USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume I > Part 54
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
Mr. Eames was born in Spring Prairie township, this county, July 20. 1872, and is the son of Francis II., Sr., and Jenette S. (Smith ) Eames. The
588
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
father was born in Verona, Oneida county, New York, on December 18, 1821. He was the son of Havilah E. and Philatheta ( Warner) Eames. The Eanes ancestry is traceable back to the famous "Mayflower," when the Pil- grim fathers founded Massachusetts Bay colony. Later members of the family aided in the struggle of the colonists for independence. Havilah Eames was born in Massachusetts, September 18, 1791, and he devoted his life to farming. When a young man he moved to New York, where he spent his remaining days, dying on July 6, 1840, when forty-nine years of age. His wife was born in Massachusetts, June 6, 1791, and her death occurred in New York on May 6, 1838. Francis H. Eames, Sr., spent his early life on a farm in the state of New York, and after attending the common schools he took a college course, later taught school several terms. In June, 1843, he came to Wisconsin Territory and purchased a tract of wild land in Spring Prairie township, which he developed into a good farm, and here established a comfortable home through his industry and perseverance, being known as one of the substantial pioneer agriculturists of this locality.
Francis H. Eames, Sr., and Jenette Smith were married on the 28th day of June. 1848. She was born in Rochester, New York, April 13, 1831. and was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Puffer) Smith. Her father was also born in the Empire state and there he engaged in business as a lumber dealer. Mr. Smith came to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in 18441. and there engaged in the lumber business until his death. He becanie one of the substantial and influential citizens of that place, highly respected by all who knew him. His parents were both natives of Germany. Mrs. Smith, who also was of German parentage, was born in New York, and she spent her last days in Wisconsin, where her death occurred in 1884 at the age of seventy-nine years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a woman of many praiseworthy attributes of head and heart.
Four children were born to Francis H. Eames, Sr., and wife, namely : Olivia M., born October 6, 1849, died February 22, 1860; Alfred W., born January 5, 1852, is now in the Hawaiian Islands, where he owns and operates an extensive pineapple cannery, employing about two hundred and fifty people, and he does an extensive business. He owns a vast tract of land and raises great quantities of pineapples, and has accumulated a handsome competency there. He had resided at Los Angeles, California, since 1874 until about the time Hawaii and the rest of the Sandwich Islands were annexed by the United States. The next child in order of birth in the family of Francis H. Eames was Ira F., whose birth occurred February 3, 1861, and he died April 28, 1870, when nine years old ; Francis H., Jr., of this sketch, was the young- est of the family.
589
WALWORTHI COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
The father of the above-named children developed a fine farm from the wild land and in connection with general farming he made a specialty of rais- ing Merino sheep and short-horn cattle, his fine stock ranking with the best in the county. He started in life at the foot of the ladder, but he overcame many obstacles and won a large degree of material success by his close appli- cation and honest dealings. He manifested a commendable interest in every- thing pertaining to the upbuilding of the community, and he won the confi- dence and high regard of those who knew him. His death occurred on May 30, 1893. His widow now resides in Elkhorn with her son, Francis H., Jr.
Francis H. Eames, Jr., spent his boyhood, until he was fourteen years of age on his father's farm, then came to Elkhorn and attended high school, remaining in the Elkhorn schools four years. After leaving high school he went to Chicago and took a commercial course. During vacations in Elkhorn he worked in the office of the Independent, where he learned the printer's trade, having begun in a boy's place and worked up, becoming an excellent compositor in due course of time. After finishing in the commercial school in Chicago, he took a position in the advertising department of the Chicago Inter-Occan. A few months later he took a position as bookkeeper in the John M. Smythe store of that city, remaining there until 1893, when his father died, upon which event he came home and spent the summer on the farm. In the fall following he went to Elkhorn and was again in the office of the Independent, remaining there until the fall of 1894, when he and his mother went to California. In February, 1896, he returned home to look after the place, the barns having been burned down, and he remained there during the years 1896 and 1897. On August 12, 1897, he married Anna Ruth Bradley, daughter of Henry and Jane (Mallory ) Bradley, a well- known family of Elkhorn, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. After his marriage he returned to the old homestead and in the spring of 1898 took charge of the same. In 1899 he purchased a one-third interest in the Elkhorn Independent with M. T. Park and Eugene Kenney, but he continued to conduct the farm until 1900. Mr. Park had received an ap- pointment as superintendent of a state institution and Mr. Eames came into the office to succeed to his duties. On November 6, 1902, Messrs. Park and Eames bought out Mr. Kenney and they published the paper about two years, then, on March 1, 1904. J. H. Snyder, Jr., purchased Mr. Park's interest, and Messrs. Eames and Snyder have been joint owners of the paper since.
