History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 79

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 79

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).

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

JAMES L. TUBBS, surveyor. He is a native of the town of Augusta. Oneida Co., N. Y. ; is the son of Samuel and Polly ( Frost) Tubbs, and was born Sept. 10. 1824. When 9 years of age, he moved with his parents to Victor, Ontario Co., N. Y. He received a common-school edneation. Since 1857, has made his home in Elkhorn.

REV. J. W. VAHEY, resident priest at St. Patrick's Church, Elkhorn. Wis., was appointed to his present parish in 187S. He was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, on the 15th of April, 1829, and is the son of James and Mary Vahey. In the spring of 1848, he emigrated to this country and entered the Lazarist Seminary, at St. Louis, Mo., in which he finished his ecclesiastical studies, and in which, for three years subsequent. he taught Latin, Greek, phil- osophy and the Holy Scriptures. From there he went to Buffalo, N. Y .; studied law in the office of Austin & Seroggs; returned to Missouri, was admitted to the practice of law by Judge Stone. and practiced his profession for some four years in the Ninth Judicial District of Missouri. He then went to Dubuque, Iowa, and. after nine months, during which he taught philosophy, was or- dained priest by Bishop Loras. He founded the Ft. Dodge Catholic colony, built a church and residence there, and entered on arduous missionary labor. During the war. he was Chaplain at the Alton, Ill .. military prison, and did good service to the Union cause. In 1564, he came to Wisconsin to teach in the seminary, but scarcity of priests forced Bishop Henni to appoint him to the Waukesha parish Father Vahey has been one of the most effective and vigorous members of the priesthood. During his ministry. he built eighteen churches, five parochial residences and two large schoolhouses. In addition to this, his pen was not idle. for several well-known publications are from his pen-" A Priest Among Scientists," which is now being published in New York; " Julia, or Sister Agnes." a charming novel; "The Four Seasons." a controversy with D. W. Spaulding, Episcopal minister; and "Lectures on Scientific Subjects." which were published within the last seven years. In polities, he is Republican, and goes in for universal freedom and toleration, allowing each one to support and profess belief in the re- ligion of his choice. Know-Nothingism he opposed, with all the energy of his soul, as unchristian and detrimental to the growth and spirit of our country, and hence he may be classed with Ste- phen A. Douglas, of Illinois, and H. A. Wise, of Virginia. as stamping out this monster. In Wisconsin, there is no man more respected by all parties than Father Vahey. Long may he continue his usefulness at Elkhorn, and enjoy the grand church he has built there.

CHARLES WALES, farmer, P. O. Elkhorn: has 200 acres of land situated on Secs. 5 and 8, town of Geneva. Mr. W. was born in the town of Plymouth, Chenango Co., N. Y., Oct. 22. 1818: is the son of George and Sally (Crain) Wales. He was brought up a farmer; was mar- ried, in Cortland Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1848, to Eliza A. Crandall, daughter of Richard Crandall. Mrs. W. was born in the town of Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y. They have four children- Ruth E. is a resident of San Juan, South America, and is engaged in teaching; the second is Rosa P. ; the third is Belle B .. now the wife of Clinton Dewing. of Mitchell, D. T .: the young- est, Charles MI., is a student of the State University of Madison, and is fitting himself for the ealling of mechanical engineer. Mr. W. came to Wisconsin in 1845; all of his children were born in this State. He settled on the farm which he still owns, in the town of Geneva. Mrs. W. died April 6, 1867. Mr. W. has served as Assessor of Geneva one term, and Supervisor two terms. He was married again, this time at Elkhorn, on Dec. 20. 1869. to Lorahamia, daughter of Elijah Butler. Mrs. W. was born in Maine. They had one child, named Jennette. Mr. W. mnoved to Elkhorn in 1875, where he has continued to reside, still conducting his farm.

