History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 75

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

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Some time prior to 1878, the name was changed to the Watworth County Independent. It is the leading organ of the dominant party in the county. Mr. M. T. Park, the late editor, is now (1882) Assistant Secretary of State. The proprietorship changed January 1, 1882, Mr. Eugene Kenney becoming a partner, and the firm name Park & Kenney. C. H. Burdick, for- merly of the Geneva News, took charge of the local coliunns. He has been connected with jour -. nals of the county and as correspondent of metropolitan papers for the past ten years. (April 1. 1882, its ownership and editorship passed to S. S. Roekwood, formerly a teacher in the Nor- mal School at Whitewater, and more recently Assistant State Superintendent of Schools for Wisconsin. )

The Watworth County Liberat was started in October, 1873, three numbers being issued prior to the gubernatorial election of that year, which resulted in the election of William R. Taylor as Governor of Wisconsin. The first proprietor was Isaac B. Bickford, formerly of the Creston (Illinois) Times. His connection with the paper extended over about two months. Being an entire stranger, and unacquainted with local political affairs, his editorial connection with the paper"was merely nominal. The editorial functions were delegated chiefly to Judge Wyman Spooner and Otis Preston, Judge Spooner writing all articles pertaining to national politics, leaving the local and State matters to the care of Mr. Preston. Mr. Bickford, though a young man of fair ability, could not make it available in the new enterprise, and, having gone in with too much hope and too little capital, found himself embarrassed before the paper was fairly established, and sold out to a syndicate of Democratie reformers, desirous of estab- lishing an organ in the county. It was made up of some of the leading citizens, who, on the completion of the purchase. installed in possession and management Mr. Albert C. Beekwith and Engene Kenney, under the firm name of Beckwith & Kenney as publishers. Mr. Beek- with assumed the entire editorial control from that time. The paper under its new management retained the good will of its former editors. Messrs. Spooner & Preston, who continued for a time to contribute to its columns.

It increased rapidly in circulation, and soon ranked among the leading Democratic country journals of the State. June 27, 1874, Mr. Henry H. Tubbs, a printer, bought into the concern, and the firm name was thenceforth changed to Beckwith, Kenney & Tubbs. July 2. 1875. the office, with its entire contents, was burned. The fire is believed to have been incendiary. as the office was detached from other buildings, and had had no fire in it for a week previous to its destruction. The slip shown on the following page, issued by the proprietors the day following the disaster, gives all that was known or probably ever will be known as to the fire or its origin.

The fire resulted in the dissolution of the firm. Albert C. and Edward S. Beckwith, made a determined attempt to go on, and. under the revised name of the Elkhorn Liberal, started again July 16, 1875. Totally bankrupted by the fire, with even their books and subscription list gone, the denouement of this desperate attempt to recover was what might have been ex- pected. They had the sympathy of the entire community, but it did not take such tangible form as to perpetuate the paper, and the Beckwiths, seeing the struggle to be hopeless and thankless, issued the last number January 7. 1876. The paper was ably conducted during its existence. and its demise was regretted, not more by its political friends than by its fair-minded opposers. It was one of the ablest Democratie papers ever published in the county.

In addition, there have been several papers started and run for a time in the local interest of Elkhorn.

The Conserrator was started by Mr. Otis Preston October 10, 1857. It was in magazine form and contained twenty-eight pages. Its birth was at an inauspieions time. and only one number was published. It contained much valuable information concerning the town of Elk- horn and vicinity. It went out before it was fairly established, one of the victims of the financial crash of 1857.

496

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

WALWORTH CO. LIBERAL.

VOL II.

ELKIIORN, WISCONSIN, JULY 2. 1875. NO. 37.

The Walworth County Liberal.

THE ONLY OPPOSITION PAPER IN THE COUNTY.

Published by Beckwith, Kenney & Tubbs,

TERMS : 180 CENTS PER ANNUM.

