USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 28
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The Captain was married on November 27, 1827, to Sarah Mather, a direct descendant of Rev. Richard Mather and Cotton Mather. Her death occurred on July 13. 1889. The following are their children: Mary Ester, widow of Charles A. Bassett; E. M., Sarah, H. T., Elisha, John Manly ; Sarah A., who is now the widow of W. M. Shepherd; Clarisa, who lives in Delavan; Alma; Elizabeth A., who is the widow of Edward Powers. They are all living except E. M., whose death occurred on October 8. 1891 : H. T. Sharp died on July 27. 1897, and Elisha Sharp, who died in the service of his country as hospital steward on March 26. 1862.
CHARLES ORA BESECKER.
An honorable retirement from labor in which to enjoy the fruits of for- mer toil and the enjoyment which life can offer is the fitting reward of a useful and active career, in which one, through keen discernment, indefat- igable labor and honorable methods advanced steadily toward the goal of prosperity. Such, briefly stated, is the record of Charles Ora Besecker, who, after a varied and interesting career, is now living in honorable retirement in his splendid home in Delavan, ranking as one of the representative citizens
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of Walworth county, having so managed his affairs as to acquire thereby a position among the substantial residents of this locality, whose interests he has long had at heart and sought to promulgate whenever possible.
Mr. Besecker was born on July 9, 1855, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Aaron and Charity (Coon) Besecker, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of New York. He was a carpenter by trade, which he followed until his death. He came to Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1863, and there remained until 1870, in which year his death occurred; then the family moved to Clinton, Wisconsin, and remained there about three years, then moved to Allen's Grove, Walworth county, remaining there about four years, then moved to Delavan township, Walworth county, and here the death of the mother of the subject occurred in 1899.
To Aaron Besecker and wife were born five children, namely: Elsia, now Mrs. Sperry, of Denver, Colorado; Charles Ora, of this sketch; Ella, now Mrs. Marsellus, of California; Frank is farming in Darien township, Walworth county ; George is a traveling salesman and lives in Iowa.
Charles O. Besecker, of this sketch, was educated in the district schools and in the Clinton high school. When twenty-two years old he went to Nebraska and engaged in the bakery business for about two years, then re- turned to Walworth county, but later went back to Nebraska in the govern- ment survey work, thence to Chicago, in which city he remained fifteen years; while there he was in the commission business for some time, later was a policeman, finally taking up the creamery business, the latter after he had come to Delavan, Wisconsin, and he continued in the same for a period of nine years, or until the fall of 1903, having been very successful, building up a very extensive patronage. Having accumulated a competency, he retired from active business in that year and has since lived a quiet life in Delavan, where he has just had completed a modern, imposing, in fact, one of the most beautiful homes in this part of the county.
Mr. Besecker was married to Martha Davis, of Brooklyn, New York. After her death Mr. Besecker married Mrs. Ela B. Hawver, widow of Orin Hawver, on June 16, 1903. Mr. Besecker has no children by this last mar- riage, but Mrs. Besecker became the mother of three children by her former marriage, namely : Camilla Joiner lives near Sharon; Edna M. Matteson and Erma E. Starks live at Delavan.
Mrs. Besecker is the daughter of Sidney and Alice Bell, both now de- ceased, Mr. Bell dying in April, 1893, and his wife in May, 1904. They spent their lives on a farm, and were highly respected in their community.
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Mr. Besecker is a public-spirited gentleman, always supporting such measures as make for the general good of his county, and he has won a wide circle of friends since casting his lot with the people of Walworth county.
ANDREW WILLIAMSON.
A well known business man of Delavan, Walworth county, is Andrew Williamson, now engaged in the real estate business, but who has spent the major portion of his business life as an agriculturist and stock dealer. He has been content to spend his life in this vicinity, being the son of an excel- lent pioneer family, members of which have done much for the upbuilding of the county.