FRED A. WARNING, proprietor of Warning's Hall. and dealer in groceries, provisions and liquors, Elkhorn; for description of hall, see history of Elkhorn. Mr. Warning was born in Mecklenberg-Schwerin. Germany, Dec. 3, 1832: is the son of F. A. and Anna L. S. Warn- ing. He lost his father in his youth, and in 1851, emigrated to America with his mother: made his home in Racine, Wis., where he kept a barber-shop till 1856. In 1855, he came to Elkhorn and purchased some lots, on which he built a wooden building, and, in November, 1856. moved his family to Elkhorn. Mr. Warning opened a barber-shop and grocery at his new place of business. In 1866, he quit the barber business for good: made a trip to Germany in March of that year, and remained till July, when he returned to America. He continued the grocery business at the old stand till 1873, when he built the substantial and commodious brick building which he now occupies as a store, saloon and public hall: the building is eighty deep by forty-

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

four feet in width, and cost $10,000. He was married, in the town of Caledonia, Racine Co .. Wis .. May 17, 1860, to Miss Caroline Schmidt, daughter of Carl Schmidt. Mrs. Warning's father was Postmaster at the county line station, and was killed by the cars in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Warning had nine children - Mary L., Lucy A., Frances S., Minnie M .; Frederick A. (died in childhood), Charlotte F. (died when 4 years of age), Annie I. (living), Caroline (died in in- fancy), Ida H. (living). Mr. Warning's hall is a popular place of resort for parties, theaters and entertainments.

JOSEPH PHILBRICK WEBSTER, deceased, was born on the banks of the Blue Merri- mack, in Manchester, Hillsboro Co., N. H., in 1820. His early educational advantages were those of all New England boys whose parents were in what were called moderate circumstances. He attended the common schools and acquired a good English education. He afterward grad- uated from the Pembroke Academy, New Hampshire, then under the charge of Isaac Kinsman. The late J. W. Webster, of Kenosha, and Rev. Dr. William H. Ryder, of Chicago, were his class- mates. He early showed an inordinate love for music, and mastered all that his humble sur- roundings would allow of musical knowledge. He played the violin, the flute and the fife almost intuitively, and was at an early age a musical prodigy in the section where he lived. At fifteen years of age, he played all instruments he had ever seen, with facility, but knew not one note from another. At this age, he began his tuition in the New England Singing School, which in one term ripened him into a successful rudimental teacher. Beyond that he never could tell how he became the master of harmony and melody he was. It is known that he taught the ru- diments in New Hampshire while yet a boy, and that in 1840 he came to Boston. At that time, he had never seen a piano forte, or other keyed instrument with a finger register. Under the tuition of Dr. Lowell Mason, George James Webb and B. F. Baker, he remained three years, mastering, meanwhile, the science of harmony, counterpoint and thorough bass, and the tech nique of the piano and organ. Thus fortified, the young musician went to New York in 1843. where he fell in with Bernard Covert, one of the noted tenor singers of that time. With him he began his career as a concertist. They sang for a season in New York and vicinity with suc- cess. Subsequently, Mr. Webster removed to Connecticut, where he lived six years as a teacher of music. The loss of his voice, in 1848, restricted his musical work to instrumental practice and composition. He became the leader of a musical troupe well remembered by all New En- glanders of that time-the Euphonians-who, under his leadership and through his composi- tions, shared the popular favor with the Hutchinsons, their only rivals in their special depart- ment at that time. From 1850 to 1855, he resided in the South, where he pursued his profes- sion as a music-teacher, and imbibed that intense hatred of slavery which broke out in his war songs years after. He returned to the North in 1855, and first became known to the West as a musical composer of merit through the publication of some ballads by an Indianapolis house. He had already won an Eastern reputation as a ballad writer, prior to his living in the South. The well-known music firms of Firth, Pond & Co., of New York, and Oliver Ditson, of Boston, had published sufficient of his compositions to establish him as a favorite composer. He at once took a leading position as the song writer of the West. He made his home, with his wife and two children, in Racine, Wis., a few years later, and afterward removed to Elkhorn, where he resided till his death, which occurred Jan. 18, 1875. During his later years, while living in Elkhorn, his genius blossomed and bore fruit that has rendered him immortal, and ranks him as one of the most exalted song writers of his time. His works were voluminous, and covered the whole realm of sentimental song. No chord of the heart he failed to touch, no hope left un- inspired, no grief unassnaged. The most commonplace versification, when wedded to his har- monies, glowed with his own inspiration and became alive with a warmth of expression and a depth of meaning that was not there before. "The Sweet By and By " shows the power of cre- ative genius. Pleasant verses, but not remarkable either for originality of idea or felicity of expression, have become the heart song of hope to the civilized world, and Webster, from the ethereal heights, may, perchance, hear his own songs sung in all lands and in many tongues- his heritage to the tired soul through all the ages. But an imperfect list of his productions shows his wonderful versatility, and undoubted proof of the high order of his genins, as evinced in their continued and increasing popularity as the years go by. Following are the titles of a few, destined to the perennial life which true genius breathes into its work: "Green Old Hills