About 12 o'clock, as nearly as can now be learned, on Thursday night, the LIBERAL office was discovered to be on fire, ap- parently beginning in the lower southeast corner (in front), and being already under such headway that its fate was certain. The building was a light frame affair, two stories in height, the upper one unoccupied, about 22 feet by 36 on the ground. It was the property of James R. Brown. Esq., of Racine. Whether insured or not, we have no present means of knowing.

There had been no fire in the printing office for about a week. The stove and pipes were, besides, habitually in excellent order. No lights had been used since Wed- nesday evening. No smoking was indulged in on the premises.

As to the publishers, the affair was a total loss, not being insured to the amount of a dollar. The LIBERAL was started in 1873, ahnost withont capital, and was slowly laying the groundwork for one of the very best news and job offices in the county. Its publishers had wrought daily, and often nightly, with their own hands, and the reward began to be visible in the distance. Not a particle of property was saved ; not even the books of the firm.

The loss in type, presses and material, is about $1,600,

As to the origin of the fire, we would speak with due caution ; but, from the time and circumstances as told above, and from the further fact that the day and night had been rainy and almost without wind, we are compelled to think that it was not purely accidental. More than this cannot now be stated. The publishers are not aware of such a degree of ill-feeling as would be likely to prompt such wrong-doing : but they are, perhaps, not in the best position to judge. The LIBERAL has no useless whine or reproach to make ; its business is to square accounts as well as may be done without the books ; and, at the earliest day possible, resume its weekly labors again. We do not doubt the justice or generosity of the people among whom our lot has for so long been cast, and fear nothing but useless delays.

The building next, north of the LIBERAL office, belonged to the Hartwell Estate, and was occupied by John Hatch, who, with his family, was obliged to bundle out in a much less orderly manner than he moved in. The building was saved, with a loss of, say, a hundred dollars, owing mainly, per- haps, to a Babcock Extinguisher, and the pluck of William T. Jones. J. L. Edwards, Hiram Bell, W. L. Stowe. J. D. Devor and several other citizens, whose names do not now oreur to us.

Several large lights of glass were broken by the heat in Warning's store front, and, whatever resemblance to wahint his doors may have once had, was hopelessly blis- tered ont.

497

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

The Lice Man was started by Mr. Otis Preston June 24, 1864. It was a trade paper, showing considerable ability in its editorial conduct. It was peculiarly local, and aimed to draw trade to Elkhorn and bring the importance of the town as a trade center before its readers. It flourished in 1864 and 1865, and was revived for a short season in 1867. Its circulation was free, and its merits were entirely beyond the fate which places it as one of the defunct papers of the county.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEN. I. C. ABBOTT. State Agent for Fairbanks Scale Manufacturing Company, Elkhorn. He is a native of Allegany Co., N. Y., town of Burnes: is the son of E. A. and Nancy Gregory Abbott: was born Dec. 24, 1824. In 1835, moved to St. Joseph Co .. Mich., and resided near White Pigeon; in 1854, he began business as a dealer in general merchandise at a place called Burr Oak. of that county; in 1855. he was appointed Postmaster of Burr Oak; he continued the mercantile business until 1857, when he closed out, and went into the grain business; he resigned his commission as Postmaster. April 19, 1861, and enlisted the same day in the Ist Michi- gan. three months' volunteers; was commissioned Captain of Company G of that regiment May 1. 1861. He participated in the first battle of Bull Run, and was slightly wounded; his com- pany lost twenty-two men in killed, wounded and prisoners. Capt. Abbott rescued the regi- mental colors, as they were about to fall into the hands of the enemy, and carried them off the field: it was around those colors the regiment finally rallied by the little stone church near Sudley's Ford. At the expiration of three months, the regiment returned to Michigan, and was re-organized. and Capt. Abbott was commissioned Captain of Company B Ang. 17, 1861. for three years. His regnnent was assigned to the Army of the Potomac in the spring, arriving at Ft. Monroe, Va .. on March 12, 1862. He was commissioned Major April 28, 1862, and participated in the Peninsular campaign, with Mcclellan. Ang. 30, 1862, after the second battle of Bull Run, he was promoted to be Lieutenant Colonel, and March 18. 1863, was commissioned Colonel. At the battle of Fredericksburg. December 12. 1862, he received two gunshot wounds: was also wounded twice at Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863: was wounded again July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg. For meritorious conduct at this battle, ho was brevetted Brigidier General. In January. 1865, having served with honor and distinction nearly four years, having participated in most of the hard-fought campaigns, and having been wounded several times, he found his health seriously impaired. and tendered his resignation. He returned to Michigan, and was appointed to the United States Revenue Service, where he served from 1866 to 1869. He came to Wisconsin in 1873, and located at Evansville. Rock Co., where he continued to reside until the fall of 1875. when he moved to Delavan, then to Elkhorn (1880), where he now resides.

