USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 18
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Mr. Smith was again married in Walworth on June 10, 1908. to Jose- phine Higbee, daughter of William S. Higbee, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work. Mr. Smith is a member of the Modern Woodmen, Royal Neighbors, Knights of Pythias, Mystic Workers and the Equitable Fraternal Union.
CYRUS CHURCH.
One of the sterling pioneer citizens of Walworth county was Cyrus Church, who is eminently entitled to a conspicuous place in his country's history. From his early years he was industrious and persevering in what- ever enterprises he undertook, and by diligence and economy accumulated a competency for his declining years. His straightforward, manly course in life may well be held up as an example to the young, and it proved an inspira- tion to many, and even after he was removed from among us by "the reaper whose name is death," his memory is reverenced by a vast circle of friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Church was one of the first settlers of Walworth county, having settled in Walworth township, February 25, 1837, and there he became very influential in the early affairs of the locality. He was born in Granby town- ship, near Hartford, Connecticut, in 1817, and was the eldest of four children born to Elijah and Violet (Holcomb) Church. His father was also a native of Connecticut, and about 1842 he came to Wisconsin, locating in Walworth township, this county, and after living there a short time he moved to Ridge- field, near Woodstock, Illinois, where he farmed until after the close of the Civil war, when he returned to Walworth county and lived here the rest of his life, dying here on May 31, 1877, at the age of eighty-four years.
The family is of English origin, but came to America in the early days of New England. Elijah Church's father, Uriah Church, was a soldier in
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the Revolutionary war. Violet Holcomb, mentioned above, was born in Massachusetts and her death occurred at the age of twenty-eight years; she was also of English descent. When Cyrus Church was four years old his parents moved to Broome county, New York, and when he was sixteen years old moved on to Trumbull county, Ohio; he worked for his father until he was twenty years old, then came west. He started with a valise on his back, and he passed through Chicago and Crystal Lake, where he intended to locate, but was induced to proceed to Lake Geneva, a stranger having praised the prospects here very highly : so he came on alone, wading through ice-covered streams and undergoing many hardships, arriving here on the night of Febru- ary 25th. There were only two families in Walworth township, at the head of Lake Geneva ; they received him kindly and he located there. More regard- ing this first settlement will be found under the history of Walworth town- ship, in the historical section of this work. Mr. Church bought a claim of government land a half-mile northwest of where the village of Walworth now stands and there established his permanent home. In the fall of 1838 he was united in marriage with Emeline Russell, daughter of Elijah and Lydia (Hyde) Russell. She was born June 25. 1826, on ground which is now covered by the city of Cleveland, Ohio. It was in a Shaker community which her parents had helped organize and of which they were members. It was a thrifty, thriving society, owning fourteen hundred acres of valuable land and several factories and for many years was conducted quite successfully. When Emeline Russell was nineteen years old, she and her brother, Marcus Russell, left the Shaker community and came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, arriving about 1838, and here she made her home with her brother until her marriage to Mr. Church.
Five children were born to Cyrus Church and wife, namely: Adelia, wife of J. D. Clark, lives at Harvard, Illinois ; Leonard C. lives in Walworth. this county, and a sketch of him appears in this work; Hiram, who was a prominent ranchman and stock dealer in Idaho, died about 1909: Eugene. who, at the age of fifteen, invented the Church hay-carrier and who proved to be a man of exceptional inventive talent, lives at Harvard, Illinois ; David, who was engaged in farming and stock dealing with Hiram until the death of the latter, is now continuing the business alone. The mother of these children died January 31, 1854.
After the death of his first wife, Cyrus Church married Mary Boorman, who was born at Maidstone, England, June 5. 1828, and who had come to America with her parents when a girl and after a time spent in New York, came on to Walworth county, Wisconsin. Three children were born of the
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subject's second union, namely : Merlin H., an ice cream manufacturer at Kenowick, Wisconsin; Henry, who is in business at Spokane, Washington ; Minnie, who became well educated, engaged in teaching for some time, mar- ried Cassius Bagley, a jeweler at Duluth, Minnesota.
