History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 136

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 136

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Only kindly memories remain of the sturdy, rough old pioneer who first made Walworth County his home.

ROBERT WELLS WARREN* was born at Ludlow, Windsor Co., Vt., on the 5th of October, 1798. and was therefore in his seventy-eighth year at the time of his death. He was the oldest son of a family of six, only two of whom survive him. His father was a millwright by trade, and young Robert learned the trade of his father, and followed it for a livelihood until his settlement here. He became a good mechanic, his skill, particularly in the laying out of frames, being acknowledged and envied by some of the most skillful among us.

Some time about the year 1814, he removed to Lewis, Essex Co., N. Y., in which vicinity he remained about fifteen years. On the 19th of March, 1820, he was married, at Wellsboro, in that county, to Mary Knapp, who for nearly fifty-six years shared his fortunes, and who survived him nearly four years.

In 1829, he removed to Casawago. Crawford Co., Penn., where he carried on his trade, and, while living there, was a leading man in the community.

On the 1st day of May, 1836, he, his brother Greenleaf, the Vanvelzers and some other neighbors, with their families, started for the great West, traveling with ox teams and driving their cows and other stock before them, and on the last day of that month arrived at Chicago, making the trip in what was then considered a remarkably short time. From there he went out to the Fox River, some twelve miles from Geneva, Ill., where he was found about the 1st of June by Christopher Payne, who had a short time previously made a claim to the water-power and land at the foot of our lake, and engaged by him to come here and build a saw-mill. On his way here, a few days afterward, with one hand to assist him. he met Payne returning, very much dispirited by his defeat in a contest with other claimants of the same property. Return- ing and remaining with him overnight, Warren, in the morning, purchased Uriah Payne's in- terest in the claim, and, accompanied by the elder Payne, went to Chicago to procure assist- ance. Joined there by Andrew Ferguson, who also held a share, the two came up, and, after taking a general survey of the lake and its vicinity, and satisfying themselves of the value of the property, attempted to compromise with the party in possession. Being unsuccessful in that, they returned to Chicago and raised forces to assist them in asserting their rights, Payne, on his part, getting such assistance as he could in his own vicinity. Some time in the early part of July, 1836, these forces arrived here, their wives and families accompanying them, as a garrison, to take possession and hold the ground. Backed by such an imposing army, a com- promise was soon effected, Mr. Warren acting as negotiator. and it fell to his lot to go to Chicago to procure the funds to pay off the opposing claimants. That done, he immediately applied himself to the work of building a saw-mill, and that, with its race-way, was completed ready for work by the 1st of January, 1837, but, unfortunately, the water being let into the flume upon a large body of snow, froze up solid, and the saw was not set running until the following March. Mr. Warren moved his family into a log house nearly on the site of the dwelling house where he so long resided, and entertained travelers there until the 1st of January, 1838, when he completed and opened as a hotel the main part of the house now known as the St. Denis Hotel. Here he remained until 1843, and, in the spring of 1844, he sold it to A. Hasings. In those days, Mr. Warren showed himself a large-hearted, public-spirited man, welcoming and car- ing for the needy emigrant and the zealous missionary, and aiding in every public enterprise. His hall was freely opened for religious services to all denominations, and the first sermons to our early settlers were preached there. He was a large contributor to the first schoolhouse, and to the support of the schools kept there. Trained up by pious parents, he never lost his respect

* Mr. Warren died December 31, 1875.

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for the religion which they taught him, and, though never professing to be a Christian, he found much comfort in his latter years in reading the Bible.

In 1838, he was employed as a millwright upon the first grist-mill, which was built by C. M. Goodsell and sent running in October. 1838. Within four years from that time, he became the owner of the mill, and ran it until 1848, when he built the present mill.

In 1851, he sold that to N. L. Stout, but, a year or two afterward, regained the title, and, in 1854-55, he again sold it, to the Case brothers. As one of the original proprietors, he had the principal charge of the surveying and platting of the village; and mainly to his liberality and foresight are we indebted for the lands dedicated for cemetery, church and school purposes,

and public squares, and for the generous width of our streets. Had it been possible at that early day to anticipate the present needs of our village, he would no doubt have made ample provision for them. In 1845, Mr. Warren was President of the village. In 1849, he engaged in the mercantile business, but continued in it only a year or two. After a second grist-mill was built, by H. E. Allen, in 1859. he became a half-owner of that, but soon sold out, and has since been engaged in no regular business. Possessed originally of a fearless courage, a deter- mined will and untiring energy, backed up by a good constitution, he was just the man for a pioneer. Through all the years of his active life, these characteristics made his influence felt here. Confident that he knew his own rights, he seldom yielded to an adverse claimant with- ont a contest; and if, in his later years, he became more tenacions than before in matters of smaller moment, it was the natural result of his increasing age and failing health. Had he lived six months longer, he would have been for forty years a constant resident of our village. Our county had very few. if any, settlers when he came here-probably none who now survive.