HENRY ADKINS. Assistant Cashier, First National Bank of Elkhorn. Mr. Adkins has held his present position since the organization of the bank. He is a native of the County of Kent, England; is the son of Henry and Martha Adkins; he was born Dec. 23, 1812. Having arrived at a suitable age, he was apprenticed to learn the drug busines, and served three and one half years. When twenty-one years of age. in 1833. he emigrated to the United States: made his home in Oneida Co., N. Y .. until 1841. when he moved to the town of Sugar Creek, Walworth Co .. Wis .; he located on a farm. and one year later moved to the town of La Grange. same county, and entered an SO-acre tract of Government land on Sec. 14: in the au tumn of 1854, he was elected Register of Deeds of Walworth County: in December of that year, he moved to Elkhorn, and entered upon the duties of the office; he was re-elected for the succeeding term and served four years. During his service as Register, he had laid the foun- dation for an abtract of titles of Walworth County. He continued the abstract business until 1863, when he engaged as bank clerk in the Bank of Elkhorn: was with that institution till its close, in March. 1865: on the organization of the First National Bank of Elkhorn, he was in- stalled as Teller, and has performed the duties of that office and of Assistant Cashier from that time to this date in a manner that has commanded the confidence of the officers and directors. He was married at New York Mills, Oneida Co., N. Y., to Miss Betsey A. Adams, daughter of William Adams. Mrs. Adkins was born in the State of New York; they had seven children. Elizabeth is the wife of Reuben Eastwood, now a resident of Sharon, Wis .: Mr. E. was a soldier of the late war and a member of the 30th W. V. I .; Henry B. was a member of the same

498

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

regiment; he is married to Emma Cronk, and living in Elkhorn; Charlotte Adkins is also living in Elkhorn; Zernah, now the wife of C. D. Root, of Sharon, who was in the late war. William E. was a member of the same regiment as his brother, and served in the late war; he is married, and resides at Tomah, Wis .: Mary E. is the wife of P. H. Smith, of Hays City, Kan., and John C. also resides at Hays City.

LEVI E. ALLEN. Clerk of the Circuit Court of Walworth County, Wis. Mr. Allen was born in the town of Loraine, Jefferson Co .. N. Y., Jan. 25; 1840; is the son of John and Mary Allen; in 1815, he came with his parents to Walworth Co., Wis., and made his home on a farm in the town of Sharon; he received a common-school education, and, on the 13th of October. 1861, he enlisted for service in the late war as a private of Company C, 13th W. V. I., and was in his company and regiment in all the engagements participated in by them till he was trans- ferred to the 65th Regiment U. S. C. T .. April 13, 1864, of which he was Quartermaster with the rank of First Lieutenant: he served until May 26, 1866. covering a period of four years and eight months. He received an honorable discharge, on account of physical disability. On his return from the army, he resumed farming. and continued that occupation until 1572, when he engaged in the hardware business, which he continued from 1872 to 1880; he was elected Clerk of the Court of Walworth County in the fall of 1877 on the Republican ticket: was re- eleeted in 1879, and renominated this year (1881), which, in this county, is equivalent to an election. Mr. A. has 480 acres of land in Dakota, lying in MeCook and Hanson Counties. He was married at Darien, in this county, April 4, 1864, to Miss Carrie Wilkins, daughter of Joseph R. and Celesta Wilkins. Mrs. A. was born in the town of Darien in this county; they have five children -- Plieny. William P., Albery J .. Mary C. and Alice. Since his election, Mr. A. has made his home in Elkhorn.

