

ORGANIZATION AND TOPOGRAPHY.

On January 23, 1844, Township 1, Range 18 east, being the southeast quarter of the town of Geneva, was, by act of Legislature, set off and incorporated under the name of Bloomfield. Bloomfield is the extreme southeastern town in Walworth County, and is bounded north by the town of Lyons ; south by the town of Richmond, Illinois ; east by the town of Wheatland, Ken- osha County ; and west by the town of Linn. It contains thirty-six square miles of varied and diversified country, well watered, and admirably adapted to agricultural pursuits, Bloom Prairie, in the southwestern portion of the town, being considered the richest land in the county.

The surface of the country is rolling prairie, interspersed with openings of oak, and broken by ranges of hills and sharp hillocks, with swamps covered with a growth of tamarack or larch on the lower lands.

The prairie lands are situated as follows : Bloom Prairie in the west, a part of Nippersink Prairie in the south, and a part of Mound Prairie in the east part of the town, comprising Sec- tions 19, 20, the larger part of Section 31, and parts of Sections 16, 17, 18, 20, 28, 34, 35, 25.

The principal range of hills runs east and west across the north part of the east half of Sec- tion 31, the north part of Sections 32, 33, 34, and on to Section 35. Sections 7, 8, are also somewhat hilly.

The marshes are distributed pretty evenly throughout the town, there being but two Sec- tions (6, 25,) entirely exempt. The largest tamarack swamp is on Sections 8, 9, equaling in extent a section and a half; the second in size is on Sections 3, 10, 15, equaling about a section.

There are about 3,100 acres of growing timber, principally red, white and burr oak, with occasional poplar and hickory. There were originally several varieties of timber on Section 16, but nearly all the rest were burr oak openings.

The prairie soil is a black loam, and the soil of the openings, clay, mixed with sand.

The town is watered by the three branches of the Nippersink, several small brooks, a por- tion of Nippersink Lake, a part of Middle Lake, Lower Lake, Pell's Lake, and a small part of Ryan's Lake.

The main stream of the Nippersink, known as the middle, or northwest branch, rises in nearly the center of the town of Linn, enters the town of Bloomfield on Section 18, flows in a southeast direction and enters the State of Illinois from Section 35.

The west branch rises in Illinois, enters the town of Bloomfield on Section 31, flows in a northeast direction and empties into the main stream on Section 27.

The northeast branch has its source in the three lakes (Nippersink or Power's, the Middle and Lower Lakes,) flows in a southwest direction, and forms a junction with the main stream on Section 26. The Nippersink has several small tributary branches, and there are also a number of small streams running northward into the town of Lyons.

A part of the Nippersink (or Power's Lake) is on Section 13, in the Town of Bloomfield. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in the county. A part of Middle Lake and the whole of Lower Lake are on Section 24, Pell's Lake is on Section 15, and the southern portion of Ryan's Lake is on Section 3.

FIRST SETTLERS.

The first persons that settled within the present geographical limits of the town of Bloom- field, were Mr. Harry Kimball and his son Oramel. Mr. Kimball was a native of the State of Connecticut. He removed to Cooperstown, N. Y., and from that place came to Bloomfield in the fall of 1836, and made a claim on the southwest quarter of Section 6. In the spring of 1837, he was joined by his son, when they built a log house on the claim, and became actual

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

settlers. Mr. Kimball did not remove his wife and family from Cooperstown until two or three years later. He died in the winter of 1851, and his wife a year or two after. Oramel Kimball, his son, is now living in the town of Delavan.

The first family that made a home in Bloomfield was that of Mr. Harry Tupper, consisting of himself and young wife, Mrs. Tupper being the first white woman that settled in the town, and the mother of the first child born there. Mr. and Mrs. Tupper came in the fall of 1837, and lived during the first winter in the log house of Harry Kimball, built the preceding spring, but as yet the only house in town. During the winter, Mr. Tupper made a claim on the north- west quarter of Section 19, built a house on his claim, and moved his family into it in the spring. In this house, on the 24th day of June, 1838, Silas Wright Tupper was born, the first white child born in the Town of Bloomfield. In 1839, Mr. Tupper removed from Section 19 to Section 20. In 1849, he went to California and never returned. His son, Silas Wright Tupper, enlisted into Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and died in the service of his country in 1865. Mrs. Tupper died at her home in Bloomfield, May 1, 1881.

Marcus Moody came in 1837, from St. Lawrence County, N. Y. He settled on Section 29. He married Lucy Barker, a grandchild of Ebeneezer Tupper, who came in 1838; sold out his claim to Hiram Barker ; moved away many years ago. Both he and his wife are dead. Mrs. Moody died in Wisconsin ; he died in Kansas.

W. J. Miller came with his foster father in 1837, and settled upon the " Alexander Place." He afteward went to Kenosha, where he learned the carriage trade ; married Miss Mary Hubbard, of that village, returned to Genoa and started a shop, which has grown into his present estab- lishment. His three sons and daughter live in the town of Bloomfield.