In his death we lose the first link in the chain of our history, and soou all those who were associated with him as fathers of our village will have passed away. Let us honor him and them for all of the good they have accomplished, and judge them charitably in all wherein they failed, even as we ourselves would be judged.

PHILLIP MAXWELL, an original proprietor of the village of Geneva, was born at Guilford. Windham Co., Vt., on the 1st day of April, 1799. His means of education in early life were quite limited, but, such as they were, he no doubt improved them well, and was stimulated by them to exert himself for higher and more valuable attainments. After teaching school awhile. he commenced the study of medicine when quite young, completed his couse at Cherry Valley. N. Y., and graduated as a physician and surgeon from a medical college in New York City. His professional education was gained wholly by his own exertions, his relatives not being able to assist him. He first settled at Sackett's Harbor. Jefferson Co., N. Y., entering into compe- tition with two old physicians, who naturally did not favor his success; but, after some patient waiting, he succeeded in establishing a good practice, and remained there until some time in the year 1832 or 1833, when he received a commission as Assistant Surgeon in the United States Army. While there, he was married to an estimable lady residing in a neighboring town, who survived him, and made her home in our village until her death, in March, 1875. After spend- ing a short time at West Point, he was ordered to Fort Dearborn, at Chicago.

He arrived at that small frontier post in the year 1833, and remained there about four years. In the winter of 1837. he accompanied the troops to Green Bay, but returned and in the spring was ordered back. In the fall of 1838. he was ordered to Florida, and took part in the Seminole war. Afterward, he was sent to Fort Smith, Ark., being then Field Surgeon, with the rank of Major, and did not return to Chicago until after an absence of some six or eight years.

During his first residence there, he had purchased an interest in the claim at Geneva, as before related, and also invested largely in Government land on Big Foot Prairie, and on his departure for Florida he left the property in charge of his brother James, who, meantime, had joined him. Some time in 1842. a portion of the army being disbanded, the Doctor received his discharge. The following winter he spent at the residence of J. H. Moore, on Big Foot Prairie, and then returned to Chicago and devoted himself to the practice of his profession in the city, which. by that time, had begun to show some indications of that growth and activity which, in later years, has astonished the world. Here his ability, not only as a physician, but as a business man in both private and public employment, became known, and was acknowl- edged and appreciated by the people of the city.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

In the year 1856, he commenced building a large and handsome dwelling here, upon a de- lightful spot, which he had long reserved for that purpose, and, on its completion, brought his family here to reside, intending to retire from active business. His residence among us, how- ever, was of short duration, as he died in November, 1859. Kind and unostentatious in his manners, a genial companion and friend, and an excellent citizen, he made many warm friends wherever he resided, and his death was regarded as a great public loss, especially at that junct- ure, when our citizens were expecting so much from his influence and example in calling the attention of the wealthy citizens of Chicago to the beauty and salubrity of our location, and its desirableness as a place for summer residence.

JAMES MAXWELL, a half brother of Phillip Maxwell, was also born at Guilford, Vt., some- where about the year 1789. Of the early education and pursuits we have no particular infor- mation. At one time he operated a glass factory in the State of Pennsylvania. Leaving that country, he went to Indiana, and spent some time with a brother residing there. Coming to Chicago while his brother Phillip was stationed there, he joined with him in the Geneva pur- chase, and also in the more extensive purchase of lands in the town of Walworth. Upon this latter purchase he settled with his family, and remained there for many years. His title of Colonel was derived from a brief service in command of a regiment of militia, sent from Chi- cago on an expedition against the Indians. He was the first member of the Territorial Council from this and Rock Counties, elected in 1838 and holding for a term of four years. At what time he removed to Baraboo, where his son James had preceded him, it is unable to ascertain, but he made that his home for a number of years, and died there about the year 1869, at the age of eighty-four years. Col. Maxwell was a man of more than ordinary native ability, of quick penetration and ready wit, more fond of social conversation than debate, full of good, practical common sense, yet not very successful in business; a generous friend, and an honora- ble, upright and useful citizen.