Cyrus Church was formerly a Republican, then turned Prohibitionist. In an early day he served as tax collector and he aided in the organization of Walworth and Sharon townships, also in establishing schools and churches in this county, assisting in any way possible the early development of the same. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. He was prominently connected with many enterprises calculated to benefit the community. He lived in this county more than sixty years, during which time he saw it develop from a wild stretch of dense woodland to one of the finest farming communi- ties in the state, and he took no little part in this work of progress. He lived an honorable and upright life, made a competency by his own persistent efforts and honest dealings and left behind him a clean record when he died in 1899.
MERRIOTT E. REYNOLDS.
In the old countries of the world, particularly those governed by kings or emperors, there is a sharp contrast drawn between persons of title and the laboring classes. The aristocratic members of these countries, from time immemorial, tried to make it appear that the kings or emperors ruled by divine authority, and the families of the nobilities attempted to establish their superiority over the working classes on much the same basis. As a conse- quence labor has always been looked upon in those countries as degrading, whether in the fields or the factories and mills, instead of being the highest employment to which man can turn his hand. In our country, on the con- trary, it has been largely the tendency to ennoble labor, and this tendency has been largely successful, because, aside from the weak-minded aristocrats of the cities, all of us regard labor as wholly dignified and honorable. Even the President himself may have descended from the wilds of the West. Among those who have been content to spend their lives in agricultural pursuits and who have added to the dignity and respectability of labor by fair and hon- orable conduct in Walworth county is Merriott E. Reynolds, of Delavan township.
Mr. Reynolds was born in Sugar Creek, Wisconsin, on May 17, 1870, and he is the son of John and Margaret (Dalrymple) Reynolds. the father a
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native of the state of Vermont and the mother of New York. John Reyn- olds came to Wisconsin in 1851 and first settled in East Delavan, Walworth county ; but after remaining there a few months he went overland to Cali- fornia, being among the great horde that crossed the western plains to the gold fields in 1849. Remaining in the Pacific coast country two years, he returned to East Delavan where he became well established through industry and honest dealings and became well known, making this his home until his death, on June 7, 1907; his widow survives and lives in East Delavan. They were the parents of the following children: John and Amos are deceased; William Henry, Wilbur James, Louis E., Marion E. (deceased) and Mer- riott E., of this review, were twins.
Merriott E. Reynolds grew up on the home farm and assisted with the work on the place during the summer months, attending the public schools in the winter time at Elkhorn. On October 12, 1898, he was united in marriage with Fannie M. Smith, daughter of Augustus P. and Hannah ( Bluer) Smith, a highly respected family. To this union two children have been born, Mil- dred DeWitt, whose birth occurred on September 1, 1903, and Marion Eliza- beth, born September 30, 1907.
Mr. Reynolds has farmed all his life and has been very successful in his various operations. He is now the owner of a fertile and well improved place of eighty acres in section 10, Delavan township, and he has a very comfort- able home and good outbuildings and always keeps some good live stock.
Mr. Reynolds votes the Republican ticket and he is a member of the Baptist church of Delavan. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen and he and his wife are members of the Mystic Workers.
ELDER PHIPPS WALDO LAKE.
When Elder Phipps Waldo Lake, one of the pioneer preachers of Wal- worth county, passed away there was added to the list of honored dead whose earthly records closed with the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" : but as long as memory remains to those who knew him the influence of his noble life will remain as a source of encouragement and inspiration. "Our echoes roll from soul to soul and grow forever," and the good we do lives after us through all the ages, handed down from generation to genera- tion. Who, then, can measure the results of a life work, and especially such a life work as that of Elder Lake? To the uplifting of humanity his ener-
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gies were ever devoted. With unerring judgment he recognized the spark of divinity in each individual and endeavored to fan it into the flame of right- eousness. Not to condemn, but to aid, he made the practice of his life, and the world is better and brighter for his having lived. But though the voice is stilled in death, the spirit of his worth and work remains as the deep under- current of a mighty stream, noiseless but irresistible. His influence was as the delicate fragrance of a flower to those who had the pleasure of his friend- ship. His sympathies were broad, ennobling all by his Christian character. His life was beautiful in its purity, goodness and virtues.