Mr. Williamson was born in Richmond, this county, on June 17, 1863. He is the son of Ole and Mary (Nelson) Williamson, both natives of Nor- way, the father coming to this country in 1844 and the mother in 1846. He settled in Muskego and she in Whitewater, Wisconsin. He engaged in farm- ing here and was married in this county, then bought a farm in Richmond township, though he and his wife lived in Delavan and Whitewater a short time prior to that. Their place of forty acres was located in section 16. Richmond township, and there the father spent the rest of his life, dying on May 31, 1883; his widow survives and makes her home with our subject.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ole Williamson twelve children were born, namely: John lives at Genoa, Nebraska; Martin lives in California; Caroline is de- ceased, as are also Anna, Mary and Cornelius: Mrs. Sophia Palmatier: An- drew, of this sketch; Mrs. Anna McMillan; Cornelius, the second, is de- ceased; Gabriel is deceased; Mrs. Emma Hodson, of Fullerton, Nebraska.
Andrew Williamson received his education in the district schools of Richmond township, and early in life he turned his attention to farming, which has been his chief life work. However, of late years he has engaged in the live stock business, continuing the same for sixteen years, or until October, 1911, when he went into the real estate business in Delavan, under the firm name of Gage & Williamson.
Politically, Mr. Williamson is a Republican, and he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen and the Mystic Workers of Delavan, and the First National Accidental Company.
Mr. Williamson was married at Richmond, Wisconsin, on December 3. 1891, to Mary Adelia Gage, daughter of Irwin and Margaret (Hall) Gage, the father born in the state of New York, from which he came with his
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parents in 1844 to Walworth county, Wisconsin, the family settling in Rich- mond township, and here the father of Mrs. Williamson grew to manhood, devoting himself to agricultural pursuits and spent the rest of his life, dying on September 10, 1908. His widow survives and lives at Richmond village.
To the subject and wife five children have been born, namely: Hazel Irene, born November 4, 1892; Harold Mckinley, born March 1, 1894; Alveretta M., born August 31, 1896; Jesse Irwin, born April 26, 1900; Ruby May, born September 28, 1901.
Mr. Williamson retired from farm life in 1901 and moved to Delavan. He was appointed to the office of deputy sheriff of Walworth county in 19II. He was treasurer of Richmond township for one year and also clerk of the local school board.
Mrs. Williamson holds the office of noble grand of the Daughters of Rebekah, and she is oracle of the Royal Neighbors, and a member of the Mystic Workers and the Relief Corps of Delavan.
CHARLES S. BRABAZON.
One of the leading business men and best known citizens of the south and western part of Walworth county is Charles S. Brabazon, member of the well known and popular firm of Brabazon & Bro. Implement Company at Delavan. He has succeeded in his chosen life work because he has been per- sistent and energetic and honorable in his dealings with the public, and he has therefore had the confidence and good will of all, which are indispensable fac- tors if one succeeds in any line where the public has to be depended upon.
Mr. Brabazon was born on November 15, 1871, in Sugar Creek town- ship, this county. He is the son of James and Sarah Catherine (Dunham) Brabazon, the father a native of Canada where he spent his boyhood, coming to Sugar Creek township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, when a young man and here purchased a farm, which he developed and on which he continued to reside until 1897, when he sold out and went to Delavan where he engaged in the restaurant business, continuing in the same for a period of four years, then entered the mercantile business at Jacobsville and East Delavan, this county, continuing the same several years, then sold out and moved back to Delavan, where he now resides, having been retired from active life for some time.
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Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James Brabazon, namely : William H., of Delavan; Charles S., of this sketch; Edith and Nellie were the daughters; and Jesse, who is engaged in business with the subject, a member of the implement firm mentioned above.
Charles S. Brabazon of this sketch received his education in the district schools, and he worked on the farm with his father until 1896, when he came to the town of Delavan and engaged in the restaurant business, then he went to Elkhorn where he remained about four years. Returning to Delavan, he went into the implement business which he and his brother have continued to the present time, having built up a large and constantly growing trade with the surrounding country. They handle an up-to-date and carefully selected line of implements, everything needed or used by the twentieth-century agricul- turist, and they also handle automobiles, being agents for the Chicago-Stover Automobile Company, and they have had a good business in this line.
Mr. Brabazon was married June 3, 1896, to Mildred G. Sturtevant, of Walworth county. To them has come one child, Lloyd, born September 10, 1900.
JOHN BUTLER READER.