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

of our Country's Glory; " "There's a Change in the Things I Love: " " I'm Standing By Your Grave, Mother; " " Lorena: " " Hattie Bell:" " Willie's Grave:" " Home is Sad Without a Mother;" " Little Frock and Shoes. " War songs-" Brave Men. Beholdt your Fallen Chief: " " Brother and Fallen Dragoon:" "Scott and the Veteran: " " New Star Spangled Banner; " "Our Coun- try's in Danger: " " Fill Up the Ranks, Boys;" " Irish Volunteer." These are but a few of his efforts up to the close of the war. After the death of Lincoln. Mr. Webster wrote his largest. work-a grand cantata of the rebellion, in which he shows his great patriotism and his great sorrow at the loss of the nation's savior. After this, his compositions were strictly ballads, as before, with the exception of one Sunday school work and a light operetta, entitled the " Beati- · tudes." His songs, " Under the Beautiful Stars." " When I Lie Dreaming," " Touches of Little Hands," " I Stand on Memory's Golden Shore," "Little Maud," "The Old Man Dreams," " Don't Be Sorrowful, Darling." "Summer Sweets Shall Bloom Again." " It Will be Summer Time By and By," and " The Sweet By and By," all speak of the author's ability, genius and power to touch the hearts and inspire the souls of all music loving people, and they need not the assistance of any tongne or pen. The song " Golden Stair " spread like wildfire all over the land. and "Drifting Into Harbor" met a like favorable reception. "The Unfinished Prayer," "Oh, How Fast the Days are Passing," and "I am Weary, Let me Rest." are also selling at more rapid rates than ever before. Space does not allow a more extended sketch of this gifted man. The common lot of men came to him in January. 1875. He left a sorrow-stricken family, con- sisting of a wife and four children, to mourn his death, and in the hearts of all who knew him a heaviness that only his own great faith in the sweet by and by can lighten. His memory is embalmed beyond chance of desecration in the warm and grateful hearts of a loving people. His family still live in Elkhorn Mrs. Webster, with their four children. Joseph Haydn, Mary, Louie Beethoven and Frederick Handel. The three boys were named out of his great love and admiration for the old musical masters.

BELDEN WEED, retired farmer, has a farm of 160 aeres in the town of La Fayette, Wal- worth Co. Mr. Weed was born in Albany Co., N. Y., March 31, 1805; is the son of Justus and Lucy Weed: was brought up a farmer. He moved to Greene Co .. N. Y., in 1855. where he remained only one year, and then moved to Walworth Co., Wis., and settled in the town of La Fayette, where he was engaged in farming till 1878, when he retired from active work and moved to the village of Elkhorn.

