History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 77

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

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508

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Morris Kain, covering the west one-half of the west one-half of See. 6. Mr. Kain had made his claim in 1837. Mr. H. resided on this place till Jan. 1. 1859, when, having been elected Register of Deeds, he removed to Elkhorn: was re-elected and served four years. In 1863, he moved to East Troy, Wis., and engaged in milling; continued that business about one and a half years, when he sold out and moved to Elkhorn and started in the mercantile business. which he continued from 1865 to 1873: he then bought the abstract of titles of Mr. C. A. Noyce, which business he has continued to this date. Mr. Humphrey was married in the town of Sugar Creek, Walworth Co., to Miss Juliet Smith; two children were born to them, the eldest, Jennie L., now the wife of C. A. Noyce, Postmaster of Geneva: Louis B. married Nettie Crane, and lives at Minneapolis, Minn. Mrs. Humphrey (the mother) died in the autumn of 1863. Mr. H. was married to his second wife, Miss Mary J. Walling, in Champaign Co., Ill., in 1865; two children were born of this marriage, named Hattie and David. Mrs. H. died in February, 1871. Mr. Humphrey was married again Nov. 26, 1873. to Mrs. Frances L. Rockwell; no children were born of the latter marriage. Mrs. Humphrey died Feb. 20, 1877. Mr. H. was United States Internal Revenue Assessor from 1870 to 1873 inclusive: he has also held some of the minor local offices.

GIDEON C. HUNTRESS, harness-maker and dealer in harness and saddles. Mr. H. is a native of Vermont: is the son of Gideon Huntress; was born September 3. 1844; went to Wisconsin with his parents in 1852; went to Johnstown and stayed one year, and then went to Green County, and stayed two years; then went back to Johnstown and stayed two years ; then went to Turtle Prairie and stayed two years; from there, he went to the town of Darien. Wal- worth Co., where he resided until 1859, when he went to Elkhorn, one year; from there, he returned to Darien, and, April 1, 1861, began learning the harness-maker's trade; served his apprenticeship with Noah Dudley, three years, then went to Elkhorn again, and, in 1865, opened a harness-shop; was engaged in business off and on for several years; since 1875, he has carried on his present shop, in which he does a general harness business.

JACOB KETCHPAW. of the firm of Ketchpaw & Son, dealers in fish and salt meats, Elk- horn. Mr. K. has 200 acres in the town of Sugar Creek and 40 aeres in the town of La Fayette. Mr. K. settled in Walworth County October, 1844. He was born in Canada March 27, 1820; is the son of Jacob and Eleanor Ketchpaw. In 1837. he came to the United States and resided in La Porte Co., Ind., till 1840. He then moved to Burlington, Racine Co .. Wis .; here he en- gaged in the brick business till 1844, when he removed to the town of Sugar Creek, Walworth Co .; was engaged in farming in that town until 1866, when he moved to the village of Elkhorn, having rented his farm out: while a resident of Sngar Creek he served one term as a member of the town board. Since residing in Elkhorn, he has been running a harness-shop and meat market; started his present shop in the winter of 1880. He was married, at Rochester, Wis., April 22, 1843, to Miss Abigail S. Baker, daughter of Eben Baker. Mrs. K. was born in the town of Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y .; they have six children -- Morille W., is married to Miss Harriet Lee and residing at Freeport, Ill .; Morillo was a member of Company D, 20th W. V. I., and served three years in the late war; Anna M., now Mrs. Warren Thomas, of Elkhorn; Grove A., married Josephine Comstock; Abbie A .. now Mrs. Andrew MeDonald, of Chicago; Marshall B., married Miss Louisa Verney, and living in Chicago; Byron F., married Ella Roach; he is junior partner of J. Ketchpaw.

