History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 76

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

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ORLAND CARSWELL, dealer in groceries and general merchandise, Elkhorn; business established in 1862. Mr. C. is a native of Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y. : is the son of N. H. and Lonisa H. Carswell; was born April 28, 1842; in 1843. the family moved to Spring Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis .; from there, they moved to the town of Yorkville, Racine Co., where his father carried on a blacksmith shop and kept a country store; they next moved to Rochester, same county, where they continued to reside until March. 1853, when they moved to Elkhorn, Walworth Co., in 1862. Mr. Orland C. is a dealer in general merchandise: May 16. 1864, leaving his business in the care of his father, he enlisted as a private for 100 days in Company F. 40th W. V. I .. and served out the term of his enlistment: on his return from the army, he resumed charge of his business, which he has continued to this date. He was married in Elkhorn, April 18, 1867, to Miss Sarah Patterson, daughter of William Patterson: they have two sons -- Frank T. and Joseph L. Mr. C.'s father was a native of Washington Co., N. Y. : was born in 1815; was married in Washington Co., N. Y .. to Laura H. Taylor: his death oc- curred at Elkhorn Nov. 11, 1874; the mother died March 24, 1868.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

WILLIAM K. CHAMBERS, superintendent of construction, Elkhorn; now in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway; settled in Walworth County June 18, 1844. Mr. Chambers was born in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 1, 1839; is the son of William and Phoebe Chambers: came to Wisconsin in 1844, and settled in the town of Geneva; was brought up on a farm; in 1860, he crossed the plains to California; was a resident of that State five years, during which time he was connected with the California Stage Company; on his return to Wisconsin, he commenced railroading as foreman of construction on Eagle Branch, of what is now a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, from Elkhorn to Eagle, having general charge of that work; has been engaged in railroad work nearly ever since. He was married at Elkhorn Sept. 14, 1865, to Miss Marinda Gray, daughter of Daniel C. Gray. Mrs. Chambers was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y .; they have two children -a daughter, aged 15 years, named Gracie, and a son, aged 1 year, named Willie C. Mr. Chambers has made his home in Elkhorn since Nov. 12, 1878; his father died in 1876; his mother makes her home with him, and is hale and hearty, and in the full possession of her faculties at the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years.

ISAAC W. COMAN was born March 17. 1820, in Luzerne, Warren Co., N. Y., and was brought up on a farm. While a youth, he began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Fletcher, of Saratoga Springs, and subsequently, with Dr. Houghton, of Hadley, N. Y., and in Unionville. Ohio, with Dr. Harvey Marvin, and later, was under the tuition of Prof. Frank H. Hamilton, one of President Garfield's physicians. He attended a course of his lect- ures at the Buffalo Medical College, and was in daily attendance at the hospital, where he held his clinics and performed his surgical operations. He attended his first course of lectures at the Castleton Medical College. Vt., and graduated at the Western Medical College, of Cleve- land, Ohio. He began practice at Jefferson, Ohio, where he practiced over six years, then re- moved to the city of Buffalo. where he devoted himself to his profession for a number of years. After spending two years traveling in the south, he came to Elkhorn, in September, 1859, where he has since resided, except two years spent in Delavan. Dr. C. has no army service to report, but he keeps as a souvenir a letter from Dr. Walcott, Surgeon General, offering him a position on the surgical staff. He resides near town; has lately given his time considerably to stock- raising; has 133 acres of land.

W. H. CONGER, Cashier of the First National Bank of Elkhorn. Mr. Conger is a native of the town of Stanford, Dutchess Co., N. Y .; is the son of Benjamin and Amelia (Downs) Conger, and was born on the 3d of June, 1821; he received a common-school education, and was brought up on a farm; in the fall of 1845, he came to the town of La Fayette, Walworth Co .. Wis., and established himself on a farm, which business he followed for eight years; he then engaged in the real estate and money loaning business in Western Wisconsin; continued this busi- ness about four years. when he returned to Elkhorn and purchased his present residence (1857). From this date, he was engaged at this place in loaning money and speculating till 1869, when he entered the bank as Cashier. He has served one term s a member of the County Board of Commissioners under the old system, and has served two terms as Chairman of the town of Elk- horn. He was married in Wayne Co., N. Y., in the fall of 1845, to Miss Catharine M. Johnston, daughter of Clark Johnston. Mrs. Conger was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y .; they have one daughter named Cora.