STEPHEN G. WEST, farmer: residence and P. O. Elkhorn Village. Mr. West has two farms, one lying in the town of Sugar Creek, which is conducted by his son, Walter A .: the other is situated in Elkhorn, where he resides. the aggregate acreage being 380 aeres. The subject of this sketeh is a native of North Norwich. Chenango Co., N. Y .; he is the son of Ste- phen G. and Rebecca (Pike) West, and was born Nov. 5. 1826. In 1839. he came to Wisconsin, in company with Mr. S. B. Edwards, and joined his father and brothers in the town of La Fayette, who had already started a home in that town. He received a common-school education. and was brought up on a farm ; he was married, at Troy Center, Dec. 31, 1852, to Miss Martha A., daughter of Nelson Lake. Mrs. West was born in Otsego Co., N. Y. Immediately after his marriage. he made his home on his farm of 120 aeres in the town of La Fayette; continued his residence at that place till 1856, when he sold out and bought a farm of 200 aeres in the town of Sugar Creek. He pursued his business of farming in that town till 1867. when he bought a tract of 353 aeres in the village of Elkhorn, where he has made his home to this date ( ISS1). Mr. and Mrs. West have had eight children . De Witt C. is a graduate of the Indiana Dental College, Indianapolis, Ind., of the elass of ISSI (March): married Miss Cora Goff, danghter of Dr. Goff. and is prac- ticing dentistry at Elkhorn; Walter A. married Miss Rosabelle Fitch: he was a teacher for sev- eral years, and is now managing his father's farm in the town of Sugar Creek; Helen R. and Charles L. are at home; Stephen G .. Jr., is now a student of Beloit College : Penn. born the day Mr. Lincoln was assassinated and died on the day Mr. Garfield was shot. aged 16 years; Cora died at the age of 9 years; Hattie O. is at home. Mr. West has served two years as Su- pervisor, and two years as Assessor of the town of La Fayette, and one term as Assessor of Sugar Creek: has been the nominee of the Democratic party of his distriet for mem- ber of Assembly, and was defeated with the balance of the tieket. Sinee residing in Elkhorn, he has served several years as Clerk of the Elkhorn School Board. He was also Secretary of the

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Walworth County Agricultural Society for nine years in succession, and still holds the important position of superintendent of floral-hall.

JAYNES B. WHEELER. District Attorney of Walworth County. Wis .: was elected in 1879; Mr. W. is a native of Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vt. : is the son of Lyman and Sally Wheeler. and was born Feb. 28, 1853; he received an academic education at the Dean Academy of Franklin, Mass .. and at the Oneida Academy, of Oneida, N. Y., and took a regular course at the Albany Law School; graduated in 1876. and was admitted to the bar of the State of New York May 17, 1876. Mr. Wheeler eame to Elkhorn June 19, 1876. and began the practice of law: Feb. 19, 1877, he formed a law partnership with Mr. H. F. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Wheeler, which has continued to this date. Mr. W. was married, at Maquoketa. Iowa, to Miss Ella F. Shaw, daughter of D. C. Shaw. Mrs. Wheeler was born in Maquoketa, Iowa; they have one child- - a daughter, Daisy S.

HORATIO S. WINSOR, of the law firm of Winsor & Sprague, attorneys at law. Elkhorn, Wis. Mr. W. is a native of Rhode Island; is the son of Matthewson and Nancy P. Winsor; was born Dec. 21. 1815: while quite young, he moved with his parents to Ontario Co., N. Y .: received his education at the common schools and at the seminary of Lima, N. Y .; he com- menced the study of law in the East, and, in 1839, eame to Elkhorn, Wis., arriving at this place Nov. 15, he pursued his law studies in the office of Edward Elderkin; was admitted to the bar in the Territorial District Court, Judge Irvin presiding; was admitted to the Territorial Supreme Court of Wisconsin, and subsequently. to the Supreme Court of this State and to the United States Circuit Courts. He was elected District Attorney for Walworth County in an early day, and served one term as County Treasurer; in 1864, he was elected to the Legislature of 1865 from Walworth County; in 1850, he formed a law partnership with Mr. H. F. Smith, which was continued until 1869; in 1880, he formed the existing partnership with Mr. E. H. Sprague. Mr. W. was married, Jan. 1, 1846, in the village of Elkhorn, Wis., to Miss Maria L. Husted. Mrs. W. was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y .; they have three sons; one daughter, Ella. died at the age of 18 years; the sons are Curtis H., practicing attorney of Sioux Falls. Dak., married to Miss Josie Benedict: Frank H., who is an attorney of Mitchell, Dak., and Edward F .. who is a clerk in the United States Land Office, at Mitchell, Dak. Mr. W. has a farm of 360 acres, situated in the town of Delavan; he was the second attorney to establish himself in prac- tice at the place, and now ranks as one of the lawyers of the county.

