USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 29
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Asa L. Maxon married Julia Ann Read, July 9, 1822. He was born May 22, 1802, and he was the son of Asa and Polly (Lewis) Maxson. the father having been born on July 1, 1776. Asa Maxson was the son of Asa and Lois (Stillman) Maxson, the former having been born on March 6, 1752, and he was the son of David and Abigail ( Greenman) Maxson. David Maxson was the son of John and Thankful ( Randall ) Maxson.
Henry J. Maxon, father of the subject, was married to Phebe How- land, who was born in South Adams, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 17, 1836, and she died in Walworth, January 25, 1911. She was descended from two prominent families in the early history of this country, through her father from John Howland, the last survivor of the Pilgrim band that landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620; and through her mother from the Sheldon family that came to America in 1710, the members of which family were prominent during the colonial and Revolutionary periods. When three years old she was left an orphan and with her three sisters went to live with (66)
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her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sheldon, in North Adams, Massachu- setts, and in 1845 came with them to their new home in Wisconsin, making much of the trip on the Erie canal, the rest on the Great lakes to Kenosha, thence overland to Big Foot, arriving the first of September, 1845. During the next ten years she lived with her aunt, Mrs. Asenath Fish, of Big Foot, also Mrs. Elizabeth Hayden, of White Oaks, Illinois. She married Henry J. Maxon on June 1, 1855, and they began housekeeping on the Asa L. Maxon farm one mile east and one mile south of Walworth, where they lived until they bought their prairie farm one mile south of Walworth and erected buildings thereon. In the spring of 1892 they left the farm and moved to the village of Walworth, where the death of Mr. Maxon occurred in October of that year. These parents and their family were always identified with the Seventh- Day Baptist church. The mother was an earnest Christian, a good friend and neighbor, always ready to assist anyone in need.
Eight children were born to Henry J. Maxon and wife, namely : Nathan Dwight, of this sketch; Fred J. lives in Chicago, where he is connected with the Illinois Trust & Savings Company : Charles H. died in 1886, when twenty- one years old; Cynthia A. lives in Harvard, Illinois, with her brother, Dr. Jesse G. Maxon ; Myrtie married Edward Sheffer and they live in Madison, Wisconsin, where their children are attending college; Mabel lives in Har- vard, Illinois, with her brother and sister; Dr. Jesse Garfield Maxon is a practicing physician at Harvard, Illinois; Lewis A. lives in Walworth; he is a painter, and he married Mary Sunnenbell, who has borne him one child.
Nathan D. Maxon, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew up on the home farm and received his education in the local schools, remaining on the homestead until December, 1896. He married, in January, 1884, Minnie McLeam, daughter of Rev. Alexander and Emily McLeam, both natives of Nova Scotia. She was born in Massachusetts. Rev. McLeam's work in the ministry brought him from his native country to Massachusetts, thence to Michigan and later to Walworth county, Wisconsin. His death occurred in 1906 at Walworth, in which town he was pastor of the Seventh-Day Ad- ventist church, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1886.
Nathan D. Maxon moved from the farm to the town of Walworth in 1896 and early the following year bought into a general merchandise store. In February, 1898, he was appointed postmaster at this place and he has held the position ever since to the utmost satisfaction of the people and the department. He has continued the mercantile business seven or eight years successfully, and also handles fire insurance. He has commissions signed both by Roosevelt and Taft, appointing him postmaster.
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Eight children have been born to Nathan D. Maxon and wife, namely : Claire M., born January 19, 1885, is engaged in the electrical business in Walworth: Stella was the wife of Harold E. Walters and lives in Walworth, her husband being deceased, having died from an electric shock, September 14. 1909, a week after his son, Harold, was born ; he also left a daughter, Eleanor : Earl D. Maxon is now attending Milton College: Rhue finished the high school course in Walworth and taught two years in that school, but she is now in California for the benefit of her health; Henry is in the office of the electric plant at Walworth, having been engaged in electrical work ever since his graduation from high school: Julia, Muriel and Marjorie are attending high school.
Mr. Maxon was for some time treasurer of the township of Walworth. shortly after he took up his residence here. He belongs to the Masonic order. the Modern Woodmen and the Yeomen lodges, being active in fraternal cir- cles. He and his wife belong to the Seventh-Day Baptist church, and are faithful in their support of the same.