CHARLES M. GOODSELL was born in East Haven, Conn., in 1805. When quite young, his father removed to Cooperstown, and, a few years later, to Burlington Flats, N. Y. He was trained to business on his father's farm, and in his store, flouring-mills and distillery. By reason of fire and floods, his father failed in business, and his son Charles took the property, and, by good management, paid all the debts. In 1834, he sold his property and removed to Cincinnatus, N. Y., where he engaged in farming and kept a small store. He there entered upon an active Christian life, and from the first was foremost in ardent efforts to promote the cause of temperance and every other good work.

Having acquired a handsome property by industry and good management, he left Cincin- natus with his family, in a covered wagon, in the fall of 1836, for the great Northwest. He stopped in Chicago, and there remained until the spring of 1838, when he was induced, by the proprietors of the new village of Geneva Lake, in Wisconsin, to remove there and erect a flour- ing-mill. This he did during the following summer. He commenced grinding the first wheat raised in Walworth County in September, and people brought their grists from twenty to forty miles, in all directions.

He soon after erected a neat dwelling in the village, and opened a small farm a short dis- tance away. The land not proving as productive as he expected, he was at the expense of send- ing a specimen of the soil all the way to Albany, N. Y., for chemical analysis. The chemist found it to be composed of ninety-seven parts of sand, finer than superfine flour. It was so fine that the tender fibers of plant roots could not penetrate it, and hence was unproductive. He thus learned how to treat the land to render it productive, greatly to the advantage not only of himself, but of his neighbors also. They had previously supposed the soil to be clay.

Mr. Goodsell found the little settlement at Geneva Lake withont religions worship. They had no Sabbath, but he carried one to them. One Sunday, the boys of Christopher Payne called upon him with fish to sell. He told them that he never traded on Sunday, but to come on any other day and he would buy of them. The boys seemed to be surprised. They had always lived on the far frontiers, in advance of Christian civilization and Sabbath observance. They ever after called him " the Sunday man," and never troubled him with calls of business on that day.

His house was at once opened for religious worship and the entertainment of ministers of

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the Gospel. One of the first to visit him and to preach in his house was a young man, whose circuit extended 600 miles, and who made his rounds on foot onee in six weeks. In the spring of 1839, a church was organized in Geneva, of which he and his wife became members, and he was elected an officer. About the same time, a union Sunday school was commenced, of which he was chosen Superintendent. His religious efforts were not limited to the village he had chosen for his home. He went abroad whenever his help was needed, attending meetings to promote temperance, Sunday schools and religious institutions generally.

The following account of Mr. Goodsell was written many years ago. by the late Hon. C. M. Baker: " The anti-Slavery party was organized in Geneva at an early day, and, though its members were few, they were outspoken and decided. C. M. Goodsell and Dr. J. McNish were the leaders, and where they led there was no lack of energy or efficiency. A temperance society, with a teetotal pledge, was also formed there, of which he was the leader. He never allowed his property to be used to promote in any way the manufacture or sale of in- toxicating drinks."

"About the year 1842, Newton and John S. Capron came to Geneva and built a whisky dis- tillery. Mr. Goodsell was then running his grist-mill a few rods distant from it. By law, each man who brought grain to mill to be ground was to be served in turn. The Caprons brought eorn to be ground for the use of their distillery. Mr. Goodsell refused to grind it. This at once raised a great excitement. There was at that time no cash market for eorn in the Territory. The non-temperance farmers were looking to the distillery for the sale of it. They were enraged at their disappointment. Great opposition was aroused against Mr. Goodsell, and various means used to induce him to change his purpose; but without effect. The temperance people stood by him."

"Finally, N. & J. S. Capron brought suit after suit against him, upon which I, acting as his attorney, obtained non-suits. They finally obtained a judgment against him before a Justice of the Peace, which he appealed to the District Court. It was finally dismissed and the fine never paid. Mr. Goodsell rode to Madison, the Territorial Legislature being in session, and got the law altered so as to exempt millers from grinding for distillers. If I am not mistaken on the subject, the statute so stands to this day, and C. M. Goodsell was the father of it."

A year or so previous to his death, Mr. Goodsell gave Mr. Simmons a full account of that conflict in which some faets are noticed not mentioned by Judge Baker. He says: "I gave early notice to the Messrs. Capron that they must not expect me to grind for their use. They prepared a mill of their own, to be propelled by steam, but failed to obtain an engine of suffi- cient power for the purpose. Having exhausted their funds-some $10,000 in all-they were obliged to resort to other means of supplying their distillery. After vainly attempting to ne- gotiate with me to grind for them, they sought to compel me under the provisions of the statute requiring millers to grind for customers in due turn as brought."