Mr. Eames still retains the farm, but he has lived in Elkhorn since 1899. He has done much toward increasing the prestige of the Independent, which is recognized as one of the leading papers of southern Wisconsin, making it a
590
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
newsy, bright, valuable advertising medium, a peer of any of its type in mechanical appearance and editorial power, and its circulation is constantly increasing. It has long wielded a potent influence in local affairs.
Politically, Mr. Eames is a Republican and has done much for the good of the party in this locality. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. In May, 1909, he was appointed a member of the board of educa- tion and is now the president of the board. In 1905 and again in 1906 he was secretary of the Walworth County Old Settlers' Society.
Mr. and Mrs. Eames are the parents of two children, Clifford Bradley, born November 5, 1898, and Claude Francis, born June 19, 1900.
Personally, Mr. Eames is singularly obliging and accommodating, a genial friendly gentleman, having faith in his fellow men, public spirited and al- ways ready to do his full share in furthering the interests of his county.
THE WISCONSIN BUTTER AND CHEESE COMPANY.
One of the most popular and widely known business firms in Walworth county is the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company, with head offices in Waukesha, Wisconsin, being the largest and best equipped concern of its kind in this locality, if not in this part of the state, in fact, there are com- paratively few creamery factories anywhere that equal it.
About 1890 Messrs. Harris and West, together with George E. Puffer and George Harris, formed the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company, a corporation with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Puffer and George B. Harris went to Waukesha and took charge of the plant there, while J. 11. Harris and Mr. West remained at Elkhorn in charge of the plant here, the former being president of the company and the latter vice-president. They operated at one time twenty-seven cream- eries.
Their original plant at Elkhorn was near the fair grounds, but in 1904 they removed to near the station of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, in order to secure better side track and shipping facili- ties, and there they erected their present commodious and substantial plant. a model indeed of an up-to-date factory for dairy products, modern in every appointment, sanitary and convenient. The building is of yellow pressed brick and it is so handsomely finished that travelers have frequently mis- taken it for a hotel. Even the huge smokestack is ornamental, being neatly decorated with designs made of various colored brick with the letters W. B.
591
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
& C. Co. showing plainly up and down the smoke stack. Along the front are two driveways where every morning long lines of teams are drawn up to unload the milk that is hauled in from all directions. Rapidly the milk is received, weighed. a sample taken for testing in the chemical labora- tory and then poured out to run in a constant flow to the large receptacles on the floor below.
All through the factory runs a thorough system for handling the milk, making it into butter. Neufchatel and cream cheese, casein, condensed milk, or shipping the cream. Various machines and appliances are needed for such work and they have installed the most approved and latest designs. Power is furnished from four high-pressure boilers of one hundred and fifty horse power each, and two other boilers of lesser power. They also have a good system of cold storage rooms and coolers. Water to operate the plant is drawn from a deep drilled well. They have their own ice plant and a tower for cooling water. . \ hydraulic elevator facilitates the work of the factory. For the convenience and cleanliness of the employes of the factory. there are toilet and dressing rooms equipped with shower baths.
Here is to be found a complete battery of cream separators, also large Pasteurizers. A large copper vacuum retort, costing three thousand dollars, is used for condensing milk, where the air is drawn out, forming such a vacuum that milk will boil at a temperature of one hundred and twelve degrees. The condensed milk is either canned in small tins or put in bulk into large cans, cooled in the coolers where fifty cans at a time are revolved by machinery in cold water until cold enough to ship to the ice cream factories. From the skimmed milk casein is made, or dried curds. which is then put through a dry kiln and thoroughly dried, then shipped away to make sizing, glazing and glue.