Doric C. Porter came to Wisconsin in 1837, from Franklin County, Mass. He made a trip to Ohio and married Miss Jane Hanchitt, and on his return settled on Section 4, in Bloomfield, where Amos W. Stafford now lives. He subsequently removed to the town of Walworth, where he and his wife still live.

Thomas P. Rutenber came from Cooperstown, N. Y., to Bloomfield, in 1836 or 1837. A year or two later, he built a log house on Section 6, and removed his family from New York. He afterward removed to Geneva, where he and his wife both died.

William K. May removed from Ohio to Geneva, Wis. (present town of Linn), in 1837 ; thence to Bloomfield, in 1838, where he made his claim, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 18. His son, Darwin R., was born while the family were living in the log house on the Manning farm, in Linn, October, 1837. Mr. May was Chairman of the first Board of Supervisors elected in and for the town of Bloomfield (1844), and was afterward elected Sheriff of Walworth County. At the expiration of his term of office, the family removed to Racine, where he and his wife still live.

Daniel Rowe came in 1838, from Onondaga County, N. Y., and settled on Section 35. He brought his family, consisting of his wife and one child. John H. and Asa were born there, and are still residents of the town. Mrs. Rowe died June, 1875, and Mr. Rowe early in 1878. The other children born in Bloomfield were George, William, Mary and another daughter, now Mrs. Edwin Hart, of Chicago.

Levi and John Moody came in 1838. John entered the service and died in Memphis. Levi still resides in the town. Neither of the brothers ever married.

William D. Chapin, son of John and Clarrisa Chapin, was born in Heath, Franklin Co., Mass., April 28, 1814. He came to Geneva, Wis., in the spring of 1837, and made a claim in the present town of Bloomfield, in the summer of the same year. In the spring of 1838, he built a shanty on the northeast quarter of Section 6, and broke about one-sixteenth of an acre with his spade. In 1839, he built a log house, and fenced twenty-four acres of land, and broke seven acres. He was married to Miss Loret Hyde September 29, 1847. Mr. Chapin moved onto the farm where he now lives in 1840.

John Chapin moved to the town of Bloomfield with his family in the fall of 1838, and settled on the southeast quarter of Section 6. Mr. Chapin was born in the town of Heath,

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Franklin Co., Mass., married to Miss Clarrisa Patterson in 1813. moved to New York in 1828, and thence to Bloomfield. Mr. and Mrs. John Chapin both died at the residence of their son, William D. Chapin-Mr. Chapin on the 29th of December, 1865, aged seventy-five years and nine months-Mrs. Chapin on the 23d day of April, 1873, in the seventy-ninth year of her age.

The Chapin family consisted of eleven children, nine of whom came to Bloomfield, and the youngest, Mariette, was born in the town February, 1841. She is now Mrs. Ezra Gifford, and lives in Boone County, Iowa. William D. was the oldest. The other children were Jonathan P., John, Jr., Jacob, Clarissa J., Belinda, Diantha, Emily, Lyman, Monroe and Mariette, who was born in the town. Of the family none now live in Bloomfield except William D.

Jonathan Ward, a native of Franklin Co., Mass., came to Wisconsin in 1836, and worked for a time at Geneva, with Warren and his associates in the construction of the mill race. In the fall of 1837, he returned to Massachusetts and married Miss Electa King; returned soon after and settled near the head of Geneva Lake, in the town of Walworth, remaining there until 1840, when he removed to Bloomfield, and settled on Section 5, where he lived until his death in April, 1872.

Timothy H. Fellows, born in Luzerne County, Penn., in 1812, moved to Michigan in the fall of 1829, where he married Miss Eliza Ann Duncan in December, 1831. In 1839, he moved to Bloomfield and settled on Section 35, where he and Mrs. Fellows still reside. Mrs. Fellows was born in Sullivan County, N. H., in 1814. When Mr. and Mrs. Fellows first moved into the town, there were two sons, G. D. and T. A. Seven children have since been born to them -Emma J., Anna E., Francis R., Mary H., William T., Louisa I. and Katy L. Emma, Francis, Louisa and William have died, and of the others only one lives in the county-Katy L., now Mrs. Reynolds, of Bloomfield. Anna E., now Mrs. Duncan, lives in California. Gil- more D. lives in Kansas, and Theo. A. in Colorado. Mary H., now Mrs. Avery, is living in Illinois.

Benjamin F. Trow and wife came from Massachusetts to Bloomfield and settled on Section 24, in the spring of 1838. They lived for a time in the adjoining town of Richmond, Ill., and about 1870 moved into the village of Genoa Junction, where Mrs. Trow now lives. Mr. Trow has been dead several years.

Sebastian Sherman emigrated from Germany and settled on Section 4, in the town of Bloomfield in 1838. Both he and his wife lived on the farm until the time of their death.

Thomas Buckland settled on Section 33, in 1838. He moved to Howard County, Iowa, about 1860. Both he and his wife are now dead.

Andrew and John Kull, brothers, from Germany, came about 1838. Andrew is still living in the town. John died in July, 1881. Many of his children still live in the town.

