USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 16
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The subject was graduated from the State Normal School at White- water with the class of 1873, and he has engaged in teaching during most of his life, attaining a high rank among the able educators of the state. He taught two years at Ripon, Wisconsin, after his graduation, and later he was principal of the Geneva public schools for several years. He taught seven- teen terms in Walworth county, being popular with both pupils and patrons and his services were in great demand.
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Mr. Allen was married to Ella M. Joslin, daughter of Albert M. and Marcia Elizabeth (Nourse) Joslin. Mrs. Allen was born in Cook county, Illinois; her death occurred on December 12, 1892, leaving one daughter, Nella.
In 1882 Walter Allen went to Milwaukee to teach in the public schools and for eleven years was assistant superintendent of the schools of that city, giving eminent satisfaction in that responsible position. He is at present principal of the largest district school in Wisconsin, having under him thirty- three assistant teachers and over twelve hundred pupils. He has always been a student himself and has kept well abreast of the times in matters pertaining to his profession.
Mr. Allen is past master of Lafayette Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, at Wilwaukee, the largest lodge of Masonry in Wisconsin. He is eminent commander of Ivanhoe Commandery No. 24, Knights Templar. Religiously, he is a member of the Congregational church at Milwaukee.
Nella Allen, mentioned above, married Percy A. Himes and lives at Wauwatosa, near Milwaukee, and they have one son, Allen Munger Himes.
Albert M. Joslin, mentioned above, died on July 18, 1899, and his wife now makes her home with Mr. Allen, of this sketch, in Milwaukee.
The subject still owns a good farm in Linn township, Walworth county, and he keeps in touch with his old home and neighbors. He is a methodical, scholarly man, of exceptional executive and business ability, a man of high- est integrity and honor, both an instructor and an entertainer in the class- room, courteous and obliging.
GEORGE ALLEN.
It would be impossible to estimate the good resulting from the life of such a man as George Allen, now "sleeping the sleep that knows no breaking," for, like the little acorn which grows into a mighty oak, the seemingly insig- nificant deed, inspired by an altruistic impulse to help the unfortunate on the great highway we call life, often increases with time until its influence is potent and far-reaching. Through a long life, consistent with the truth and right as he saw and understood them, Mr. Allen was accustomed to scatter little seeds of kindness and helpfulness, the influence of which still pervade the lives of those who were in any way associated with him and who still, many with staff and the leaden steps of age, continued plodding the outermost
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miles of life's uneven road, remembering with due reverence the magnani- mous nature of the sterling pioneer of whom the biographer now writes.
Mr. Allen was born in Lebanon, Madison county, New York, July 23, 1820. He was the son of Walter and Harriet ( Holbrook.) Allen. His paternal grandfather, Elisha Allen, was a native of Worcester county, Massa- chusetts, and there his death occurred in 1818 at an advanced age. He was a relative of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame. Walter Allen was born in the same county, March 20, 1787, and was one of a family of eight children. He lived in Massachusetts until 1815, then moved to Madison county, New York, where he spent his remaining years, dying in 1833, having devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. His wife was born in Worcester county, Massa- chusetts, May 10, 1790. She was the daughter of John and Lucretia (Bab- bett) Holbrook. Her father was born in 1750, and he died January 31. 1839. The death of Mrs. Holbrook occurred in 1832. In Walter Allen's family there were six children, namely: Mary, born May 25, 1815, died De- cember 31, 1830; Dwight, born November 19, 1816, died September 4, 1839 : Charles, born August 31, 1818, died May 19, 1862; George was the next in order of birth; Julia was born March 9, 1826, married B. W. Wylie and died at the age of twenty-two years.