WILLIAM T. PASSAGE.
As editor and publisher of the Delavan Enterprise, William T. Passage wields a potent influence in the affairs of the locality of which this history deals. He is a plain, straightforward man of affairs who endeavors to per- form his duties as a good citizen, without fear and asking no favors.
Mr. Passage was born in Delavan, this county, August 26, 1868, and is the son of George and Anna V. (Vanderpool) Passage. The parents came here from Perry, New York, and located at Delavan in 1842. Here the father engaged in the dry goods business and general merchandise, and was in business many years. He enjoyed a good trade with the surrounding country and was a man who won the confidence and respect of his customers by his fair dealing and obliging nature. His death occurred on May 29. 1888. At that time he had been in business the longest of any man in the county. his business career here covering a period of forty-six years. He took a due interest in public affairs of the community. His wife is still living in Delavan.
William T. Passage grew up in Delavan. After leaving school he went to work for his father with whom he remained about two years, then took a position on the Wl'alworth County Democrat and has been engaged in news-
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paper work ever since. He went to Humboldt, Iowa, and was in a newspaper office about a year. Returning to Wisconsin he spent four years in the printing department in the State School for the Deaf and Dumb at Delavan. From here he went to Marshfield where he was with the Marshfield News about a year and a half. About 1897 he returned to Delavan and entered the office of the Republican as reporter.
Mr. Passage purchased a half interest in the Delavan Enterprise in 1901, and in 1903 purchased the remaining interests and since then has been sole owner and editor of the paper, which has gained constantly in prestige and circulation. He has brightened its mechanical appearance and rendered it a very desirable medium for advertisers, both local and foreign. Its columns teem weekly with the latest and most important news, the happenings of the entire world, and the paper wields much influence toward the general up- building of the community.
Politically, Mr. Passage is a Democrat, but while he is interested in public affairs in general he has not been an aspirant for public honors or the emoluments of political offices, though he has served as alderman.
Fraternally, Mr. Passage is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. He has remained unmarried.
REV. JOHN H. BUCKLEY.
It is always a pleasure to the biographer to revert to the life of a man who has spent his active years in the service of his fellow men, who, unself- ishly, has sought to minister to those in need of spiritual guidance or physical succor, who, unmindful of the praise or blame of his fellow men, goes for- ward from day to day in the performance of his humble duty, content to know that he is honestly following the dictates of his own conscience and doing the Master's will. Such a man is Rev. John H. Buckley, the esteemed Catholic priest at Delavan, who for many years has performed a grand work among the people whom he has elected to serve, burying the friends who pass over the mystic river, marrying the young beginning life's more serious walks. and in many ways assisting in ameliorating the condition of the public at large, and his character from his youth up has been unblemished by even the shadow of wrong, so that the community regards him as one of its most valued citizens. He is a plain, hard-working, unpretentious gentleman, who never courts publicity and who has tried hard to build up a good congregation here, and, as all will acquiesce, has succeeded admirably well.
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Father Buckley was born in the city of Cork, Ireland, about sixty-four years ago, and there he grew to manhood, remaining in his native city until he was about twenty-four years of age. He was educated in the parochial schools of Ireland, then the classical school, after which he entered Mission- ary College of All Saints, at Dublin, and took a course in philosophy and the- ology. He was very studious from his early boyhood and made rapid prog- ress in the above named institutions. About 1874 he was ordained to the priesthood, and soon afterward emigrated to the United States, and was for some time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as assistant in St. John's cathedral. From there he went to Beaver Dam, and later to Broadhead, this state. About 1901 he came to Delavan where he has since resided, in charge of St. An- drew's parish. He has a fine congregation and the church is in a flourishing condition. He has done much to strengthen the work and upbuild the church in a general way wherever his labors have taken him, often laboring with dis- regard to his own welfare if thereby he might accomplish the desired end-to better the condition of his people in any way, and such unselfish application has not only been fruitful of much good, but has endeared him to all with whom he has come into contact. He is profoundly educated in languages. philosophy, theology and other subjects, and has kept well advised on the trend of modern thought.
CHANCY L. SAGE.