Ebenezer Tupper settled on Section 17, in 1838. Is now dead.

Everton Walker came in 1839, and settled on Section 4. Now living in Harvard, Ill.

Cyrus Rugg, of Franklin County, Mass., settled on Section 5, in the fall of 1841. He was

married in Massachusetts to Miss Lucinda Graham. The family moved to Delavan, Walworth County, about 1868, and thence to Iowa, where they now reside.

Isaac White came in 1839, with a family of sons and daughters, being at that time a wid- ower. He settled on Section 20. He remained about ten years, moved then to the western part of the State. He is deceased. One daughter, Mrs. William H. Reed, still resides in the town.

Jeremiah Jerrod also came in 1839 or 1840. Both he and Mr. White came from Sanga- mon County, Ill. They were natives of Connecticut. Mr. Jerrod settled on Section 28, where he lived till about 1868. He now lives in Iowa. None of the family remain in the town.

In 1837 a Swedish family of five sons, named Freeman, were brought by their father from the old country. The oldest, John, was not over fifteen years of age; the youngest, Otto, not half as old. Between the two were William, Adolph and Herman. The father, quite a politi- cian and man of public affairs in Sweden, held a Government office, and had brought up his sons

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

so that theirs was no hard road of toil. Becoming convinced, however, that the New World (where they would escape military service and where labor would avail them) was the place for his boys he brought them away with him to find a home in the far West. Himself and oldest son first came to Burlington where they built the first log hut on Brown's Island, Racine County. Here they lived for a number of weeks. Mr. Freeman, however, finally decided to locate his family in the town of Wheaton, Kenosha County. Here he built a log house. After remain- ing a year and seeing the boys comparatively settled, he returned to Sweden to resume his official duties. He took back Herman, and after educating him returned him to his brothers with a chest of clothes and other substantial remembrances. The family had in the meantime plodded along and fought their way sturdily, as if they had been inured to hardships from baby- hood. Their father died over thirty years ago, but their mother lived to be ninety years of age, her death occurring in 1879. She lived to see her sons, planted thus in the wilderness, upright, stanch and flourishing members of society. At an early day they became residents of Bloom- field, and there resided for many years. Adolph, an excellent business man, died in 1871. John, with his family, moved to Kansas, where he died during the same year. William sold out his lumber business and has quite recently removed with his family to Los Angelos, Cal. Otto, a man of means, is largely engaged in mining, cattle raising and other business in Cali- fornia, Nebraska and Missouri. He still is a resident of Bloomfield. Herman lives in Kentucky.

Charles Dorothy came to Ottawa, Ill., in 1835, and to Bloomfield in 1839 or 1840. He took land on Sections 26 and 27. He married a daughter of Ebenezer Tupper for his first wife. His children have all left. He still lives on the old place.

Abial Fuller and wife and his son Joseph and wife, came in 1841. They took land on Section 34. Abial and his wife have long since died. Joseph still owns the old homestead, but lives with his wife and son William D., on Section 35.

Ira A. Pell came in 1842, and settled on Section 15, near the lake which now bears his He died in 1870. His widow and two sons still live on the claim.

name. Samuel Hatch came in 1839 or 1840, from Allegany County, N. Y. Settled on Section

12. He is now living in Geneva.

J. U. Searls came to Geneva in 1837. There he married Jane Dalton in the winter of 1838. They moved into Bloomfield in 1841 or 1842, and settled on Section 21. Went into the western part of the State where he died some years since.

Mortimer Duel came in 1841. He settled on Section 21, did not remain long. Both he and his wife died some years ago, in Johnstown, Rock County.

Charles High came in 1841, settled first on Section 30. He has remained a resident of the town ever since, and is the largest land holder at present in the town. He married Miss Rolf of Milwaukee. They had three daughters, one of whom, Mrs. Whiting, still lives in town.

Amos Stafford, still living on Section 4, was an early settler.

James Grier came in about 1842. He settled on Section 30. He and his family, consist- ing of three sons and two daughters, are still living on Bloom Prairie, with the exception of the oldest daughter Lucy, who lives in Connecticut. They are all sturdy farmers and good citizens.

John Burns and wife, direct from Ireland, came to the town in the spring of 1842, and settled on Section 36. They took up land, huilt a cabin, raised a family of children, and moved to Minnesota about 1870. Charles, one of their sons, served faithfully during the war, and is now also living in that State.

E. H. Olden came to the county as early as 1842. In 1843, he came to Bloomfield and located on Section 15. Went East and married Julia Greggs and returned. They have lived in the town ever since. Have raised a large family, four boys and two girls, and have pros- pered. Two of the sons and one daughter are in Kansas. Two younger sons, Arthur and Horace remain at home. One daughter lives in Geneva.

About this time S. Besteder came from New York with his family, and settled on Section 25. Edward Bundy was also an early settler of the town.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

E. B. Carter came from Boston, Mass., in 1843. Married Miss Charlotte Vincent of Bloomfield, and settled on Section 14. He and his wife moved subsequently on to Section 25. They now live in the village. Two sons are deceased.

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 132

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