In its earlier stage of manufacture it resembles the Neufchatel cheese. of which this company makes a most excellent quality, which is very popular : that made here is the Elkhorn brand and that made at the Waukesha plant is the Arrow brand.
This concern manufactures about fifteen hundred pounds of butter a day at the present time: they ship a car load of cream daily to Chicago: they handle as high as eighty to ninety thousand pounds of milk daily, and their business is constantly increasing.
For shipping facilities they have a cement platform along the rear end of the building. from which their products are wheeled directly into the cars, lined up on the tracks to receive them. It would be hard to find a more thoroughly equipped or systematically managed plant of this nature than that of the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company.
592
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
ANDREW KULL.
A prominent and well known citizen of Bloomfield township. Walworth county, is Andrew Kull. a man who has led an eminently honorable and useful life and achieved a marked degree of success in his chosen vocation and at the same time has benefited the community of which he is a native, and, one may truthfully add, a pioneer, having spent the sixty-seven years of his terrestrial existence in this locality, which he has seen advance from a wilderness to one of the choice farming sections of the state, and in which development he has played no inconspicuous part. He is now president of one of the leading local banks.
Mr. Kull's birth occurred in Bloomfield township, this county, on April 29. 1845. He is the son of John Michael and Cynthia (Slafter) Kull. a worthy oll family, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. These parents having come here about 1837, were thus among the very earliest settlers of the county. The subject's mother died when he was only about four months old, and he was taken by his father's brother, Andrew Kull, and wife and reared in their home, they having no children of their own, and they became very strongly attached to the motherless little one and cared for it as they would have done their own child. Finally gaining the father's consent. they adopted the child, and he grew up on their farm in the north edge of Bloomfield township.
Andrew Kull. who adopted the subject of this sketch, was the son of John Michael Kull. Sr .. of Wurtemberg, Germany, in which place his birth occurred in 1808. There he grew to manhood and married Gertrude Pfrom- mer, and they emigrated to America before the year 1830. They came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1837 and entered land in the north side of Bloomfield township, and they became prosperous for these days, especially in a new country, where settlers were few and money scarce. The elder Kull's death occurred in 1887, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1872.
Andrew Kull, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew to manhood when the roads in this country were scarcely more than Indian trails and when wolves and other wild animals were abundant, and he recalls many interesting reminiscences of the early days. He attended A. W. Moody's select school at Lake Geneva, and on December 14. 1861. he was united in marriage with Ann Reitbrock, daughter of Adolph and Christena Reitbrock. She was born in Kenosha county, of which her father was among the first settlers, her parents having come from Germany, in which country Mr.
ANDREW KULL
IF B.
ASTOR LE TILDEN FOUNDA
593
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Reitbrock had been a goldsmith. He established his home here amid adverse conditions, such as having to haul his supply of flour and other necessities from Milwaukee, at first on a hand-sled. But that was not so trying as hav- ing to carry a sack of flour from Chicago on the shoulder, as AAndrew Kull, who adopted the subject, had to do.
After his marriage the subject of this sketch continued farming on the place where he was reared, prospering at sheep raising. often keeping large droves, and he has continued raising sheep in connection with general farm- ing. He early concluded from his experience as a wool grower that he got no benefit from a tariff on wool and he became widely known as an opponent of such a tariff and engaged in public speaking in many places in numerous states against such a tariff, of which the subject made a deep study, also of wool dying and manufacturing, becoming one of the best informed men along this line that southern Wisconsin has ever produced, and, being a forceful and entertaining speaker, he always had an interested audience. He has long manifested an interest in public affairs and in 1888 he was nominated by the Democrats for lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin and he made an excellent race.
Mr. Kull assisted in the organization of the Farmers National Bank of Lake Geneva and he was president of this popular institution from Jan- uary 17, 1905, up to date of his resignation in 1911, its constantly growing prestige having been in part due to his conservative and judicious manage- ment. He has kept well advised on all financial matters and is regarded as one of the county's leading financiers, his influence being potent in industrial and commercial affairs.