The names of such men as the late Chancy L. Sage are those which the historian likes to see recorded, for they indicate the true history makers of a country. They were men of strong arm and brave heart, willing to forego the pleasures of advanced civilization and undergo the hardships of a new country in order that they might do the most for their families and succeeding generations. Such a man was Mr. Sage, who was born on January 22, 1828, in Oneida county, New York. He was the son of Chancy and Mary ( Patti- son) Sage, both natives of the state of New York where they grew up and were married and there they lived until 1848, when they came to Racine. Wisconsin, by boat and settled in Racine county where the father bought a farm and lived for several years, then sold out and came to Walworth county. settling at Delavan city, where he spent the rest of his life, dying on March 15, 1907. There were eleven children in his family.
Chancy L. Sage grew up on the home farm and received his education in the district schools of the early days. He farmed for some time in early
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life, and finally came to Delavan, Walworth county, where he went into the hotel business with his brother Henry, who had preceded him here. They continued in business for some four years, then, the Civil war coming on, the subject enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, in which he served very gallantly for a period of three years and two months. Then he returned to Delavan, Wisconsin, and moved onto a farm where he spent about two years, then was appointed night watchman in Delavan, and this position he held very faithfully for a period of thirty years, or the rest of his life.
Mr. Sage was married to Margaret Hall, on December 16, 1861. She was the daughter of Robert and Margaret ( Hill) Hall, natives of the state of New York, spending their early lives at Albany and there married and devoted their lives to farming, coming to Delavan, Walworth county, in 1850, where Mr. Hall went into the mercantile business which he continued for a number of years, enjoying a good business, later selling out and went to Nebraska where his death occurred in 1880, his widow surviving fifteen years, dying in 1895. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall ten children were born, namely : Boyle is deceased ; Henry lives in Lombard, Ilinois; Mrs. Mary King, of Madi- son county, Nebraska; Richard is deceased; William is deceased; Margaret, widow of Mr. Sage of this sketch: Robert lives in Lexington, Illinois ; John lives at Delavan Lake, this county ; Charles lives at O'Neil, Nebraska : Mrs. Anna King lives in Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Margaret Sage was born on December 15, 1843, in Quebec, Canada, and there she spent her early childhood, and she accompanied her parents to Delavan, Wisconsin, and here still makes her home with her daughter and daughter-in-law. The death of Chancy L. Sage occurred March 15, 1907.
There were four children in the family of Chancy L. and Margaret Sage : Willard C, who lives in Racine; Eva S., who married a Mr. Richeson and lives in Delavan : Everett W. and Walter W., both deceased.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON ALLYN.
The most elaborate history is perforce a merciless abridgment, the his- torian being obliged to select his facts and materials from manifold details and to marshal them in concise and logical order. This applies to specific as well as generic history, and in the former category is included the interesting and important department of biography. In every life of honor and useful- ness there is no dearth of interesting situations and incidents, and yet in sum-
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ming up such a career as that of Mr. Allyn the writer must needs touch only on the more salient facts, giving the keynote of the character and eliminating all that is superfluous to the continuity of the narrative. The gentleman whose name appears above has led an active and useful life, not entirely void of the exciting, but the more prominent have been so identified with the useful and practical that it is to them almost entirely that the writer refers in the following paragraphs.
Alexander Hamilton Allyn, of Delavan, and long one of the most sub- stantial and representative citizens of Walworth county, was born September I, 1835, in Hartford, Connecticut. He is the scion of a sterling old New England family, being the son of Timothy Mather Allyn and Susan Ann (Pratt) Allyn. The father was descended from one of the oldest families of New England, members of which were prominent in colonial times. Records show that in 1638 Mather Allyn purchased one-sixteenth of the town of Windsor, Connecticut, where the family, which had come from Braunton, England, lived for many years. Col. John Allyn was a son of Mather Allyn. Susan Ann Pratt was the daughter of Joseph and Fanny ( Wadsworth ) Pratt, the later being the daughter of Rodger Wadsworth, son of William Wads- worth, son of Joseph Wadsworth, and the latter the son of Capt. Joseph Wads- worth. The last named hid the charter of Connecticut in the hollow of the famous "Charter Oak" tree, October 31. 1687 (.where it remained until May 9. 1689), to protect the rights of the colony from British usurpation. The original charter is still in the office of the secretary of state of Connecticut.