D. L. COWDERY, County Clerk of Walworth County, Elkhorn, was born in Arcadia, Wayne Co., N. Y., Jan. 8, 1833; is the son of Lyman and Eliza Cowdery. The father was a native of New Hampshire, and his mother of Vermont. While the subject of this sketch was quite young, the family removed to Ontario County, and, when four years old, to Lake Co., Ohio, and to Elkhorn, Wis., in 1846. Mr. C. commenced his education in the Western Reserve Seminary, at Kirk- land, Ohio. After coming to Wisconsin, he completed his education in the common schools at Elkhorn: in 1850, he went to Milwaukee, and served a regular apprenticeship in the office of the Commercial Advertiser: in 1853, he went to California by the overland route and engaged in mining and lumbering, continuing in California until 1859. He then returned to the State of Wisconsin: was engaged as foreman of the printing office of the Elkhorn Independent till 1875, when he was elected to his present position-County Clerk -on the Republican ticket; was re-elected twice: is now serving his third term; was married at Richmond, Ill., Nov. 24,

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

1864, to Miss Lydia M. Aldrich. Mrs. C. was born at South Bend, Ind. ; their children are Kirke L. and a danghter. Edith A.

JULIUS L. EDWARDS. senior partner of the firm of Edwards & Preston. merchants, Elkhorn. The subject of this sketch is the son of Julius and Theodosia Edwards, and was born in Northampton, Mass., Sept. 29, 1821; in May, 1839, he came to Wisconsin, with his parents. and located on Government land on Sugar Creek, where he still owns a farm of 143 acres. Mr. E. served as'Assessor of that town six years, and served four years as a member of the Board of County Commissioners when the board consisted of five members: served as such during the war. He was married at Waterford, Racine Co., March 5, 1846, to Miss Wealthy A. Rust, daughter of Seth Rust; they have two children Francis A. and Alice E., now the wife of J. E. Wheeler, of Colorado Springs, Colo. Mr. E. was elected President of the bank of Elkhorn Jan. 14, 1861, and held that position until March 25, 1865, when the bank was merged into the First National Bank at Elkhorn. On the organization of the latter, Mr. E. became one of the largest share-holders and was elected its first President, which position he held until 1869: since 1869 to the present time he has hekdl the position of Vice President. In the fall of 1866, Mr. E. moved to the village of Elkhorn, leaving the farm in the care of a tenant; in 1876, he began business in Elkhorn as a general merchant with Mr. Preston as a partner in the business; they have continued to this date.