Elder Lake was born at Hoosick, Rensselaer county, New York, May I, 1789. He was the son of Henry and Jemima ( Waldo) Lake, the mother being a descendant of the famous Governor Phipps, who was rewarded by King George III by an appointment as governor of Massachusetts, for rais- ing a rich Spanish galleon, or treasure ship. Henry Lake's father was one of the old patroons of the early Dutch colonists, and he owned a large tract of land on the border of New York and Vermont, but by adhering to the British side in the war for independence his estate was confiscated by the Americans and he was compelled to flee to Canada. His son, Henry Lake, was on the side of the colonists, being a soldier in the patriot army. After the close of the Revolution he settled in Otsego county, New York, in the region made immortal by the incomparable Fenimore Cooper in his "Leather Stocking Tales," and he there cleared and improved a farm in the then heav- ily timbered wilderness, and there he spent his active days, but in old age moved to Ames, Montgomery county, New York. He was a deacon many years in the Free-Will Baptist church and during his declining age he was familiarly known as "Father Lake."
Phipps Waldo Lake received a common school education and he studied law, but finally prepared for the ministry in the Free-Will Baptist church. He was one of the pioneers of this denomination in New York state and one of the leading ministers of the same for many years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving at Sackett's Harbor.
In early life he was united in marriage at Richfield, Otsego county, New York, with Rebecca Beardsley, who was born at that place in 1792. Her parents were of English ancestry and were early colonial settlers. She lived to be ninety-two years old.
Elder Lake preached in Cortland and Montgomery counties, then set- tled at Ames, where he preached fourteen years. He purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land in that vicinity and became a prosperous farmer, In the spring of 1839 he became a pioneer settler on Bigfoot Prairie, Walworth
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county, where he bought six hundred and forty acres in sections 34 and 35, Walworth township, one hundred acres of which had previously been broken and a crop of corn, wheat and oats planted. He made extensive improve- ments on this land, built a frame house and there passed the remainder of his life, becoming one of the successful farmers and substantial citizens of the locality, his death occurring on August 17, 1860, when about seventy-two years old. He was a speaker of much ability and did much good among the early settlers of this county, besides having charge of a church at Lake Geneva which he served continuously for several years. For a period of thirty-eight years he preached in the Baptist church. Politically, he was a Whig in earlier life, later voting with the Republicans when that party was organized. He became prominent in party affairs and served two years in the Wisconsin legislature.
Eight children constituted the Lake family, named as follows: Polly died unmarried; Beardsley became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres adjoining his father's farm, and he lived there until 1868, when he moved to Harvard, where his death occurred; Levi also lived at Harvard after 1867, engaged in the lumber and wagon making business, and later in life made a fortune in Wisconsin pine lands, dying in 1905 at the advanced age of eighty-nine years ;; Waldo spent nearly all his life on the home farm and died at Big Foot; Mary married Delaney Read and lived at Big Foot, where she and her husband both died many years ago; Rebecca, who married a Mr. Van Wagenen, lived in Dubuque, Iowa, and died April 4, 1912, aged ninety-one years and nine months; Lucretia, who married Charles Arm- strong, died about fifty years ago: Sarah, who married James E. Smith, Sr., is the mother of Oliver Lines Smith, whose sketch contains a history of her family and is to be found on another page of this work.
JOHN HALL.
Such men as John Hall, well known hotel man now living in honorable retirement at Delavan, are eminently deserving of a place in the history of Walworth county, for they have not only led honorable lives but have done much for the general good of the community whenever opportunity presented itself.
Mr. Hall was born in Montreal, Canada, on April 15, 1845. He is the son of Robert Hall, who was a native of Ireland, and when a young man emi-
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grated to the dominion of Canada, where he won a local reputation as a man of medicine, and also followed shipbuilding for a time. He had been excep- tionally well educated and spoke fluently the French, Italian and German languages, as well as the English. He traveled extensively over Europe, the United States, Canada and South America. He was three times married. His last wife, Margaret Hill, was born in Canada, of French descent. They were married in the city of Montreal and to this union fifteen children were born, seven of whom are now living, namely: Henry, of Chicago: Mary. wife of Willis King, lives in Nebraska; Margaret is the wife of C. L. Sage, of Delavan, this county; Robert lives in Lexington, Illinois; John W., of this sketch ; Charles lives in Nebraska; Anna is the wife of George King and they live in Nebraska.
