USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume I > Part 59
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
Harry Elbert Cobb, mentioned above, is engaged in the hardware busi- ness in Lake Geneva, having succeeded T. C. Smith, his former employer. He married Sylvia ( Bowen ) Smith, daughter of Timothy C. Smith and wife. To Harry E. Cobb and wife two children have been born, Robert Clark and
638
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Elbert Smith. Mr. Cobb has been in the hardware business since 1892 and his store is well patronized. He is active in the Republican party, and. fra- ternally, is a member of the Masonic order, blue lodge and chapter.
The death of Robert C. Cobb, subject of this sketch, occurred on Aug- ust 14, 1900. and his wife followed him to the grave on June 28, 1906. They were excellent people and enjoyed a wide circle of friends here.
CHARLES H. NORTH.
Those who belong to the respectable middle classes of society, being early taught the necessity of relying upon their own exertions, will be more apt to acquire that information and those business habits which alone can fit them for the discharge of life's duties, and, indeed, it has long been a notice- able fact that our great men in nearly all walks of life, statesmanship, busi- ness, art, literature, military and many other phases of our complex civiliza- tion in America, spring from the virile middle classes. This is not to be wondered at when we study the subject in its true light, for they have the best. purest blood, their ancestors having led more wholesome lives and been higher minded and more self-reliant, more willing to undergo such hardships as are always necessary to reach the coveted goal. One of this worthy class is the subject of this sketch.
Mr. North was born on December 12, 1864, at Genoa Junction. Wis- consin. He is the son of Frederick and Julia ( Killicut) North, the father a native of England and the mother of New York state. The father was about ten years old when he emigrated to the United States, and he grew to man- hood in New York and received his education in the common schools there, and there he was married. He moved to Black Earth, Wisconsin, in an early day, and about 1858 came to Genoa Junction, buying a farm there which he operated successfully for about fifteen years, then moved to Geneva town- ship, this county, and continued farming. A few years later, he retired from active work and moved to Elk City, having accumulated a competency by a life of general farming, and he spent the rest of his days in Elk City.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick North, two of whom died in infancy, namely: Melvin; Sarah is deceased; John; Ida: Carrie is deceased : Charles, Bertha.
Charles II. North grew to manhood on the home farm and there he as- sisted with the general work when of proper age. He received his educa-
639
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
tion in the common schools of his home community. He has devoted his life principally to agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner of a choice farm of one hundred and seventeen acres in Darien township, two and one-half miles west of the town of Darien. Ile engaged in farming there about six years, finally selling out and buying a home in Delavan at No. 114 North Seventh street. Ile now lives in Janesville, Wisconsin. Ile has a pleasant home and has laid by a competency for his old age through his early industry and good management.
Mr. North was married to Laura N. Foster, on December 25. 1886. She is the daughter of Alro M. and Minerva ( Mainard ) Foster, both natives of the state of New York where they spent the earlier years of their lives. They became the parents of seven children. two of whom are now deceased. namely: Mrs. Lidia Davis, Edward. Madison. Mrs. Lilly Huey, Laura N .. wife of the subject. Mr. Foster's life work has been that of a carpenter and millwright. To Mr. and Mrs. North three children have been born, namely : Mrs. Ida Rutledge. born January 11, 1888: LeRoy, born January 16, 1800; Freddie, born September 17. 1900. died in infancy.
Mr. North was reared in the Baptist faith, from which he has not de- parted. Politically, he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Loyal Americans.
WILLIAM C. KINYON.
After many years of consistent and unremitting endeavor William C. Kinyon is now living in the town of Sharon, taking life easier than formerly. for there was a time when he worked as hard in the fields in both crop season and out as any man in Walworth county. for he believed that "in the sweat of a man's face he should eat bread" and he was trained to do his full share of the world's work by his worthy father, one of the sterling pio- neers who came out of the East to assist in bringing about the transformation of the West in the early days, and it is to such strong characters as he that we of today of this fair Middle West owe so much.