Success as a business man is not attained by the indolent and unobserv- ing, but by the diligent, persistent and close observer, and these qualities seem to be possessed by John Butler Reader, of Delavan, another of the worthy native sons of Walworth county, who represents an excellent old family and `who has so conducted himself that he has met with a fair measure of success in a material way all along the line and at the same time has kept the good name of the family unsmirched.
Mr. Reader was born on August 17, 1861, in this county and here he has been content to spend his life. He is the son of J. J. and Charlotte W. (Hitchcock) Reader, a complete sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work.
Mr. Reader received his education in the public schools of the city of Delavan, and when twenty years of age he began his business career by accept- ing a position with Fairbanks, Morse & Company, of Chicago, continuing in their employ for a period of two years, giving them entire satisfaction. He then returned to Delavan in 1883 and began manufacturing windmills and tanks, which business he has continued to the present with ever-increasing success, the superiority of his products being universally recognized, hence
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are eagerly sought after. He is well equipped in every respect for the manu- facture of these lines and only the most skilled artisans are employed. He is also agent for the famous Fairbanks, Morse & Company's private light and pumping gasoline engine and dynamos, and enjoys an excellent business, which is rapidly growing. He has a good location at the corner of Seventh and Wisconsin streets.
Mr. Reader was married on January 8, 1891, to Alice M. Smith, daugh- ter of Ross S. and Elizabeth (Brooks) Smith, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Suffice it to say here that, like the Reader fam- ily, they have long been among our highly esteemed citizens. To Mr. and Mrs. Reader two children have been born, named as follows: Frank Clifford, born November 26, 1891, died October 25, 1897: and Marliene Elizabeth, born January 29, 1901.
Mr. Reader has a commodious and modernly appointed home at the cor- ner of Walworth and Seventh streets, and has also built several other fine houses in the city of Delavan.
Mr. Reader has also found time to perform his full duty as a public spirited citizen. He was a member of the city council six years, and for fourteen years has been a member of the board of trustees of Spring Grove cemetery, being on the executive committee of the board for the last ten years. He is also a member of the water commission in the city of Delavan, having served in that capacity several years.
FRED D. COWLES.
Success to such a man as Fred D. Cowles, widely known as a Shetland pony raiser, of Delavan, Walworth county, comes as a matter of course, for early in his career he adopted such methods of procedure as could hardly fail in winning the goal sought, and, having thus been imbued with correct principles and having an indomitable courage and persistency of purpose, he went forward over all obstacles and today is one of the substantial and worthy native sons of the locality of which this history deals. He was born on June 6, 1863, in North Geneva, this county, and is the son of John and Lucy (Hathaway) Cowles, who were natives of the state of New York. where they spent their earlier years, he coming to Wisconsin in 1846, and settled on a farm southeast of Elkhorn in Geneva township, with his parents. Seth and Harriet Cowles, and here the father helped develop the farm and continued to operate it until within about ten years of his death in 1902, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1897.
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Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Cowles, namely : Elmer lives at Elkhorn; Fred D., of this sketch; Mrs. Minnie Smith, who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota : C. E. lives in Elkhorn; Dr. George H., of Wood- hall, Illinois.
Fred D. Cowles received his education in the district schools of Wal- worth county, and he has devoted his life to farming and stock raising. He became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. Selling his farm in Darien township in 1910, he purchased thirty acres a mile and a half north- east of the town of Delavan where he is extensively engaged in raising Shet- land ponies, keeping a herd of between seventy-five and one hundred, which, because of their superior quality, are greatly admired by all and find a very ready market when offered for sale. They are shipped to all parts of the country, and having been in this business for the past seventeen years he is widely known to the horsemen of America.
Mr. Cowles' commodious home is at No. 226 South Main street, Dela- van. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, the Mystic Workers, of Delavan, and, religiously, he belongs to the Congregational church. He was a member of the city council of Delavan for two terms.
Mr. Cowles was married on November 17, 1887, to Josephine Latta, daughter of Benjamin and Deborah Latta, a highly respected local family. Three children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Daisy L., born October 8, 1888; Bessie B., born March 31, 1890, and May L., born November 17, 1892.
