History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 152

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 152

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).

P. H. MERRICK, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Spring Prairie ; is a son of Col. Perez and Jerusha Hutchison Merrick, natives of Delaware Co. N.Y. In 1836, Col. Merrick came to Wisconsin, and claimed 320 acres, which consisted of the north half of Sec. 28. He then returned to New York, and the following year brought his family to the wilds of Wisconsin, and settled on the claim he had made the year previous. The subject of this sketch was born in Delaware Co., N. Y. Re- sided with his parents until nineteen years of age, he then went to Galena, Ill., where he remained three years, when he returned to Walworth County, and lived with his parents until the Fall of 1851. at which time he was married to Miss M. A. Briggs. He then removed to Jefferson County, and followed milling until 1859, then for nine years following, he was farming at Mount Pleasant, Racine County. Then in partnership with W. W. Vaughn, purchased the Lyons mill, in the town of Lyons, Walworth County, and ran the same three years, then sold his interest to his partner, purchased his present farm of 150 acres, valued at $6,000. He has one child, Orlando B.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Democrat in politics. Col Perez Merrick, died Aug. 25, 1855, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. P. Merrick died in August, 1870, aged seventy-four years and nine months.

O. D. MERRICK, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Elkhorn; is the fourth oldest of the seven chil- dren, of Roderick and Rebecca (Gates) Merrick, natives of New York, who settled in Walworth County in 1837, and in Spring Prairie of said county. The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 19, 1838, received a common school education, and lived with his parents on the farm until 1867, by which time he became a little uneasy, and so concluded to see some of the western country, he therefore started for the Rocky Mountains, but after spending six years in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Washington territories and the States of Oregon, California and Nevada, he returned to Walworth County, and in 1874 was married to Miss Emily Bell, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Cook) Bell, and at once settled on his farm, which he had previously purchased, and has since made farming a business. He owns 180 acres of land, valued at $45 per acre. Politics, Republican.

J. H. NORTON, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Spring Prairie ; son of Winthrop and Hannah (Cranston) Norton, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Rhode Island, residents of Ohio, in which State, February, 1841, the subject of this sketch was born. In 1842, the family removed to Wisconsin, purchased land on Sec. 25, LaFayette, where they resided until 1860, when they removed to Elkhorn, but the following year they went to California, where in 1863, the father (Winthrop Norton) died. John H., with his mother, then returned to Walworth, and set- tled in LaFayette. In 1866, in partnership with his brother Abram (who returned from Cali- fornia in 1865), he purchased their present farm of 160 acres, valued at $45 per acre. From 1875 to 1880, they were also engaged in mercantile business at Spring Prairie Corners, of which Abram C. had charge. Mr. Norton was married Feb. 8, 1871, to Miss Louisa Merrick. They have two children, Irene and Clarence.

THEODORE NORTHROP, merchant; P. O. Fayetteville; is a son of Theodore and Amy (Jackson) Northrop; the latter is a distant relative of Andrew Jackson, ex-President of the United States; were natives of the State of New York, and it was in Dutchess County, of the old Empire State, on the 25th of November, 1841, the subject of this sketch was born. In 1841, the father came to Wisconsin, and the following year the mother with her children followed, and the family soon settled on Sec. 27, Town of LaFayette. Here they resided about seven years, then two years in Delevan, subsequent to which they removed to Columbia County, and it is there they experienced the hardships of pioneer life, as they at first lived in a sod house, after- ward in a log shanty, with no neighbors in a radius of three miles, except wolves and Indians. Here they undertook to raise sheep, they having brought the first flock to Columbia County ; but the wolves soon took charge of the entire flock. In 1862, Theodore, Jr., enlisted in Co. C., 23d Wis. V. I., where he served three years, and returned home and assumed farming one year. He then went to the copper regions of Lake Superior. He taught school and kept books for two years, after which he returned to Walworth County, and remained with his sister on her farm one year. During the following three years he was engaged in mercantile business at Elkhorn; then acted as traveling salesman for a Chicago mercantile firm one year, at the end of which time, in May, 1877, he came to Fayetteville, rented property, and has since been engaged in general mer- cantile business. He also deals in live stock and grain. He has been station agent, express agent, and Post-master, which latter position he now holds. He is a Republican in politics ; has been Town Treasurer three years, and is now Chairman of the Town Board. On the seventh day of November, 1871, he was united in matrimony to Miss Josephine Lumsden, then of Elkhorn, but a native of North Adams, Mass. They have six children - Frank, Amy M., Laertes, Rena Belle, Theodora, and an infant.