" This conflict continued for more than a year. I suffered much opposition. Many farm- ers wished the distillery to succeed so as to open a market for their surplus grain, for which there was very little sale at that early day. They blamed me for refusing to grind, but I had resolved in early manhood neither to use my capital myself, nor to permit it to be used by others, in the manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks-a purpose conscientiously formed, and from which I could not swerve to secure favor and patronage, or to avoid frowns and per- secution."

The Caprons failed in business in a few years, the distillery was torn down, and for many years there has been nothing to mark the spot on which it stood.

In 1850, Mr. Goodsell removed to Greenwood, Ill., and was engaged some ten years in mercantile business there. About 1860, he took up his residence in Northfield. Minn. Having, while residing at Geneva, been prominently engaged in founding Beloit College-the projectors meeting several times at his house for consultation before it was located-upon finding himself in another new State, his mind naturally turned to founding a literary institution of a high grade in that infant commonwealth. He finally effected the establishment of Carlton College, under the auspices of the Congregational denomination, which is now a permanent, well-en- dowed institution. of which Rev. Dr. J. W. Strong is President.

Toward the founding and endowment of the college he gave $5,000 and a part of the land

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

upon which the buildings are located. His intense labors and anxieties in carrying it through the struggles of its early life brought on disease which terminated in his death. May 3, 1869, aged sixty-four years. His works follow him. The college will live through coming ages, a monument of his liberality and zeal, to diffuse the blessings of Christian learning widely over the land and world. He was twice married, first to Abbie F. Jennings, who died in Geneva in 1842, and then to her sister Elizabeth, who survives him. He left seven adult children, all living in Northfield at the time of his death.

LEWIS B. GOODSELL, a cousin of Charles M. Goodsell, was a native of Fairfield, Conn., his birth dating somewhere in the year 1800. While he was quite young, his father, who was a carpenter by trade, removed to Cooperstown, N. Y., then on the frontiers of civilization. Here he grew up, and in due time entered a store as a clerk, and, applying himself to the business for which he was adapted by nature, became a thoroughly posted and skillful merchant. For some six or eight years, he carried on a very successful mercantile business at Cooperstown, having, for a portion of the time, George L. Campbell, another of the original proprietors of our village, as a partner. Catching the Western fever, in 1836, he removed to Chicago and opened a store there. His partner soon followed, and they remained together until the death of the latter. During this time, as before related, they became interested in the property here. In the spring or summer of 1845, Mr. Goodsell, having previously met with some reverses, came here to reside, and opened a store in an old battlemented oak building, which stood near the present residence of William H. Seymour, on the west side of Center street. He soon afterward built and moved into a one-story wooden building, on the north side of Main street, now occupied as a bakery. Here he carried on a successful and constantly increasing business until his death, which oc- curred in 1852. A severe exposure in 1848 affected his lungs and brought on consumption, but, by the force of an indomitable will and by prudent care of his health, he was enabled to keep about, and give to his business that attention which it demanded. When at Chicago, on his return from making his purchases at New York, in the spring of 1852, he overexerted his strength in his haste to reach the steamboat for Southport, and sank and died upon the wharf. In his death, Geneva lost a most valuable citizen, and a business man in whose integrity and abil- ity she had learned to place the highest confidence.

GEORGE L. CAMPBELL, before mentioned as one of the original proprietors of our village, was a son of Robert Campbell, Esq., a lawyer and banker of Cooperstown, N. Y. Soon after his graduation from college, his father, not wishing him to study a profession, established him in trade with L. B. Goodsell at Cooperstown. After their removal to Chicago, Mr. Campbell be- came quite interested in land speculations, but with none of his investments was he so much pleased as with this at Geneva. He would gladly have purchased his partner's share to it, but the latter declined to sell. A few years after this, Mr. Campbell died at Chicago, of consump- tion. Being unmarried, his father, Robert Campbell, inherited his property here, and that fact accounts for the appearance of his name as grantor in subsequent conveyances of that property.