The death of Dr. Robert Hall, father of the subject, occurred in Madison county, Nebraska, in October, 1874. He served as a captain in the war of 1812, was twice wounded, and he carried the bullets through life.
John W. Hall was six years old when his parents brought him to Wal- worth county. They lived for a time in Delavan, then moved to Janesville, where they lived two years, thence to Milwaukee, where they spent seven years, then returned to Delavan and this has been the family home ever since. In November, 1863, prompted by his patriotic spirit, the subject re- sponded to his country's call for troops and became a member of the Union army, serving in the Second Cavalry, Wisconsin. He participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge and Little Rock. He was under Major- General Grierson in his famous raid from Memphis, Tennessee, across the country to Vicksburg, Mississippi, during which there were many skirmishes and running fights. Mr. Hall served faithfully, escaped injury and he was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment, having been excused from duty only one day during his entire term of service. He was discharged at Austin, Texas, November 15, 1865, and he at once returned to Delavan, Wisconsin. Mr. Hall then spent four years in the West, visiting Nebraska. Colorado and the Dakotas, and upon his return to Delavan he was united in marriage with Clarissa Tucker, the wedding being celebrated on October 11, 1869. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall, three of whom died in infancy. Clara Belle, who married a Mr. Welsher, was born on July 24, 1871.
The subject lived on a farm at Delavan Lake, this county, which place he greatly improved and built a substantial dwelling on, and there he engaged in general farming for about ten years. During the past seventeen years he has operated a summer resort, Hall's Park, on Delavan lake, one of the
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popular gathering places for tourists in this region, which is known all over the country. Here his hundreds of guests always received courteous and considerate treatment. He disposed of the same to his daughter in June. 1910. retiring from active life, and now Mrs. Welsher conducts the place with much success. Politically, Mr. Hall is a Republican, and he belongs to the Episcopal church.
R. H. THOMAS.
It is customary for the people of the United States to look upon every boy as a possible future occupant of every or any office within the gift of the people. This is one of the main reasons that we rejoice in this country and its institutions, for all parents know that it is not an impossibility for their boy to occupy the highest positions in public and business life in the land. . There is something in this thought to work for. Not merely the accumula- tion of dollars and cents, but the acquirement of an honored position in the civic and social circles is something worth fighting for in the great war for existence. In pioneer times people had enough to do to make a respectable living, without taking into account the higher problems of society and civilization, but that time is past and a better time has arrived, with higher hopes, promises and rewards. Accordingly where once stood the pioneer cabin is now the large and comfortable residence of the well-to-do descendant, with its organ or piano, its college graduate and its library of books and periodicals. But the children of today little reckon of the many weary steps taken by their fathers to reach this desirable 'state of advance- ment and comfort. R. H. Thomas, one of the most progressive of Delavan township's farmers, is a descendant of such a pioneer and he himself comes down to us from the pioneer epoch, having spent his busy life in Walworth county, his birth having occurred at Millard, Sugar Creek township, on March 3, 1855. He is the son of Harrison and Marjorie (Jackson) Thomas, a sturdy Canadian family who came to Sugar Creek township. this county, in an early day. developed a good farm and established a comfortable home and here the father remained until his death, in 1896; his widow survives and still makes her home in Sugar Creek township where, like her husband before her, she enjoys the friendship of a wide acquaintance. They were the parents of four children, namely: Marjorie A. married a Mr. Weaver: R. H., of this review ; Lilly, who married a Mr. Edwards, is now deceased: Edward is the youngest of the family.