EDWARD ELDERKIN. attorney at law: established at Elkhorn Oet. 25, 1839, and con- tinued in practice at this place forty-two years; he was the second attorney to establish a prac- tice in Walworth County, Mr. C. M. Baker being the first: he is now the oldest living repre- seutative of the pioneer attorneys in the county. The subject of this sketch is a native of Potsdam. St. Lawrence Co .. N. Y. : is the son of Anthony Y. and Pamela Fuller Elderkin; was born Jan. 5, 1815; he was odueated at the St. Lawrence Academy of New York, and commenced the study of law in the office of Silas Wright. at Canton; read in that office and continued his studies with Judge Fine, at Ogdensburg, N. Y., where he remained six years. He was admit- ted to the bar in August, 1838, in the city of Utica, and commenced the practice of his profes- sion at Potsdam, and continued at that place until 1839. when he moved to Elkhorn, Walworth Co., Wis. : he settled there October 25 of that year, and at once began the practice of law. He has maintained his residence there to this date. November, 1881, or a little more than forty-two years. He was appointed Deputy Register of Deeds under Register Le Grand Rockwell, the first Register of Deeds of Walworth County: was also appointed Deputy of the Court and Deputy Postmaster, and discharged the duties of these offices several years. He was married in the old Elkhorn Court House, on Christmas I've, 1843. by the Rev. William L. Breck. to Miss Mary M. Beardsley, daughter of Bennett B., of Delaware Co .. N. Y. Mrs. Elderkin is a native of Walton, Delaware Co .: they had three sons and four daughters- Emma; Adelaide. now Mrs. William A. Brown. of Racine, master painter in the shops of Fish Bros. ; Edward A., married Miss Laura Glass, and lives at Racine: Noble H., a printer by trade; Frank B., married Emma Garretson, and resides at Winterset, Iowa: Susie G. is the wife of Dr. Wilcox, of Washburn, Grant Co., Wis; Hattie, now Mrs. Frank Parder. of East Grove, Ill. In ad- dition to this large family, Mr. Elderkin brought up several orphan children, relatives of his wife. and it can be truly said of him that his house was always opened to those in distress, and he was always fearless in the care of the sick about him.

ELI B. DEWING. Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court for Walworth County-appointed in 1878: born June 21, 1834, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. ; son of Dexter and Demia ( Weaver) Dewing: came, with his parents, to Wisconsin in 1843, locating at Elkhorn. Walworth Co .. where he now lives; had attended district school four or five years in Chautauqua County, and enjoyed a year or two more of like schooling at Elkhorn. At the age of twelve, he went to Centerville, St. Joseph Co .. Mich., and worked a year in the office of the St. Joseph County Advertiser, and continued at the printing business another year or two in Elkhorn. in the offices of the Democrat and the Reporter. Abandoning the compositor's stick and rule, he returned to St. Joseph Co., Mich., and engaged as clerk in a general merchandise store. In 1855, asso- ciated with his brothers. George and Myron E .. he engaged in mercantile business at Elkhorn; sold out. in 1858. and resumed the occupation of salesman; from 1868 to 1876, was associated with John T. Lumsden. under the firm name of Dewing & Lumsden in the clothing business at

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Elkhorn. \ In 1873, he was elected Chairman of the village of Elkhorn, and re-elected in IS74, 1875 and 1876; was Deputy County Clerk under his brother, Myron E., and, upon said brother's death, in March, 1874, became er officio Clerk for the unexpired term; has served continuously several terms as Assessor of the village of Elkhorn: represented the First Assembly District of Walworth County in the Legislature of 1879; has been, for six or seven years past regular Elk- horn correspondent for the Lake Geneva Herald. Mr. D. married, at White Pigeon, Mich., Elizabeth Dixon, who was born in England, and came with her parents to America in her child- hood. Mr. and Mrs. D. had one child, Mary M., who died Feb. 5, 1876, while at school in Monroe, Mich .. aged nineteen years.

MYRON E. DEWING (deceased), son of Dexter and Demia (Weaver) Dewing, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., March 27, 1832, and came with his parents to Wisconsin in the fall of 1843, when the family located in Elkhorn. When about one year old, he escaped from the room in which his mother supposed he was safely confined, and, walking up to a smonldering heap of chips in the woodyard, pitched forward. striking both hands squarely in the burning embers. After long and almost hopeless illness, he recovered, but with the total loss of both hands. This cruel accident. in a great measure, disqualified him for the performance of man- ual and mechanical labor, although he was able to do almost anything that could be done with hands. His attention was early given to books. He acquired a good education, and was ever a close student and great reader. In early manhood, he taught school a few years; and, in 1856. he was elected County Clerk (then styled Clerk of the Board of Supervisors) of Walworth County, holding that office by successive re-elections until his death, March 26, 1874. He greatly enjoyed books, and was acquainted with standard literature of all ages. He had perhaps the most valuable and extensive private library in the county. Politically. he was a Republican. He was not a member of any religious society: but he admired, attended and supported the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was a man of fine intelleet, high culture, genial manner and perfect integrity. He died at the age of 42, of inflammation of the lungs, mourned by all who knew him.