CHRISTOPHER WISWELL. retired farmer, and President of the First National Bank of Elkhorn. He settled in the county in June. 1840 ; has been President of the bank since January, 1870. Mr. Wiswell is a native of the town of Dalton, Berkshire Co., Mass. ; he is the son of Henry and Betsy (Salter) Wiswell, and was born Jan. 1, 1813. When the subject of this sketch was 4 years of age, the family moved to Chenango Co., N. Y., town of Norwich. where he was brought up on a farm. In 1840, he moved to the town of La Fayette, Walworth Co., Wis., and engaged in farming: had a farm of 247 acres: he sold out and moved to the village of Elkhorn in 1865; here he bought a farm of 40 acres, which he still retains; besides, he still has 80 aeres in the town of La Fayette. Mr. Wiswell was married. in Norwich. N. Y., Aug. 13. 1838, to Miss Almira West, daughter of Stephen G. West. Mrs. Wiswell was born in the town of Sherburne. Chenango Co .. N. Y .; they have seven children --- Jennett is the wife of William Elsworth, of La Fayette: Henry C. is married and living in Manistee. Mich. ; Charles was a member of the 3d Wis. Cavalry, and died at Little Rock. Ark., in 1864: Phillip S. married Louisa Harriman. and resides in La Fayette: Francis A .. now Mrs. E. Rouse, of Michigan: Jennie is the wife of William L. Holden. of Merrill. Wis .: Jessie is a teacher by profession; George married Clarissa Perry. and is employed as a commercial traveler for a Milwaukee house. and resides at Elkhorn. Mr. Wiswell has served four years as Supervisor from La Fayette: was a member of the Board of County Commissioners under the county system of five Commissioners. He has also served as Supervisor of the town of Elkhorn several years.

GEORGE W. WYLIE, Sheriff of Walworth Co., Wis .. and now serving his third term. Mr. W. is a native of the town of Westmoreland, Oneida Co., N. Y .: is the son of Robert and Susan (Hemsted) Wylie; was born April 55, 1826: was student at Kirtland Academy. Ohio, for two years; he eame with his parents to Walworth Co., Wis., in 1842; the family located in the town of La Fayette, where George W. grew to manhood on his father'a farm, receiving his educa-

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tion in the common schools of the day: he was elected Sheriff of Walworth County for the term of 1861-62, and made his home at Elkhorn: he served until September, 1862, when he resigned to accept the position of Quartermaster of the 28th W. V. I., and served two years in the late war: then, on account of physical disability, was obliged to resign his commission and return home. He was elected Sheriff again. this time for the term 1865-66; at the expiration of his term of office, he returned to his farm in La Fayette: he has 276 acres and one of the best farms in the county. He remained on his farm until Jannary, 1881, when, having been re-elected Sheriff, he again removed to Elkhorn and entered upon and discharged the duties of his office: he has served twenty years as Assessor of the town of La Fayette, and Town Clerk five years. He was married. in the town of Lyons, of this county, June 7, 1846, by William P. Lyon, now a Judge of the Supreme Court, to Jane Bristol, daughter of Henry Bristol. Mrs. W. was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y .; they have four children-Susan, now Mrs. George W. Fairchild, of Elkhorn: Elizabeth, now the wife of Charles Knapp, of Hebron, Ill .; Nettie and Halbert E .. Mr. W. is an efficient officer, a worthy citizen and genial gentleman.