HOLLIS LATHAM, Superintendent of the Poor of Walworth County: was born in the town of Northfield, Washington Co., Vt., March 2, 1812: is the son of James and Polly Rob- inson Latham: the parents were of New England origin. The subject of this sketch was edu- cated in the common schools of his native town. In 1836, he came to Wisconsin, arriving in Milwaukee July 10; in December following, he went to Spring Prairie and engaged with Dr. A. Hemenway: while there, in February, 1837. he joined a prospecting party, and first came to the place, now Elkhorn Feb. 13, 1837, and returned to Spring Prairie on the 27th of the same month and located on his land on the northeast quarter of Sec. 6, Town 2, Range 17; since his residence at Elkhorn, he has been engaged in farming and official business: he was appointed Justice of the Peace of Walworth County by Gov. Dodge, and was afterward elected to the same office, and re-elected each term till 1877, with a few exceptions, serving in all abont twenty years; he was elected a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1847-48, which framed the present

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

State constitution: was elected, and served ten or more years as Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Walworth County; served as County Treasurer from 1851 to 1853; about 1856, he was appointed one of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, at Delavan, and has held that office twenty-four years, or until the office was abolished by act of Legislature; in 1862, he served as member of the Assembly in the Legislature from Walworth County; he has also held several local minor offices: was Secretary of the Walworth County Agricultural Society twelve years, and was elected Treasurer of said society în 1871 ; has held that office continuously to this date; he was elected Superintendent of the Poor of Walworth County in 1855, and was re-elected each term to this writing - a period of twenty-seven years. Mr. Latham was married, in Elkhorn, in 1838. to Mrs. Lemira Lewis, daughter of Daniel E. Bradley. Mrs. L. was born in Vermont; they had two sons, the oldest, Le Grand, married Miss Adelia Vaughn, and is a stock dealer of Elkhorn; Edward M. married Miss De Jane Gray, and is engaged in the carpenter trade at Elkhorn. Mr. L. was one of the very first settlers of the place, he and Mr. Albert Ogden having come here together, and located claims at the geographical center of the county. now the county seat, where no other white men were living within sight of their situation. Feb. 27. 1837.

L. G. LATHAM. dealer in lumber. Darien ; is the son of Hollis and Lemira Latham; was born in Elkhorn Jan. 4, 1839; he was educated in Elkhorn school, and brought up a far- mer. which business he followed until 1876. when he engaged in the butchering business with Mr. R. D. Harriman, at Elkhorn: he continued that business until May. 1881. when he sold out to Mr. G. W. Fairchild: gave his attention to the live stock trade until Jan. 1. 1882, when he removed to Darien and engaged in his present business. He was married, March 26, 1861, in the town of Spring Prairie, to Miss Cordelia B. Vaughn. daughter of Samuel C. Vaughn Mrs. L. was born in Tecumseh, Mich. : they have two children -- Hollis S. and Louisa I.

JAMES H. LAUDERDALE, dealer in groceries, crockery and provisions. Elkhorn; busi- ness established in 1864; carried a stock of $2,000. He was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., April 2, 1834: is the son of John and Jannett (Hallenbeck) Lauderdale: came to Wisconsin in 1852. and located at Milwaukee, where he engaged in the grain business one year; he then moved to the town of La Grange, Walworth Co., and purchased a flouring-mill, which he operated about twelve years. In 1864, he moved to Elkhorn and opened a grocery store, which business he has continued to the present time. He was married, in the town of Palmyra. Jefferson Co., Wis., Ang. 22, 1858, to Miss Zelia M. Gibson, daughter of Daniel Gibson. Mrs. L. was born in Vermont: they had one daughter -- Jannett, who died when 20 years of age, and three sons who are living. one son. George, who died when 1 year old; those living are Charles F., Frederick E. and William G. Mr. L. has served several years as a member of the village board of Elkhorn.