GEORGE GALE (deceased) was born in Burlington, Vt., Nov. 30, 1816, of Revolutionary and Puritan ancestors. In 1839, after he had obtained a fair education, he commenced reading law, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. Locating in Elkhorn during the same year, he prac- ticed his profession, edited the Western Star and engaged in various literary undertakings. After serving in the second constitutional convention, he served as District Attorney and State Senator. In 1844, Mr. Gale married Miss Gertrude Young; in 1851, he removed to La Crosse, where he aeted as County and Circuit Judge for twelve years; he had, in the meantime, pur- chased the present site of Galesville, organized Trempealean County, founded and endowed the Galesville University, and settled npon his farm. The last years of his life were spent in the South in quest of health. He died in April, 1868.

J. W. GAYLORD, of the firm of Gaylord & Son, wagon and carriage makers and black- smiths: business established in 1851. Mr. Gaylord was born in Shatersville, Portage Co., Ohio, Sept. 3, 1824: is the son of Josiah and Cynthia (Bigelow) Gaylord. He learned the car- riage-maker's trade with N. D. Clark & Co., Ravana, Ohio, commencing when 17 years of age; served till 21 years old. then worked as a journeyman till 1849. when he came to Elkhorn, Wal- worth Co., Wis., where he worked at his trade two years, and then started in business for him- self. About 1860, he sold out and engaged in farming in the town of La Fayette, still retain- ing his residence in Elkhorn: in September, 1862, he enlisted in the 12th Wis. V. I. as a musician, and served ten months; was mustered out and returned home; in September, 1864, he re-enlisted in the Quartermaster Department, at Nashville, Tenn., and served till the close of the war. On his return from the South, he went to Racine, where he was in the employ of Mitchell, Lewis & Co. two and a half years. In June, 1867, he returned to Elkhorn, and re- sumed business for himself, which he has continued to this date .. In July, 1881, his son Charles was admitted as a partner. This firm does quite an extensive business, having several shops and storerooms for all the different branches of their business. Mr. Gaylord was mar- ried at Shalersville, Ohio, March 3, 1847, to Miss Nancy O. Coe, daughter of Curtis P. Coe. Mrs. Gaylord was born at Shalersville, Ohio; they had four children, of whom all are living except one-Amy, Charles, Charles C. and Lily; the first Charles died when 5 years of age; the second is married to Lillian Garfield, and in business with his father as given above.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

JUDGE PETER GOLDER, County Judge of Walworth County, Wis .; was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., July 5, 1819; is the son of Peter and Deborah Golder; he received a com- mon-school education and came to Elkhorn in 1842; commenced the study of law in 1849 with Judge Wyman Spooner: was admitted to the bar in 1852, in the Circuit Court of Walworth County: he was elected Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1849; was re-elected and served four years: in April, 1857, he was elected County Judge of Walworth County; on a vacancy oc- curring a few weeks later in the office, he was appointed to fill said vacancy. Jan. 1, 1858, he entered upon the regular term to which he had been elected. He has been re-elected each term up to 1881, having held the office for twenty-five consecutive years, and now entering upon .an additional term to which he was elected in the spring of 1881. The Judge has served a greater number of years in the office of County Judge than any other man in the State. In the dis- charge of the duties of the office, he has proven himself so efficient and reliable that he has won the universal confidence and respect of the people of the county.