ERASTUS H. AMES.
The life history of Erastus H. Ames, one of the well known and highly esteemed venerable veterans, now living in honorable retirement in the pic- turesque little town of Delavan, shows what industry, good habits and stanch citizenship will accomplish in the battle of acquiring property and rearing children to lead steady and respectable lives. His life has been one repléte with duty well and conscientiously performed in all its relations. He has not been a man to shrink from his duty, however irksome or dangerous, whether in the role of private citizen, public servant or on the field of battle, and it is such traits that win in life's affairs. He has come down to us from the pioneer period and has noted the wondrous transformation from that time to this.
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playing well his part in the drama of civilization. He has been an advocate of wholesome living and cleanliness in politics as well, and has ever been out- spoken in his antipathy to wrong doing, whether by the humble citizen or by the incumbents of influential offices.
Mr. Ames was born on January 26, 1834, in Morgan county, Ohio. He is the son of Absolom and Margaret ( Hottengohan) Ames, the father a native of the state of Pennsylvania and the mother born in Germany, from whichi country she came to the United States when young, and met and married Mr. Ames in the old Quaker state, where he grew to manhood, and from there they moved to Morgan county, Ohio, in an early day, settling on a farm, and in 1859 they came to Wisconsin, locating on a farm in Crawford county, where the permanent home of the family was established. Absolom Ames died there June 29, 1880, and his wife followed in November, 1881.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Absolom Ames, namely : Jabish, Doresey, Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary are all deceased ; those living being, John, Sarah Ann, Hannah, Erastus H., Margaret, Dexter and Harriet.
Erastus H. Ames, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm in Morgan county, Ohio, and there worked with his father when a boy. He received his education in the common schools of his district, and he remained in the Buck- eye state until he was twenty-two years old, then came to Wisconsin, and set- tled in Bad Axe (now Vernon) county, and there he was united in marriage with Pleasy Jane Davis on July 3. 1856. She was the daughter of Samuel and Emily (Ewers) Davis, of Belmont county. Ohio, an old family. In September after his marriage Mr. Ames returned to Morgan county, Ohio, where he remained about three years, then moved to Vernon county on a farm for two years, then came to Crawford county, Wisconsin, where he bought a farin of eighty acres and continued to reside there for a period of thirty-five years, when he sold out and moved to the city of Delavan, Wal- worth county. Wisconsin, and retired from active life.
Mr. Ames enlisted in the Fiftieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in 1865, in which he served very faithfully for one year, being stationed at Benton Barracks, Booneville and other places up the Missouri river, chiefly guarding against bushwhackers and Indians.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ames were born the following children: Absolom, Festus, Emma, Effie and Agnes are all living : the following are deceased : Margaret, May, Martha, Veranus and Elizabeth. He has twenty-nine grand- children and fifteen great-grandchildren.
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Politically, Mr. Ames is a Republican, and he has been a member of the Christian church for a period of fifty-four years, and very faithful in his sup- port of the same. Mrs. Ames, too, is a member of the same church.
Mr. Ames devoted his life to farming until he retired and was very suc- cessful. He is the owner of a commodious and attractive home, where he lives a quiet life, at No. 126 South Eighth street. Delavan.
DANIEL E. LABAR.
The name of LaBar is one of the best known in Walworth county, for the family has lived here since 1839, having been among the early settlers and from that day to this, through a period of seventy years and more, the name has been one to be proud of, for while they have labored for their own advancement they have also been mindful of the duties they owed to the community.
One of the best known of the present generation is Daniel E. LaBar. He was born in this township on August 21, 1857, the son of Samuel Rees LaBar and Harriet (Topping) LaBar. The father was born in Stroudsburg, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1820, the son of Daniel E. LaBar, who came to Wisconsin in 1839, arriving here on July 4th of that year and locating in the northwest quarter of section 7. Samuel Rees LaBar, father of the subject, accompanied his parents to this county and here he assisted in getting the home place started, and here spent his life engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, becoming the owner of three hundred acres, and was one of the leading farmers of his community, and here he spent his life, dying July 29, 1896 He was married at Delton, Sauk county, Wisconsin, on November 10, 1856, to Harriet N. Topping, daughter of the Rev. Henry Topping, who was one of the first settlers of Walworth county. Mrs. LaBar was born in Charleston, Montgomery county, New York, and she came to Delavan, Wis- consin, with her parents in 1839.