LUCIUS ALLEN, undertaker, manufacturer of and dealer in furniture, Elkhorn; business established in 1876; succeeded D. R Johnson. Mr. Allen was born in Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y., Feb. 13. 1816; is the son of Daniel and Olive English Allen. The father was a physician who settled in New York in 1810. Lueius A. served a regular apprenticeship of the carpenter and joiner's trade in Hamburg. He moved to Geauga Co., Ohio in 1836. He was married May 27, 1837, to Mary L. Spoor, and, in October, 1838, he came to Wisconsin, settled at East Troy, Wal- worth Co., and engaged in carpenter and joiner's work. Mrs. A died in November, 1838, and was buried at East Troy. She is supposed to have been the first white person buried at that place; they had one child, named Augustus C .. now married to Laesmeralda King, and living at Ft. Dodge, Iowa Mr. Allen was married at Auburn, Ohio, July 10, 1842, to Miss Sarah 1. Barns: they had two children; the eldest Fayette L., was a soldier of the late war; was a mem- ber of Company I. 28th W. V. I., and died at Little Rock, Ark .. in February, 1864; the second, Frances 1 .. is now Mrs. Duncan Wright, of the town of La Fayette. Mrs. Allen died in the fall of 1937. In August. 1848, Mr. A was married in Auburn, Ohio, to Juliet Barns: they had five children -Otis H., married to Mary Clark and living at Racine; Etta, now Mrs. Gilbert Potter, of Vesta, Neb. : Alice W. is the wife of Harley C. Norris, of Elkhorn: Charles S. is at Leadville; Hattie resides at home. In 1859, Mr. A. moved to a farm of 120 acres in Spring Prairie that he had purchased at the land sale of February, 1839. Though making his home on the farm, he still continued at his trade in East Troy and vicinity; in 1869, he moved to Elkhorn, and, in 1870, sold his farm, and has since made his home at that place; worked at his trade until 1876, when he established himself in the furniture business. Mrs. A. died March 11, 1878. Mr. A. serve I two terms as Chairman of the town of Spring Prairie; was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1364; he also served two years as member of the Board of County Supervisors when the county board consisted of five members. Since coming to Elk- horn, he has been a member of the town board two terms, and is now serving as Chairman, having been elected on the temporanee issue in the spring of 1881.

DR. JOSEPH M. BARKER, dental surgeon; established in practice at Elkhorn. Febru- ary, 1868: he is a native of Nunda, Livingston Co., N. Y .: is the son of Amos and Sophia Barker: was born Dec. 1, 1837; studied dentistry with Dr. A. J. Kingsley. of Nunda, and commeneed the practice of his profession at Whitesville, Allegany Co .. N. Y., in 1860; in July, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Ist New York Dragoons, and served three years in the late war. During his service, he participated in the following battles: Battle of Deserted

499

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Farm, siege of Suffolk. Manassas Junction, Travillian Station. Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania Court House, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Waynesborough. Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks, Sutherland Station. Amelia Court House, Sailor's Creek, Appomattox Court House and at the surrender of Gen. Lee, besides taking part in numerous raids and skirmishes. On his return from the service, the Doctor opened an office at Nunda, where he continued to practice his profession until 1868, when he moved to Wiscousin and established himself in practice at Elk- horn, which he has continued to this date, and is enjoying a lucrative practice. He was mar- ried at Nunda, N. Y., Nov. 15. 1866. to Miss Mary E. Carver, daughter of Ralph W. and Relief Carver. Mrs. B. is a native of Nunda.