GEORGE H. YOUNG, M. D., physician and surgeon, Elkhorn; he came to Elkhorn Sept. 3, 1843, and established himself in practice: he has been in practice in the place now over thirty-eight years-a period longer by many years than any other resident physician can claim. He is a native of Duanesburgh, Schenectady Co., N. Y .: was the son of George and Nancy (Waldron) Young: was born March S. 1817: after completing his studies in the common branches, he began to study medicine under Dr. B. F. Joslyn, a regular physician and a pro- fessor of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y .; he then took a course at the Fairfield College and a final course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Castleton, Vt .. from which he grad- uated in 1837. when not quite 21 years of age; he then commenced the practice of his profession, at Guilderland Albany Co., N. Y .: after one year's practice at this place, he removed to Seho- harie Co., N. Y., where he practiced four years; then, in September. 1843, he came to Elkhorn, where he has continued to practice to this date. He was married, in March, 1838, in the town of Sharon, Schohaire Co., N. Y., to Miss Hester, daughter of Peter Hilton. Mrs. Y. is a native of Schoharie County; they have five children-Anna is the wife of Thomas J. Hayes, of Maquo keta, Iowa: Mary is now Mrs H. F. Phillips, of the same place: Hester is the wife of Dr. M. L. Saunders, of Thompson, Ill .; George H. is a physician of Elkhorn: he graduated at the Chicago Medical College in 1881; Dr. George H., Jr., was married to Miss Laura Potter; the youngest child is now Mrs. J. S. Brown, residing in Elkhorn. Dr. Yonng has never been a poli- tician: the only office he was ever known to accept was that of Chairman of the town of the Board of Elkhorn.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

TOWN OF EAST TROY.

ORGANIZATION.

East Troy, the extreme northeastern town in Walworth County, and known in the Govern- mental Survey as "Town 4, Range 18," was organized by act of Legislature March 21, 1843. From 1838, the time when the five original towns of the county were formed, up to this date, the territory comprised in the present towns of Troy and East Troy (Towns 4. Ranges 17 and 18 east) constituted a single town, known as the town of Troy.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The scenery of East Troy is varied and very picturesque, the northern portion, in the vicin- ity of Crooked Lake, being broken and hilly: the southern and western, level or gently rolling; and the eastern. rolling.

The soil in the higher portions is mixed with clay, and, on the lower and level portions, a rich, dark loam.

It is watered in the central part by Honey Creek, which enters the town on Section 30, runs in a general easterly direction. with a northerly bend on Sections 23 and 24, and leaves the town on Section 25. Crooked Lake, Potter's Lake and Army Lake are in the northern part of the town, and Spring Brook runs through the southern part.

Crooked Lake covers an area of 800 acres. Its southern extremity is on Section 18. It extends over the northwest corner of Section 17. thence diagonally to northeast corner of Sec- tion 8, spreading over the northern half of Section 9, and southwest portion of Section 4. It is extremely crooked, as its name indicates. On the southeast shore. it is wooded, with occasional swamps; on the northwest, there are fine farms, that of Seymour Brooks -- Lake View farm-be- ing at its northern outlet. The old mills were situated between the two forks of the stream that formed the outlet. Buck Island is in the northern part of the lake; two small ones, called Twin Islands, near the western shore, in Section 8: and Floating Island, near its center. The line of its shore, particularly the eastern, is very irregular, and on Section 9, it constitutes a series of deep indentations. The lake is crossed by a bridge at the western extremity of West Bay, on Section 18, its narrowest point, and its waters, before finding their outlet at the north- ern extremity, form a small detached lake, or pond, on Section 4, known as Mill Lake.

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 79

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