William C. Kinyon was born in Boone county, Illinois, on April 20. 1855. He is the son of Joseph Tracey Kinyon and Lucinda (Kinney ) Kinyon, both born in the state of New York, in which they spent their child- hood years. It was in 1844 that the father of the subject came to Illinois. locating on the Wisconsin state line. lle engaged in farming all his life until one year of his death. He was successful in establishing a good home in the new country. He finally came to Sharon, Walworth county.
640
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
William C. Kinyon, of this sketch, was reared and educated in Boone county, Illinois, and carly in life he took up farming for a livelihood and continued the same successfully. He owns a most excellent farm in section 31. Sharon township, which he placed under good improvements and kept well tilled. In 1900 he moved to the village of Sharon. His farm of two hundred acres lies in the southwest corner of Sharon township. He merely looks after it in a general way, keeping it rented.
Fraternally, Mr. Kinyon is a Mason. He was married to Katherine Piper, daughter of George Piper, of Sharon township. a retired farmer. The subject's wife died in 1902, without issue.
Mr. Kinyon is now and has been for the past seven years treasurer of the Sharon Township Insurance Company.
JOHN H. HOFFMAN.
A representative of one of the sterling old families of Bloomfield town- ship, Walworth county, is John H. Hoffman, a man who has not permitted the wanderlust spirit to lure him away from his nature-favored home country, like so many of his contemporaries have done, and he has therefore won success in his chosen life work and has been of much benefit to the people of this vicinity by his judicious course and his public spirit.
Mr. Hoffman was born in this township, November 14, 1854, and is the son of Michael and Minnie (Kimball) Hoffman. The father was born in Germany, near the city of Berlin, in 1817, and when fourteen years old he ran away from home and came to New York city, arriving there with only twenty-five cents in his pocket. He walked out into the country on Long Island and at eleven o'clock at night climbed into a farmer's wagon to ride. The farmer employed him, and he stayed in the state of New York eight years, then came to Burlington, Wisconsin, and began working on the farm of Captain Booker. with whom he remained eight years, then came to Bloom- field township. Walworth county, and married, continuing to reside here until his death, in 1899. His wife, known in hier maidenhood as Minnie Elizabeth Kimball, was the daughter of August Daniel and Margaret Elizabeth (Jung) Kimball. The father was born on July 4, 1801. in Saxony. Germany, and the mother was the daughter of John Adam Jung. August D. Kimball was a blacksmith in Germany. He emigrated to America in 1847 with his wife and nine children, the trip requiring seven weeks. They settled in Bloomfield
6.41
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
township. Walworth county. Wisconsin, and there has been the home of the Kimballs ever since.
Ten children were born to Michael Hoffman and wife, all of whom grew to maturity, but only six of them are now living. They were named : Carrie, wife of Herman Bunth, lives at Waverly, lowa: Emily, who married Lathrop A. Udell, lived at Wilmot, Wisconsin, until her death; Frank lived in Bloomfield township all his life and remained unmarried, dying when about thirty years old; Ida, who married Peter Balass, lived in Bloomfield township until her death: John II., of this sketch: Jennie is the wife of Edwin Bailey and they live in Minnesota; Richard lives in the eastern part of Bloomfield township. where he owns two hundred and forty acres; he has been town- ship treasurer for five years and he is a member of the board of supervisors ; he makes a specialty of raising draft horses, fine Hereford cattle and Shrop- shire sheep: he married Ella Gifford and they have four children, Doris, Kenneth, Lucile and Gladys: Lewis Hoffman lives in Michigan ; Martha mar- ried Patrick McCabe and they live in Ohio: Stella is the wife of Harry Ma- theson and they live at Glen Ellen, near Chicago.
Michael Hoffman, father of the above named children, died in Febru- ary, 1901, and his widow survived until March 24, 1909.
John H. Hoffman grew up on the home farm in Bloomfield township. and he spent about a year near Rockford, but with the exception of that he has lived here all his life. He worked out by the month until he was twenty- eight years old, then married and bought a farm. It was in 1882 that he was joined in wedlock with Adell Maynard, daughter of Norman and Mary (New) Maynard. She was born in Bloomfield township, this county. Her mother was from Cornwall, Addison county, Vermont, and her father was from New York state. having been born at Hampton, Washington county. These parents were married in the East, and they came to Bloomfield town- ship. this county, in the fall of 1850, locating in the west part of the town- ship. Five years later they bought a farm in Linn township, and about three years after that her father died, after which event the mother and children moved to Lake Geneva, in 1859.