OSBORN HAND, retired farmer; P. O. Elkhorn; son of Lemuel and Lydia Doubleday Hand; was born in New Lebanon, Columbia Co .. N. Y .. Aug. 27, 1810; he received a common- school education, learned the trade of carpenter and joiner; was engaged in teaching and work- ing at his trade until 24 years of age, when he married, Nov. 6, 1834, in his native town, to Miss Maria Cowles, daughter of Moses Cowles. Mrs. Hand was born in New Lebanon, N. Y. Mr. H. and wife made their home in Otsego, N. Y .. where they lived seven years. In the spring of 1842, they moved to the town of Geneva. Walworth Co., Wis. : here Mr. H. bought a half section of land, 320 acres, 100 of which he holds at this date. He was engaged in farm- ing until 1871, when he retired to the village of Elkhorn. Mr. H. sold a large part of his land at an early day, and has, by judiciously loaning his money, accumulated a small fortune; his family consists of his wife and six children-Laroy S., the eldest, married Miss Anna West; he is a Congregational minister, and living near St. Louis, Mo .: George C. was a member of Company A, 36th Wis. V. I. ; was a graduate of Wheaton College, Ill. ; died in Salisbury Prison; was 24 years old; Birney married Ada Richard, and is a printer of Chicago; Charles O. married Emma Durland, and resides in Sugar Creek, Walworth Co .; Pamela A. is a teacher of Chicago; Lydia resides at home; Eva is a student of Wheaton College; two children died in infancy. Mr. H. has served as Chairman of the town of Geneva one term and Town Super- intendent of Schools at Elkhorn several terms.

JOHN HARE, proprietor of Elkhorn Livery and Sale Stable, and dealer in all kinds of farm machinery, Elkhorn ; business was established in the fall of 1868; he was born in Lincolnshire, England, Feb. 15, 1837; he is the son of Clement and Fannie Hare; he came to America in 1852 .with his father; his mother died in England. He located on a farm in the town of La Fayette. Walworth Co., Wis. ; he was engaged in farming up to the time of starting in his present business in 1868; he was married, in Elkhorn. March 29, 1859, to Mrs. Clara A. Christian, daughter of S. G. and Rebecca West. Mrs. C. was born in the State of New York, Chenango Co. She had three children by her former marriage, all of whom she has lost since her second marriage; their names were Charles E., Clara A. and Florence I. Christian; they died at the ages of-Charles, 16; Clarence, 19; Florence, 7; seven children have been born of the present marriage; four of those are dead; they died at the ages of -Everett, 3; Milo, 4; Walter, 2; Myra, 3; those living at the present time are John West, Dora Bell and Mabel May Hare. Mr. Hare was appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1881; has served as a member of the Town Board of Supervisors one term, and two years as Street Commissioner of Elkhorn.

R. D. HARRIMAN, of the firm of Harriman & Fairchild, proprietors of meat market, and dealers in live stock, Elkhorn, successors to Harriman & Latham, who established the busi- ness in February, 1876, and continued it until 1881, when Mr. Latham sold out to Mr. G. W. Fairchild; the firm does a general butcher and live stock business. Mr. Harriman was born at Toledo. Ohio, Feb. 25, 1841; is the son of Mary and Dudley Harriman; in 1842, he came with his parents to Wisconsin. The family located in the town of Summit, Milwaukee Co., where they resided until 1848, when they moved to the town of Geneva, near Elkhorn Village: in 1858, they moved to the town of La Fayette, where the father still resides. R. D. was brought up a farmer, and followed that business until 1876, when he moved to Elkhorn and en- gaged in his present avocation. He was married, at Elkhorn, March 31. 1864, to Miss Phebe

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Vaughn, daughter of Saniel C. Vaughn: Mrs. H. was born in the town of Spring Prairie: they have one daughter named Rispah May.

JOHN W. HAYES, station agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, Elk- horn; has held this position since April 1, 1865, and has been an employe of the road under its different managements twenty years, nineteen of which he has been station agent without losing a day's time. He was born in Center Co., Penn., Sept. 30. 1833: is the son of J. W. and Isabella Hayes; in 185S, he moved to Stephenson Co., Ill., and, in 1861. entered the employ of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad: in 1862, he was appointed station agent of Dakota Station, Tll., and continued in that position until 1865, when he was assigned to Elkhorn Station, and has been on duty continually to this date- 1881. He was married, May 19, 1863, at Des Moines, Iowa, to Miss Sarah E. Fleming, daughter of Henry Fleming. Mrs. H. was born in Mifflin Co., Penn: they have three children Harry E., Carrie B. and Charles F. Mr. Hayes is one of the present Supervisors of Elkhorn.