Joseph Pratt, maternal grandfather of the subject, was born June 6, 1779, and he served as postmaster of Hartford. His father was Joseph Pratt, son of William Pratt, the latter having been constable of Hartford in 1729. The Pratt family goes back from William to John, son of John, son of John. the last named born in Stevenange, Hertfordshire, England, where he was baptized November 9, 1620. He was the son of Rev. William Pratt and probably came to America with Rev. Thomas Hooker's party in 1632, and in 1633 was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He accompanied a party of several people to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1636, where he became a pro- prietor of land, and he was elected a representative in 1839. His ancestry traces back to Thomas Pratt of Boldock, Hertfordshire. England, who had a coat-of-arms, a fesse dancett in chief, two lions rampant.
Various other lines of Mr. Allyn's ancestors have been traced back to the very early days in New England's history, and many members of the various branches have distinguished themselves in various walks of life wherever they have dispersed.
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The subject remained in his native city until 1852, then came to Chicago, most of the way by boat, and by stage from Ann Arbor to St. Joseph, Michi- gan. Only one railroad ran out of Chicago at that time. While in Chicago he worked a year in the dry goods store of Cooley Wadsworth & Company, being then but sixteen years old. John V. Farwell, Marshall Field and Joseph Leiter, famous captains of industry later in life, all worked at the same store the year after he left. In 1854 Mr. Allyn went to Milwaukee where he worked for Bell, Courtney & Company, a large grain warehouse concern, re- maining with this firm eighteen months. He was then in a transportation business for some time, later spent two years with the New York Central Transportation Company. He came to Walworth county in the fall of 1859 and located on a farm in Delavan township and devoted his energies to farm- ing, purchasing an excellent place between Elkhorn and Delavan, consisting of one hundred and eighty-four acres. He moved to the city of Delavan in 1883. Here he was supervisor for fourteen years, and he was township supervisor while living on the farm. In 1885 he completed a handsome and commodious dwelling in Delavan, in the midst of spacious, beautiful lawns, in which he had a large fountain erected, making this one of the most desirable residences in the county, and it has long been known to his wide circle of friends as a place of old time hospitality and good cheer.
Mr. Allyn was married on January 3, 1861, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Elizabeth Humphrey Martin, daughter of Charles L. and Lydia Dean ( Potter) Martin, a prominent family of that city .. Mrs. Allyn's death occurred on January 5. 1870, leaving two children. Mr. Allyn was subsequently married to Mary Elizabeth Doolittle, daughter of James Austin Doolittle and Frances Eliza (Thorp) Doolittle, a fine old New York family. She was born on January 18, 1850, in Oswego, New York, and she came to Delavan, Wiscon- sin, with her parents during her girlhood.
The following are Mr. Allyn's children, three having been born of his first marriage and four by his second: Leonora, born December 27. 1861, died May II, 1869: Charles Thompson, born February . 7, 1863, married Katherine C. Elery, and lives in Seattle, Washington; Mary Esther, born December 27. 1869. married Edward R. Kellogg, formerly lived in the isle of Pines, is now a resident of Delavan; she has one daughter, Ruth Hilah Kel- logg : Susan Frances Allyn was born January 16, 1874, married Harry Moore, May 4. 1904. and died January 18, 1905 : Timothy Robert, born January 16, 1874. died November 15. 1879: Gertrude Leonora, born February 7. 1877, died November 4, 1879: Joseph Pratt Allyn was born July 15, 1883, married Louise Landis. November 17. 1903, and lives on a farm in Delavan, and they have one daughter. Josephine Landis Allyn.
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Mr. Allyn endeavored to enlist for service during the Civil war, but was refused on the grounds of disability, he having broken his leg. He has been a member of the Episcopal church all his life. Personally, he is a man of genial and obliging address, of keen business discernment, sound judgment and of charitable impulses, and he wins friends easily.
ANSEL HASTINGS KENDRICK.
The study of the life of the representative American never fails to offer much of pleasing interest and valuable instruction, developing a mastering of expedients which has brought about most wonderful results. Ansel Hastings Kendrick, well-known president of the Wisconsin State Bank at Delavan, is a worthy representative of that type of American character and of that pro- gressive spirit which promote public good in advancing individual prosperity and conserving popular interests. He has long been prominently identified with the business interests of Walworth county, and while his varied affairs have brought him success they have also advanced the general welfare by accelerating industrial activity.