A year or two before his marriage. Mr. Hoffman bought a farm of one hundred acres near Bloomfield Center and there he has since made his home, having developed an excellent farm, making numerous improvements. For some time he raised good horses and made money at it. but later turned his attention to dairying. hog raising and general farming, and he has been very successful as a stock man as well as general agriculturist.
Four children have been born to the subject and wife, Leroy, Clarence, Howard and Wilford.
(41)
642
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Mr. Hoffman has been a member of the township board for fourteen years, and was chairman of the same for three years. He has been a member of the school board nearly ever since his marriage and was clerk of the board many years. He is active in public affairs and stands high in his community.
EZRA GIFFORD.
The life sketch of the late and well remembered Ezra Gifford is closely identified with the history of Walworth county, for here he spent the major part of his useful. industrious and honorable life, beginning his career in the pioneer epoch of the county, and throughout the years which later came and went until he was summoned to his reward he was closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. His life, being one of unfailing activity, was crowned by success, and at the same time he won and retained the confidence and good will of all who knew him by his clean life and fair dealings with his fellow men in all his relations with the world.
Mr. Gifford was born in Albany, New York, April 30, 1843. He was the son of Constant and Letitia ( Moore) Gifford, the father a native of Albany, New York, and the mother was born in Canada, probably Montreal.
The subject came with his parents in 1847 to Wisconsin, the family settling in Bloomfield township, Walworth county, and here he grew to man- hood and received such education as he could in the early schools of the com- munity. When the Civil war came on he proved his loyalty to his country by enlisting in Company K. One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and he served faithfully for the Union. On January 1, 1867, he was united in marriage with Mariette Chapin, daughter of John Chapin and wife, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. After their marriage they moved to Jessup, Blackhawk county, lowa, and lived there about two years, later returning to this county and established their home near Delavan, moving to Boone county, lowa, six or seven years later, and they lived there several years, later spending about two years near Ackley, lowa. They then came to the center of Bloomfield township, Walworth county, and went on a farm that had been owned by Mrs. Gifford's brother. W. D. Chapin, and here they resided for about twenty years, carrying on general farming successfully.
Seven children were born to Ezra Gifford and wife, namely: May mar- ried J. W. Conn and lives at Camas. Washington : Ella married R. R. Iloff- man and lives in Bloomfield township, this county : Lillian married Lewis . A.
643
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Kimball, also of Bloomfield township: Charlie C., who lives on a farm in Bloomfield township, married Della Rowe, daughter of Asa Rowe: Cora married F. M. Higgins, and they live in Lake Geneva : George M., who lives on the home farm in Bloomfield township, married Mattie Gleason, daughter of Fred Gleason : Jennie is the wife of Hervey Rowe and they live in Harvard, Illinois.
Ezra Gifford spent most of the last twenty years of his life in Bloom- field township on the Chapin farm near Bloomfield Center and led an active life, retiring from farming in the spring of 1905 and bought a home in Lake Geneva. During the following fall and winter he and Mrs. Gifford traveled extensively in the West, visiting Kansas, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. making a tour of the Yellowstone Park and visiting the Portland Exposition. returning home in April. 1905. He was making extensive plans for improv- ing his farm and city property when he was seized with his final illness, and his death occurred on May 21. 1906. He was universally loved and re- spected. While positive in his opinions, he always had consideration for the feelings of others and never injured anyone. He was modest and retiring in disposition, but always active for the betterment of the community in which he lived. His integrity was beyond question. He was a loving huts- band and kind father, well worthy the respect which he enjoyed from all who knew him. He was a member of the Masons, and until late in life belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He had also been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic while living in Iowa. He was much at- tached to his home and family, and was a good and useful man.
BARTHOLOMEW HOM.IN.