LYON BROTHERS, dealers in groceries and crockery, provisions and farm produce, Elkhorn ; business established in the spring of 1865, and continued continuously to this date: they carry a $4,000 stock. Wilson D. Lyon is a native of the town of Green, Chenango Co., N. Y .; is the son of David and Rosanna Lyon. and was born Jan. 9. 1832. The father was of New England birth ind the mother of New York. He came to Elkhorn in the fall of 1854, and was engaged one year in hotel business; next. clerked one year for Sibley, Buckley & Mills; he was then appointed agent of the Elkhorn Station of the Racine & Mississippi Railway, now the Southwestern Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; he entered upon the duties of his position July. 1857, was in the employ of the company eight years; he then established his present business. He was married. Sept. 15, 1858. in Elkhorn, to Miss Augusta Baker, daughter of Erastus Baker. Mrs. Lyon was born in Syracuse, N. Y .; they have three children

Mariam B., Willie B. and Jessie A. Mr. L. is Treasurer of the Elkhorn Board of Trade.

CHARLES LYON, grocer, of the firm of Lyon Bros., Elkhorn; was born in the town of Greene, Chenango Co .. N. Y .. Oct. 21, 1834; is the son of David W. and Rosanna Lyon; in the spring of 1857, came to the village of Elkhorn, and that summer engaged as As- sistant Cashier of the Exchange Bank of Rockwell & Co., and continued in the employ of the bank till 1867. Having previously become interested with his brother. W. D., in the gro- cery business, he then joined him in the store, and has since devoted his attention to that busi- ness. He was married, at Elkhorn. Oet. 20, 1866, to Miss Lavina Dewing, daughter of George Dewing. Mrs. L. was born in Elkhorn; two children were born to them -- Lena M. and George D. Mr. Lyon has served one year as Town Clerk and two years as Treasurer of Elkhorn.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

JOSEPH F. LYON: Elkhorn; business established in Elkhorn in 1875; he was born in Susquehanna Co., Penn .. April 23, 1825; is the son of Isaac and Sally ( Blodgett) Lyon; when 19 years of age, in 1844. he started from his home in Pennsylvania for Illinois, traveling the most of the way on foot. He reached Little Foot. now Wankegan; here he engaged in clerking. and soon after was the means of getting his father's family to move to the West. He remained at Little Foot until 1850. when he removed to Woodstock, Ill., where he engaged in the mercan- tile business until 1854; he then came to Walworth Co .. Wis,, and made his home in the town of Darion; having previously studied law with Mr. Blodgett, of Waukegan, he continued his stutlies while engaged as a commercial traveler for a New York clothing house, a business which he had commenced in 1952, and which he pursued until 1855, He was appointed Postmaster at Woodstock IHl .. by President Fillmore, and served three years; he was also engaged at times in the practice of law in Justices' courts. He was married, at Beloit, July 26. 1854, to Arima- thea Jones, daughter of Truman Jones. . The Jones family were among the pioneers of Darien of 1838. Mrs. L. was one of the early teachers of Walworth County. In the spring of 1859. Mr. L. went over with an ox-team to California, and returned in the fall of 1860; on his return to Darien, he resumed the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1864. in the Circuit Court of Walworth County: was a member of the Legislature of 1868; he continued his resi- dence in Darien and the practice of law until 1875, when he was appointed Clerk of the Court to fill vacancy; was afterward elected to the same office, which he held until Jan. 1. 1878: on his.appointment to the office of Clerk of the Court, he moved to Elkhorn, and has continued to reside there to' this date in the practice of his profession. Mrs. L died at Darien Nov. 7. 1872, leaving three children -A. May, Vernette M. and Jay E. While a resident of Darien. Mr. L. served as Chairman of the town ten years; he has also served as Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors two years; was elected Justice of the Peace at Elkhorn in 1879, and is serving as the present Clerk of the Elkhorn Schools. Mr. L. was married, in the town of Lyons, of this county, Dec. 10, 1873, to Miss Amelia Dodge, daughter of Harriet and Leander Dodge. Mrs. L. was born in Darien in 1840. Her people were among the carly settlers of that town.