CHARLES I. PECK, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Fayetteville; oldest son of J. W. and Adaline E. (Randall) Peck; was born in LaFayette, Aug. 14, 1848; received a common school educa- tion, and in 1873 was married to Miss Fannie E. Sewell, daughter of Jirah and Elizabeth (God- dard) Sewell, and has since continued farming on a part of his father's estate. He now owns 486 acres in LaFayette, worth $30 to $40 per acre; 440 acres in Trempeleau County, valued at $20 per acre. The children are Jeddiah, Myron and H. M. Politics, Democrat.

A. POTTER, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Elkhorn; is a native of New York, born in 1826. In 1843, he came with his parents to Wisconsin, and lived with them in LaFayette until 1848, dur- ing which time, in 1847, he was married to Laura L. Pitkins, then of LaFayette, but a native of Ohio. He then removed to Dodge County, where he resided until 1850, when he returned to

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Walworth County, and in 1852 purchased a farm in Geneva, where he resided, with the excep- tion of two years that he lived in Elkhorn, until 1868, in the Spring of which year his wife died, leaving five children - Delia (now Mrs. O. C. Chase, of Furgus Falls, Minn.); Adelbert, also living at that place ; Florence (now Mrs. Allison Beach, of Onalaska, La Crosse Co.) ; Mary, living at Furgus Falls, and H. Orlando, living at home. He then sold his farm, removed to Elkhorn, and in December, 1868, was married to Adalaide Merrick, of Spring Prairie. In March, 1869, he purchased his present farm of 200 acres, which is now valued at $60 per acre. He is a Liberal Republican in politics, and has held local offices.

JOSEPH POTTER, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Elkhorn; was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., July 25, 1823; was brought up on a farm, and received a common school education. In 1843, he came with his parents to Wisconsin, landing at Milwaukee, June 9. The family at once pro- ceeded to Walworth County, and here his father, Robert K. Potter, purchased 200 acres of land on Secs. 19 and 18, LaFayette. In 1851, Joseph was married to Miss Rosina Ellsworth; then rented his father's farm for five years, after which, in 1856, he purchased the same at $35 per acre, on which he has built a fine brick house, valued at $3,000, and made other improvements, so that the farm is now worth $60 per acre. His wife died May 19, 1869, leaving six children-Gil- bert, now a resident of Nebraska; Laura A. (now Mrs. George Young. of Elkhorn); George, Julia, Mary and Josie. In March, 1872, he married Caroline Randall. They have two children, Lurena and Maud. Mr. Potter is a Republican in politics, and has held local office.

J. P. POTTER, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Elkhorn; settled where he now resides in 1846; is a native of Rutland County, Vt., born Feb. 28, 1812. When he was thirteen years of age his mother died, and as his father broke up house-keeping the family became separated, and the subject of this sketch was left to take care of himself. He worked at farming by the month; also attended school for a few terms. In 1839, he, becoming tired of shifting about in single life, was married to Sylvia Goodspeed ; continued farming by renting land and cultivating the same until 1842, at which date he removed to Sandy Hill, Washington Co., N. Y. Here he worked in a saw-mill during the Summer until 1846. He spent the Winter seasons logging in Essex County. He then came to Wisconsin, purchased forty acres of his present farm, for which he gave Sioo, to which he added from time to time, so that his real estate now amounts to 184 acres, valued at $8,500. The children are : Sylvia (now Mrs. E. W. Gray, of Geneva); Erwin E., a farmer in Kansas; Lola M. (now Mrs. M. Wright, of Darien); Hiram H. and Elmer E. Politically he is a Democrat.

E. S. SHEPARD, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Elkhorn; is a son of W. S. and Caroline (Beach) Shepard, the former a native of Hartford, Conn., and the latter of New York, and where, in Ontario County, of the latter named State, on the sixth day of July, 1832, the subject of this sketch was born. In 1844, the family removed to Little Fort (now Waukegan), Ill., near which place they purchased a farm. Here E. S. helped till the soil, and, in 1854, was married to Aba- gail Chandler, then of Waukegan, but a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1831. He still followed farming until 1865. in which year his parents purchased 140 acres of land in Walworth County, Wis., and as they were moving froin Illinois to their new home his wife was thrown from the wagon, thereby receiving a fractured arm and fractured hip, which made her a cripple for life. E. S. therefore removed to Walworth County, and took charge of the farm until 1873, at which date he purchased the homestead. His parents then removed to Elkhorn, where they resided until 1880, in which year they went to Beloit, Kansas, where the mother still lives, but the father died Dec. 26, 1880. E. S. resides on the homestead, which is valued at $50 per acre. He has one daughter, Ellen A. (now Mrs. Edgar Wales, of LaFayette).