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Mr. Thomas grew up on the home farm and assisted with the general work about the place during his boyhood days and attended the district schools and the schools at Milton, Wisconsin. On March 14, 1883, he was united in marriage with Mary Stewart, daughter of Arthur and Elizabeth Stewart, both now deceased. This union has resulted in the birth of two children, Frank S. and Walter H.
Mr. Thomas has devoted his life very successfully to agricultural pur- suits and stock raising and he is now the owner of one of the choice, well improved and productive farms of this township, consisting of two hundred acres in section 14. He has a very pleasant and neatly kept dwelling and substantial outbuildings and everything about the place denotes thrift and prosperity as well as good management. He has lived to see this locality develop from a wild forest to one of the leading sections of the great Badger commonwealth and he has played well his part in the work of transforma- tion. Politically, he is a Republican and he belongs to the Baptist church and the Mystic Workers at Millard.
C. R. BRISTOL.
One of the worthy native sons of Walworth county who has been con- tent to spend his life here at home and who is in every respect a worthy son of a worthy sire, carrying forward in a most laudable manner the work inaugurated by the elder member of this sterling old pioneer family, is C. R. Bristol, of Delavan township, who was born there on February 6, 1870. He is the son of Reuben and Sarah (Shepherd) Bristol, natives of the state of New York, the father having been born on October 31, 1828, and on July 5, 1852, he was married, having spent his youth in his native community. When twenty years of age he came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, being one of the early settlers here, developing a fine farm from the wilderness and establishing, through close application and good management, an excel- lent home. He was one of the strong and influential citizens whose lives have become an essential part of the early history of this locality and for over a half century his name was synonymous for all that constituted honorable and upright manhood, and he had the undivided respect and admiration of all who knew him for his clean, honest life and his industry and public spirit. He took much interest in local public affairs and an evidence of his high standing in his neighborhood is shown by the fact that he held the office of
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assessor of Delavan township for a period of twenty-five years, discharging its duties most worthily and satisfactorily, failing health finally compelling him to relinquish the same. He owned a very fine farm of one hundred thirty-two and one-half acres in sections 9 and 16, Delavan township, which received his careful attention for a number of busy decades. His death occurred on August 13, 1906, his faithful life companion having preceded him to the silent land on May 6, 1900. They were the parents of six children, namely : Harry died when two years old: Marion; Clara married C. Pru- dames, a successful farmer of Delavan township; Stella Concello lives in Milwaukee; Lena Leach is now deceased; C. R. of this review.
The immediate subject of this sketch grew to maturity on his father's farm where he assisted with the work when a boy and attended the district schools in the winter months. He has devoted his life to farming and stock raising with very gratifying results, having bought his father's farm which he has kept well tilled and well improved and where he still resides. In con- nection with general farming he has added stock raising.
On August 3, 1898, Mr. Bristol was united in marriage with Nettie Nelson, the daughter of Oley and Hannah (Jansen) Nelson, both natives of Norway, both having emigrated to America when quite young, and they grew up and were educated here, marrying in Nova Scotia. In an early day they came to Wisconsin and settled at Oconomowoc, Waukesha county. Mr. Nel- son is now residing in Palmyra, Wisconsin, his wife being deceased, dying on January 15, 1899.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bristol two children have been born, Sadette, whose birth occurred on July 5. 1908, and a twin son who died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Bristol is a Republican and he is a member of the Congregational church.
THOMAS F. WILLIAMS.
Year has been added to year and decade to decade until nearly sixty years have been numbered with the past since Thomas F. Williams, one of the best known and highly honored agriculturists of Delavan township. Walworth county, came here with his parents from the old Empire state. Upon his arrival this section of the Badger state was largely an undeveloped region, awaiting the awakening touch of the sturdy pioneer to transform its wild lands into rich farms and beautiful homes, to found cities and towns, to
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establish churches and schools, and in many other ways to reclaim the coun- try for the use of man. As a representative of one of the early families that led the van of civilization into this favored region, Mr. Williams well deserves mention with the substantial men of the county, for he has seen and taken part in the work of development not only in a material way, but also along civic, educational and moral lines, and his reminiscences of the early days here are indeed interesting, and it is with pleasure that a review of his long, interesting and useful career is herewith presented.
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