THOMAS M. MCHUGH (deceased) was a native of Ireland, born in November, 1822. He re- ceived a good academic education and commenced the study of law. His family located in Dela- van in 1844, and was admitted to the bar in Elkhorn January 18, 1849. He served for several terms as Secretary of the Territorial Council; afterward as Secretary of the Constitutional Convention and of the new State of Wisconsin. He also creditably filled the office of Deputy United States Attorney General, and was Chief Clerk of the Assembly during 1853 and 1854. Mr. McHugh was brilliant, kind and modest, but his great activity wore upon his bodily strength, and the young man died in Florida in 1856, whither he had gone to regain his broken health.

SAMUEL MALLORY, retired farmer; P. O. Elkhorn. Mr. M. was born in the town of Sharon, Litchfield Co .. Coun., April 18, 1798; is the son of David and Sally Eldridge Mallory; when 11 years of age, he went to the town of Kent; worked on a farm two years with Lewis Root; was then apprenticed to Reuben H. Booth until 21 years of age; he then went to Trum- bull, Fairfield Co., Conn .; worked at his trade one year; then went 210 miles on foot, in Feb- ruary, 1820, before any railroads were talked of. to Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., about six years after the first settlers; in the spring following, he went to Penn Yan, then Ontario Co., N. Y. : worked one year; went back to Homer, and took a carding machine on shares; that year he carded 17,000 pounds of wool; married his first wife, who was a danghter of Dr. Hooper, in August, 1823; in the spring of 1824, he moved to Lisle, Broome Co., N. Y. ; took his carding machine, and hired water-power; worked there one year and cleared over $300; the next spring, he bought a water privilege and erected a shop for carding and cloth dressing; occupied these works for three years: sohl out and bought water privilege and 10 acres of land, built a shop and saw-mill. put in new machinery for carding, cloth dressing and a chair factory, which busi- ness he carried on till 1836: employed from ten to thirty men; the place is now called Mallory- ville. Everything was prospering finely till Feb. 15, when the factory took fire and all was lost, with ten years' hard labor. In the meantime. he lost his wife, and, on May 2, 1829. mar- ried Miss Hart, daughter of Amos Hart; they had four daughters-Nancy J. is the wife of Henry Bradley, Postmaster of Elkhorn; Ruth A .. now Mrs. Stanbury Ogden, of Benton Harbor, Mich. ; Almira is the wife of William A. Barlow. of Chicago; Betsey F. is the wife of Judge

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Robert Harkness, of Salt Lake City. Mr. M. engaged in hotel keeping, which business he followed at various places in the State of New York until August. 1844, when he moved to Wisconsin and located at Elkhorn, arriving here Oct. 10 of that year. Oct. 28, 1844, he bought out Mr. Bellows, the Center House, at that place; after keeping it two years, he went out of the business: returning after six months, he ran the house another two years. While keeping hotel, he had purchased a farm in the town of Elkhorn, on which he made a permanent home from 1852 to 1876, when he sold out and moved to the village. He was elected County Treas- urer of Walworth County in 1845, and served one term: was re-elected and served the term of 1855 and 1856. He was the originator of the plat of the Defendorf, Spencer & Mallory Addition to the village of Elkhorn, consisting of 170 acres, 70 of which were surveyed and platted.