George Allen, of this review, was reared and educated in his native coun- ty and there he remained until 1852. On January 12, 1842, he was united in marriage with Harriet A. Buell, daughter of Ira and Chloe (Holcomb) Buell. A history of this family is to be found in the sketch of Henry Buell. She was born in Chenango county, New York. Her family were noted for longevity and her father was one of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to an average age of seventy-one and one-half years.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Allen, namely : Dwight S., born February 12, 1843; was a soldier in the Civil war from 1862 until the close of the conflict; he was in Sherman's march to the sea, and he was for some time confined in Libby prison; he married Delia Sher- man, of Waukesha county, Wisconsin; he farmed until about 1903, when he became president of the Farmers National Bank of Lake Geneva and was also president of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. Dwight S. Allen was very successful as a business man and he became the owner of six hun- dred and eighty-five acres of fine farm land. He was also prominent in public affairs, and served in the state Legislature from 1889 to 1891. His death occurred on May 5, 1908, leaving a wife and seven children. Mary A. Allen. the second child born to George Allen and wife, married Herman H. Curtis, a banker of Castlewood, South Dakota: Frances married Joseph Cheever, an
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attorney, and she died at Brookings, South Dakota, January 3, 1909; Ira B., who was born January II, 1852, died April 7, 1878, on the eve of graduating from the theological department of Yale University, at the close of nine years in college; he was a young man of great promise and brilliant talents ; Walter, next in order of birth, is mentioned on another page of this work; John W., born October 12, 1854, was accidentally shot when twenty-three years old; Charles died in infancy; William H. is a practicing physician at Rochester, New York; Hattie C., who married Earl Farnum, lives in Antigo, Wisconsin.
The cause of education always found in George Allen a warm friend and he gave his children excellent advantages along that line. Both he and his wife were teachers in early life, and seven of their children have taught. In 1852 George Allen located in Linn township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, buying one hundred acres in section 24, and, as he prospered through close application and good management, he added to his holdings until he had over six hundred acres of fine land in one body.
His success was due almost entirely to his perseverance, industry and enterprise and came as a just reward for his honest labor. He was for years one of the leading farmers and influential citizens of the county.
From the formation of the Republican party, now some sixty-five years ago, he was a stanch supporter of it, and became a leader in this locality in public matters. He served in the Legislature in 1855, and he also held various local offices. In 1854 he was elected a member of the board of supervisors and was its chairman two years. In 1859 he was elected superintendent of schools, which position he held two years, and in 1862 he was chosen asses- sor and served ten successive years. In 1866 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he filled without interruption until his last years. He at one time filled the office of treasurer of Linn township. From 1863 until the close of the war he was again chairman of the board of supervisors, and he was district supervisor from 1864 until 1867. In 1873 he was once more elected assessor, filling the position fourteen years at that time, or for a period of twenty-four years out of twenty-five. His worth, fidelity and abil- ity kept him constantly in office and in an unusual degree he had the confi- dence and respect of the entire community, discharging his every duty con- scientiously and without any selfish motives. He was a man of noble impulses and took a delight in assisting others, and it was said of him that he started more people farming than any other man in Walworth county, helping them not only with advice and encouragement, but also in a pecuniary way. He was a very busy man in a business way, and most of his public honors came
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unsought. While not a member of any church, he was yet a religious man. too broad-minded to adhere to any man-made creed, and he was a liberal sup- porter of the churches. His wife was an ardent Christian, and they reared their children in a most wholesome home atmosphere, insisting on them at- tending church regularly and following the Golden Rule in their daily con- tact with their fellow men.
The death of George Allen occurred on February 26, 1899, after a very busy, useful and honorable life, so pure and serene that one would be con- pelled to search far to find its parallel.
H. F. PHILLIPS.
The history of Walworth county is not a very old one. It is the record of the steady growth of a community planted in the wilderness within the past three-quarters of a century and has reached its magnitude of today without other aids than those of industry. The people who redeemed its wilderness fastnesses were strong-armed, hardy sons of the soil who hesitated at 10 difficulty and for whom hardships had little to appal. It is doubtful if we of today would be willing to brave the dangers and the obstacles as they did in order to push farther westward the frontier of civilization and to establish a little spot bearing the magic word of home. All honor should be given them for their noble work and we should fully appreciate the fact that they made possible our pleasant homes and fertile fields of today. They have left us a glorious inheritance in many ways and their deeds should be blazoned in song and sung in story. Of such a race sprang H. F. Phillips, a farmer, of the eastern part of the county, who, however, hails from the Sucker state.