To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Rees LaBar eight children were born, namely : Daniel E., of this review ; Charles H .. Gilbert, Nina, James, Frank, Ruth and Julia.
The father of these children was assessor of Delavan in 1845, and was supervisor in 1856 and 1857, then was re-elected, and was elected to the office of assessor in 1867. serving several years. He was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Delavan in 1876, serv- ing five years.
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Daniel E. LaBar grew to manhood on the home farm and received his education in the local schools, graduating in 1875. He also attended Way- land .Academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, graduating in 1879. He has farmed the greater part of his life. He moved to Delavan about twelve years ago. He has always taken much interest in public affairs and he was elected Mayor of Delavan in 1908 and served one term very successfully. He was elected a member of the city council in 1901, as alderman of the first ward, and he was twice elected a member of the county board. He is a loyal Republican, and has been active in the party and as a public servant has al- ways discharged his duties faithfully and commendably.
Mr. LaBar is an active member of the First Baptist church of Delavan, and has been clerk of the church for sixteen years.
Mr. LaBar was married on April 15. 1897, to Mary Antonette Mabie, daughter of J. and Anna Mabie, and to this union two children have been born. Elizabeth M. LaBar, now deceased, and Daniel Rees LaBar, born Octo- ber II, 1905.
NATHAN DWIGHT MANON.
That the career of such a man as Nathan Dwight Maxon, the present efficient and popular postmaster at Walworth, besides being treasured in the hearts of relatives and friends, should have its public record also, is peculiarly proper because a knowledge of men whose substantial reputation rests upon their attainments and character must exert a wholesome influence upon the rising generation. While transmitting to future generations the chronicle of such a life, it is with the hope of instilling into the minds of those who come after the important lesson that honor and station are sure rewards of indi- vidual exertion.
Mr. Maxon was born in Walworth township, this county, May 15, 1857, and is the son of Henry J. and Phebe ( Howland) Maxon. It is believed that the birth of the father occurred at Adams, Jefferson county, New York, and he was the son of Asa Lewis Maxon and Julia Ann ( Read ) Maxon, his father being of English and his mother of Scotch descent. The name was originally spelled Maxson, the present spelling being adopted by Asa L. Maxon.
Richard Maxson, the first common ancestor of the American branch of the family, came from England and he was a blacksmith by trade, and he was employed in a shop belonging to James Everell. Records show that he was a member of the Baptist church in 1634. In 1639 he went to Portsmouth, Rhode
NATHAN D. MAXON
THE DEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY!
ASTOR, LEHOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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Island, near Newport, and there shared in the distribution of lands to the colon- ists of that region, and a legend says that he was killed in an Indian raid about 1640. His son, John Maxson, was born in 1639, and he and his wife were buried at Westerly, Rhode Island. Several members of the family of the third and fourth generations were soldiers in the Revolutionary war; Benjamin and Stephen of the third generation, and Col. Jesse Maxson, son of David, was of the fourth generation. He was an aid on Washington's staff, and was killed in the battle of Guilford Court House in 1781. John Maxson, son of the emigrant, was born in 1639, married Sarah Mosher. John Maxson, born on April 21, 1701, was a son of John and Judith ( Clark) Maxson. The father, born in 1666, died in 1747, was the son of John Maxson, who was born in 1639. Asa Maxson, great-grandfather of Henry J. Maxson, father of the subject, was a pioneer settler of Jefferson county, New York, and he was a soldier in the Revolution and served on a vessel on Long Island sound. His son Asa, grandfather of Henry J., was a lumberman at Petersburgh. Rensse- laer county, New York. Asa L. Maxon, father of Henry J., was born in that county and there engaged in farming. About 1853 he moved to Big Foot Prairie, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and settled on one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he improved into a good farm and he became a prominent man in that community. While he lived in New York he served as United States revenue collector, having been appointed by President Taylor. About 1856 he came to Walworth and bought a farm a mile south of the village.
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