ZEPHANIAH SHORT, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. O. Elkhorn ; one of Walworth's earliest set- tlers ; is a native of Otsego County, N. Y., born in 1815 ; brought up on a farm. He received a common school education, and, in 1835, was married to Sally Cockett. In 1842, he came to Wis- consin, and purchased the southwest one-fourth of Sec. 27, LaFayette, but returned to the Em- pire State, where he remained until 1846. He then removed to his new home, and resided on the land he purchased in 1842, until 1854, when he purchased the east one-half of the northwest one-fourth of Sec. 27, LaFayette, where he has since resided. He now owns 240 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre. The children are : Sally M. (now Mrs. J. V. Hicks, of LaFayette) ; James, a resident of Glendon, Minn .; George W. (deceased), having enlisted in 1862, in Co. I, 28th Wis., and died at Helena, Ark., in the Spring of 1863; Esther L. (now Mrs. George W.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Farrar, of East Delevan); Benjamin F., the only one of the children born in Wisconsin, died in 1856, at the age of 6 years and 4 days.

A. L. VANDERPOOL, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Elkhorn; was born in Albany County, N. Y., in 1843. In 1853, the family came to Wisconsin, and settled in Spring Prairie, where they resided until 1860, when they removed to the town of Delevan. In 1862, the subject of this sketch enlisted in Co. I, 28th Wis., and served three years. He then returned to Walworth, and, in 1867, was married to Miss Frances Harriman, daughter of Dudley and Mary (Corbett) Harri- man. He then followed butchering for one year, at Delevan. They then removed to Clarence, Cedar Co., Iowa, where he continued in the same business for one year. Then he returned to Walworth, and served as a traveling agent for one year. In the Fall of 1871, he again went to Clarence, Iowa, and was engaged dealing in agricultural implements about one year, and since he has been engaged in farming where he now resides. The children living are Harry and Georgia. Politics, Republican.

JOHN VOSS, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Elkhorn ; is a native of Germany, born in 1835; emi- grated to the United States in 1858, and first settled in Onondago County, N. Y., where, in 1861, he was married to Sarah Ann Pridmore, a native of England. In 1864, he came to Wisconsin, and, in 1873, purchased his present property. He now owns 110 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre. He has one son, John F. Politics, Liberal.

DAVID T. VAUGHN, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Spring Prairie ; one of the old land-marks of Walworth; is a native of Bridgewater, Vt., born Feb. 28, 1810. When he was but eighteen months old his father died, and his mother died in 1820. He was, therefore, at the tender age of ten years left to the mercy of the world to take care of himself. At the age of seventeen he went to Carver, Mass., where he learned the joiner's trade with his brother Samuel, but as his health did not permit him to continue the same, he returned to Bridgewater, and soon after went to Pittsfield, and here, on the 20th day of January, 1833, he was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Rebecca Dinsmore. In the Spring of 1834 he left his wife with her folks and went to Michigan, and as he was well pleased with that State, he returned to Pittsfield to get his wife ; but as she was an only daughter her parents did not wish to have her go West. So Mr. Vaughan remained in the East, digging away among the stumps and stones for three years, which was very discouraging, as he knew there was much better farming land in the West. He, therefore, sold what property he could spare for $50, and on June 10, 1837, started with his family for Michigan, where they lived one year, then they came to Wisconsin and settled in Walworth County, Aug. 31, 1838. And now came the trials which only the pioneers of a new country can comprehend. When they arrived in Walworth County the family was all sick with the ague. They lived with Mr. Vaughn's brother Dike until November, who cared for them as well as he could. Mr. Vaughn then rented a house, worked at his trade somewhat during the Winter, and the next Summer worked at Perkin's grist-mill at $1 per day, leaving his wife and two children to take care of themselves. She did sewing for Ansil Salisbury, and bought one bushel of beans and two bushels of buckwheat flour. In the Fall of 1839 the house they then occupied was destroyed, which left them almost destitute, as they simply saved the clothes they wore, a brass kettle, and a few minor articles. But they did not despair, and Mr. Vaughn at once went to Burlington, Racine Co., where he ran a saw-mill on shares, and in this way procured lumber to build a house. In the Spring of 1840 he purchased forty acres of his present farm, and to pay for it he borrowed money of Ansil Salisbury at twenty per cent. interest. The first eighty acres of land he purchased by selling a yoke of cattle for $72, to which he added his cash, but still lacked $10, for which amount he gave his note of offering twelve per cent. interest, payable in gold. In the Spring of 1840 he purchased a threshing machine, which he ran one year with success, lived in the most economical way, and has now succeeded in accumu- lating a goodly share of this world's goods, as he now owns 570 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre. His wife died June 14, 1876, at the age of sixty-three years and twenty-one days, leaving six children, five of whom are now living-George, Henry, Alonzo, William and Joseph.