DR. S. W. HENDERSON (deceased), was born in Willoughby, Ohio, Dec. 17. 1817; was the son of John Henderson, M. D. The subject of this sketch began the study of medicine with his father. He subsequently attended a regular course of lectures in the Cleveland Medical College, from which he graduated and received his diploma. He also attended lectures at the Willoughby Medical College, and was awarded a diploma. He established an extensive prac- tice in Herkimer Co., N. Y. He was married, Jan. 11, 1845, to Miss Rebecca Hicks, daughter of Nathan Hicks. They had six sons, four of whom are living John H., Edward G., 1. Eugene and Samuel W. Dr. Henderson subsequently established a lucrative practice in Olio. at or near Mentor, as a partner of Dr. Seeley. In 1847, he emigrated to Wisconsin, and estab- lished a large practice in Walworth County. having his home in Elkhorn. His death occurred May 6. 1857. His son, John H .. was a soldier of the late war, serving two years as a member of Ist Wisconsin Heavy Artillery.

ELIAS HICKS. farmer: P. O. Elkhorn; settled in Walworth County September, 1836: was born in Bristol Co., Mass., June 2, 1800; is the son of Nathaniel Hicks. Was married, in 1822, to Eliza Wetherspoon: moved to Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1824; came to Walworth Co .. Wis., on foot, and made his claim in Spring Prairie: arrived there September. 1836; moved his family in July, 1837, arriving on the 3d; found his claim "jumped." made another, and lived on his farm until 1865, when he moved to Elkhorn and bought another farm, which he also sold; now lives in the village. Had a family of eight children- three sons and five girls. Mr. Hicks has probably endured as many hardships as usually falls to the lot of any pioneer, and tells many interesting accounts of the same.

WILLIAM HOLLINSHEAD, farmer, Sec. 3. Delavan: P. O. Elkhorn; has 420 acres of land; settled in the county June 20, 1837. on the farm which he now occupies. He was born near Stroudsburg. Northampton Co., now Monroe, Penn., Sept. 3. 1806; is the son of James and Sarah Hollinshead: was brought up a farmer and came to Wisconsin in 1837, early in July: located on Government land on Sec. 3, town of Delavan; went East in 1842, and was married in Stroudsburg, Penn., June 20 of that year, to Miss Caroline, daughter of James and Deborah Burson; Mrs. H. is a native of Stroudsburg; they have one daughter -- Elizabeth, now Mrs. Herman A. Briggs, residing at her old home. Mr. H. has held various town offices in the town of Delavan, and a leader in advancing the agricultural interests of the county: in ISSO, he retired from active farm business, having turned the farm over to his son-in-law, Mr. Briggs. Though not an aspirant for public office, Mr. H. has always been influential in local matters, and, by his intelligence and purity of character, has commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

B. B. HUMPHREY, proprietor of abstract of titles of Walworth County. The first ab- stracts of this county were made by Mr. Henry Adkins, and kept up by him until 1870, when he sold out to Mr. C. A. Noyce, who continued the work till October, 1873, when the business was purchased by the present proprietor, who has continued it to this date, making his a com- plete abstract of titles of Walworth County. Mr. B. B. Humphrey was born in Portage Co., Ohio, Nov. 23, 1824: is the son of Hiram and Mary (Blodgett) Humphrey : when 4 years old, he went with his parents to Lucas Co., Ohio, where he continued to reside until 1840, when he came to the town of La Fayette, Walworth Co., Wis., and settled on Sec. 6, buying a claim of

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 76

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