To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our great country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterizes the foreign element that has entered largely into our population. By comparison with their old country surroundings, these people have readily recognized the fact that in America lie the greatest opportunities for the man of ambition and energy. AAnd because of this many have broken the ties of home and native land and have entered earnestly upon the task of gaining in the new world a name and competence. Among this class may be mentioned Bartholomew Homan, who. by reason of indefatigable labor and honest effort, has not only acquired a well merited material prosperity, but also richly earned the highest esteem of all with whom he has been associated.
644
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Mr. Homan was born in Leimich, Hinfeld, Hessen-Cassel. Germany, on August 24, 1821, and he is the son of Joseph and Katherina ( Flori) Homan. He was reared in his native country, living on the farms of his community, in the labor of which he was employed during his youth. His father died when Bartholomew was seven years old, and he began to do for himself at an early age. Having heard much of the wonderful possibilities in the republic across the sea. he emigrated to America in 1847, locating first in the state of New York. In 1849 he removed to Wisconsin, landing at Milwau- kee. Later he came to Lyons township. Walworth county, and here sought employment, finally securing work on the large farm of John Spoor, an early settler living east of the village of Lyons. Later he rented a farm, in the operation of which he prospered. so that in the early fifties he was en- abled to buy a tract of forty acres, around what is now known as Indian Knob, between Lyons and Lake Geneva. Not long afterwards he bought a farm of eighty acres in the center of the south edge of Lyons township. His industry and good management was rewarded and from time to time he added to his original eighty acres to the extent of one hundred and sixty-two acres, making a total of two hundred and forty-two acres in one tract. and this has been his family home ever since. The place is well improved in every respect, being one of the most fertile and productive farms in Lyons township, its present condition being due to the intelligent and wisely directed efforts of Mr. Homan, who, during his active years, gave practical direction to the operation of the farmstead in all its departments.
Coming here in 1849, he has been a witness of the development of this locality from a wild and virgin tract to one of the best agricultural sections of Wisconsin, in the transformation of which he himself bore a definite part. Hle has always had a deep interest in the upbuilding and development of the entire community and has not withheld his support from any worthy move- ment for the public welfare. Thus he has gained a high position in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens who appreciate his worth as a man.
While living in New York state, Mr. Homan was united in marriage with Ottilia Vogel, who also was a native of llessen-Cassel, Germany, near Mr. Homan's old home, and who came to America in the same company of emigrants as he. To this union were born seven children, as follows: Caro- line died in her second year; Katie is the wife of Oscar Kress and lives at St. Joseph, Tennessee: Joseph, who was born on February 14, 1852. is en- gaged in farming with his brother John: Mary, who died in 1902, was the wife of Joseph Merten and left six children, Ottilia, Julia, Edgar. Joseph.
645
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Theresa and Frederick. Theresa is at home with her father : Margaret lives with her brothers. Joseph and John: Regene is the wife of Eugene Rittman, a farmer on the east side of Springfield, and they have five children, Frank. Margaret. Eugene, John and Mary. John, who was born September 12, 1866. is farming with his brother Joseph, as told above.
Joseph and John Homan remained on the paternal farmstead until 1897. when they formed a partnership and bought five hundred acres of choice land two miles east of Lake Geneva. They at once established their home there and applied themselves to the cultivation of this fine tract of land, in the operation of which they have met with well deserved success. In the spring of 1911 they purchased an additional forty acres, making their total hokl- ings five hundred and forty-four and one-half acres, comprising one of the most valuable bodies of agricultural land in Walworth county. They are numbered among the practical and progressive farmers of their community and have earned the high regard in which they are held. As before stated. their sister Margaret lives with them and presides over their home.
The mother of these children passed away in 1906. She was a woman of many commendable qualities and was beloved by all who knew her.
Bartholomew Homan and all members of his family are stanch adherents of the Catholic church and in their lives they strive to carry out the benefi- cent teachings of the mother church.
JOHN MATHESON.