Mr. Phillips was born in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, on July 17, 1855. He is the son of Edmund H. and Caroline (Oakley) Phillips, both natives of the state of New York, he of Ticondaroga county and she of Whitehall, and they came to Mt. Carroll, Illinois, in an early day, among the pioneers, and set- tled in Mt. Carroll. Mr. Phillips was a distiller and rectifier, later a farmer. Politically, he was a Republican. He was killed while operating a corn shred- der in 1898, his wife having preceded him to the grave on January 12, 1894. Their family consisted of five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living.
H. F. Phillips, of this sketch, was reared on the farm and received his education in the public schools; however, his early schooling was inter-
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rupted, being compelled to leave school when thirteen years of age, but noth- ing daunted, he has since become self-educated, having ever been a student. In early life he learned the painter's trade. He came to Walworth county in 1884, from Kansas, and here he continued to work at his trade until 1899, and, being a very skilled tradesman, he found all the work he could do. But he finally turned his attention to farming, on a placed owned by Mrs. Phillips, and since then has been engaged in farming and stock raising, making a spe- cialty of breeding Poland stock for the past twelve years, also breeding Poland China hogs, and, owing to the superior quality of his fine stock, they find very ready sales whenever offered. He has also been a breeder of an excellent grade of horses. His splendid "Fairview Stock Farm Herd" is widely known and is admired by all who sees it. It would be hard to find within the boundaries of this county a better judge of live stock, and he understands well the care and keeping of the same. He has a pleasant home and large, convenient outbuildings. He has frequently exhibited his fine stock at county and other fairs and has taken his share of premiums.
Mr. Phillips is an ardent Republican, but he has never been an aspirant for political offices. He is a charter member of the Mystic Workers.
Mr. Phillips was married to Mary Carpenter, who was born in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, the daughter of Dr. George Young and wife. Two children were born of this union. Edna L. and William F. On December 26, 1899, Mr. Phillips was again married, his last wife being Mrs. Uellah Webb, who was born on the farm on which the subject and family now reside in Sugar Creek. She was the daughter of Rial and Polly (Jackson) Thomas, pioneers of Wal- worth county, both being now deceased, Mr. Thomas having died in 1905, his wife preceding him to the grave in 1897.
HENRY MOHR.
The memory of the worthy subject of this memorial biography is revered by a host of friends and acquaintances among whom he labored, hav- ing spent his energies through a life of honest endeavor to make the most of his opportunities as well as to assist as best he could his neighbors to improve their condition. Henry Mohr, one of the successful farmers and stock dealers of the eastern part of Walworth county, who has been summoned to his reward in the silent land, was a man whom everybody liked, for he possessed a social nature and by his genial and kindly attitude to those about him, won
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the confidence and respect of everyone, and had no trouble in retaining the same, and the lives of such men should serve the younger generation as examples, well worth careful consideration if they would win in those things which go to make a well-rounded character and a successful life.
Mr. Mohr was born in Spring Prairie township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, on November 15, 1850, and his entire life was spent in his native locality. He was the son of John and Anna Mohr, both natives of Germany, the father born on March 22, 1815, and the mother on June 16, 1816. They spent their childhood in the fatherland and emigrated to the United States and located in Spring Prairie township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1848 and bought forty acres. The country was wild and sparsely settled and privations and hardships were the rule instead of the exception, but the Mohrs were people of vaunted hardihood and never quailed, but set diligently to work clearing and improving their land and in due course of time had a very comfortable home established, later adding twenty acres to their original purchase, and here they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1862 and the mother in 1885.
Four daughters and two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Mohr, of whom three daughters and one son are living at this writing; the son, Adam Mohr, who was born in Boston in 1845, owns the homestead of sixty acres. Politically, the father was a Republican, and he belonged to the German Methodist Episcopal church, and was active in the work of the same, being one of the founders of the church of this denomination in Spring Prairie township.