WILLIAM H. MAYHEW, teacher and cabinet-maker; was born in the town of Troy, Walworth Co., Wis., July 14, 1844: is the son of John and Lucinda Allen Mayhew. Mr. M.'s friends were pioneers of Walworth County, having settled in the county in 1838. The subject of this sketch enlisted in the late war in August, 1862, as a private of Company I. 28th W. V. I, and served until May 30, 1863, when he was discharged for physical disability; on his re- trun from the army, he engaged in farming in the town of Troy, devoting his winters to school teaching, beginning in the winter of 1866. He has taught in all to this date, eight terms. including one term of graded school at Troy. He was elected a member of the town board of Troy in 1869. and. in 1870, was elected Chairman and Representative of the County Board of Supervisors, and re-elected to the same position in 1879; he was married at Auburn, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1870, to Miss Anna L. Dutton, daughter of Charles O. Dutton. Mrs. M. was born in Auburn, Ohio; they had two children-Charles D. and Etta M .; the latter died in childhood. Mr. M. lost his wife, who died Jan. 10, 1874: in August. 1875. he bought the Palmyra & Mil- waukee Stage Line, which he ran one year and then sold out: he then engaged as clerk in Austin's store, at East Troy, five months, and next, in the store of Mr. Schwantz, of Troy Cen- ter. where he remained two and a half years; in January, 1881, he went into the furniture busi- ness at Elkhorn, which business he followed until the July following, when he sold out.

JOHN MATHESON, merchant tailor. Elkhorn; business established in September. 1844, and continued to the present day, embracing a period of thirty-seven years. Though two others did work in his line in the village prior to his advent. he is the first merchant tailor es- tablished in business here, and was the first to erect a sign. Mr. Matheson is a native of the Highlands of Scotland; he is the son of Jolin and Jessie Matheson; was born in 1820; Mr. Matheson learned the tailor's trade in the city of Inverness, serving six and a half years; he then worked as a journeyman till 1840, when he emigrated to the United States; on his arrival in this country. he worked at his trade for awhile in the city of Milwaukee as a journeyman. and then started in business for himself. In 1844, he moved to Elkhorn and established his present business. He was married, in Elkhorn, in 1849, to Miss Lovetta Lee, daughter of the Rev. Luther Lee (Mrs. Matheson's people were of New England origin). They have three children living - one waiting for them; Jessie is the wife of Charles Wescott, of Colorado; John and Louis S. are in Arizona engaged in mining; Benson died when 16 years of age.

JOHN MEIGS, dealer in stoves, hardware and tinware, Elkhorn: business was established in 1854: Mr. M. was born in Albany, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1819; is the son of Hannah M. and John Meigs, who were also natives of Albany. Mr. M. learned the tinner's trade in Albany, and went to New York City in 1841, where he worked at his trade until 1847, when he came to Elk- horn. Wis. ; remained but a short time, when he went to Milwaukee, where he worked at his trade unti! 1854, when he returned to Elkhorn and opened a hardware and tin store. In 1862, he closed out his stock, and went West: he spent between two and three years in Virginia City. Nev., working at his trade; then went to California, in 1864, and the same year returned to Elkhorn, and again commenced business in the former line, which he has continued to this date: he carries a stock of $2,500. He was married, at Chardon, Ohio, in 1853, to Miss Ellen Corbin. Mrs. M. was born in Chardon; they have one daughter Alice.

THOMAS W. MOREFIELD, proprietor of bakery and restaurant and dealer in fancy groceries, gloves, inittens. notions. Elkhorn: business established in August, 1870; car- ries a full stock. Mr. M. is the son of Thomas and Hannah Morefield; was born in Wal- worth Co., Wis., March 18. 1849; his father is a native of England, and the mother of

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Nova Scotia. They emigrated to Walworth County in 1848; the family remained only two years in the town of Walworth, and then moved to the town of Linn. where the father still re sides, the mother having died in 1863. When the subject of this sketch was only 14 years of age he enlisted as a private in Company F. 40th W. V. I. for 100 days; at the expiration of that time he soon afterward re-enlisted in the Ist Wis. Heavy Artillery. and served until the close of the war: in 1864, he met with an accident which caused a permanent injury of the left side; he was een- fined to the general hospital at Memphis, Tenn .. six weeks. While at Ft. Elsworth, Va., he re- ceived an injury in the left eye, which caused his removal to the hospital at Ft. Lyons, where he submitted to an operation which only partially relieved the difficulty. His injuries were such at that time which finds him permanently injured as to his left side, and with a shattered constitution, to constantly remind him of his youthful patriotism. For some years after his re- turn from the army, he was unfitted for active business. In 1870, having partially recovered, he came to Elkhorn aad commenced his present business. He was married, March 18, 1871, in Elkhorn, to Miss Genora Wales, daughter of Frederick Wales. Mrs. Morefield was born in Plymouth, Chenango Co., N. Y .; they have three children --- Alice G., Rose L. and Olive.