Mr. Kull has been twice married, and to his first union five sons and two daughters were born, namely: Frances, who died April 6, 1912; Helen M. married Orris Hart, and her death occurred at the age of twenty-nine years; Henry Andrew, who died when four and one-half years old ; Adolph lives on his own farm in Bloomfield township; Frederick is an attorney, with offices in both Chicago and Lake Geneva; Ilermann lives in Howard county, Iowa, and, although a Democrat in a Republican county, has been elected to two terms in the Iowa Legislature: Grover is farming in section 2. Bloomfield township.
The mother of the above named children passed away in 1895, and on August 18, 1909, Andrew Kull was united in marriage with Carrie Louise (Scruton ) Klug, the daughter of William and Mary ( Pigg) Scruton, and born in New York city. Her parents were natives of England, the father (38)
594
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
born in Scarborough. Mrs. Kull came west to her sister in Illinois in 1890 and she remained there until her marriage in 1891 to Gustav E. Klug, and they made their home in Maywood, that state. where Mr. Klug's death oc- curred in 1902, after which Mrs. Klug spent two years in Rutherford, New Jersey, then came to Lake Geneva, where she continued to reside until her marriage with Mr. Kull. Two children were born of her first marriage: John Leslie and Ethel Lillian. Two children have been born to Mr. Kull and his last wife. David Clinton and William Emerson, the latter since deceased.
Mr. Kull is a man of splendid physique, broad-minded, strong-willed. public-spirited, kindly and obliging in his relations with his fellow men, his conduct always that of an honorable, genteel gentleman, a man of influence wherever he is known.
LEVI ADAMS NICHOLS.
One of the well known business men of Lake Geneva is Levi Adams Nichols, who is well deserving of the success that has attended his efforts and of the respect of his fellow men which they freely accord, because he has lived an industrious, conservative and honorable life.
Mr. Nichols was born in Montgomery, Franklin county, Vermont. April 13, 1850, and is the son of S. J. and Mary A. (Adams ) Nichols. The mother was a descendant of the Adams family so noted in American history and which produced two Presidents and other leaders. S. J. Nichols was of Scotch descent and his ancestors were among the early settlers of northern Vermont, having come there from Leominster, Massachusetts. In 1854 the subject of this sketch was brought west by his parents, who located in sec- tion 25, Linn township, Walworth county, Wisconsin. There the father bought a farm of four hundred and fifty acres and there he spent the rest of his life, having become well established. He and his wife both died in 1890. Ile had prospered through close application and the exercise of sound judgment and, having added to his original purchase, he at one time owned about one thousand acres of valuable land and was regarded as one of the county's most substantial and progressive agriculturists. Farming was his chief interest all his life.
Levi A. Nichols grew to manhood in Linn township, and when a boy assisted with the general work about the place, attending the district schools in the winter time. In 1876 he took a part of the farm there and this he still owns and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in connection with stock
595
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
raising ever since. He has kept his land well improved and under a high state of cultivation. In 1903 he became a director in the First National Bank of Lake Geneva, and in January, 1909, he was elected president of that in- stitution, which is regarded as one of the popular, safe and conservative in- stitutions of southeastern Wisconsin, and he has continued to discharge the duties of this important position in a manner that reflects credit upon himself and elicits the commendation of all concerned.
Mr. Nichols was united in marriage with Ada E. Rice in October, 1876. She grew up and was educated in Whitewater, and she is the daugh- ter of Edwin M. and Laura W. ( Wicker) Rice. both natives of Bridge- port, Vermont, from which state they came to Wisconsin in 1841 and located in Richmond township, Walworth county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nichols four children have been born, two sons and two daughters, namely: John E., who married Cora Baker, is farming a part of his father's land; Charles L., who married Helen Brown, is also farming part of his father's land; he has two children, Velma and John ; Marjery A. married Harold W. Stewart, an instructor in the University of Illinois at Urbana.
Fraternally, Mr. Nichols belongs to the lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and the chapter at Lake Geneva ; he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen. He and his wife are both members of the Congregational church and are liberal supporters of the same.