Henry Mohr, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm and there worked hard as a boy. He received his education in the district schools. Early in life he took up farming for a livelihood and became the owner of eighty acres of good land which he kept well improved and well tilled, and there had a comfortable home. In connection with his farming he bought and shipped live stock to the markets for a period of fifteen years, during which time he became widely known as one of the leading stock men of this locality, and was very successful in this line of endeavor, being an exceptionally good judge of all grades of stock and a good trader, for he was always fair and obliging in his dealings with his fellow men,- thus they had every confidence in him.
Politically, Mr. Mohr was a Republican, but he had no ambition to be a leader of men, preferring to devote his attention to his own affairs, leaving the emoluments of office to others. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and faithful supporters of the same.
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Mr. Mohr was married in 1874 to Martha Katzman, a daughter of William Katzman, a pioneer of Spring Prairie township, this county, having come here in 1848 and here became very comfortably established on a farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mohr four children were born, namely : William, Erma, and Lena and Leah, twins. The wife and mother died on May 3, 1885, and in 1887 Mr. Mohr was united in marriage with Mary Smith, who was born in Rochester, Racine county, Wisconsin, on November 30, 1861. She was the daughter of Charley and Mary Annie (Bauer) Smith, both born in Germany, the father in October, 1821, and the mother on February 9, 1831. From their native country they emigrated to Racine county, Wiscon- sin, in an early day, and here they spent the balance of their lives, the father dying in May, 1874, and the mother on January 28, 1900. They were the parents of five daughters and one son, all of whom are living at this writing. Politically, Mr. Smith was a Republican and he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.
To Henry Mohr and his second wife ten children were born, named as follows: Adam, Morris, Chester, Cassie, Floyd, Lyle, Alice, Velda, Elmer and Bower. The death of Henry Mohr occurred on February 16, 1911, after a successful and well spent life.
EDWARD MILLAR.
Among the progressive and successful agriculturists and stock men of Walworth county is Edward Millar, of Geneva township, his life having be- come an essential part of the history of this section, and who for years has exerted a beneficial influence on the community. His chief characteristics seem to be an indomitable courage, steadfastness of purpose, integrity and an advocate of purity in the home, social circles and public life. These attributes have enabled him not only to advance his own interests, but also largely con- tribute to the general development of the county.
Mr. Millar was born in Belfast, Ireland, on August 16, 1860. He is the son of David and Emily (Fitzpatrick) Millar, both of Scotch ancestry. The subject grew to manhood in Ireland and received his education there. In 1881 he left the old home and emigrated to the United States, locating first in Chicago, where he remained until 1907. He is a machinist by trade, having learned the same under his father in Ireland. Following his arrival in Chicago he secured employment at his trade with the McCormick Harvester Company,
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with whom he remained six years, being one of their skilled and most trusted employes. In 1887 he engaged in the tent, awning and canvas goods business, with Murray & Baker, of Chicago, remaining with this firm until 1904, when, the firm failing, Mr. Millar took the business over, which is now running under the firm name of E. Millar Company, with factory and offices at Nos. 1223 and 1225 Lake street, Chicago. The subject is still in the business, al- though in 1907 he moved to Geneva township, Walworth county, on a farm he had purchased in 1901, consisting of forty-four acres in section 23, and two hundred acres in section 22, formerly part of the Curtis estate. Here he follows general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, keeping his land under a high state of improvement and cultivation, and he has a com- modious and attractive home and substantial and convenient outbuildings.
Mrs. Millar was Miss Helen May Foster before her marriage, of Canan- daigua, New York. Mr. Millar has four children, two boys and two girls, Albert, Percy, Edith and Helen. Albert is now married to Mamie Donaldson and has one child, a son named Edward.
Mr. and Mrs. Millar are both Christians, being members of the Plymouth Brethren. Mr. Millar is a careful, prudent business man, slow to promise, but faithful in performance, once given. He is fond of home and family, of upright character. He has built his present success on years of persevering effort and careful management.
EUGENE ADELBERT WALTERS.