GREENLEAF S. WARREN was born in Ludlow. Vt., in the year 1802. When about twelve years of age, he removed with his brother Robert to Essex County, N. Y., where they remained some nine or ten years, and then removed to Pennsylvania. Some six years afterward, Green- leaf, being of an adventurous turn of mind, started for the West, and, arriving at Dubuque, engaged in lead mining for some years, when, having fortunately struck a good lode, he sold it for some $2,000 and returned to Pennsylvania. Here he was soon after married to a sister of A. D. Colton, whose name has already appeared in these sketches. On the 1st day of May, 1836, the two brothers, with their families, and the Van Velzers and some other neighbors, started for the great West, journeying with ox teams and driving their cows and other stock before them, and arrived at Chicago on the last day of the same month, making the trip in the short time of thirty days. After remaining there awhile, he accompanied his brother to this place, and ever afterward made it his home. In 1837, he built a portion of the present Lake House, or at least a dwelling on its site, and afterward erected the main building, which has since been much enlarged and improved, and is now known by that title. Here he for several years kept a hotel, competing with his brother on the other corner for the custom of teamsters and travelers, which in those days was much better in proportion to the population of the country than it is

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now. This hotel afterward passed into the hands of Thomas D. Warren, who was succeeded by A. D. Colton, long known as the model hotel-keeper of our village.

After retiring from the hotel, Mr. Warren lived in a small house nearly opposite, on the west side of Broad street. In 1849, he commenced building the store now owned and occupied by T. C. Smith, and had it well under way in the spring of 1850, when he started overland for California. Remaining there about two years, he returned by way of New York, was taken sick on his road from there to Philadelphia, and, after a short illness, died there among stran- gers.

In connection with the foregoing, it is deemed proper to here insert the obituary of Mr. Charles A. Noyes, who, though not a copartner of those mentioned above, was a former pro- prietor and became a permanent resident of the village, who, surviving all the rest, died in his early home at a recent date.

CHARLES A. NOYES, Sr., died at Geneva on the 25th of November, 1881, at the age of sixty- nine years. In his death is broken another link which bound Geneva's present to its past his- tory. He was one of the last survivors of the white men who first trod its streets, then unsur- veyed and unnamed, and selected the site where our now bright and flourishing village is lo- cated, foreseeing something of its future in the beautiful lake. the fine water-power and the central position it occupied with relation to the rich country surrounding it. His life has been characterized by many changes and vicissitudes, comparatively few of which can be noticed in this brief sketch. He was born in Otsego County, N. Y .. in the year 1812. His early life dis- played the same spirit of self-sacrifice which characterized his maturer years. Very fond of study. and desirous of a thorough education. he yet declined it when within his reach, that he might care for his widowed mother. He did not, however, let slip unimproved the few advan- tages he had without improvement, but stored his mind with all the information which the duties of a constantly active life permitted, through reading and observation. At the age of eighteen, he took a position as shipping clerk with the then well-known firm of Pratt, Taylor & Co., of Buffalo, where he remained three years. At the end of that time, forsaking a good position and a liberal salary, he sought a home in the far West, and arrived at Chicago May 10, 1836. Thence he proceeded, partly by sloop and partly on foot, to Milwaukee, where he first heard from Solomon Juneau, of Big Foot Lake. Returning to Chicago, he found a cousin, Orrin Coe, and together they started to find a home in the vast wilds of Wisconsin, a water- power and location for the industries and the population which would naturally cluster around it. They turned their steps toward our lake, then known as Big Foot's Lake, and, after various wanderings and adventures common to travelers in unknown regions, they reached here about the 21st of May, 1836, in time to assist in raising a log house for John Powers, just south of our village. There were then three log houses within our present bounds. The possession and right to the water-power created by Geneva Lake was then in dispute between Christopher Payne and the party of the Government surveyors headed by Hodgson & Brink. Noves and Coe bought from the latter party an undivided one-fourth interest in their claim. Through their influence, it was decided to carry the water to the site of the mills by a race located as at pres- ent, rather than build a dam across the low ground near the mill. During most of the active warfare between the claimants of the water-power. Mr. Noyes was absent at Milwaukee, pur- chasing supplies for the party here and procuring mechanics for the construction of a mill. Being eminently a man of peace, Mr. Noyes disapproved of the violent measures adopted by some of his party to drive away Payne, yet participated in some of their struggles to prevent Payne from acquiring a firmer foothold here. His interest was afterward sold out with that of his company to the invading force of Warren and others. He, however, remained for awhile, and, becoming acquainted with Miss Nancy Warren, sister of R. W. Warren, was married to her in the course of that year, but was obliged to go to Milwaukee to find an official or minister au- thorized to tie the nuptial knot. Not finding sufficient scope for his ambition here, Mr. Noyes, with some associates, went, in the fall of 1837. to McHenry County. Ill., and made a claim of the water-power at Richmond, naming it Montelona. Selling out the Richmond claim to Mr. Purdy, he next settled at Tryon's Corners, in Hebron, and, while there, procured a mail route to be established from Chicago to Madison by way of the Corners and Big Foot, and was ap- pointed Postmaster. This was in 1839, before there was any route or office at Geneva. In

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 136

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