WILLIAM A. BARNES, proprietor of feed mill, Elkhorn; is the son of Rufus and Han- nah Barnes; was born in La Fayette, Walworth Co., Wis., Feb. 27, 1844; when of suitable age, he learned the carpenter trade. He was married, in Lincoln, Adams Co., Wis., Oct. 31, 1867, to Miss Martha J. McFarlin, daughter of Alexander and Mary McFarlin. Mrs. Barnes was born in Coitsville, Trumbull Co., Ohio. They have one child-Helen M., aged 13 years. In the fall of 1876, Mr. Barnes moved to Elkhorn, where he worked at his trade. During the latter part of the fall and early winter of ISS0-S1. he fitted up the machinery and the building that he now occupies for a feed-mill, and commenced running Feb. 22, 1581. Has a 15-horse-power engine and one run of stone. The mill has a capacity of 300 bushels per day. He also has saws and machinery for making pole fencing. Mrs. Barnes established a milliner shop in Elkhorn in November, 1876, where she does a general milliner and hair business. Mr. Barnes' parents settled in La Fayette the year before he was born (1843), where his father was engaged in farming until 1872, when he moved to Jefferson Co., Iowa.

JOHN BEAMISH, grocer, is the son of George and Margaret B .; was born in Palmyra, Jefferson Co., Wis .. June 24. 1853: received a common school education, and began teaching school in Walworth County, in 1871, and has taught every winter since until 1881 ; was engaged in farming in the town of Sugar Creek two years; in September, 1881, he bought the grocery business of Mr. G. W. Ferris, at Elkhorn, and removed to that place, where he has since re- sided. He was married in the town of Sugar Creek. Oct. 22, 1879. to Miss Alice Harrington, (laughter of Commodore H. Mrs. B was born in Sugar Creek; they have one child, a daughter. named Tessa.

HENRY BRADLEY, Postmaster, Elkhorn; was appointed by Abraham Lincoln and en- tered upon the duties of the office May 1. 1861: has been re-appointed, and held the office con- tinuously for twenty years, being the present incumbent. Mr. B. was born in Sidney, Dela- ware Co., N. Y .. Dec. 26. 1823; is the son of Daniel E. and Betsey Sturges Bradley. In 1837. when fourteen years of age, he came with his parents to Elkhorn, arriving June 12, 1837: two years after, his father died; they continued on the farm some three years longer, and then commenced in the mercantile business at Elkhorn, 1847. In 1846, he was appointed Under Sheriff of Walworth County, and held that position two years; in 1852, he. in company with his wife, went overland to California. where he was engaged in mining until 1855, when he returned to Elkhorn. Shortly after his return. he was appointed Deputy Clerk of Court: in 1859. he made a second trip to California, this time leaving his family behind him. Not realizing his expectations, he returned to Elkhorn in January, 1860. In April, 1861. he was appointed Postmaster of Elkhorn, and May 1. of that year, entered upon the duties of the office, since which time he has, by holding over, and by re-appointment, held that office continuously now twenty years. Mr. B. was married in Elkhorn April 18, 1847, to Miss Nancy J. Mallory. daughter of Samnel M. Mrs. B. was born in Thomkins Co .. N. Y. : they have three children living Lillie J .. now the wife of S. J. Kenyon, of New Hampton, Iowa; William M., who is a student in the Law Department of Wisconsin State University, at Madison; the youngest is Ruth A .. aged ten years; two were lost in childhood Rosa, aged fourteen months and four days: W. B. has served as Justice of the Peace of Elkhorn ten years and Village Clerk about the same length of time.