One of Walworth county's widely known and progressive business men is Eugene Adelbert Walters, whose daily life has been such as to inspire the confidence of his fellow men. He was born in Linn township, this county, on April 28, 1848, and he has been content to spend his life in his native com- munity. He is the son of Thomas and Alzina (Maxson) Walters, both of whom came here from Allegany county, New York, where they grew up and were married, and from there they moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin. in 1844. There Thomas Walters entered forty acres of land in the south- western part of Linn township, a mile and a quarter from the line of Wal- worth township. About twelve years later he moved over into Walworth township and bought a farm of sixty-eight acres, a short distance east of the village of Walworth. There he made his home the rest of his life, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was born in Worcestershire, Eng-
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land, in 1807. He was the son of William Walters, also a native of Eng- land. He came to America in 1839 and spent five years in the state of New York, engaged in mechanical work in an implement factory. He had followed gardening in England. He was married in Allegany county, New York, to Alzina Maxson, the daughter of Alfred and Mary (Clark) Maxson, her family having come to New York from Rhode Island, and in the former state she was reared, the Maxson home having been in Allegany county many years.
The family of Thomas Walters and wife consisted of six children, namely: Susan married Dwight Greene and they live in Chicago: William Herbert lives at Covert, Michigan; George Frederick lives in Albion, Dane county, Wisconsin; Eugene A., of this review; DeEtte married Warren J. Randolph and lives in the village of Walworth; Adeline Adelia died in young womanhood.
The mother of these children died in 1859, aged forty-nine years, and their father subsequently married Levina Dowse, of Allegany county, New York, and two sons were born to them, Clarence and Charlie. They both live in the village of Walworth.
Thomas Walters died in 1889, his widow surviving until 1905. He was a worthy member of the Seventh-Day Baptist church.
Eugene A. Walters, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm near Wal- worth. He attended the common schools and Milton College. He began his business career by farming, which he followed some time. In 1876 he invented a patent hay carrier and spent four or five years in manufacturing and selling it, then took up farming again, and also followed threshing, having continued in this line for a period of forty years, threshing every year, except one. In 1882 he moved into the village of Walworth, where he was in the hay carrier business and here he has since resided. He has a pleasant home and is also the owner of eighty acres of land in Minnesota. His wife owns a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Walworth township.
Mr. Walters was married in 1871 to Elizabeth Emma Swinney, daugh- ter of Ephraim and Mary Ann (Ayars) Swinney. She was born at Shiloh, Cumberland county, New Jersey, and in 1852 she came with her parents to Walworth county, Wisconsin. However, they first located near Henry, Illi- nois, coming to Walworth six months later, and bought a farm one and one- fourth miles west of the village and there established the family home. Mrs. Walters had two sisters who died in infancy, and a brother, Edwin, who lived at Walworth until his death in 1891. She has one brother living, Joseph, of Yoncalla, Oregon. Mr. Swinney was township chairman several years. His death occurred on May 12, 1882, and his widow died in 1901.
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Five children were born to Eugene A. Walters and wife, of whom, Wilbur died when eighteen months old; Harold Eugene, who married Stella Maxson, was a promoter of the local telephone company, continuing the telephone business until he was killed by an electric light wire in September, 1909. He left two children, Eleanore and Harold.
Mr. and Mrs. Walters also have three children living, Wilfred, who lives in California, and Mabel and Maude, who live with their parents. The subject and wife are faithful members of the Seventhi-Day Baptist church, of which he has been clerk for the past twenty-two years.
OREN E. LADD.
It is often the case that when new blood is infused into the affairs of a community a vast improvement is noticed. Old blood is slow and cold; young blood is warm and active, and the results very often surpass expecta- tion. It is true that people should not for trivial causes turn down the old because it is old and no other objection lying against it. Neither should the new be adopted merely because it is new. All that can be stated with cer- tainty is that young blood in any old method of doing business is almost certain to bring about good and lasting results. While Walworth county has seen many white-haired newcomers, whose experience and advice, wise counsel and cautious procedure have ever been of inestimable value in her affairs, it has been the young men who have redeemed it from the wilderness and made it what it is today, one of the foremost sections in the great Badger com- monwealth.
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