WILLIAM H. MORRISON. Register of Deeds of Walworth Co., Wis .; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., near Utica. July 19, 1837: is the son of John and Rachel Morrison; his parents were natives of Scotland, and emigrated to the United States, in early youth: when twelve years of age. young Morrison moved to Troy, Walworth Co., Wis., in 1849. He began his education in the common schools and ended in Milton College. Wis .. under Prof. W. C. Whit- ford. On the completion of his studies, he engaged in farming in the town of Troy; he was elected Register of Deeds of Walworth County in the fall of 1878 for the term of 1879-80; re- elected in ISSO; elected Secretary of Walworth County Agricultural Association Jan. 9. 1878. and re-elected four times since, being the present incumbent. Mr. M. has proven one of the most efficient Secretaries the association has ever had; his skill and ingenuity in advertising the annual fairs, the general fairness and increasing diligence displayed in the discharge of the duties of the office, has placed Mr. M. among the leading executive officers of agricultural associations of the State. He was married, in the town of La Grange. of this county, Sept. 24, 1862, to Miss Julia M. V. Heath, daughter of Charles Heath. Mrs. M. was born in Walworth County ; her family was one of the pioneer families of Troy; they have two children -- J. Howard, aged 16. and Birdie M. E. H., aged 10. Mr. M. has one of the largest and finest farms in the county. It consists of 480 acres, situated in the town of Troy, on Secs. 8. 9 and 28. Since his election to the office of Register of Deeds. he has made his home in Elkhorn.

NORRIS & SON. dealers in hardware, stoves and tinware, Elkhorn: business established in 1867. John A. Norris. senior partner of the above firm. was born in England and came to America when fifteen years of age: made his home in Cayuga Co .. N. Y., for a short time, and then moved to Summit Co., Ohio. From there. he came to Walworth Co., Wis., in 1847, where he engaged in farming, which business he continued twenty years: in 1867. he moved to the village of Elkhorn, and the following year. 1868, he began business in the hardware line. and has continued it to this date. Mr. Norris was married. in Ohio, in 1846, to Miss Julia M. Richardson, daughter of Daniel Richardson. Mrs. Norris was born in Connecticut: they have five children-John E., William R., Harley C. (married Miss Alice W. Allen, and is the junior partner of this firm). Daniel and Elizabeth (who is the wife of George Spoor. of Burlington, Racine Co. ).

HARLEY C. NORRIS, junior partner of the firm of Norris & Son, was born in the town of Sugar Creek. Walworth Co., Wis., Feb. 11. 1851; is the son of John A. and Julia (Richard- son) Norris; he was educated in the common schools of Elkhorn, and clerked for his father till March. 1880, when he was admitted as a partner in the hardware business. He was married. June 10, 1879. in Elkhorn, to Miss Alice W. Allen, daughter of Lucins Allen, Mrs. Norris was born in Troy. Wis .: they have one son Edwin L.

ALBERT OGDEN, retired farmer: P. O. Elkhorn; he was born in the town of Walton, Delaware Co., N. Y., Feb. 1. 1815; is the son of Zenas and Julia Marsh Ogden: he received a common school education in his native town, and, in 1836; moved to Wisconsin, remaining at Milwaukee until February, 1837, when he came to Walworth County, and. in company with Mr. Hollis Latham, located at the geographical center of the county, now the site of the village

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 77

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