After he had spent twenty-five years on the farm, Mr: Nichols moved to the village of Hebron, Illinois, where he immediately became identified with the life of the place and he took an active part in promoting the public improvements of the village. It is worthy of mention that any offices or positions of leadership which he has attained have come without his solicita- tion. He has proven eminently worthy of every trust reposed in him, always performing his duties as he saw and understood the right.
DR. SIDNEY CLAYTON GOFF.
It is by no means an easy task to describe within the limits of this review a man who has led an active life and by his own exertions reached a position of honor and trust in the line of work with which his interests are allied. But biography finds justification, nevertheless, in tracing and recording the record of such a life, as the public claims a certain property interest in the career of
.
596
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
every individual and the time invariably arrives when it becomes advisable to give the right publicity. It is then with a certain degree of satisfaction that the chronicler essays the task of touching briefly upon such a record as has been that of Dr. Goff, one of the men of high standing and influence in Wal- worth county, who, professionally, has long ranked with the leading dentists of this part of the state.
Dr. Sidney Clayton Goff was born in East Troy, this county, on January 23, 1861. He is the son of Sidney Calkins Goff and Martha ( Barber) Goff, the father born in Steuben county, New York, in 1829, and he was the son of Pliny C. and Magdelane (Vorhees) Goff. The father of the subject grew up in the state of New York, and when he was about twenty-one years of age he went to Australia by sail-boat, around the cape of Good Hope. southern Africa, voyaging to the . then newly discovered gold fields of Australia, and there he spent four years, returning home by way of Cape Horn, South America. Being a man who observed things, hie frequently told interesting stories of his experiences in the antipodes and around the world. He was . about twenty-five years old when he returned to New York, soon afterwards coming to Delavan, Walworth county, Wisconsin. There he engaged in the mercantile business, closing out a dry goods stock for an Eastern firm. He then took up the study of dentistry with a local dentist, before dental colleges were established. About 1857 he moved to East Troy, where he took up the practice of his profession, which he continued there until January 1, 1875, having enjoyed a large practice. On that date he came to Elkhorn, to take the office of sheriff of Walworth county, to which he had been elected the previous fall, and he was encumbent of the same for two years, discharging his duties to the satisfaction of all concerned. At the expiration of his term he resumed the practice of his profession in Elkhorn and continued there with his usual success until 1883, in April of which year he moved to Perry. lowa, and there he died January 30, 1912. He was born in 1829 and reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. His widow still resides at Perry. lowa. Hle and Martha Barber were married when the town of Troy was young. She was born in Livingston county, New York. Her parents dying when she was a child. she came to Walworth county. Wisconsin, when a girl and lived here until her marriage, making her home with her elder sister. Mrs. Hillard.
Dr. S. Clayton Goff. of this sketch, was one of three children. he being the only son: his sisters were Cora and Lena, the former having married De Witt C. West and resided at Elkhorn three or four years, then moved to Perry, lowa, where Mr. West died, then she married Henry P. Lods. Lena married Charles F. Case and they live at Lake Geneva.
597
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Doctor Goff. of this sketch, spent his youth in East Troy and Elkhorn, and he received his early education principally in the high school in the latter city, soon afterwards taking up the study of dentistry. He attended the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, where he made an excellent record and from which he was graduated in the year 1883. He returned to Elkhorn and began practicing, succeeding his father, who in that year moved from here to Iowa, and here he has since remained, having enjoyed a very liberal practice all the while, following successfully in the footsteps of his worthy sire, and, like him, gaining the confidence and good will of the people.
Politically. Doctor Goff is a Republican and active in the affairs of the party. He was elected village clerk before the town of Elkhorn was incor- porated as a city, having been first elected in 1885, and again in 1886. He was elected a member of the village board and served on the same for a period of six years successively. In 1908 he was elected mayor of Elkhorn, and, after a most satisfactory and praiseworthy term of two years, he was re-elected and served until April. 1912, in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party alignment. He has done much for the permanent good of the city. He was a member of the county board of supervisors for a period of three years. In 1910 he was elected as representative from this county to the state Legisla- ture, and he served in the session of 1911, making his influence felt for the good of his locality and the party.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.