FRANK A. BUNNELL, proprietor of candy factory. Elkhorn, and dealer in candies, con- fectionery, groceries, cigars and tobacco, ice cream and oysters in season; business was estab)- lished in 1881. Mr. B. was born in the town of La Fayette. Walworth Co., Wis., Dec. S. 1852; is the son of Theron and Catharine Bunnell. He learned the cindy-making business at

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Whitewater, and, in 1877. started business for himself in the village of Waukesha. A few months later. he returned to Whitewater. and worked at his trade until the fall of 1878, when he came to Elkhorn and started in the candy business. The first year, he went West to Omaha and Conneil Bluffs, worked at his trade in those places until February. ISS], returned to Elk- horn and engaged in the candy business.

WILLIAM W. BYINGTON, retired merchant and farmer, was born in Chitten- don Co., Vt. Jan. 9, 1822 ; is the son of Anson and Theoda Byington. In June, 1845, he came to Bloomfield. Walworth Co., Wis., where he was married the same year to Miss Adelino Wing, daughter of Abner Wing; a daughter and son were born to them -- Synthia A. and Clar- enee N. The daughter is the widow of Robert B. Daniels, of Elkhorn. Mr. Byington carried on his farm until 1857, when he moved to Geneva, of the same county, and engaged in the hard- ware business. Mrs. B. died May 20, 1872. Mr. B. was married again Oct. 22, 1873, at Geneva, to Mrs. Sarah B. Pier, widow of Norman Pier. of Fond du Lac, Wis., and daughter of Thomas T. Newton. Mrs. B. was born in Vermont: she had three children by her former marriage two daughters and a son-Mary N., now Mrs. M. H. Crocker, of Ishpeming, Mich; Julia is the wife of Thomas G. Morris. of Chicago: the son, Norman O. Pier. died, aged 33 years. Mrs. B. was a resident of Fond du Lac in 1843. Mr. B. was in the hardware business at Geneva about eighteen years. The year 1874. he spent in California with his wife; in 1875, he removed to Elkhorn. where, having retired from active business, Mr. B. finds such employment as he needs in superintending the cultivation of the small but tasteful farm that constitutes his home. CAMP & ISHAM, dealers in drugs, medicines. books. ete; business established in April. 1857: carry a $4.000 stock. Fred W. Isham was born in the town of Sugar Creek, Walworth Co .. Wis., Feb. 23, 1850; is the son of Mary J. and Joseph T. Isham: was educated in the State Normal School, at Whitewater, and graduated in 1875; was elected County Superintendent of Schools of Walworth County in the fall of 1875; was re-elected in 1877. and served in all four years; in April. 1880, he formed a partnership with J. H. Camp in the drug business, at Elkhorn, under the firm name of Camp & Isham. Mr. I. was married in the town of La Fay- ette Jan. 6, 1878, to Miss Julia Weed. Mrs. F. was born in the State of New York, and came to Wisconsin in 1857.

NATHANIEL CARSWELL, of the firm of N. Carswell & Co., proprietors of the Elkhorn elevator, and dealers in all kinds of grain and farm produce, Elkhorn; succeeded Mr. C. E. Remer, in November, 1880, and doing a successful business. Mr. C. is a native of Racine Co., Wis. : is the son of N. H. and Louisa Carswell: was born April 16. 1845. He came to Elkhorn in 1853: was educated in the common schools; went to Kansas in 1870, and was engaged in the grocery business one year: he then returned to Elkhorn and engaged in elerking until 1875, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Chase, under the firm name of Carswell & Chase, dealers in general merchandise; also had a branch store at Peck's Station, under the firm name of Chase & Co .: continued business at the latter place until 1878, and at Elkhorn until 1879; in November, 1880, he began business with Mr. Theo Northrop, in the grain and produce business; in 1876, he and Mr. Case remodeled a building into a cheese factory at Elkhorn, which business they have carried on to the present time. They manufacture 200,000 pounds of cheese ammally.

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 75

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