JOSEPH VAUGHN, youngest son of David T. and Rebecca (Dinsmore) Vaughn, was born in the town of La Fayette, Walworth Co., in 1850; received an academic education, and in 1875 was married to Miss Alice Sheffield. He is a farmer, lives with his father, and at pre- sent has charge of the homestead, which contains 240 acres.

S. T. WEBB, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Spring Prairie. He is a native of Columbia Co., N. Y. Born in 1824; received a common-school education, and in 1844 was married to Miss

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Ann Eliza Harrington ; followed farming in his native country until 1848. He then went to Berk- shire County, Mass. ; continued farming, but the following year returned to the Empire State, and soon afterward came to Wisconsin, arriving at Elkhorn in September. In December he removed to Columbia County, where his parents resided, but the following year returned to Walworth, and served as a common laborer for three years ; then rented some land in Geneva, but at the end of one year, on account of his wife's poor health, again served as a laborer. In June, 1855, his wife died, leaving three small children-Robert B., William A., and Silas O. In 1856 he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Clark) Humpstead, who had two children-Mary, now Mrs. Robert P. Cole, and Nellie C., deceased. Mr. Webb then resumed farming, having previously purchased eighty acres of land on Sec. 35, La Fayette, in connection with which he cultivated eighty acres belonging to his wife. In 1866 he purchased his present farm, which contains 160 acres, and valued at $8,000. The children are Mark T. and Ava J. Republican.

NELSON WEST, farmer, Sec. 6; l'. O. Fayetteville ; son of S. G. and Rebecca (Pike) West, was born at Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., June 23, 1829. His mother died when he was but five years old, and in 1839 he came to Wisconsin. His father having previously settled in La Fayette. Here the subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm. He was married in 1855 to Miss Hannah Maria Hodges, daughter of William and Mary Ann May Hodges. He has since followed farming, and now owns 280 acres of well-improved land, worth $50 per acre. The children are-Henry P., Addie M., Nellie M., Mark H. and Mary Grace. Mr. West is a Democrat in politics, and has held local offices.

S. E. WHITMORE, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Spring Prairie ; son of Joseph and Sarah (Edgerton) Whitmore, was born in Spring Prairie in 1855, received a common school education, and lived with his parents on a farm until 1878, when he was married to Clara, daughter of An- drew and Rebecca (Freeman) Dike, of Spring Prairie, since which time he has had charge of one of his father's farms, containing 140 acres, valued at $50 per acre. They have one child, Fred.

W. J. WYLIE, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. O. Spring Prairie ; son of Robert and Susan (Hump- stead) Wylie, the former a native ot Rutland, Vt., and the latter of Oneida Co., N. Y., was born in the latter county March 11, 1824, received an academic education, and in 1842, with his parents, came to Wisconsin. Upon arrival, his father purchased a threshing machine from Ohio, which machine was one of the first in the county. This he run for five years, and as machines were scarce, it furnished him employment nearly the entire time. In those times, the principal thresh- ing was done during the months of May and June. After giving up threshing business, he com- menced to deal in cattle, sheep and hogs. In 1849, went into partnership with J. W. Peck, he purchased 2,000 sheep in Ohio, which they drove all the way to Wisconsin, they were the first fine wool sheep brought into the State. Mr. Wylie was also the first to bring Durham stock into the State. He and Mr. Peck were also engaged in hotel business for three years, at what is known as Grove Corners. He also dealt in wild lands in Jackson and Calumet Counties. He still deals in stock, but not so extensively as in former years. In 1867, he took charge of his father's farm, and as he died in 1875, Mr. Wylie purchased the estate, which consisted of 200 acres, valued at $10.000 dollars. He was married in 1855, to Miss Abby Hempstead, daughter of Calvin and Amanda (Wilcox) Hempstead. They have two children, Edith, now Mrs. William Webb, and Nina K. Politics, Democrat.