Mr. Kendrick was born in Delavan, this county, March 13. 1851. Hle is a son of Phineas Dudley Kendrick and Esther Lamfire (Gilbert ) Kendrick. The father's birth occurred in Heath, Massachusetts, November 26, 1820, and he died at Oak Park, Illinois, March 1. 1894. He was a son of Ansel and Dorcas (Smith) Kendrick, the former born March 7. 1796, and died December 15, 1846; he and Dorcas Smith were married on February 7. 180; she was born August 23, 1801, and her death occurred at Oak Park, Illinois, April 20, 1890. Esther Lamfire Gilbert was born in Hamilton, New York, September 15, 1818, and her death occurred at Oak Park, Illinois, May 2, 1898. Ansel H. Kendrick had one sister, but no brothers; she was born in Nunda, New York, August 28, 1845, and she married Frank Malaby Rock- well, now deceased. She is living at Oak Park, Illinois.
Phineas D. Kendrick, wife and daughter came to Delavan, this county from Nunda, New York, about 1849. Here he followed contracting and building until old age, and his death occurred at Oak Park, Illinois, on March I. 1894.
Ansel H Kendrick grew to manhood in Delavan and here attended high school. His first employment was in the postoffice here, where he remained about two years, most of the time as acting postmaster, after the regular
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incumbent of the office had defaulted, he taking the place temporarily, but remained at the request of the bondsmen until 1871. He then went into the National Bank of Delavan as a clerk. Later he served as assistant cashier of this bank, and when the bank went into liquidation and was succeeded by E. Lattimer & Company, bankers, in 1880, he became their cashier, continuing in this position until the firm was succeeded by the Bank of E. Lattimer & Company in 1903. Mr. Kendrick continued as cashier under the new arrange- ment, holding the position until July 13, 1908, when he was elected presi- dent of the bank, which position he has held to the present time, discharg- ing his duties in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of the bank, the growing popularity of the bank being due very largely to his efforts. He has kept well abreast of the times in all that pertains to the banking and commercial world, and is a painstaking, conservative and obliging gentleman whom to know is to trust and respect.
Mr. Kendrick also handles a loan and fire insurance business, which is very successful. He also finds time to take an active part in public affairs. He has been president of the village board several terms, the last term being in 1903. He has been a member of the city council several years. He was also a member of the county board of supervisors, and for twelve or fifteen years he was treasurer of the board of education, of which he was an influential member. As a public servant he has discharged his duties in an able and conscientious manner. He is a member of the Congregational church, and was trustee of the same for many years up to January, 191I.
The domestic life of Mr. Kendrick began on September 30, 1875, when he was united in marriage with Lillian Hollister, daughter of Cyrenus N. and Maria C. (Latimer) Hollister. She was born on Rock Prairie, Darien town- ship, this county, November 17, 1851, and there she was reared and she received her education 'in the local schools. Her parents came here from Slaterville Springs, Tompkins county, New York, in an early day, making the trip by boat on the Great Lakes, to Milwaukee, thence by teams to Wal- worth county. There were three brothers, Cyrenus, William and Lemuel Hollister.
To Ansel H. Kendrick and wife the following children have been born: Helen Hovey, born February 8, 1877, died in Delavan. February 26, 1879; Warren Dudley, born January 25, 1879; died in Delavan, March 3Ist of the same year; Florence, born May 15, 1880, lives at home with her parents.
The Wisconsin State Bank, of which the subject is president, was so named on November 1, 1911, being changed by the stockholders from Bank
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of E. Latimer & Company, and was approved by the commissioner of bank- ing, having been a private bank for many years. In 1903 it became a state bank under the name of Bank of E. Latimer & Company. It was first organ- ized as the Walworth County Bank in 1855, and was succeeded by the Na- tional Bank of Delavan in 1865, the firm of E. Latimer & Company succeed- ing to the same in 1880. In February, 1910, the bank was moved to the ele- gant and substantial new building, built for the bank and occupied solely by it. It is of pressed brick and stone, finished in dark green marble inside and fine, modern furnishings, a large new vault, with up-to-date safety devices, etc. The capital and undivided profits are sixty thousand dollars, and the bank is in a flourishing condition, being one of the sound and popular institu- tions of this part of the state. Besides Mr. Kendrick the present officers are, G. E. Barker, vice-president; C. H. Shulz, cashier ; R. C. Lillibridge, assist- ant cashier.
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