John Matheson was born in the town of LaFayette, Walworth county. Wisconsin, on the 17th day of September, 1844, and died at Elkhorn, in Walworth county, on the 17th day of November, 1800, his death being due to a complication of diseases. At intervals after the Civil war he had chronic diarrhoea. In the winter of 1889 and 1890 he was exhausted physically and mentally, due to years of hard labor and the carrying of heavy and varied responsibilities. He contracted a coll as a result of exposure, which settled into pulmonary trouble of a permanent form. He grew constantly worse. and all efforts to restore him to health were unavailing. He left a widow. Mary A., who died at Elkhorn. June 26. 1907: a son, Alexander E., and a daughter, Luhi M. Both son and daughter are now living, the former in Janesville, Wisconsin, and the latter at the old home in Elkhorn.
646
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Mr. Matheson was of Scotch ancestry and was most proud of the fact. He had many traits of character which suggested that ancestry. His father and mother were both born in the Highlands of Scotland. They came to this country in early days and settled in the town of LaFayette, where they reared their family and hewed out life's success, a portion of the time in the midst of the trying conditions of pioneer days. He responded to President Lincoln's call for volunteers and went to the front in 1862, enlisting August 2Ist. He was a member of Company 1, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served during the war and was mustered out August 23, 1865. He engaged in business at Vernon and Eagle in Waukesha county, Wiscon- sin, and at Mayhew, East Troy and Elkhorn, in Walworth county. He was a man of large executive capacity, and was successful in business. At the time of his death he had his business well organized and was preparing to take more time for rest and travel. He appeared to realize that his many duties were exhausting his strength and that he must find a way to get relief from his numerous activities. Ever since the war he had worked so hard and had given his time so unstintingly to the interests of society that he early ex- hausted the strength which, if it had been conserved, would doubtless have carried him to a ripe old age.
Mr. Matheson was busy in many departments of life. Ile took a con- stant and active interest in public affairs, in the Grand Army of the Republic, in Masonry, in the church-in short, his generous disposition and his capacity 10 accomplish results led him to have a part in most all of the activities that related to the welfare of his fellowmen. He was a member of the county board of Walworth county a number of years, a portion of the time as chair- man of the town of Troy, and later as a representative of the board from the village of Elkhorn. Ile was prominent in the councils of the Grand Army of the Republic and held many positions of trust and responsibility in the Masonic fraternity. His striking characteristics were his great industry : his executive and business ability ; his warm-hearted generosity : his sincerity and frankness, with a hatred of insincerity, pretense, and shams; his genial, joyous disposition and democratic spirit, which made him hosts of friends; his wide interest in the affairs of life; and his rugged integrity and truthful- ness. Withal, he possessed great will power. So strong was it that no task seemed too much for him. He was not easily daunted with difficulties. He had a rare faculty of pursuing the even tenor of his way with outward calm when confronted with difficulties that seemed nigh insuperable. He was possessed of a temper that was by nature easily aroused, but his mature strength and the discipline of life gave to him an almost perfect control over
647
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
it. Another trait which was striking, and mention of which must not be omitted. was his loyalty to his friends and his disposition to trust a friend to the utmost until his confidence in the friend was betrayed.
The writer of this memorial sketch feels not only a sense of filial duty, but has great pleasure in taking from the golden casket of memory a few treasures. He presents this memorial in a spirit of gratitude and affection, that we may set down these facts relative to his father. He recalls with satis- faction and thankfulness the trust reposed in him in his boyhood, youth and early manhood, and bears witness that his father always treated him with the utmost generosity, favored him with all the responsibility he was capable of bearing, and ever extended to him the fullest measure of confidence. To the writer his father gave the largest freedom and placed very little restric- tion upon his movements, requiring only that he should be truthful, clean and manly.
The writer ventures to mention a few incidents bearing upon his rela- tions with his father, and they are cited for the purpose of giving a clearer insight into the father's character. In 1876, while the father and mother were attending the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, the boy, with too many fire crackers, was the cause of the destruction by fire of a barn and its contents. The boy did not know just what would be the attitude of the father upon the latter's return. When he did return, instead of complaint or accusation, he simply said. "Well, my boy, you had bad luck. You must be more careful next time." Such treatment made a profound impression on the boy and left effects that will never be erased ; whereas a word of com- plaint or some form of punishment soon would have been forgotten.
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.