H. C. WYLIE, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Spring Prairie ; is a son of John T. and Polly (Hempstead) Wylie, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of New York, and it was in Oneida County, of the latter State, that on Feb. 1, 1831, the subject of this sketch was born. In 1833, the family removed to Chautauqua County, here H. C. received a common school edu- cation, and helped to till the soil until twenty-one years of age, he then concluded to seek his fortune in the west, and he therefore came to Wisconsin, and first stopped in LaGrange, Wal- worth County, where he followed farming two years, during which time his parents came to Wal- worth, and purchased 160 acres of land, on Sec. 35, LaFayette, he therefore came to LaFayette, and lived with his parents. In 1857, he was married to Harriet E. Houghton, daughter of William and Almina (Cornish) Houghton, the former still living in LaGrange, where he settled in 1838. Mr. Wylie then purchased his father's farm, to which he added sixty acres, making a total of 220 acres of real estate, valued at $40 per acre. He is a Republican, but takes no in- terest in politics, more than to perform his right as a citizen. Their children are : Lora, Chester, W. H. and Charley.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

TOWN OF SUGAR CREEK.

ORGANIZATION.

Sugar Creek was originally the south eastern township of the original town of Elk- horn, and was known by that name till February 2, 1846, at which time it was, by act of the Territorial Legislature, incorporated into a separate town under its present name. It is described in the government survey as town 3 range 16 east. It is bounded on the north by the town of LaGrange; east by LaFayette and Elkhorn ; south by Elkhorn and Delavan, and west by the town of Richmond. Its area embraces a full Congress- ional township of six miles square, less one section (No. 36) in the southeast corner, which was set off at the time it was incorporated, as a part of the present town of Elk- horn.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The surface is varied from level prairie to rolling, which in the northwestern part of the town rises into a low range of hills, running east and west. Nearly nine-tenths of the surface is level or nearly so. When first settled the prairies covered not far from ten square miles. Delavan Prairie, on Sections 51 and 32, covered the two sections nearly except a tamarack swamp in the northern part of Section 31. Sugar Creek Prairie four and one-half miles long and one and one-half miles wide, was in the north half of the town. About a quarter of the surface was open prairie, half oak openings free from undergrowth, the remaining quarter being more heavily wooded, or marsh land lying along the course of Sugar Creek, a small stream running nearly east through the center of the town. This creek is the only considerable stream in the township, and with several small streams flowing into it, furnishes drainage for the sections lying south of it. It flows through the towns of La Fayette and Spring Prairie, and empties into White River. It was first discovered and explored by the early settlers of Spring Prairie in May 1836. Mr. Daniel Salisbury writes that on May 28, 1836, he, in com- pany with Rowland Cook and Mr. Smith, wandered up the stream till they came to heavy timber, interspersed thickly with sugar maple, and came upon a camp of Indians a little west of what is now the west line of Spring Prairie. They had been making sugar at that point, and the name of the creek, as well as that of the town, doubtless came from the discovery of the sugar maple and the sugar camp on the banks of the stream.

In the northern and more undulating part of the town are several lakes and small ponds. The largest is Holden's Lake, on Sections 5 and 6, one and one-half miles long, and half a mile wide in the widest place. It extends east and west through all of Sec- tion 5, and to the west half of Section 6. At the western extremity and along the north shore the banks are heavily wooded, as is a long narrow island lying near the north shore in Section 5.

Otter Lake lies mostly in the southern half of Section 2, and is one mile long and one-third of a mile wide. The banks are wooded on all sides.

Silver Lake is a beautiful clear body of water, lying in the northern part of Section 14. It is oval shaped and quite symmetrical in form. It is one half mile long and one third mile wide.

These lakes abound in fish common to the inland lakes of southern Wisconsin- pickerel, bass and perch are the most numerous.

In addition to these are numerous small ponds which abundantly water the adjoin- ing farms. There are a dozen in different parts of the town of sufficient size to be noted in the town survey.

The soil is a strong clay loam, well adapted for the raising of all cereals common to this latitude. The marsh lands along the Sugar Creek furnish large crops of meadow hay. There are no ledges of rock in the town, and the first settlers found no Indian

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 152

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